Update: Following Jem's comment (below) I've amended this entry to take account of the fact that the price I was quoting for a new 50mm f/1.8 was a bit excessive.
I got a new lens yesterday, the 50mm f/1.4, to replace my f/1.8. Optically, there isn't anything wrong with the f/1.8 version – it's produced lot of shots that I'm happy with – but I have found the focussing a bit slow, particularly when trying to take portraits of the kids at a wide aperture. Anyway, I've replaced it with the f/1.4 (which was used to take today's and yesterday's shots) so am selling the old one (plus filter and hood). At today's prices, sourced from speedgraphic.co.uk and warehouse express (thanks Jem), the whole lot would cost £108.45, broken down as follows:
I'd be happy with something around the £60.00 mark so feel free to make me an offer. I would put it on eBay, but thought I'd see if anyone was interested first. Oh, and I do realise that this isn't much of a bargain if you live in the US – lenses being quite a bit cheaper over there – but did think someone in the UK might be interested.
Anyway, back to today's shot, which is a view of Blackpool's Central pier: this was as much a lens test as anything else, but I decided I liked the quality of light enough to put it up. Oh, and I can confirm that this is an exceptionally sharp lens. It's difficult to tell at this resolution, but the detail in the full size image is stunning. Much as I do like my zoom lenses, I don't think you can beat the sharpness of a good prime.
captured camera lens aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
2.36pm on 25/11/05
Canon 20D
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
f/8.0
1/640
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
no
comment byJem at 08:39 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Sorry to say this Dave - but I bought my 50mm f1.8 new from warehouse express a few months back for £69 :/ They are currently selling it for £73.
As for this shot - how on earth do you manage to make such a summer looking shot from a winters day by the beach? :)
comment byMikeO at 08:40 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Loving the colour saturation on this one, David. The sky is unreal (but stunning!). All the best.
comment bydjn1 at 08:50 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Thanks Jem, I've altered my figures above. As for the feel of this shot: it was warmed a fraction when I converted it, but not much.
comment by Geoff at 08:53 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Nice. Wonderful light, colours, sharpness. Chromasia style through and through. Lovely shot Dave.
comment by John B at 09:01 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Very nice colours. My only (constructive) comment would be that the horizon needs to be adjusted (CCW) as the sea looks like its running downhill
Cheers
John
comment bynuno f at 09:02 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
I bough a 50mm f/1.8 some weeks ago and I just love this lens. But I will also buy the 50mm f/1.4 in the near future. The results seem to be a little sharper and it's faster on focusing. Good work on today's photo. : )
comment by Rex at 10:07 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
I've always wanted to take shots like this. The colors...the symmetry, this shot is one of those that can be categorized as "Under Blue Skies". I love this one.
comment by Benji Dell at 10:13 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
that is amazing...how do you get those colors?
comment byRock at 10:43 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Now that's one hell of a lens test! The gorgeous complimentary colors are what first hit me... but only long enough for the image to burn into my retinas. The pier work is truly wonderful. The lighting makes for a very dramatic shot. --- The Canon 50mm f1.8 is a fine lens and at anything from f4 - f11 is very sharp. At f1.4- f2.8 it will get you shots that you may not otherwise be able to capture, but the lens really suffers when at and near wide open. Even with its faults it is one of my favorite lenses.
comment by maria at 11:10 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
hey, dave i was just wondering, how much did ur Canon 20D cost along with lenses.
comment by Enike at 11:23 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Classic Chromasia saturation. It's nice to get a feel for Blackpool that isn't limited to the delayed episodes of Coronation Street that I get from the CBC (I live near the Canadian border). :D
comment byDave at 11:47 PM (GMT) on 26 November, 2005
Gorgeous color. I usually don't comment because you are so rich in comments, but I always visit your site and find something there to like. Anyway, this shot is very warm and uplifting. Thanks!
comment byowen b at 12:15 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
I also often refrain from leaving a comment, as your site is one of many that I browse daily for inspiration and pleasure, but when there is something valuable to be added to a discussion I say hello!
I am currently very unhappy with the level of softening I get reducing my full size, 300dpi images to 72dpi at 800px wide. Even sharpening only seems to make the horrible blotchiness and smudging look worse, especially when compared to the original. How do you compress yours to 72dpi for web and keep them so sharp? (I have a d70 by the way).
comment byKevin H. Stecyk at 01:04 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Beautiful shot. I love the rich colors and clouds.
comment bySimon C at 01:19 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
I have the 50 f/1.4 and it's a great lens. Does tend towards some edge softness wider than f/2.8, and can be fairly 'dreamy' wide open. But colour, contrast are wonderful. Like many primes, it's at its sharpest at f/5.6.
