Canon 50mm f/1.8 vs. f/1.4

i’ve read reviews, love opinions:

amongst other interests, produce off-off-broadway theater in new york city. important publicity shots, bring in pro, or @ least semi-pro photographer. can't afford pay shoot every rehearsal , staged reading, i've decided invest in equipment take @ least passable photos on own.

presently have t3i/600d 18-135mm kit lens. have shot few rehearsals , performances lens, , has confirmed prior guesses (a) need brighter lens(es) shoot want shoot, , (b) 50mm prime focal length me start -- stuff produce performs on small, intimate stages, distances need shoot @ not long , actors when shot @ length.

going 50mm f/1.8. it's cheap, , i'm sure serve needs enough. can presently 1 of these $115 new, or cheap $75, gently used. however, i've noticed b&h selling canon 50mm f/1.4, condition used, $290, seems price.

so… i’m wondering if should consider upgrading purchase f/1.4. reviews have read, technical differences in image quality not significant me kind of shooting want (i’ll shooting in f2.0 – 2.8 range; unlikely want shoot wider this). quieter, faster focus of f/1.4 useful, , lot of reviewers consider manual focus ring , ftm focus of f/1.4 substantially superior (i find myself focusing manually @ times). while not must-have, smoother bokeh might useful too, may want use wider aperture blur out distracting background, when shooting rehearsals.

$290 within budget; spending more money on 50mm means won’t able afford lens, 28mm or 85mm prime complement, quite (or whatever other gizmo ends next on “list”).

so… know opinions. love hear yours!

 

equilibrium17 said: ↑

i’ve read reviews, love opinions:

amongst other interests, produce off-off-broadway theater in new york city. important publicity shots, bring in pro, or @ least semi-pro photographer. can't afford pay shoot every rehearsal , staged reading, i've decided invest in equipment take @ least passable photos on own.

presently have t3i/600d 18-135mm kit lens. have shot few rehearsals , performances lens, , has confirmed prior guesses (a) need brighter lens(es) shoot want shoot, , (b) 50mm prime focal length me start -- stuff produce performs on small, intimate stages, distances need shoot @ not long , actors when shot @ length.

going 50mm f/1.8. it's cheap, , i'm sure serve needs enough. can presently 1 of these $115 new, or cheap $75, gently used. however, i've noticed b&h selling canon 50mm f/1.4, condition used, $290, seems price.

so… i’m wondering if should consider upgrading purchase f/1.4. reviews have read, technical differences in image quality not significant me kind of shooting want (i’ll shooting in f2.0 – 2.8 range; unlikely want shoot wider this). quieter, faster focus of f/1.4 useful, , lot of reviewers consider manual focus ring , ftm focus of f/1.4 substantially superior (i find myself focusing manually @ times). while not must-have, smoother bokeh might useful too, may want use wider aperture blur out distracting background, when shooting rehearsals.

$290 within budget; spending more money on 50mm means won’t able afford lens, 28mm or 85mm prime complement, quite (or whatever other gizmo ends next on “list”).

so… know opinions. love hear yours!

click expand...

the 1.4 absolutely worth price premium on 1.8.

that's not 1.8 bad lens; it's not. produce images, when stopped down f/2.8 or smaller. said, bokeh terrible (pentagonal highlights, ftw!), , build quality is, well, crap.

having said of that, whether it's worth buy 1.4 matter. bokeh better, , you'll ftm focusing, that's worth. 2/3 stop difference isn't huge, might if you're dealing low light. , say, use cash else.

1.8 bang buck, because it's cheap.

i'd go 1.4.

 

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