Sharp,
Aperture 1.8,
Fast focus (very),
cheep,
light,

Cheep built.

Dear whoever considers buying this lens,
This lens is pin sharp. It allows you to take pictures with handholdable shutter speed in low light situations. Also it is very fast lens, it as fast as USM (probably difference is 1/934769347693 of second). Though it is very noisy lens, it’s not a big deal problem considering price. f/1.4 costs at least 4 times more then this, when quality remains the same. If you have free money go for f/1.4 but remember that you’ll never regret that you bought f/1.8 lens, besides f/1.4 is twice heavy. I rate overall 4 because it’s not an L class lens (f/1.4 is not L either). Buy one!

Customer Service

no probs

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 28-80 Zoom,
Helios 50mm.
Zenitar 50mm.
MTO 500

Speed, Sharpness, Cost

None

This should be the first lens in your inventory. It will allow you to shoot in low light situations. It will allow you to shoot slow 100ASA film. It will deliver crisp images. It will focus quickly. It will give you a bright view in your viewfinder. It will allow you to shoot without flash. As I mentioned above, I have a number of zooms and primes in my kit, and this is usually my first choice for most photographic situations.

Customer Service

Never had to use

Similar Products Used:

EF 35-80mm
EF 28-80mm
EF 28-105mm
EF 100-300mm
EF 28mm
EF 100mm

Sharp Sharp Sharp!
Slight Warm Colors
Fast!
Inexpensive
Fast Focusing

Plastic All Over
Noisy Focus Motor

I got this lens because it was incredibly inexpensive and thought that a prime lens would be great to get sharper photos. Well, I ended up using this lens more than 75% of the time because it is just so versitile. The speed is incredible when you need it. The lens is insanely sharp if you stop it down 1 to 2 stops. And it has taken alot of abuse without missing a beat. Not bad for $69.

Customer Service

Never Needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 24mm f2.8
Tamron 90mm f2.8

Value, Value, Value
Image quality

Plastic lens mount.
No distance scale.

The best value in the Canon lens system. Super Sharp, rivals the "L" version.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

FD 50mm Version
Takumar 50mm

Very light-weight
Very sharp

All plastic
A bit noisy

This is a brillant lens, especially at this very low price. The Canon EF 28-80 II which came in a kit with my Canon EOS 50 body is not as sharp as this prime lens. Contrast and sharpness and color is very good, even at f/1.8. Highly recommended for travels, when you don't want to heavy lenses. Use your feet instead of the versality of the 28-80! It also produces very nice results with the Canon close up 240 lens.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-80 II

Price, weight

Mine has collected a whole lot of dust and other debris inside lens for some reason.

I haven't seen the sharpness. Related to debris inside?

Feels like a duplo or some childs toy. Loud auto-focus. No distance markings.

I got this lens based on this groups recommendation. Maybe I'm missing something, or maybe I got bad lenses. But my side-by-side magnified comparisons of the same shot, on same camera, with same film, just with different lenses has shown me this lens is not as sharp as others, and I don't have any top-of-the-line lenses here.

Part of this problem may be due to the fact that, for whatever reason, this lens has managed to collect a load of little threads and such inside. Not a ton, but about 7-8 bits. I understand a little of this is regular but COME ON my pentax SMC-50mm that has bounced around my equipment-negligent family for 8 years doesn't have any of these big debris pieces inside. I take good care of my lenses. My other lenses have gone through the exact same thing as this Canon and they aren't dirty inside. My first canon 50mm f1.8 went back because it had a big black piece of something inside ... hmmm.

Anyway, now I rarely use this guy and I'll probably try to get rid of it. I miss the f1.8 often but I just don't have confidence in this lens ...

Sorry to go against the grain here. My advice is to save for something better if you are at all serious. Or if you're that strapped for cash get an all-manual outfit like a Pentax K1000 w/50mm f2 that will at least have distance markings.

Customer Service

Good so far ...

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-135, Sigma 70-300, Pentax SMC 50mm

sharp, very good optics, dont have to worry about breaking it

motor is not a usm, its pretty slow esp when tracking, no ftm, ring is thin, plastic mount

this is not a pro lens, it does not have ftm, its slow, the switch is hard to change, the build is not that great, the mount is plastic. but its my favorite lens. i dont have to worry about replacing it should something happen to it and the optics are outstanding as well as a decent aperture. anyone who wants more from a lens should be paying more for it. and it just seems a waste to pay the extra $200 just for usm and a slightly wider aperture- spend that on film and become a better photographer.

Customer Service

not yet

Similar Products Used:

50 1.4

-Small
-Lightweight
-Sharp
-Hardly any distortion (which is to be expected from a prime)

-Argh the noise! Well I should have gotten a USM if I didn't want it...only the USM is much more expensive...
-No internal focusing

Buy this lens if you have the money. You won't regret it! Excellent value for money.

And hey if you want a silent better built lens, spend more money. Don't complain abt. this lens, you didn't pay for an excellent built/silent one!

Customer Service

Great

Similar Products Used:

Only zooms (28-80 3,5-5,6 and 28-105 3,5-4,5 and sigma 28-200)

Very sharp
Fast
Very good color reproduction
Cheap
Very good AF

Plastic build
No distance scale
Dust easily gets inside lens
No USM, FTM
Tight AF/MF switch

One should get lens hood to avoid flare.
An excellent lens for its price. It is not an USM lens but I don't care about its AF noise. Buy this one if you are on budget.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Canon FD 50mm f1.4

very sharp, Lightweight, inexpensive

Plastic construction, but so what- drop a metal and plastic lens and chances are neither will survive.

I purchased this lens as a temporary replacement for a Sigma 28-70 2.8 zoom that stopped working. OK. I dropped it. Dropping it was a blessing. I don't think I will ever use another zoom after using this lens. This lens is very sharp, very contrasty, with great color saturation, nothing like the Sigma. It's a great lens for the money. As a backpacker, the low weight is ideal, and I'm not worried about damage at this price. Focus speed is fast and quiet, not silent, but landscapes aren't too skitish. Nice bright view. A definite keeper.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

None. Only used zooms before this lens