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Have the 17-55, should I sell the 50 f/1.8?

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yodermk

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So I got the 60D and 17-55, and am getting ready to sell my old XSi with its kit lens. Trying to decide whether to sell or keep the Nifty Fifty.

I suppose the reasons to sell it:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
I don't think the 50 can do much of anything well that the 17-55 can't do, but I'm looking for other opinions. If you had both lenses, and you're manually setting up a "perfect" shot at the 50mm range, which would you reach for?

I may some day get a 50 1.4 or even 1.2 (whether from Canon, Sigma, or Zeiss), but that's a ways off.

--
If it's a Single Lens Reflex, why do I need so many lenses?
 
yodermk said:
So I got the 60D and 17-55, and am getting ready to sell my old XSi with its kit lens. Trying to decide whether to sell or keep the Nifty Fifty.

I suppose the reasons to sell it:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
Click to expand...
Not really. You will basically give away the lens for the price of the body only. The 50/1.8 is a popular lens. You can sell it easily for a good price.
yodermk said:
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
Click to expand...
Right. It is OK at f/2.3 and good at f/2.8 -- but then you do not need f/2.8. I sold mine when I got the 17-55. As an added bonus, the 17-55 can actually auto focus.
 
Actually, canon 50mm f/1.8 is rather sharp for any f/1.8 lens. For example, if you compare dpreview's own review and many review of Canon 50mm f/1.4 vs Canon 50mm f/1.8, you will realized 50mm @f/1.8 is sharper than 50mm f/1.4 @f/1.8. Canon 50mm f/1.4 halo badly, and doesn't really get sharp until f/2.2 - f/2.8. For $80, you really can't complain.

Back to the original question: I kept my 50mm f/1.8 II as a lightweight portrait prime to Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. For me:
  • Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is the best Landscape-to-Portrait zoom. I used this lens exclusively when I'm on vacation which allow me to take breath-taking 17mm landscape to 55mm f/2.8 portraits all in a single zoom.
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is my default indoor portrait prime and product photography. 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is rather heavy and balance poorly on my Canon XSi. I prefer using the 50mm f/1.8 II when I'm shooting product photography.
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is also great as a pancake walk-around, and an excellent portrait lens. Sure 85mm f/1.8 is better, but it is also longer and heavier. I rarely noticed the weight of 50mm f/1.8 II.
  • Lastly, You won't get much selling 50mm f/1.8 , might as well KEEP IT!
yodermk said:
So I got the 60D and 17-55, and am getting ready to sell my old XSi with its kit lens. Trying to decide whether to sell or keep the Nifty Fifty.

I suppose the reasons to sell it:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
I don't think the 50 can do much of anything well that the 17-55 can't do, but I'm looking for other opinions. If you had both lenses, and you're manually setting up a "perfect" shot at the 50mm range, which would you reach for?

I may some day get a 50 1.4 or even 1.2 (whether from Canon, Sigma, or Zeiss), but that's a ways off.

--
If it's a Single Lens Reflex, why do I need so many lenses?
Click to expand...
 
007peter said:
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is my default indoor portrait prime and product photography. 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is rather heavy and balance poorly on my Canon XSi. I prefer using the 50mm f/1.8 II when I'm shooting product photography.
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is also great as a pancake walk-around, and an excellent portrait lens. Sure 85mm f/1.8 is better, but it is also longer and heavier. I rarely noticed the weight of 50mm f/1.8 II.
  • Lastly, You won't get much selling 50mm f/1.8 , might as well KEEP IT!
Click to expand...
+1

The default for me when deciding on indoor photos is the 50 f/1.8 II, and even outdoors as a very very light walk around lens, my 50 is sharp enough at f/2.2.

It was also my default lens for videos until I got an Olympus-EOS adapter and now use an Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8.

I just can't seem to let go of it.
 
Hold onto the lens until you can replace it with a f1.4, if thats what you want, it is a very nice lens to have in lower light conditions and you may miss it until replaced.
 
tell me when the 17-55 can open up to 1.8 :D

I sold mine, it was a sharp lens even at 1.8, when i got the 35mm. I now purchased another one for my brother to use.

I would wait before you sell it, it is not going down in value any time soon, with the second hand price selling at grey market price. Have both lenses and shoot, if you no longer use the 50 prime, sell it and use the funds else were.







--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41942460@N04/sets/
 
Peter 13 said:
yodermk said:
So I got the 60D and 17-55, and am getting ready to sell my old XSi with its kit lens. Trying to decide whether to sell or keep the Nifty Fifty.

I suppose the reasons to sell it:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
Click to expand...
Not really. You will basically give away the lens for the price of the body only.
Click to expand...
Derp... only if he doesn't ask a higher price to account for the lens. Am I missing some logic you are following?
Peter 13 said:
The 50/1.8 is a popular lens. You can sell it easily for a good price.
Click to expand...
That's doubtful. Consumer-grade lenses don't hold their value as well as L lenses, and this is one of the cheapest, and most cheaply-built, of them all, where someone may prefer to buy it new.
Peter 13 said:
Peter 13 said:
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
Click to expand...
Right. It is OK at f/2.3 and good at f/2.8 -- but then you do not need f/2.8.
Click to expand...
The 50mm prime is much better at f/2.8 than the zoom at 50mm and f/2.8. In fact it is nearly as good optically wide open as the zoom is wide open.
 
