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Gail's Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Blog
Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
I almost talked myself out of buying the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
Just because so many raved about it didn't make it the right choice for me. I wanted a fast "normal" lens.
On the XSi, 50mm is a short telephoto lens
The 50mm f/1.8 is fast but it does not have a "normal" focal length when attached to my Canon XSi/450D that has a Focal Lens Multiplier of 1.6. So the lens on my camera actually has an effective range of 80mm, not quite wide enough but I'll make do.
I looked at other prime lenses that were wider, but they all cost a lot more. So I bought the 50mm for under $100.00 U.S. At that price I figured I couldn't go that wrong -- and I was right.
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is light as a feather. You hardly even notice it when attached to the camera. Images are crisp and clear. On my XSi, it focuses with about the same speed as my other lenses, the Canon 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS.
A great portrait lens, too
At the equivalent of 80mm, the lens is ideal for photographing subjects in the not too far distance, as well as for portraits where depth of field plays an important role. At larger apertures, backgounds are blurred. However, when sharpness and greater depth of field is needed, simply switch to a smaller apertures.
It's a delight to have a fast lens! For the price, you simply cannott get a better one.
Related reading: Composing and Focusing with a DSLR
Likes and dislikes
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Canon 50mm f/1.8 usage tips
Tips for using the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
Interesting links
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