Sony SAL50F14 - lens - 50 mm F/1.4

Advantages: Good for shooting in low light, compact, discreet, low weight
Disadvantages: None really

...are "slow" in terms of the light they transmit, typically f/3.5-f/5.6, meaning a slow shutter speed will be required to shoot in low light. This 35mm f/2 "prime" lens lets in a lot more light, about 4X as much in fact, so that you can use faster shutter speeds when shooting indoors without flash for example. Someone with the kit lens shooting indoors without flash might have to shoot at 1/15s wheras someone shooting with this prime lens could still shoot at 1/60s and avoid motion blur. This lens is very compact compared to a zoom lens so is more discreet, which would appeal to street photography enthusiasts. I use this lens with the HN-3 metal lens hood (about £15) which means I'm less likely to damage the glass at the front of the lens if the camera takes a knock, and the hood helps prevent flare from bright sunlight. This lens cost about... Read review

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Advantages: Light weight, Sharp, Fast, Reasonably Priced
Disadvantages: Not Image Stabilised, Tripod Collar not included

...I have been using my 70mm-200mm F4.0 L for roughly 2 years on a 20D body. It is very quick to focus and is very sharp throughout the focal range. The bokeh is very soft at F/4 giving a soft, out of focus background. The lens is extremely light, making it easy to transport. I find it an extremely useful lens, due to the extensive range from 70mm-200mm and use it with a 1.4x converter to create a total length of 280mm. I personally use my lens to take images of motorsport and wildlife, which it lends itself to beautifully. The build quality of this lens is excellent - which means no wobbling and smooth controls. A few more specification details - The optical construction is made of 16 elements in 13 groups, including 1 CaF2 and 2 UD elements. The minimum focus distance is 1.32m resulting in a maximum object magnification of 1:5 at 200... Read review

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Advantages: tack sharp, good optical quality, fast focus
Disadvantages: plastic case and mount, not USM

...Bay. For the reasons above it is a bargain, and worth having in your camera bag. If you can move about to get your composition with the fixed 50mm f1.8 I would suggest that you use it above a standard zoom. Other lenses for comparison.... (Not including the 50mm f1.4 (£400) and the 50mm f1.0L (>£1000)) Two other lenses in the Canon range are worth noting. One is this lenses predecessor (the 50mm f1.8 mk I). It comes with a metal body and lens mount (is therefore more rugged) and is supposed to have better optical quality and faster autofocus (it sells second hand for the same price as a new MkII - about £80), don't ask me why they changed it for this one !. The other is the 24-70mm f2.8L - the best quality zoom lens in the Canon range which retails at around £1400 !!!!!!! If you notice the aperture is f2.8 which still isn't as wide as this 50mm... Read review

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