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Canon 50mm f1.4 USM or Tokina 11-16/2.8

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Balgus
Posts: 474 - Karma: 14
Which one should i get first. Which one is more versatile?

i think im going with the tokina but i'd like a second opinion for sure.

what are your thoughts?
Jan 7 2012 1:39PM
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hawaiiansteeze
Posts: 3255 - Karma: 3,226
what are you doing? if your planning on filming skiing and following get the tokina.
Jan 7 2012 1:52PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
if you need a 50mm prime, just get the f/1.8, great lens at around the quarter of the price. I'd say get the Tokina, then if needed, get the f/1.8
Jan 7 2012 2:00PM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
What lenses do you currently have? I love my 11-16 but it isn't a good "do-it-all" lens.
Jan 7 2012 2:22PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
50mm is a little long on a crop for a standard lens, but what other lenses do you have? also, last i checked the tokina 11-16 was nearly double the price of the 50mm 1.4
Jan 7 2012 2:37PM
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eheath
Posts: 61091 - Karma: 118,105
What lenses do you have now? what are you planning on shooting?
Jan 7 2012 3:54PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
hard to say without knowing your current lens setup and how you shoot, but i have a 17-55, 50, and 85, and i really wish i had the 11-16. i feel like i would use the 11-16 so much more than the 50 when shooting skiing
Jan 7 2012 4:00PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
personally I dont like UWA's. and those two lenses are so different, we need more info on what you are shooting
Jan 7 2012 7:17PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
if you dont already have a 50mm, get a tokina 11-16 then save up the extra 100 bucks or so for the pentax 50mm f/1.4
Jan 7 2012 7:58PM
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RawrRawrRob
Posts: 1841 - Karma: 685
Smart
Jan 7 2012 8:20PM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Wrong. The 50mm f/1.8 is a piece of shit. Built like a toy and not that sharp
Jan 7 2012 8:35PM
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TaySwift
Posts: 3436 - Karma: 1,622
solution: buy 11-16 tokina and 50mm 1.8,

i don't have anything to say about the 11-16 other then i am buying it soon, but the 50mm 1.8 is awesome for its price. i used my buddies all last week to film some skiing, it is very sharp, very small, and awesome. Only downside is, when your at 1.8-5.6 follow cams are a bitch because it is hard to get somebody to stay in focus at different lengths
Jan 7 2012 8:37PM
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Balgus
Posts: 474 - Karma: 14
thanks for the help boys.
I only have a starter 18-55mm lens at the moment . I wanna shoot lots of lifestyle with my t2i, landscapes and travelling oh and of course skiing but thats not my primary focus. I need something that is fast sharp and good in low light.

I have about 650$ now and i make about 100 bucks a week so i'd get the 1.4 in time.
what are your thoughts and recommendations?


Jan 7 2012 8:57PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
by what you just listed, i would replace the kit lens with a tamron 17-50 and they canon 85mm f/1.8 a UWA should not come before a decent mid zoom. if your doing landscape and traveling alot, the 85mm will come in handy. a 70-200 would be better, but its out of your budget
Jan 7 2012 9:31PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
well obviously if you pay 100 bucks for a lens it's not going to be made of diamonds, other than the build quality, it's a good bang for your buck, I found mine to be decently sharp. I used to have one, and was pretty happy with it.
Jan 7 2012 10:17PM
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eheath
Posts: 61091 - Karma: 118,105
the 50mm 1.8 is actually very sharp, not sure what youre talking about.
Jan 7 2012 10:36PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,940
build is shit, sharpness is not
Jan 7 2012 11:58PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
Just snag a pentax 50mm for cheap. Then buy the tokina 11-16 with the savings.
Jan 8 2012 12:49AM
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Moosen
Posts: 4285 - Karma: 2,585
If you have enough money for the tokina, you have enough for a 50 prime 1.8 so get both those
Jan 8 2012 12:50AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Get the Pentax SMC 50mm 1.4 for around $100. Sharp, fast, and built like a tank. The Canon 50mm 1.8 is a crappy lens; the optics are good but the housing is cheap and doesn't perform well at all.

Get the 50mm and learn how to use it right. Practice the ins and outs of composition and general lens use then get the 11-16 later on.
Jan 8 2012 4:08PM
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CaliforniaDouble
Posts: 218 - Karma: 22
Here's the thing about a 50mm... everyone says it's super cool to have as a prime (coupled with the rest of your zooms), but it's really too long to walk around with on a cropped sensor. A lot of people think this is a great indoor lens due to the aperture, but unless you're in a LARGE room, that's not really the case. Mostly good for portraits or very specific shots.

You should look into the Sigma 30mm 1.4. This will be much more versatile as an everyday lens. It's a newer design than Canon's 50 1.4, and has a great rep for image quality. There are many documented cases of front/back-focusing issues, but if you buy from a vendor like B&H with a strong return policy, that won't be an issue.

If you are set on getting a 50mm lens, I suggest borrowing a copy for a weekend first. This way you'll get an idea what you can and can't use it for.
Jan 8 2012 5:13PM
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Tanner-D
Posts: 2061 - Karma: 4,116
Agreed I have a Pentax 50mm f/1.4 and I love it so much
Jan 8 2012 7:21PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
A very good point. A 50mm on a crop sensor will be far too long to shoot video handheld, and will be more unforgiving than a 50mm on a full frame. It being unforgiving can be beneficial because learning to compose on longer lengths can be healthy. But if you want more of a walk around lens, something in the 28mm - 35mm range is really nice.

The Olympus Zuiko 28mm f3.5 is a great lens...very similar to the Pentax in every regard, can can be found for under $100 in mint condition!
Jan 8 2012 8:21PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
This. Absolutely love this lens. Got mine for 60 bucks at a local photo shop.
Jan 8 2012 9:54PM
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Moosen
Posts: 4285 - Karma: 2,585
Where can i find the pentax one for my canon?
Jan 8 2012 10:49PM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
ebay or keh.com
Jan 8 2012 10:53PM
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Tanner-D
Posts: 2061 - Karma: 4,116
I'd go keh.com they even warranty there used stuff 6 months
Jan 8 2012 11:28PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
Ya i really like keh, gotten just about all my vintage lenses there. You can get some deals as well.
Jan 9 2012 1:10AM
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niels043
Posts: 814 - Karma: 184
I would go with the 50 save the rest of your money for the next piece of glass. The 50 is great in low light and bright light, very sharp, and will help you to learn composition since you won't be able to zoom. Either that or think about maybe a 17-40L great replacement for the 18-55. You ought to have just about enough for a used one if you sell your 18-55... That might be what I would do if I were you.
Jan 9 2012 10:05AM
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