50mm or 60mm

trying to decide on one lens....CANON 50mm f1.8 or 60mm f2.8 USM...what are your thoughts.. 50mm is 1.8 and under 100 but the 60mm is Macro/USM and 400.. is F/1.0 that big of a jump? i need some help here.

yes one f stop is a big difference. f1.8 is faster than f2.8.

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why is the 50mm $300 cheaper than the 60mm then..

rman said:

yes one f stop is a big difference. f1.8 is faster than f2.8.

F-number - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Wouldn't that be a 1 1/3 stop according to Wikipedia.

macwannabe said:

why is the 50mm $300 cheaper than the 60mm then..

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50mm is plastic. It’s one of Canon’s cheapest lenses. It’s a little soft wide open but for a f/1.8 prime, you can’t touch it.

I believe the 60mm is metal. It’s also Macro and it’s pretty sharp from what I read. Down side is that it’s an EF-S mount lens. If you’re planning on going with an EF mount Full Frame Canon or APS-H Canon, then it will not fit on those cameras.

well i think my next body will be the 50D maybe mid next year. i just got my XSi this feb. i am really just looking for a low light lens and i dont know to much about photography yet. i have a class coming up this fall semester but i have about 400 to spend..

You can't beat the 50 F/1.8, maybe a little wide open, but its worth the price of under $100. Even consider the 50 F/1.4, its around $325 (not quite sure of price), but it is metal mount and quicker focus than the 50 F/1.8.... 50 F/1.8 is also louder focus.

What do you like to take pictures of? Thats a good factor to consider when you are buying a lens. If you are going to be in a lot of low light situations then 50 F/1.8 or 50 F/1.4 is the way to go.

I had the 50 F/1.8 and used it quite a bit, then upgraded to 50 F/1.4 and loved it.

Edit: 50 F/1.4 is $325 from bhphotovideo.com

The 50mm f/1.8 likes to hunt for focus too. If it's too dark, it won't always focus very well.

just read up on it while i was at work and and the 50mm f/1.4 is manual focus so i would not have to worry about it hunting.. so right now i have to decide between the 1.4 and the 2.8 both USM but the 2.8 has macro... and i would be taking pictures of plants i like flower shots and such. maybe some portraits as well.. just a good all around lens. they are both around the same price.. which is what i am trying to figure out... why...lol

i am not a photographer so i don't know much of what i would be shooting... i just like to have fun and take design-like pictures.

Any lens can be used as a "Macro" lens, it's not an included/excluded feature. As I said in my post earlier that was deleted for some reason, get the 50mm. It's cheap, but it's a great lens.

I didn't like the 50mm1.4 on my XT or my 30D. I wouldn't give up my 60mm for anything. Tack sharp a great lens.

i am leaning towards the 60mm as of now.. i have been read up on both.. i think i will like the 60 more..
one thing though can you manual focus the 60mm?

macwannabe said:

i am leaning towards the 60mm as of now.. i have been read up on both.. i think i will like the 60 more..
one thing though can you manual focus the 60mm?

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You can grab and focus a USM lens manually anytime. No need to flip a switch.

oh awesome.. i just wish i had 800 bucks cuz i would just simply get both... anyone wanna donate to the macwannabe graphic design fund (MGDF).. j/k but i gotta choose one..

Dont forget about your crop factor on your XSI. Your camera has a crop factor of 1.6. So if you have your 50mm lens, the field of view will be as if you have a 80mm lens. and the 60mm lens will have a view of a 96mm lens.

I believe I have explained this correctly

miles01110 said:

Any lens can be used as a "Macro" lens, it's not an included/excluded feature. As I said in my post earlier that was deleted for some reason, get the 50mm. It's cheap, but it's a great lens.

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The 60mm is a true 1:1 macro lens, it's razor sharp(most true macro's are).
Unless you are truly looking for a macro lens I would get the 50mm f1.4. I had the 60mm and took some great macro shots, I now have the 100mm 2.8 macro, it's even better.

i think i am gonna hold off on the lens buying.. i was talking with my girlfriend last night about getting a new iMac for my coming b-day so i will put the money towards that.. but there is going to be one slight problem, my name on the forums.. mac wanna be...lol

edit: i hate working on a PC

thanks for all advises, i think I will get the 50 mm. one, it's more rational

macwannabe said:

just read up on it while i was at work and and the 50mm f/1.4 is manual focus so i would not have to worry about it hunting.. so right now i have to decide between the 1.4 and the 2.8 both USM but the 2.8 has macro... and i would be taking pictures of plants i like flower shots and such. maybe some portraits as well.. just a good all around lens. they are both around the same price.. which is what i am trying to figure out... why...lol

i am not a photographer so i don't know much of what i would be shooting... i just like to have fun and take design-like pictures.

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The Canon 50mm f/1.4 autofocuses.

A 50mm is an excellent lens, especially given the price. If I was allowed to keep just two lenses from my bag, the 50mm would make the cut.