Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Opinion: Cheap build quality, very noisy AF, yet it is extremely sharp starting from f/2.8.
Considering the price you are getting a real bargain, it was my most used lens until I sold it, why? It is quite long for a crop sensor, I got the 35mm f/2 as a wider alternative.

Opinion: Optically it's pretty good, corners aren't it's strong point, but as a general purpose walkabout on a 5D it's amazingly subtle, and performs as good as it needs.. As the mkII version is a little crude, it produces good images, but it's not a great user experience. It's wide aperture focusing becomes a bit of a challenge with APS-C, though the larger full frame finders prove to be fine.

Opinion: The 50mm f1.8 II is a great, inexpensive lens which gives people who are starting out with photography or don't have a big budget a nice, fast prime lens to use for all sorts of things. I use this lens on an XSi, and on a crop sensor is mostly usable for portraits and things of that nature. It's pretty sharp in the center, even wide open, and at f2.8 it's great. If you own a FF body, I would think you could afford a better lens, but who knows? The only downside to this lens is the fact that it's all plastic, and the focus ring is made out of really cheap looking plastic. If it would've been built a little tougher, with a nicer focus ring, I wouldn't bother buying another 50mm prime unless I could afford an F1.2.

Overall, if you want a cheap prime to either get into the world of primes or because your on a budget, this will not disappoint as far as image quality is concerned. Very comparable to the 50mm f1.4 usm in that regard.

Opinion: This lens is a must for every Canon Eos user. Whether beginner or pro. This lens offers up a world of opportunity and should come with the camera over the kit lens... I believe this lens Colour and sharpness for the price is amazing... I have owned it for three years and although it does not have the feel of an expensive lens, the pictures produced are by far my preferred when viewing post shoot. The lens is not perfect, but it's character offers up many desirable effects when shooting. Prime lenses are a whole different way of experiencing photography... no zoom, so setting up a shot, more thought i believe goes into the composition of the shot. I have got many of my friends to purchase this lens (man i wish i worked for canon...), and they all agree is a wonderful lens. It gets four stars as it is not the Ultimate lens, but you will not get a better lens for the price, and it does have some CA and the Canon Lens hood is awful... why i use it i don't know. On a crop sensor, the range is i would sat almost perfect for Portraits (Head + Shoulders). On FF, is i feel a terrific range as well. Everyone has a preference and likes and dislikes when it comes to lenses, and from what said above... you get the point.