50mm F/1.8 a sharper lens for macro?

[ArmySoldier777]

Hello everybody,

I've been looking at getting the 50mm F/1.8 lens by canon for awhile now, and I've even had a couple threads on it. But now I'm looking for a little information on the sharpness of this lens. I've been using my kit lens, the 18-55mm with Zeikos extension tubes for Macro photography, and it's worked out pretty well. But I've also noticed that no matter how well I focus, the image quality just isn't that great. Another thread I was reading discussed how it's due to the lower quality glass in the kit lens which makes sense.

So is the 50mm prime lens a higher quality lens? Or should I be saving up for something a little better?


I appreciate any and all replies. Thanks in advance!
David

[Tzetsin]

The canon 1.8 50mm is a very sharp lens. Almost all prime lenses are going to be sharper than any kit lens. But its still not an L series lens, so though its very sharp, and much sharper than a kit lens, its still not as sharp as it gets.

[ElCapitanoAwesomo]

it is very sharp, but be warned, when you use extension tubes, you will lose some quality. also, the f1.8 isnt really suited for macro. i mean, i guess it's capable, but not the best. in my experience with it, the minimum focus range is annoying for macro. you should look at the 50mm f/2.5 macro or some other macro lens, really.

[ArmySoldier777]

Thanks for the replies,

I definitely can't afford a good dedicated macro lens right now. I'm looking at the 50mm f1.8 for a wide range of uses, Macro just being 1 of them. But it's good to know that its a higher quality lens. Especially for only $120.

I appreciate the help!
David

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by ElCapitanoAwesomo

it is very sharp, but be warned, when you use extension tubes, you will lose some quality. also, the f1.8 isnt really suited for macro. i mean, i guess it's capable, but not the best. in my experience with it, the minimum focus range is annoying for macro. you should look at the 50mm f/2.5 macro or some other macro lens, really.

While I would tend to agree, Ive used my 50 (on Nikon) on both film and digital with "dumb" extension tubes and havent had any problems. Focus is a little hit-or-miss because of Depth of Field being about 1mm, but its perfectly serviceable.

[ElCapitanoAwesomo]

Originally Posted by ArmySoldier777

Thanks for the replies,

I definitely can't afford a good dedicated macro lens right now. I'm looking at the 50mm f1.8 for a wide range of uses, Macro just being 1 of them. But it's good to know that its a higher quality lens. Especially for only $120.

I appreciate the help!
David

in which case, this little bugger is great for you! like i said, the focus distance gets annoying at times, but it should be fine with extension tubes, i guess!

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

While I would tend to agree, Ive used my 50 (on Nikon) on both film and digital with "dumb" extension tubes and havent had any problems. Focus is a little hit-or-miss because of Depth of Field being about 1mm, but its perfectly serviceable.

i see what you mean! there is a minor loss of quality, that's just a given, but i doubt it'd be very noticeable. i didnt really account for the fact that the extension tube would enable one to be farher back from the subject, but it is rather annoying, still!

[inkista]

Are you using the kit lens wide open? Try stopping it down to f/8. And make sure that you aren't having misfocus, DoF, or minimum focus distance issues. Remember that with extension tubes, you're mostly going to be focusing by changing the subject distance, and that the distances where you can actually focus are going to be pretty dang close.

Yes, the 50/1.8 II is sharper, but not a huge quantum leap sharper or anything, and its sweet spot is around f/4. It does fine with extension tubes,


Canon XT/350D. EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Kenko extension tubes, all three tubes stacked (68mm extension). iso 1600, f/11, 1/200s. Handheld.

but it's not in the same class of sharpness as the actual macro lenses.

[ArmySoldier777]

I'll have to take some shots tomorrow while trying to keep in mind the things that you mentioned. It could very well be user error, and most likely is if you're saying that I should still be getting decently sharp images. I'll be sure to post what I get.

David