Purchasing a new lens...HELP!

[Spinning]

I have chatted on here before about what should be my first real lense purchase. And I think I was set to go with Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG

The primary use for this lens would be to shoot pictures of my kids springboard diving, indoor pool. I currently have a canon 50D with an 18-200.

When taking pictures indoor I seem to be around the the 50 mm mark or maybe 85.

I thought the 50 would be nice so I would have it to take snapshots of the kids too...

The lens is $500....that is a lot of money and I want to make sure it will do what I am hoping it will do. I know this sounds like a repeat question from me....maybe it is...but would I be better saving more money and getting a prime that is 85mm or 1.2?

I just haven't seen any sport pictures from this lens...so I am not people would buy this lens for that.

[Mark_48]

My thought is if you're going to get a prime lens that will be sort of all purpose, a 50mm is probably a good choice. On a Canon x1.6 crop camera it's the equivalent of about 80mm, which might be a little restricting in a small room, but still usable. The diving shots you're taking, you're able to get fairly close, so the range of 50-85mm works for you. Typically in other sports the photographer can't get as close, so more of a tele lens might be used, thus the reason why you may not see many sports shots with a 50mm lens. Without taking a second mortgage on the house, an f/1.4 lens will likely be plenty fast enough. An f/1.2 will let more light in, but will also have a pretty narrow depth of field making focus more critical.
I have the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and I've been happy with the results I get from it. I know there's been some good reviews of the Sigma 50mm posted here as well.
Take a browse through the reviews and sample shots below. It may help decide if the Sigma is worth the extra money. Importantly for your diving shots quick and accurate focing will be important, so that should be something to look for in reviews.

Canon 50mm f/1.4 $364.95 (B&H)
FM review.....
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=29&sort=7&cat=2&page=3
PBase Samples....
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_50_14u

Refurb Canon 50mm from Adorama $349.95... http://www.adorama.com/CA5014AFUR.html?searchinfo=refurbished

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 $499.00 (B&H)
FM review
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=367&sort=7&cat=38&page=2
PBase samples....
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/50_14_ex_dg_hsm

[BBPhoto]

Really tough advice to give on a forum. Try to buy from a store (preferably local if possible) that has a liberal exchange/return policy. If it doesn't work out exchange or return it. The only way to find out if it will do what you are hoping it will do is to give it a try. Beyond that it is just a guess.

[adam75south]

it's up to you to decide on if you need 85mm instead. canon makes an awesome 85mm f/1.8. oddly enough, my two favorite lenses are my sigma 50mm f/1.4 and my canon 85mm f/1.8. just depends on what the situation calls for.

[Spinning]

Thanks, I have been reading the reviews and I think that is what makes my head spin. I have read the canon lens reviews and the sigma.
But I just wasn't sure if it would do what I want for diving. I am sure I would love the lens for other things. Since my main reason for a new lens purchase is for diving....I just want to be sure....
I think I will take a drive out to the camera store and see what they say.

[adam75south]

you could also look into the canon 50mm f/1.8 for $90. The sigma 50mm is sharp, but it's main benefit is the quality of background blur, which i'm guessing isn't really a priority for the diving pictures.

[Spinning]

I went to the camera store near me. They didn't have the lens in stock. I did look at 50 MM they had in stock for another camera just to see what it looked like on a camera body. I liked it. Not sure if it will be the right focal length but I think it will be a nice lens...
I do like the idea of a blurred back grounds for something and do think it would be neat if I could have a sharp picture of my daughter's dive and everything else blurred...
So I think I want it.....this is worse than shopping for a car! LOL!

[Spinning]

What do you think of this lens?
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8

The price isn't bad at all. I did find some pictures used inside a gym of girls playing volley ball and one of a gymnast. It looks really nice.

[Nickcanada]

The 85mm 1.8 is a great lens. Optically good and it has great AF. two thumbs up from me.

[Mark_48]

Below is a link to download a program that can give you statistics of the settings you use when shooting. It may help decide whether a 50mm or 85mm lens would be of more use to you by indicating what focal length you use most frequently.
Once it's installed and opened up, you select a folder of images to scan which it does right away. Clicking "Reparse with subfolders" will scan all folders inside the original one. I don't know how accurate it is as I just installed it myself.

http://www.softsymphony.com/photostat_descr.htm

Try setting your present lens to 50mm and walk around your house or outside as you might take "snapshots" of the kids. Then try the same with the lens set to 85mm. The 50mm you can always crop the image to make it sort of look like an 85mm, but you can't make an 85mm look like a 50mm.

[adam75south]

like i said earlier, the 85mm f/1.8 is easily one of my favorite lenses. in my opinion, the best lens canon offers for the price.

[photograham]

Adorama is pretty pimp :)http://www.adsoluble.com/user/2/N.gif