Good colour in this shot and I like the smoothness of the clouds in the background.
comment by glen allan at 01:52 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
abandoned, closed for the winter, or people hiding from the cold?? Love the color and the depth o' field... from the broken windows in the foreground to the detail in background/ocean the level of detail in such a large shot is spectacular.
comment byChristopher at 03:23 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
What an awesome shot. It really reminds me of something out of a Pixar movie.
comment byflying cow at 04:56 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
how do you get such brilliant colours in your pictures?
the buildings truly look like they belong in the sky.
comment byWolfgang at 09:04 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Excellent image! I love the colours and the sky.
comment by GP at 10:04 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Happy colours! :-)
comment byjcyrhs at 11:24 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
comment byjcyrhs at 11:24 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
comment byjcyrhs at 11:28 AM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
comment byowen b at 01:03 PM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Hehe... triple post to make up for lack of commenting for a while? ;)
comment bystephanie at 02:40 PM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Wow, Dave! The color is amazing! I can't believe that sky! Great photo!
comment byManolo at 06:54 PM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Very nice colors but i think the in sadows don't have more details,.
excuseme for my english
good shot
comment by nikee ghini at 07:44 PM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
Oh my, Dave
are you retouching the hell out if these images of there is an unbelievable light over there? At least your retouched for refraction or used a polarizer, something... And honestly, who needs more detail on the shadows, the onlywithetail is under the metal pier , and there is nothing there I need to see.. ;9
Not inspiring but beautiful color
Nikee
comment bydjn1 at 08:51 PM (GMT) on 27 November, 2005
owen: I use a plugin called Web Presenter Pro for resizing, then USM (settings around 200, 0.2, 0) for the final image.
nikee: the light was really good, but I did make some changes.
comment bypeter at 12:03 PM (GMT) on 29 November, 2005
No you can't! (beat a good prime).
My biggest issue is still that my all time "most-used" lens was the 50mm/f1.4, now on the "D" I've got just what you're selling, the 1.8 (for the time being, like the quality, hate the plastic built aspect of it though) but my 35mm/f2.0 just arrived (suppose to serve as a 50 mil) and I love it, however - and there's no solution to it at the moment - it is built to be a 35mm for a 35mm format, so it doesn't have the same features like 1:1 scaling or the DoF is obviously a bit larger (which doesn't bother me so much) unlike the slight distortion (hardly noticable, but present compare to the 50mil).
I know that they just brought out the 5D, but I just purchased the 20D. anyway..., gotta lern to live what we got, right? anyway, interested about what you think...
comment byJohn San-Claire at 01:04 AM (GMT) on 2 December, 2005
No a lot to say after all the comments already left. Great color
Update: Following Jem's comment (below) I've amended this entry to take account of the fact that the price I was quoting for a new 50mm f/1.8 was a bit excessive.
I got a new lens yesterday, the 50mm f/1.4, to replace my f/1.8. Optically, there isn't anything wrong with the f/1.8 version – it's produced lot of shots that I'm happy with – but I have found the focussing a bit slow, particularly when trying to take portraits of the kids at a wide aperture. Anyway, I've replaced it with the f/1.4 (which was used to take today's and yesterday's shots) so am selling the old one (plus filter and hood). At today's prices, sourced from speedgraphic.co.uk and warehouse express (thanks Jem), the whole lot would cost £108.45, broken down as follows:
50mm f/1.8 II – £73.00
ES62AD hood – £17.95
B+W UV 010 MRC filter – £17.50
I'd be happy with something around the £60.00 mark so feel free to make me an offer. I would put it on eBay, but thought I'd see if anyone was interested first. Oh, and I do realise that this isn't much of a bargain if you live in the US – lenses being quite a bit cheaper over there – but did think someone in the UK might be interested.
Anyway, back to today's shot, which is a view of Blackpool's Central pier: this was as much a lens test as anything else, but I decided I liked the quality of light enough to put it up. Oh, and I can confirm that this is an exceptionally sharp lens. It's difficult to tell at this resolution, but the detail in the full size image is stunning. Much as I do like my zoom lenses, I don't think you can beat the sharpness of a good prime.
camera
lens
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 20D
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
f/8.0
1/640
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
no
Sorry to say this Dave - but I bought my 50mm f1.8 new from warehouse express a few months back for £69 :/ They are currently selling it for £73.
As for this shot - how on earth do you manage to make such a summer looking shot from a winters day by the beach? :)
Loving the colour saturation on this one, David. The sky is unreal (but stunning!). All the best.
