50mm f1.8 lens fell apart!

Anyone have any issues with their 50mm 1.8? For some odd reason, half of my

lens fell OFF of my camera the other day. I knew the lens was cheap when I

bought it, but jeez... Should I send it back to Canon? Probably no dice but

worth a shot...

If it is under warranty, take it in to an authorized service center and have them deal with it. As long as you don't have to pay anything, I think it is worth having warranty service performed.

 

Otherwise, I would just replace the lens. They are so cheap used and a repair out of pocket wold just not be worth it.

 

You have discovered the weakness of this lens. It is an amazing bang for the buck, but this kind of stuff does tend to happen due to the quality of construction. The old FD 50mm 1.8s were built as well as the higher-level models, but then again, back then the 1.8 was about 2/3 the price of the 1.4. Nowadays the 1.8 is about 1/4 the price of the 1.4.

 

Keith

The Canon EF 50 1.4 is nothing to rave about either.Read my post "Why No Recall".The 1.8 is about a quarter the price of a 50mm 1.4 and a 1.4 is about a quarter the price of a 1.2 (a well built lens) - notice a pattern.The best bet in the 50mm range is the Canon EF 2.5 compact macro,well built,inexpensive,and great optics.

Thats why its only $70. Its easily replaced.

 

m

And also, that's why the 50/1.8Mk-I goes for a higher price on e*ay

as a used lens than the 50/1.8Mk-II as a new lens.

I was just looking at my copy of the 50mm f 1.8 last night and was wondering what the big fuss was about it's construction. It seemed ok to me.

 

But a few people who have bought the lens from Amazon.com, BHPhoto and others have left reviews about the lens just falling apart.

 

Maybe Canon should charge $100 and build it better instead of $70 and so cheaply?

For all the problems claimed about the 50 f/1.8 mark II, I'd like to note that I dropped mine onto pavement from the back of a truck and it survived fine. The polarizing filter on front did shatter, so that probably took a lot of the energy away from the impact, but I'm still using the lens today.

Seconding the 50/2.5 macro idea. My 50/1.8II is still in one piece after four years of reasonably-heavy use, but if it ever goes belly-up I'll be getting the macro. It's reputed to be even sharper, it's fast enough for my needs, and I don't need lifesize magnification.

 

I like the designs of the first-generation EF primes. I have no idea why and couldn't put it into words if I tried, and I know there's better lenses out there, but I like'em anyway.

hey ,,, mine fell apart too!.. well I dropped it onto a brick floor from about 2 ft. but.. .. that's why i got it.. so if I did break it .. .. and it is a basic fun lens.

I think, half of a 50/1.8 MK-II fell off is a comon issue. I had one broke like that too. I didn't even drop it, at least I didn't think so. If you want work horse, find a used 50/1.8 MK-I when one pop up or put up for the f1.2, the EF50/1.4's AF doesn't appear to be better.

Another vote for the f/2.5 CM. *Love* mine. I bought it 3 or 4 years ago, and will continue to use it unless/until Canon produces a 50mm with construction quality similar to the 85/1.8 (except for the clip-on hood ... I much prefer the bayonet mount design there).

Matthew: Petteri Mannersalo put his fondness for early EF primes into words here:

 

http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/Reviews/055_Ugly_Ducklings/_First-Generation_EF_Primes.html

Same thing happened to me. Wasn't even dropped.

The first post I ever read about a 50/1.8 falling apart was quite fun in the sense that all that was needed to fix it was to simply snap the pieces together again. If I remember correctly -- don't quote me here -- the incident was explained by the fact that the focusing motor had pushed the moving elements too far, bringing other parts of the lens along.

BTW, this whole issue makes me think -- again -- that Canon should give us a decent 50/1.8 once and for all, one with real USM and build similar to that of the 28/1.8, 85/1.8 and 100/2. As they do, IMHO, they might as well just discontinue the 50/1.4. And then make a cheapo and super-compact 50/2 or 50/2.8 to replace the current 50/1.8.

Its a 80 dollars lens. believe it or not Canon is trying to make $ off of you so unless there is any business logic to a better quality 80 dollar lens you get what you pay for..

Because of storing my 50mm in the bag, with the hood attached, the outer ring was wrenched off, by the hood I think, but I saw it in time, so the rest stayed in place and I just snapped the ring back on. Its still working perfectly.