Just bought cheap Canon 50mm 1.8 lens

[theantiquetiger]

What are some good tips in using this lens?

blue eyes by Theantiquetiger, on Flickr

[christopher steven b.]

I'm a huge proponent of the 50 1.8 and have shot about 80 weddings with the same one. They apparently are prone to 'falling apart' - so I carry an extra in the bag - but mine hasn't 'sploded yet !

I'm not sure this is a tip so much as a habit, but I almost never shoot more open than f/2.2. Sharpness and vignetting seem to fall off dramatically at f/2 and f/1.8, but your miles may vary.

This isn't 50mm particular, but obviously don't feel like you always need to be at f/1.8 - f/2.5 when using this lens. If your subjects are kids bee-boppin' around the yard, the awesomeness of background blur is less impactful when your subject doesn't fall within your focal plane !

Man does this lens flare--at least for me. So when doing backlit shots, try to put your lens in the shade or cup your hand above it whilst shooting.

If I had my druthers I'd shoot with the 50mm at f/2.5 on my 5d ALL DAY. I really really dig this focal length on a full-frame.

Good portrait !

[Iguanasan]

Christopher keeps beating me to the punch with some great information

I will take the time to chime in and agree with him, however. I love that lens. It's on my camera most of the time. I, too, will caution you to play at f1.8 when you want to but f2.2, f2.8 or even f4.0 makes for a generally nicer image.

Also, mounting it backwards on your camera turns it into an awesome macro lens. Almost every shot in this album on Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/euloth...7627342063753/, was done with a reversed 50mm f1.8. There's the odd one where I used my 70-300mm in macro mode but most of them are the nifty-fifty!