Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens is a nifty lens. Relatively "budget" priced, it typically runs around US$80 if you get it on craigslist.

PRICE: I would say this is a great beginner lens as it is a great FAST lens for sub $100 range.

BUILD: This lens feels very plastic. The MF/AF Switch feels very fragile, and the manual focus feels like a toy. However, it is very light considering its is still a f/1.8 lens.

IMAGE QUALITY: The photos taken can be pretty good if you do not have too much megapixels. For essentially a less than $100 lens, the bokeh is okay, and the auto-focus is relatively fast. The downside is that for low light, it does not focus well. (Not sure if it was the problem with my EOS 5D)



OVERALL: I would say that this is a great lens to get used, as US$80 on a lens is not bad, especially one at f/1.8. 50mm is a pretty standard lens, but if you have a crop sensor camera, say a Canon T2i or a EOS 60D, then you get a 80mm lens, which is a portrait lens.

It is good value for money, and I would recommend it, as you can just try it for a while, and if you like its speed, keep it. Otherwise, you can always sell it again and perhaps move on to a 35mm f/2 or a 50mm f/1.4, though these lens are about $400.

Good prime lens are hard to come by, and owning a fast prime lens is always good, especially for those indoor events where a f/1.8 lens would mean you would not need a flash in a lot of indoor situations.

-- Robin Low

Camera Lens Compatibility. (Nikon DSLR)

I own a D50, and a D3x and I'm currently shopping for lens and I came across several charts and tables which I would like to share.

The following is a very useful link for a Nikon lens compatibility table. --> link <---

For me, I'd like to get good lens, however I have many different cameras and due to compatinility issues, I'd only get what is value for money.

If you are like me, a guy who is into photography since the days of Nikon FM2 and the Minolta, you may have several lens already. I currently own a Mamiya 645 as well, and I'm saving up for more lens and a digital back, however I'd still like to shoot with my trusty old Nikon D50.

I guess as I'd like to do street photography, some of which are at night, I'd need to get fast lens, and after researching, I feel that a manual focus F1.4 lens really does make sense.

in Nov, 2009, I've searched ebay, and the prices for some digital cameras have gone down, but some lens are still quite expensive.

For under $100, you can find a Nikon 50mm F1.4 manual focus lens which is very fast at night.

You can also get a Sigma 70 - 300 F4 - F5.6 for under $100 if you search hard.

DSLRs now are very affordable and great to own!



The table below outlines which lenses support which functions with which Nikon DSLR cameras. Please note, there are exceptions to this, for example certain fisheye lenses protrude too far into the camera body, and may damage the mirror/lens, lenses designed for the Nikon F3AF system may not work, certain reflex lenses may not physically fit and so forth. Please check the manual for both the camera and lens before trying to mount.
Also note, that not all features may be supported in all modes. For example, an AI-S lens mounted on a Nikon DSLR will either not meter ("no metering" in the table below, can be used in manual mode only), or if it will meter ("meter ok" in the table below) then only Aperture Priority or Manual modes will work.
Lenses marked D or G provide distance information to the camera, so all Nikon DSLR's will meter properly in all modes with these lenses.
AF-S lenses will autofocus with all Nikon DSLR's. AF Lenses only work with bodies that have focusing motors (all current bodies except the Nikon D40, D40x and D60).

Nikon DSLR/Lens Compatibility Chart:

	Manual Focus			Autofocus
DSLR Body	Pre-AI	AI, AI-S	AI-P	AF	AF-I, AF-S	Type D or G
D40, D40x, D60	Mounts OK No Metering	Mounts OK No Metering	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK No AF	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	Works OK
D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D100	DO NOT USE MAY DAMAGE	Mounts OK No Metering	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	3D Metering Supported
D200, D300, D700	DO NOT USE MAY DAMAGE	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	3D Metering Supported
D1 Series	DO NOT USE MAY DAMAGE	Mounts OK No Matrix Meter	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	3D Metering Supported
D2 Series, D3	DO NOT USE MAY DAMAGE	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	Mounts OK Meters OK AF OK	3D Metering Supported

Notes:

1. DO NOT USE: May cause damage to the camera body.
2. Mounts OK: Is safe to mount on the camera.
3. Meters OK: Basic metering works.
4. No Metering: Camera body supports CPU metering only, lens does not have CPU.
5. AF OK: Autofocus works.
6. No AF: Autofocus does not work, since camera lacks AF motor in the camera body.
7. 3D Metering Supported: Lenses marked D or G provide distance information, allowing 3D Matrix Metering to work.

--Reviews Guru