The 50 mm Prime Lens

Back in 2009, I wrote about the ten best photography deals, items that are cheap, yet very functional. One of the items was the Canon 50 mm prime lens. So, what's so great about this prime lens?

1. Short and light--great for traveling.
2. f/1.8 for fast, sharp shooting.
3. Wide open aperture lets in lots of light so shutter speeds are very fast
    in Aperture Priority mode.
4. Cheap--just over $100.
5. Great in low light without flash.

Warning: If you want a 50 mm prime lens that is more durable and a bit faster, go with the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras. It will last a lot longer than the f/1.8.

The advice above follows a you-get-what-you-pay-for approach. You'll spend a couple of hundred dollars more on the f/4 lens. Don't fret, though. If you go to sell it, you can get just about all of your money back if you sell it used on ebay or other similar website.