Canon 50mm 1.8 w/ extension tubes for portraits?

[matt212308]

I have a Canon Rebel T1i and purchased the 50mm 1.8 MK II for taking pictures of our new baby. With the 1.6 crop factor it seems like I am always having to move too far away from the subject to get everything I want into the shot. Am I correct that the addition of extension tubes will allow me to get more subject area into the frame at the same distance as just the lens alone? I am new to DSLR photography so I might be way off on this. Thanks for any input/suggestions.

[inkista]

No, it's kind of the opposite, an extension tube just reduces the minimum focus distance of the lens, so you can get closer and fill the frame even more. Extension tubes don't have any glass in them, so they don't affect the optics of the lens.

What you're looking for is a wider lens with a shorter focal length. Maybe the EF 35/2, 28/1.8 or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Unfortunately, these are substantially more expensive than the plastic fantastic 50/1.8 or extension tubes, and are more likely to introduce distortion.

[matt212308]

Originally Posted by inkista

No, it's kind of the opposite, an extension tube just reduces the minimum focus distance of the lens, so you can get closer and fill the frame even more. Extension tubes don't have any glass in them, so they don't affect the optics of the lens.

What you're looking for is a wider lens with a shorter focal length. Maybe the EF 35/2, 28/1.8 or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Unfortunately, these are substantially more expensive than the plastic fantastic 50/1.8 or extension tubes, and are more likely to introduce distortion.

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the 35 and 28, but was hoping there would be a way to rig the 50mm do what I was wanting to avoid the cost of a new lens.

[inkista]

Yeah. There might be some kind of wide angle converter or filter you could use, but it's likely to be very cheap and will reduce the image quality of the 50mm to the point where you'd prefer not to use it.