Thanks Jem, I've altered my figures above. As for the feel of this shot: it was warmed a fraction when I converted it, but not much.
Nice. Wonderful light, colours, sharpness. Chromasia style through and through. Lovely shot Dave.
Very nice colours. My only (constructive) comment would be that the horizon needs to be adjusted (CCW) as the sea looks like its running downhill
Cheers
John
I bough a 50mm f/1.8 some weeks ago and I just love this lens. But I will also buy the 50mm f/1.4 in the near future. The results seem to be a little sharper and it's faster on focusing. Good work on today's photo. : )
I've always wanted to take shots like this. The colors...the symmetry, this shot is one of those that can be categorized as "Under Blue Skies". I love this one.
that is amazing...how do you get those colors?
Now that's one hell of a lens test! The gorgeous complimentary colors are what first hit me... but only long enough for the image to burn into my retinas. The pier work is truly wonderful. The lighting makes for a very dramatic shot. --- The Canon 50mm f1.8 is a fine lens and at anything from f4 - f11 is very sharp. At f1.4- f2.8 it will get you shots that you may not otherwise be able to capture, but the lens really suffers when at and near wide open. Even with its faults it is one of my favorite lenses.
hey, dave i was just wondering, how much did ur Canon 20D cost along with lenses.
Classic Chromasia saturation. It's nice to get a feel for Blackpool that isn't limited to the delayed episodes of Coronation Street that I get from the CBC (I live near the Canadian border). :D
Gorgeous color. I usually don't comment because you are so rich in comments, but I always visit your site and find something there to like. Anyway, this shot is very warm and uplifting. Thanks!
I also often refrain from leaving a comment, as your site is one of many that I browse daily for inspiration and pleasure, but when there is something valuable to be added to a discussion I say hello!
I am currently very unhappy with the level of softening I get reducing my full size, 300dpi images to 72dpi at 800px wide. Even sharpening only seems to make the horrible blotchiness and smudging look worse, especially when compared to the original. How do you compress yours to 72dpi for web and keep them so sharp? (I have a d70 by the way).
Beautiful shot. I love the rich colors and clouds.
I have the 50 f/1.4 and it's a great lens. Does tend towards some edge softness wider than f/2.8, and can be fairly 'dreamy' wide open. But colour, contrast are wonderful. Like many primes, it's at its sharpest at f/5.6.
Good colour in this shot and I like the smoothness of the clouds in the background.
abandoned, closed for the winter, or people hiding from the cold?? Love the color and the depth o' field... from the broken windows in the foreground to the detail in background/ocean the level of detail in such a large shot is spectacular.
What an awesome shot. It really reminds me of something out of a Pixar movie.
how do you get such brilliant colours in your pictures?
the buildings truly look like they belong in the sky.
Excellent image! I love the colours and the sky.
Happy colours! :-)
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
Havn't been posting comments for quite a while... you've made this pier look rather...artificial. My first impression was that this...is a model of some sort.
The stark contrast between the sharpness of the structures and the softness of the clouds in the back ground makes me wonder if this is real at all...
superb job.
Great lighting.
Hehe... triple post to make up for lack of commenting for a while? ;)
Wow, Dave! The color is amazing! I can't believe that sky! Great photo!
Very nice colors but i think the in sadows don't have more details,.
excuseme for my english
good shot
Oh my, Dave
are you retouching the hell out if these images of there is an unbelievable light over there? At least your retouched for refraction or used a polarizer, something... And honestly, who needs more detail on the shadows, the onlywithetail is under the metal pier , and there is nothing there I need to see.. ;9
Not inspiring but beautiful color
Nikee
owen: I use a plugin called Web Presenter Pro for resizing, then USM (settings around 200, 0.2, 0) for the final image.
nikee: the light was really good, but I did make some changes.
No you can't! (beat a good prime).
My biggest issue is still that my all time "most-used" lens was the 50mm/f1.4, now on the "D" I've got just what you're selling, the 1.8 (for the time being, like the quality, hate the plastic built aspect of it though) but my 35mm/f2.0 just arrived (suppose to serve as a 50 mil) and I love it, however - and there's no solution to it at the moment - it is built to be a 35mm for a 35mm format, so it doesn't have the same features like 1:1 scaling or the DoF is obviously a bit larger (which doesn't bother me so much) unlike the slight distortion (hardly noticable, but present compare to the 50mil).
I know that they just brought out the 5D, but I just purchased the 20D. anyway..., gotta lern to live what we got, right? anyway, interested about what you think...
No a lot to say after all the comments already left. Great color