lens 50mm 1.8 vs 50mm 1.4

[Life in Motion]

I'm going to purchase a new lens mainly for portraits. I'm wandering if it is worth the extra 200 for the 1.4 vs 1.8? I'm thinking if i purchase the 1.8 i can afford more lighting on the side. I currently have the kit lens and finally feel comfortable with the settings on my camera that I would like to experiment with portraits a little more.

My question is. If i buy the more expensive lens would it turn out about the same quality as the cheaper lens combined with the better lighting I could buy? Or is the better lens that much more important that i wouldn't need as much other equipment to get decent shots? Seems lighting equipment if very very important from the articles i've read so also which lighting kit would you recommend buying for portraits? umbrella, soft box, etc. if i get the cheaper lens my lighting budget would be about 200 dollars; if i get the expensive lens, probably could only afford one light and a reflector.

Any advice is appreciated!!!

[TheMoons678]

Are you looking to do studio portraits mainly? I don't think that you generally are shooting traditional portraits at f/1.4 or f/1.8, but with a slightly deeper DOF like f/2.8 or higher.

If you don't have lighting equip already, I would get the f/1.8. Since money is tight for the moment, why not check out DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers or the thread here on DIY lighting. I purchased a nikkor 50mm f/1.8 for under $100, a flash for $100 on amazon, a 5-in-1 set of 43" reflectors for $20 on ebay.

[BCampbell]

Here's a review of the 1.4 that compares it to the 1.8. There are some very good reasons to get the 1.4, it's definitely worth the price differential. But you might be able to get away with the 1.8, too, and it resells for close to retail, so you could technically "rent" it indefinitely for $15 or so.

Always buy the best you can afford.

There's a new version of the 1.4 coming down the line, though. You might want to wait to see how it is, what the price point is, and more importantly if prices on the current version drop.

[ken1to]

I have owned both lenses.

I went from Canon 50mm f/1.8 to Canon 50mm f/1.4 based on the following facts:

Optics
1.4 have better optics than 1.8 and have more blades on the on the aperture curtain which improves the bokeh you create when you are using very open apertures. To illustrate my point:

(left to right. Canon 50mm f/1.2L - Canon 50mm f/1.4 - Canon f/1.8)
1.2 = 9 blades
1.4 = 7 blades
1.8 = 5 blades
less blades = more "house" like bokeh and less round

Usage
I mostly use it on portraits and low light conditions (eg concerts when I have room to move)... it's amazing how it can help to have 1 more F-stop.
I've seen discussions that for portrait some folks don't use f/1.4 on outside conditions due to the amount of light, but here's my trick ND4 with a neutral density filter you can use very open apertures without burning the image.

Build Quality
Without a doubt 1.8 feels like a toy, it's plastic and the controls feel a bit awkward. But on the other hand 1.4 comes with USM and better build quality. That doesn't improve the image results, but you will notice how easy becomes to micro adjust focus particularly with very close situations on some cases.


Final thoughts... does it worth the extra 250$? Yes totally.
Quality. Build. Optics. Bokeh.

You can't go wrong believe me and if you enjoy shooting at 50mm as much as I do and you get the 1.8 first, you will eventually buy the 1.4 version of it.


[My blog with 50mm samples - Full Exif on the photo in case you need to see the settings] 50mm • Browse • Kenneth Rivera
[Review link which convince me to buy it ] Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens Review

Hope this information helps.

[GadgetRick]

I'd go with the f1.8 and better lighting. Spending that money on lighting will get you much more in quality than the quality step up from f1.8 to f1.4 version. If you could afford both, I'd say go for the f1.4 and upgrade your lighting.

Lighting is the best upgrade you can make and you get much more bang for your buck in upgrading lighting than upgrading glass (in this case for sure).

[FormElement]

If you are even asking the question then get the the nifty fifty all the way. The DOF at 1.4 and 1.2 is almost useless for head and shoulders shots. At 1.8 you get only about a half inch of DOF at that close of range already. Mine is the sharpest lens I own, and I own some expensive glass! Save the money. Buy light. You can pick up two lumopro strobes and some cactus triggers for the difference in price.

[Life in Motion]

Hello everyone that replied...i am making an update om my thread. i went ahead and bought the 50mm 1.8 and while i can tell the plastic feel everyone talks about I am glad i made the purchase! I love the difference in quality of the glass from my kit lens!

now to buy the lighting. I have seen that someone suggest the strobist lighting but i have had someone mention the 580 with a hotshoe for a one light solution and pair with reflectors? I was thinking a softbox before these two suggestions but now i'm really confused. I will be taking photos on location mainly for i don't have large studio space yet...so i am thinking something that will work outside and inside for small portrait settings...

I am just looking to experiment a lot more to learn as much as possible to be able to eventually make a career out of it.

here is my first snapshot with my new 50mm 1.8...just testing the low light capability and movement from the child. i am very pleased with the quality differences in my new lens.

[Sarah in VA]

That's a fantastic first shot with your 50mm1.8! Mine just arrived this morning, and my first tries were no where near as good.

May I ask what settings you used?

Thanks!

[Life in Motion]

sorry it took me so long to reply sarah in va. i guess i forgot to subscribe to this thread.

Thanks for the comment. I took the picture visiting at a friends house and she had some large windows that were getting great light. the light reflection in her eyes were actually large windows. I was mainly shooting around the whole first day with no flash testing how fast the lens is and i am impressed to the quality compared to my kit lens. The exif info you asked for is

Canon Rebel xs 50mm 1.8

f/2.2
iso 100
1/60 sec.
also went up a couple stops on the exposure bias to make up for not using a flash inside.

hope this helps