50mm? Maybe

[Hankw]

Hi All:

After reading all the praises of the Mighty 50, I have been thinking about getting one.
Would any of you be willing to share some shots showing what this lens is so famous for? Perhaps SOOC and a few settings to show the versatility of the lens.

Thank you, HankW

[ricklepage]

Hank, I'm a firm believer in the magic of the 50. Probably more a believer of the magic of the prime lens in general, but 50s are quite special.

Here's a couple from my 50 on my Canon 5D. The 85mm f/1.2 is probably on my camera more these days, but I still love and use that 50.

Rick

[Chuck S.]

The 50 mm attached to Rick's Canon 5D (a full-frame DSLR) has essentially the same field of view as a 50 mm attached to a 35 mm film SLR. However, when the 50 mm is attached to an APS-C sensor based camera such as the Rebel XSi or Canon 50D, the field of view is smaller - the equivalent of an 80 mm lens.

This makes it more of a short telephoto as opposed to a 'normal' lens, but it's still a very useful lens. The biggest advantage is speed, i.e., the 50 comes in several versions, all with a maximum aperture less than f2 (1.8, 1.4, and 1.2 for Canon). If you want to take photos without flash in low light, the 50 mm or the fast 85 mm that Rick cited are ideal.

[ricklepage]

Chuck -

How do you like the G10? I passed on the G9, but I'm feeling the need for a smaller form-factor digicam.

Rick

[Chuck S.]

Rick, I'm struggling with my relationship with the G10 and haven't decided yet whether it's going to be my 'grab-and-go' camera - which its predecessor (G9) had been.

The G10 has the advantage of wider angle (28mm equiv. vs 35mm on the G9), nicer controls, and a higher resolution LCD. On the down side, it's bulkier, has a shorter telephoto end (140mm equiv vs. 210mm), and has arguably too many pixels on a small sensor (who needs 15 megapixels on a point & shoot camera?).

The situation became more complicated when I learned about and then acquired the Panasonic LX3 - a very nice little camera with extra wide angle (24mm), faster lens (f2.0), and less bulk. On the other hand, its tele range is only 60mm and it relies more on menus than dials for key settings such as ISO and exposure compensation. After 30 years of Canon controls, there's a learning curve to be climbed.

Right now, the LX3 travels with me on business trips and the G9 sometimes edges out its newer sibling when I'm thinking I want some longer telephoto range. So the G10 is having an identity crisis right now, struggling for a position in my travel bag....:)

[lowbone]

Chuck -

How do you like the G10? I passed on the G9, but I'm feeling the need for a smaller form-factor digicam.

Rick

Rick, I sent my G10 back to B&H after finding no significant improvement over my G9. The G10 has the new digic 4 processor but it has more megapixels so using it above ISO 400 still produces excessive noise. The G10 has an exposed exposure compensation dial but there is still too much menu digging for various settings. For now I'll keep my G9. I have not tried the Panasonic Lumix but that camera has received good reviews

[Chuck S.]

Rick, I sent my G10 back to B&H after finding no significant improvement over my G9.

In hindsight, that's probably what I should have done. :( Oh, well - one of my children may end up with a G10 for their birthday....:)

[Hankw]

Rick:

Thanks for taking the time to post your photo's.

I might just get it, the fact that I have a lens that is not AF on my D40 might make me a little more aware of the camera settings and put some thought into the taking of the subjects.

[Tracy Lee]

Hi Hank

I have a D50 with the Nikkor f.1.4 50mm, and I am very satisfied. My bf shares the lens, and he uses a D40x. The manual focus is not too much of a hindrance for him, but he does say that the view finder doesn't allow him to 'eyeball' the focus perfectly. But he does love the 50mm.

If you have the budget, you may consider the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM lens, which will allow the autofocus to work on the D40; Here's a review:

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma_50_1p4_c16/

(if you have a slightly bigger budget, Nikon has also released an AF-S 50mm which would work fully on the D40. Review here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08092201nikkor_50mm_1_4glens.asp)


If you decide on the basic (affordable!) Nikkor, keep in mind that it is a great lens, and if you upgrade your camera in the future, it will work on most other Nikons (D90, D200, etc).

Let us know what you decide.

Tracy

PS: I have the Sigma 30mm HSM (F1.4), and am very satisfied (though I do find it heavier than the non-HSM 50mm:-)

[ricklepage]

Rick, I sent my G10 back to B&H after finding no significant improvement over my G9. The G10 has the new digic 4 processor but it has more megapixels so using it above ISO 400 still produces excessive noise. The G10 has an exposed exposure compensation dial but there is still too much menu digging for various settings. For now I'll keep my G9. I have not tried the Panasonic Lumix but that camera has received good reviews

And that's why I never got the G9! Ah well.

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

Rick

[Grant]

I have a G9 and yes it has some limitations, but then all cameras have limitations. All in all it is an extremely good walk around camera and the vast majority of images I have post this year on my blog are taken with the G9

[Hankw]

Tracy,

Thanks for the links. I have checked out the Sigma link and will check the other shortly. I have a budget set so I am still thinking it over some.