007peter said:
Actually, canon 50mm f/1.8 is rather sharp for any f/1.8 lens.
Click to expand...
If you meant, "As bad as it gets in the Canon lineup at f/1.8", you'd be hitting the mark:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=480&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=253

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=121&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=1

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=115&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=397&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=106

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=118
007peter said:
For $80, you really can't complain.
Click to expand...
That's true. If all one has to spend is *$100* (NOT $80), one should expect to get what one pays for: a plastic-build lens with shoddy focusing, in this case. It is not bad for an intro to prime shooting, and not bad for the price, especially if one wants max sharpness stopped down.
007peter said:
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is my default indoor portrait prime
Click to expand...
Then you should invest in a better lens post-haste. Good day

P.S. You do realize that the 50mm f/1.8 II is not a pancake prime, I hope.
 
Historically it has been one of my lesser used lenses, even when I just had the 18-55 IS kit lens and this in its range. Started gaining more respect for it lately, getting shots like this (tripod mounted, f/4, 3s ISO 100):



The full res version is quite awesome. I figure if the 17-55 could do just as well, there's probably no need to keep the 50, but I haven't put it to a thorough test yet.

Thanks for the replies!

--
If it's a Single Lens Reflex, why do I need so many lenses?
 
I would keep it. I was in the same situation with the 17-55 and 50 1.8. I use the zoom lens most of the time, but having the 50 in the bag let me get some nice low light, shallow DOF pictures that I can't get with the zoom. Besides, you won't get much for it.
 
graphikal said:
graphikal said:
graphikal said:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
Click to expand...
Not really. You will basically give away the lens for the price of the body only.
Click to expand...
Derp... only if he doesn't ask a higher price to account for the lens. Am I missing some logic you are following?
Click to expand...
He can ask whatever he wants but he may not get it. I am saying that he is better off selling them separately. The only reason somebody will buy a kit is to save money.
graphikal said:
graphikal said:
The 50/1.8 is a popular lens. You can sell it easily for a good price.
Click to expand...
That's doubtful. Consumer-grade lenses don't hold their value as well as L lenses, and this is one of the cheapest, and most cheaply-built, of them all, where someone may prefer to buy it new.
Click to expand...
I sold mine for $85 on ebay two years ago. Ebay is a crazy place.
graphikal said:
graphikal said:
graphikal said:
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
Click to expand...
Right. It is OK at f/2.3 and good at f/2.8 -- but then you do not need f/2.8.
Click to expand...
The 50mm prime is much better at f/2.8 than the zoom at 50mm and f/2.8. In fact it is nearly as good optically wide open as the zoom is wide open.
Click to expand...
This is absolutely wrong. Per PZ, the zoom and the prime are very close at f/2.8 with a slight edge to the pime but at f/4 anf f/5.6 the zoom is slightly better in the center, go figure. Since the 50/1.8 will almost never focus accurately, that makes the zoom the better choice. I do not even know where you would get the idea that wide open they are equal - it is day and night. Just look at the pics above that are supposed to show off the prime at f/1.8 - they are terribly soft.

Yes, I own(ed) them both.
 
Spoken like a true gearhead blaming his tools rather than photographer.

yodermk - believe whoever you want, me or graphikal.

Take a deeper look at each profiles, see who is the daring photographer who actually takes photographs ;-)
graphikal said:
If you meant, "As bad as it gets in the Canon lineup at f/1.8", you'd be hitting the mark:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=480&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=253

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=121&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=1

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=115&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=397&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=106

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=105&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=118
graphikal said:
For $80, you really can't complain.
Click to expand...
That's true. If all one has to spend is *$100* (NOT $80), one should expect to get what one pays for: a plastic-build lens with shoddy focusing, in this case. It is not bad for an intro to prime shooting, and not bad for the price, especially if one wants max sharpness stopped down.
graphikal said:
  • 50mm f/1.8 II is my default indoor portrait prime
Click to expand...
Then you should invest in a better lens post-haste. Good day

P.S. You do realize that the 50mm f/1.8 II is not a pancake prime, I hope.
Click to expand...
 
You are right, both sides, because people all have their opinions.

The single most compelling reason to get rid of the 50/1.8 is that these things don't focus properly - ever really. I have the original version with metal mount and better build but it still won't calibrate consistently on my 7D (now I understand why it was never sharp on the 20D that lacked the calibration). Because it never hits focus twice in a row, I can't see why I would waste my time with it.

It's not that you won't get much for it but I think your time is valuable. Why would you want to take oof images that disappoint later when you could shoot with your 17-55 (that's the one I use too) and enjoy the images you get?

...dump it.
 
yodermk said:
So I got the 60D and 17-55, and am getting ready to sell my old XSi with its kit lens. Trying to decide whether to sell or keep the Nifty Fifty.

I suppose the reasons to sell it:
  • Might make my XSi offer more compelling to a beginner
  • The 50 1.8 isn't really great at 1.8
I don't think the 50 can do much of anything well that the 17-55 can't do, but I'm looking for other opinions. If you had both lenses, and you're manually setting up a "perfect" shot at the 50mm range, which would you reach for?

I may some day get a 50 1.4 or even 1.2 (whether from Canon, Sigma, or Zeiss), but that's a ways off.

--
If it's a Single Lens Reflex, why do I need so many lenses?
Click to expand...
I own 17-55mm 2.8, 85 1.8, 90mm macro SP 2.8, 50mm f/1.8 and 70-200mm f/4 L IS. The 50mm wins in indoor portraits.

Window light @ f/1.8



Window light @ f/2



Keep it your 50mm.

--
Rod
 
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