Nifty Fifty and Beyond

Lime

Lime

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I recently picked up the Canon "nifty fifty" 50mm f1.8 for my 40D, and I must say I am in love. What gets me most is how clean and solid it feels to handle [it also looks quite choice when mounted onto my SLR]. The focus swivels comfortably on manual, and it looks very simple and sturdy.

I was wondering what lens I should be looking to get next? I would prefer something with a decent zoom, an aperture close to 1.8, which handles nicely and with ease.

I would prefer the focus towards the end of the lens rather than somewhere in the middle or the base. A lens that can be focused at maximum zoom, and then zoomed out without changing the area of focus, is sort of what I have in mind.

Suggestions? [with pics, please :)]
 
You won't get a zoom at F1.8, more likely F2.8 - F4.0 minimum.
Really depends on your budget and the zoom range you want.

What are you shooting and from where ?
 
The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is probably the king of 'budget' (sub-£300) fast zooms because it does everything very well at a low price. It's a bit noisey but is pin-sharp and really does work well for the dosh. Sigma does a similar 18-50mm for about £320 and a 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 for £250 but the Tamron seems to get the most plaudits on TP.

Above this you're looking at something like an EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, which is a good £800. Then you're looking at a 24-70mm f/2.8, a really, really great lens, but that's in excess of £950.

I know Tokina lenses are very, very good and they do a 16-50mm f/2.8 that's about £600.
 
specialman said:
I know Tokina lenses are very, very good and they do a 16-50mm f/2.8 that's about £600.
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£400 from HK or 485 from the UK. :D

Although if you can't get the Tokina (Tokina seem to have a really high-quality, built to last feel- not quite on par with L but closer than the other two IMO) the Sigma and Tamron seem great. I don't have any of them but I was looking at them a while ago... Perhaps I should look at getting a zoom like it, but I love the speed you get from a prime!
 
Maybe the OP can tell us what sort of shooting he likes to do?

As stated previously, there isnt a zoom with an aperture lower then 2.8 is there?
 
MJ Stebbings said:
Maybe the OP can tell us what sort of shooting he likes to do?

As stated previously, there isnt a zoom with an aperture lower then 2.8 is there?
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I don't think so apart from there is one olymus lens costing almost £2000 thats from f2-f2.8.
 
If the OP thinks the nifty fifty is well built and sturdy he's going to be VERY happy with the build quality of anything else!
 
LOL
I thought he was talking about the f1.4 version as not a lot of it made sense. The 1.8 mkii version is like mcdonalds happy meal bonus...however, it's nice for the price and shoots well so all is forgiven :)

to the point however, nothing will go beyond f2.8 without silly silly silly...silly money

so what kind of zoom?
wide...17-50 ish (tamron, canon or sigma)
mid range, 25-70 ish... (tamron is nice apparantly, or L glass f2.8..Mmmm)
telephoto f2.8 50-150 or 70-200 (sigma, sigma or canon)
 
The23rdman said:
If the OP thinks the nifty fifty is well built and sturdy he's going to be VERY happy with the build quality of anything else!
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I have to agree with you. Cheap, and good, but toyland build quality. I've used the lens a few times but didn't find it very useful either - too short or too long on a crop for me.
 
I hear for wide stuff, the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is nice.
For mid range, i can recommend the Sigma 24-70 f2.8
For reach, then a Sigma or Tamron 70-200 f2.8 would suit.

IF the OP has more money and wants to stay on brand, then Canon do the same lenses but about 2-4 times the price
 
Lime, do you have the Mk2 50mm (Plastic mount) or the Mk1 version which has a metal mount?
 
MartynK said:
I have to agree with you. Cheap, and good, but toyland build quality. I've used the lens a few times but didn't find it very useful either - too short or too long on a crop for me.
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It sure is Christmas cracker build quality, but I still love mine.
 
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