Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2

[emily16]

Hi all,

After looking at reviews i am fairly interested in the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 mainly because its in my current price range. All the reviews i have read have been rather positive apart from is plasticy cheap feel but overall the optics sound good. However on each review people have commented on how good it is for portraits, but im am wanting at it for the macro side rather than the portrait side of things.

So is this lens any good for macro or is it better just for portraiture? Also i haven't read anywhere that it has IS so do i assume that it doesnt? And will this make lots of difference for macro shots?

I have also spotted this on amazon has anyone got one or heard if they're any good? (Again i have read reveiws which seem positive)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opteka-Panor...4397640&sr=8-1

What are your thought would this work well with the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 or would there not be much difference than it being on a 18-55mm or 55-250mm?

Any advice is appreciated!

[matt wilson]

It is not a macro lens .Macro lenses are specialist lenses capable of giving a full lifesize image (they will cost best part of £2 to 300 )

A 50 mm prime lens with a maximum aperture of 1.8 is relatively fast .(it lets in plenty of light )consequently you can easily get shutter speeds that don't need IS (it does not have it by the way)

One way of getting reasonable close ups would to be try close up filters or extenson tubes if on a budget .Or even getting a reversing ring to go on a 50mm 1.8

[rbarry]

The standard 18-55 kit lens that came with my camera makes for a good macro lens in its own right. I do not have a dedicated macro lens yet, but out of the six lenses I own it has proved to get the largest lifesize images, albeit at very close proximity to the subject matter. OK for inanimate objects but not so good for insects and bugs. The results are pretty good. My version of the 18-55 is the IS kit version.

I would add that the 50mm f1.8 mk2 is a must have lens; for the money you just can't go wrong and you won't regret buying one of those! IF you have the kit lens and want to start adding to your lens collection then that is the best way to start. When your budget allows, you can then decide if you need a dedicated macro lens or whether your priorities lie elsewhere.

[donoreo]

The 50 is a great lens. I have one and love it. It is very sharp. I have done a project where all I shot with was the 50. It made me think more about taking each shot.

[Matthew Forrest]

The nifty fifty was the first lens i purchased for my camera and it has got to be the best value for money lens i have in my bag!It isnt a macro lens however ive used extension tubes with mines and works fine with some decent results,however you will have to set your apeture and use manual focus when using tubes or you can buy the more expesive extension tubes that allow full electronic use.However putting aside the use for macro work,its a must have for any canon owners bag....

[waveydavey]

There is a 50mm macro lens produced, but it's not the 50mm 1.8 mk2.

The thing about the 50mm 1.8 mk2, is, it's just really good value for money, don't don't buying it thinking you'll have a great lens, you just have an f1.8 lens that's great for the money, and it can produce excellent sharp results with reasonable clarity definition. It is of course plastic (it's £100 after all) and it doesn't have IS (that would add another £50).

One thing's for certain, If you're going to spend £100 on any lens, it has to be 50mm 1.8 mk2 :-)

As for macro, save up and buy a proper macro lens, or, buy the Canon extension tubes 12mm or 25mm, these fit between the lens and the camera body. The lenses that screw to the front of your kit lens are OK, but, really, they're just OK......

[neil_ross]

I cant recommend the 50mm enough! Im by no means experienced but its the best £100 ive ever spent!

as for the macro, i use my 50mm 1.8 with some tubes and im pretty happy with it, the only problem is how close you need to get, something like a 100m macro would put about 300mm between you and your subject, im gonna upgrade soon to a decent macro but the 50mm and tubes do ok for now.

This was taken with the tubes: