Canon primes: 50mm vs 85mm

[ret]

50mm 1.8 sounds like a good idea as you can test drive it

50mm appears to be the good one to start with on a crop sensor, on a full frame, i guess it would be b/w 85mm and 135mm

[ret]

btw, is it a good idea to get a 50mm mark 1 than a new 50mm mark 11? .... i know that mark 1 comes with a metal mount, while mark 2 doesn't but is there a difference in optical quality b/w the two? .... in short which one is better

[Ben H]

Here's some info:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/50.html

[ret]

thanks that was informative. optically they are similar according to that review .... there is a buyer selling the mk1 for about the same price of a new mk11 so was wondering what should i go for

a new lens with warranty or an old one to get some exclusiveness

[Ben H]

Given the choice, I'g got for the Nifty Fifty (the MK1), but I'd also be happy with a KMII.

[ret]

Got the 50mm 1.8 MK2 .... now the Q is what are the best ways to get a good bokeh, i.e. recommended distance b/w foreground and background, etc

[Ben H]

To get minimum depth of field, you need low apertures and high zooms, and some distance between your subject and the background.

With a prime, of course you don't have much choice about zoom, so use low apertures, and get some distance between your subject and the background - when you focus on the subject, the background will be all nice and blurry.