50 mm 1.8 or 1.4

[Sierra25]

I just finished Katrina's "Captured through the Lens" class and it was wonderful. I learnt so much!

I'm very amateur at photography and I just want to improve my regular photos. I don't have any little ones to take fast moving pictures, just a very busy family.

After taking the class I thought it would be nice to move on to another lens. Right now the only ones that I have are the kit lenses. So I thought I would start with a Prime lens. In the class Katrina mentioned that there is a world of difference between the 50mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.8. I guess I am wondering if I would really notice the difference between the two? Is it a good idea to first get the 1.8 and then when I know more move on to the 1.4 or should I just get the 1.4? There is such a price difference I am trying to figure out if it's worth the difference when I am so new at this.

Or to complicate the whole thing is there something else I should be looking at?

Thanks for your opinions. They will help me make this decision.

[audrey77]

Maybe even a wider lens? Like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX? (BTW, you do have a DX format Nikon camera?) I love my 50mm, but wish I could get more of the "big picture"

[Sierra25]

Actually I have a Sony alpha 100.

[LauraBean]

The beauty of starting with the 1.8 is that if it's not a focal length you love, you've learned something helpful without spending really big bucks. I started with the 1.8 and loved it. When I dropped it and broke it last fall, I gave a lot of thought to how to replace it: the 1.4? another 1.8? some other focal length altogether (I was seriously considering the 85mm f/1.8)?

In the end, the budget really decided for me, and I have another f/1.8. Had it been in the budget, I'd have gotten the 1.4. But I'm happy to have the 1.8! The thing is, I already knew I liked the focal length; you may be like Jen and prefer something wider (or something less wide). You could try renting: that's how I (temporarily) ruled out the 85mm lens I had been lusting after; for relatively little money I spent a week shooting with it and, while I loved many of my photos, I found it awkward for the kind of shooting I do a lot of. I was surprised: I thought I'd never want to send it back. So I learned something really helpful by renting. (I used LensRentals.com, but there are other places.)

Hope this ramble is somewhat helpful! I love my 50mm f/1.8.

[cheska99]

I just broke my "nifty fifty" 1.8 too and replaced it with the same lens. The focal length works very well for me and I don't really know what I'm missing by not going to the 1.4 so I'm find. I would like to have a wider lens though, and since I've got a 1.6 crop factor to consider, I'd like it to be really wide.

[Sierra25]

Thanks for the help. I went with the 50mm f1.8 and we'll see how it goes. I'm excited to get it and play.

[shellb]

Oh Laura...so helpful! I need to start renting.