Keep or sell??

[ishdakuteb]

well... if you would like to keep it, then you can use it as macro lens all you have to do is to pay additional around 5 buck for reserve ring: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ee0vHORA74

[CarlTN]

I have a nifty fifty and am debating selling... or should I keep it? The other lenses I have in my bag (which all fit perfectly): Canon 135L f/2, Canon 85 f/1.8, Tamron 28 - 75 f/2.8, and Tokina 16-28 f/2.8. I feel as though the Tamron is a sharper lens than the 50mm, and it covers that range. Will I regret selling it? Part of me says, "keep it... it was a good deal and you won't make much on it anyway" (paid $84 for it new in 2009) and the other part of me says, "you'll never use it now that you have the 85 and the 135, which are better portrait lenses anyway".

Shooting with a 5D Mark II, if it matters. I do 90% portrait photography, mixed in with some landscape and macro (flowers and stuff).

If you don't use it, sell it and get an f/1.4 or 1.2...or if you want to stay cheap and lightweight, try the 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens.

I sold my 50 1.8 last year, I don't miss it much.  I now have a Voigtlander, which I like a whole lot more.  It cost a lot more though, but not much more than the Canon f/1.4.

[Rienzphotoz]

I have a nifty fifty and am debating selling... or should I keep it? The other lenses I have in my bag (which all fit perfectly): Canon 135L f/2, Canon 85 f/1.8, Tamron 28 - 75 f/2.8, and Tokina 16-28 f/2.8. I feel as though the Tamron is a sharper lens than the 50mm, and it covers that range. Will I regret selling it? Part of me says, "keep it... it was a good deal and you won't make much on it anyway" (paid $84 for it new in 2009) and the other part of me says, "you'll never use it now that you have the 85 and the 135, which are better portrait lenses anyway".

Shooting with a 5D Mark II, if it matters. I do 90% portrait photography, mixed in with some landscape and macro (flowers and stuff).

Keep it ... it will serve as a back up lens ... also, as you said that by selling it "you won't make much on it anyway" ... besides if/when you want to do some video in low light (at that focal length) it will come in really handy. Over a period of 6 years I had three Canon 50 f/1.8 lenses, the only reason I don't have any of them now is coz I gave them away as a "free gift bundle" to "enhance" the sale of my Canon 400D, 500D & 7D. So keep it, if for nothing else one day it will come in handy when you want to sell some of your other gear.

[CanNotYet]

Hehe, lot's of advice in both directions. As expected. My thinking is: can you find another use for it, if it is not used on your main camera? Like someone said, macro could be one use, use on a backup/travel/throwaway body could be another, and testing out with adapters for MFT/Nikon/Sony etc. could be a third.

If you can NOT think of another use for it, and you KNOW it will not be used, give it as a present to someone you like with a Canon body. It will help their photography a lot. Saves you the hassle of selling it too...

[Skirball]

well... if you would like to keep it, then you can use it as macro lens all you have to do is to pay additional around 5 buck for reserve ring: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ee0vHORA74

This is all I use mine for.  I got a cheap 52/58 reversing ring for a couple bucks and I pop it on the end of my 100mm.  Bam!  2X.

I see the price is over $100 again on Amazon, but I still don't see what you could get for it used.  I want to say I paid $80 for mine new.

[Canon_Wisconsin]

Wow, I never knew about the reversing ring. Neat!

I think I'll just keep it. I am not looking to get a different 50mm, because the 85 does what I need for portraiture, and the Tamron is a good walk-around lens, and it's sharp to boot.

Thank you all for the input!

[Rienzphotoz]

well... if you would like to keep it, then you can use it as macro lens all you have to do is to pay additional around 5 buck for reserve ring: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ee0vHORA74

+1

[Jim K]

Keep it ... it will serve as a back up lens ... also, as you said that by selling it "you won't make much on it anyway" ... besides if/when you want to do some video in low light (at that focal length) it will come in really handy. Over a period of 6 years I had three Canon 50 f/1.8 lenses, the only reason I don't have any of them now is coz I gave them away as a "free gift bundle" to "enhance" the sale of my Canon 400D, 500D & 7D. So keep it, if for nothing else one day it will come in handy when you want to sell some of your other gear.

+1
Might also be a good lens to take to the beach.

I still have my 50D & 28-135 kit lens. Couldn't get that much for it (not enough for a small L lens) and thought if I took a trip it would be a good backup body just in case.

[Rienzphotoz]

I still have my 50D & 28-135 kit lens. Couldn't get that much for it (not enough for a small L lens)

Where do you live? ... coz in the Middle East you can get about $1000 for that combo ... enough to buy 24-105L or the 17-40L

[Canon_Wisconsin]

Thank you, everyone, for the responses. I think I will keep it because it would probably be a good length lens to throw on when I finally decide to try out the video on my camera (bad, I know! But I bought the camera for the still capabilities, and the HD video is just a bonus).

[charlesa]

Probably not worth selling that one off, but a nifty fifty has its name for a reason.