How good is the EF 50 f1.8 II

My 50 f/1.8 II is a very well travelled lens. When I go abroad, I take my 5DIII (used to be 5DII, and before that, the original 5D) with the 24-105L and either a 70-300L or my Sigma 12-24 wide zoom (not both). Often, just before I leave home, I think of my poor, neglected 50 f/1.8 II, and throw it in because it takes up so little space. It travels another thirty thousand kilometres with me, but usually isn't used. I have taken a few excellent photos with it, because under the right circumstances it is incredibly sharp, but I'm seldom or never tempted to take off my 24-105L when the job it does is as good or better. I guess if ever my 24-105L malfunctions, I'll have the 50 as a backup.

As others have said, it's a very cheap build, and it's certainly not as well behaved as the L lenses ... as you'd expect. It can make wonderful photos, but not as consistently.

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