"I think the 50(mm lens) is an extremely good discipline lens; it requires you to see in a more refined way, not just tighter." – William Albert

* picture:  EF 50mm F1.8 II.

 

Received this lens together on the same day with the EF 15mm F2.8 Fisheye. This is my 6th Canon Lens and also my 2nd prime lens. Widely known as the "Nifty Fifty" or "Plastic Fantastic" in the industry, one can easily understand why this is so. The EF 50mm F 1.8 II is a full plastic constructed lens down from body to the lens mount. (except the lens elements of course! Those are real glass!) This successor to the original mark I 50mm F1.8 was a far cry from what it replaced. Some websites actually suggested that this lens was made this way so that the EF 50mm F1.4 USM can sell. Rumours or speculations, I will leave that to your imagination.

* picture:  EF 50mm F1.8 II.

This is a truly value for money lens. At a RRP of SGD $159 (Street Price $120), this lens are most photographers’ first prime lens. Fairly priced as Canon’s cheapest lens in the whole EF Lens Line, this lens performs well and fast. It work very well in low light conditions and the image are sharp and crisp – a norm for prime lenses. The F1.8 gives great bokeh (blur off/ off focus blurring) when appropriately used for portraits. The end results are often amazing and of exceptional quality thus earning it’s positive nicknames. This lens is also Canon’s lightest lens at 4.6 oz and one of the smallest too. When used on a cropped body, it gives the user a 80mm range which is great for portraits and once mounted on a full frame body, the 50mm is good enough to be a walkabout lens. However, the only complain I have about this lens is, the focusing motor are very noisy. It sqeaks a lot – typical of old skool micro motor (MM). Probably also explains the cheap retail price for this lens. At that price, will you complain?    

 

* picture:  EF 50mm F1.8 II.