Right now the photography market is flooded with great cameras for someone who wants to step up from a point and shoot to a DSLR. Many companies and stores offer combo packs that give you the camera body plus a kit lens and maybe a bag or tripod. These are a great way to start but the kit lens isn’t always the best glass to make use of that awesome new camera you bought.

I shoot with a Canon T2i, I got it about a year ago and used it a hell of a lot but was dumb and just stuck with the kit lens because stepping up to some nicer lens just seemed far too expensive. The first thing I should of done and I strongly recommend you all do is go out and spend $100 bucks on the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. For that very low price you are getting an awesome lens that is going to really progress your photography.

The reason I recommend this lens is because of what you’re getting so cheap. First off look at the f/1.8, thats a fast lens that is going to let in tons of light, great for concerts or those nights out, you won’t need a flash and won’t have to crank your ISO and end up with grainy pictures. Second, the bokeh, you are going to get some pretty awesome bokeh with this camera that will help add some fun and style to your pictures and if you throw on a shaped bokeh kit you can make some really creative pictures. Third, you really have to move your feet and think about the composition of your photo with a 50mm lens, you can’t zoom in, you have to walk in. Doing this will help make you a better photographer because it makes you think.

Simply put there is no reason that you shouldn’t have one of these lenses in your camera bag. I’ve only had mine a few months and I almost never take it off my camera because I can produce such better pictures with it than my kit lens. And for you Nikon folks out there, they have one too at the same price point. Go pick yourself up a Thrifty Fifty.