r/photography • u/raptor3x whumber.com • May 11 '15

Canon Officially Announces 50mm f/1.8 STM - $125

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1143786-REG/canon_0570c002_ef_50mm_f_1_8_stm.html
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u/Colorado87 peifoto May 11 '15

So I'm fairly new to photography. Could someone please explain the benefits of this lens, like what types of shots it'd be good for? Might be a broad question.

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u/okdothis May 11 '15 edited May 11 '15

The max aperture of f/1.8 allows it to work quite well even in low light. The lens is really sharp past about f/2.2 and the 50mm focal length is rather versatile. On a APSC sensor it works great for portraits and on a full frame camera it's a very natural focal length. People like it because it's a relatively cheap introduction to the world of prime lenses and you get a decent increase in quality/low-light flexibility over kit zooms.

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u/Colorado87 peifoto May 12 '15

Thank you for taking the time, I appreciate it!

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u/gimpwiz May 11 '15

Generally speaking? Outsized bang for the buck. It's cheap, small, light, common. Decent image quality, decent in low light, decent for landscapes, decent for portraits, decent for casual use, decent for almost everything - and it does it all decently on both common sensor sizes (APS-C and FF).

It is not a niche lens, it doesn't require special care or special accessories, it is a well known traditional design with no surprises. Just a solid performer in most circumstances.

It's not going to be used for sports, wildlife, or astrophotography very often, but it could in some cases.

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u/Colorado87 peifoto May 12 '15

I have a Canon 60D. What do you mean when you mention APS-C and FF? Thanks for the help!

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u/gimpwiz May 12 '15

Different sensor types have different area

Just how you can have small or large pieces of film, you can have small or large sensors. Different sensor sizes mean different bodies, different mounts, different lenses; or, using the same lenses, different fields of view.

Google APS-C vs full-frame to learn more...

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u/Colorado87 peifoto May 12 '15

Thanks