If you have recently bought a Digital SLR or a veteran DSLR enthusiast but don’t have a prime lens in your photography arsenal, I highly encourage you to read our recent post – 10 Reasons Why Every DSLR Enthusiast Must Own a 50mm Prime Lens.
A prime lens is a lens with fixed focal length but usually offers superior image quality compared to a zoom lens at the same focal length.
Now that you are convinced that adding a 50mm prime lens to your gear will expand your horizons in more than one ways, there is another question that commonly arises out of this discussion.
VS 
50mm f/1.8 prime lenses (like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens) are relatively inexpensive selling for around $100. However, it’s sibling a 50mm f/1.4 (like the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Lens) is usually almost 3 times pricier than the f1.8 prime lens.
The Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens has an excellent build quality compared to the f/1.8.
So, the million dollar ~$400 question is:
Should I get a 50mm f/1.8 or a f/1.4 prime lens?
The answer is it depends. Here are some pointers to think about
f/1.8 Prime Lens Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Great image quality for the price
- Best bang for the buck
- Great beginner prime lens
f/1.4 Prime Lens Pros
- Superior Lens build quality
- Smooth ‘bokeh’ effect (out of focus highlights)
- Better flare in pictures
- Better light fall-off
Here is a great comparison between the Canon 50mm f1.8 vs 50mm f1.4 Prime Lens.
Let’s look at some of the 50mm prime lens available and their price range
50mm Lenses for Canon DSLRs
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II ~ $100
- Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM ~ $350
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM ~ $1600
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
50mm Lenses for Nikon DSLRs
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor ~ $125
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor ~ $450
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras ~ $500
50mm Lenses for Sony DSLRs
- Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT ~ $150
- Sony 50mm f/1.4 Lens
~ $370
50mm Lenses for Pentax DSLRs
~ $500I am a new DSLR enthusiast and I wanted to start without breaking the bank. So, Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens is a great option for me. But, I can see myself upgrading to the 50mm f1.4 lens in a year or two when I have a better handle at using a prime lens.
Depending on how serious you are about your photography, spending the $350-400 for the f/1.4 might make better sense to you.
No matter which of the 50mm prime lens we choose, a prime lens definitely opens up a new way of seeing things for a beginner DSLR enthusiast. And photography is all about having fun with it.
What is your take on this? Please let us know in the comments.
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