Why are you here? Just go BUY this thing!

First impression

This is the "no-brainer," the "bang for the buck" lens that every Canon shooter has to buy. Currently $125.99, this little gem will spoil you for the more expensive lenses. Results are consistently sharp and colorful, even in low-light situations. On a photo trip, whatever else you pack, throw this in your bag and have it at hand always. It will never let you down.

Note: Canon currently offers (4) different 50mm primes: an f/1.2L USM ($1,449.00), an f/1.4 USM ($399.99), a new f/1.8 STM (especially for video, $125.99), and this one.

There is nothing tricky about this lens. There is one switch on the barrel - auto/manual focus - and a focusing ring at the end. That's about it. I use the collapsible rubber lens hood (Sensei), although Canon sells a dedicated hard plastic hood ES-62.

People like to say that you "zoom with your feet" when using this lens (true, I guess). And I will say that you don't normally need a tripod, especially when light is no problem.

And here are the results of this mini-photo-shoot, cropped but untouched. Click either image for the full out-of-body image.

I just went out for gas, and took a few photos along the way:

bottom line

C'mon. This lens is like a GIFT from Canon. Just buy it. But be careful - it will set the bar very high for every other lens you buy. I highly recommend lens rentals, before you spend a lot of money on another lens. Trying a lens for a week amounts to a small expense, when you're considering a purchase of $1,500 to $2,500. Don't be misled in thinking that every more expensive lens will give you the same quality of images that this little $125.00 lens does.

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