MyFunCamera

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Email Q&A: Camera bodies & Prime lenses

I just got an email asking my advice about a prime lens purchase.

This is a dude that asked my advice on a camera purchase (50D vs Rebel), and I told him to get the 50D because it would be more sturdy for him, wouldn’t feel like a plastic toy in his big man hands (like the Rebel would), and could grow with him as he gets more & more into photography.

Here’s his email:

Hey Carey,

I wanted to purchase my first prime lens and it only made sense to start with a 50mm. I was once again seeking your advice on which lens you prefer. I’ve read side by side reviews and image comparisons between the 1.4 and 1.8, but still am unsure (It drives my wife crazy that I’m so persnickety, but still have the hardest time choosing) as to which is the better choice for me (normally people say you only know whats right for you, but for now I think you know whats right for me lol).

With your previous help, I opted to go with 50D rather than the T1i. It’s the best purchasing decision I’ve made in a long time. Although you would think that it would be an easy decision for me to go with the more expensive, better built 1.4, I’m just not sold on it, although the bokeh is much cleaner to me. I guess the main reason being is that I have my eyes set on better glass down the road. I feel that the 1.8 might have the best bang for you buck out of any thing in the history of electronics, but I’m weary that it may not make it for more than a year or two after regular use.

Am I just thinking about it too much. Should I just spend the extra and get the 1.4? I would put myself in the category that likes the best, well in this case better, but I guess the price difference is so drastic that its making me well, a little hesitant.
Thanks again,
Rob

Here’s my response:

Hi Rob!

I’d say that unless you’re 1) using it professionally and/or 2) using it EVERY SINGLE DAY, the 1.4 is not worth the extra $$$.

I’m not a prime girl myself.  Have you tried prime lenses?  You may love it.  But you may hate it.

I feel hobbled with primes, but I have the 85mm 1.8, and have tried the 1.2L.

I can get by with the 85mm 1.8.  I really like the 1.8 bokeh, and that one is WAY WAY WAY CHEAPER than the 85mm 1.2L version. If I was a prime lovah and if I used it as my primary lens, I’d save up for the 85mm 1.2L, but it’s not worth the $$$ to me.

Now granted, the price difference for those two 85mm lens is a lot more drastic than it is for the 50mm lenses!  From a photographer’s point of view, the 50mm 1.4 isn’t all that much more expensive than the 50mm 1.8.  The price difference for the two 85mm lenses is $1,500 bucks vs just a few hundred between the two 50mm lenses.  But I still think the same principle applies:  if it’s going to be your primary every-day lens, go with the more expensive one.  If you just want to try out a 50mm prime in your lens bag, get the 50mm 1.8 and see how you like shooting with primes before you invest more money.
~Carey

You may be wondering why I didn’t recommend that he consider the 85mm lens that I have.

Here’s why:

I have 5D cameras. He has a 50D.  His 50D camera has a crop factor. The 85mm is already tighter than the 50mm, and on a camera with a crop factor, he’ll feel like he’s looking through a paper towel tube with the 85mm lens.  He’ll get much more out of the 50mm.

Peace out homee.