Canon 50mm f1.4 - A little cracker of a lens

[iwatkins]

Finally, after weeks of waiting, this lens turned up this afternoon.

I haven't done any extensive testing yet (at the weekend probably) but I have been mainly walking around the house this evening, taking shots and shouting "Look!!!!, No Flash!!!!". :lol:

Actually, the best thing about this lens is the incredibly narrow DOF you can get.

Even at f1.4 the images are fairly sharp, but once you get down to f1.8-2.0 they are so sharp (without any processing) that I've several cuts on my hands from handling the images. 8)

Anyway, love it, and got a good price after trading in an old Sigma zoom for it. :wink:

Cheers

Ian

[Tom W]

I certainly like mine. Haven't really used 1.4 yet, except to experiment, but I'm very happy with f/2.0 and above.

[scottbergerphoto]

I recently posted two different kinds of focus tests on this lens:
One demonstrating the narrow dof at wide apertures: http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/50mm_f_14__focus_test
and one showing the relationship between sharpness of focus and f stop:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/revised_50mm_focus_test
It's a great little lens.
Scott

[timmyquest]

I dont want to rain on anyones parade but i really havnt seen anything that seems to justify the extra cost over the 1.8

Is that just me?

[scottbergerphoto]

The 1.4 is constructed better, metal mount, will hold up better over time, better bokeh, and slightly better MTF numbers.
Scott

[roanjohn]

I dont want to rain on anyones parade but i really havnt seen anything that seems to justify the extra cost over the 1.8

Is that just me?

I couldn't agree more. If you put two photographs of the same subject from these two lens, I don't think you'll be able to pick them apart.

Unless I'm wrong............

But eventhough, you'll have a hard time.

Ro1

[chris.bailey]

Finally, after weeks of waiting, this lens turned up this afternoon.

I haven't done any extensive testing yet (at the weekend probably) but I have been mainly walking around the house this evening, taking shots and shouting "Look!!!!, No Flash!!!!". :lol:

Actually, the best thing about this lens is the incredibly narrow DOF you can get.

Even at f1.4 the images are fairly sharp, but once you get down to f1.8-2.0 they are so sharp (without any processing) that I've several cuts on my hands from handling the images. 8)

Anyway, love it, and got a good price after trading in an old Sigma zoom for it. :wink:

Cheers

Ian

I would agree with you there, it is soooo sharp at f2.0 and above it is unreal.

[iwatkins]

I dont want to rain on anyones parade but i really havnt seen anything that seems to justify the extra cost over the 1.8

Is that just me?

No, you may well be correct. I was going to buy one or the other.

But the 1.4 has the following over the 1.8:

USM, which is incredibly fast and quiet
Metal mount
f1.4

That extra stop is all important to me, mainly as I will be using it hand held in low light situations. The slightly narrower DOF is also important to me, but less so.

Yes, buy the f1.8 if those things above are not quite as important to you. But whatever you do, do buy one of them. :lol:

Scott
Seeing those tests were the thing that made me come down on the f1.4 side of the fence. I.e. your fault. :)

Cheers

Ian

[scottbergerphoto]

Glad to be of assistance. I'm an expert on spending money on photography gear. Just ask my wife. She pays the bills! :lol:
Regards,
Scott

[jyrgen]

Just wanted to share a snapshot of my wife captured at the moment of authorizing post factum my purchase of said lens. Taken with said lens at discussed aperture :D

http://www.hot.ee/jyrgen/tiina.jpg

[SnJPhoto]

Well atleast she hadn't taken off the wedding ring at that point.....

[wolverine]

I have the 1.4 and absolutely love it. It is almost a necessesity with my D60. Because I need all of the light I can get into the camera. I can't speak for the cheap 1.8 version, but I did own the Mark 1 version once. It was pretty decent, but not as good as the 1.4. Here is a sample image.
http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/wolverine/images/50mm1.4.jpg


photo.net also has a comparision
http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

[sparktography]

OK - I broke down and bought this online today. I'm broke and in debt, but in 4-7 days I'll have it :) I can't wait to try it out, I've heard nothing but good things about them!

[Jesper]

Even at f1.4 the images are fairly sharp, but once you get down to f1.8-2.0 they are so sharp (without any processing) that I've several cuts on my hands from handling the images. 8)

You'd better wear gloves when handling those images...... :lol:

[outoffocus]

I bought the 1.4 50m in Singapoure a few years back. Did not use it all that much in my film days. I took it out mostly when I had some black and white requirements and inspiration. Shoot with it somehow feels more pure.

Now that I shoot with the 10D I cannot sing the praises of this lens enough. It is the BOMB. If you plan on getting one fix lens.. this is the one (in my humble opinion). I rarely use anything else in the studio. I am sure the 1.8 would be fine as well. The 10D 1.6x crop does make getting group shots in cramped quarters a no go though.

I'm sure it will work fine with the new D1 MkII. I may have to buy it as I keep having recurring fantastical wet dreams about it.

Cheers

--------------------------------------

http://www.THEBIGPICTURE.ws

[TeraGram93013]

I swung by my local Samy's Friday afternoon. I looked over the used glass and they had a Canon 50mm 1.4 USM for $275.

I passed it up.

Even though y'all are gushing about this lens and it looked mighty tasty to my eye, I'm glad I passed it up. Brand new B&H is selling it for $300-$285 (US-import). Maybe I'm just cheap but $25 doesn't seem like enough of a savings for something labeled as used.

- T.

(ok I'll be honest here... $25 is another reallly cute outfit for my daughter. HOT DAMN I hate deciding how to split my money! Clothes for the kid... lenses for the camera... want to take pics of the kid but she's too old where naked is appropriate... AI YI YI YI this is so unfair!!!)

[kraterz]

I stuck with the 50/1.8. At a small fraction of the price of the 1.4, the 1.8 delivers the goods. The AF on the 1.8 is as fast as the 1.4, and it's as sharp.

[Moses]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/12142.jpghttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/12140.jpg

I want the second one. :)

[chris.bailey]

I want the second one. :)

A very wise choice

[CoolToolGuy]

I have the f1.8, but I was doing the photography for my daughter's high school play and ordered the f1.4 to get the extra speed and compare them in the low light of the theater environment. It didn't come in by the time of the performances, so I missed that opportunity and must wait for another chance to compare them. :(

The f1.8 is a solid performer, but I heard so much on this forum about the bokeh and the sharpness, and then there is the metal mount. I'm not against the plastic mount per se, but I tend to change lenses frequently, and sometimes on the run, so I thought the metal mount would be more durable for me. Add to that, I've always had the 50mm f1.4 on my film cameras, and always loved them. :)

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[MediaMagic]

I've also been eyeing the 50/1.4 for a while now. I had the 50mm mkI from the dinosaur film days and never really had much use for that focal length until the 10D and it's 1.6 whateverthehell factor. I pulled it out of hibernation and actually realized how good the thing is.

If I do wind up getting the 50/1.4 (as if I can refrain from buying something camera related for more than a day), the one thing I'll certainly miss is that comforting WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNK sound.

The mkII though, is a weird little lens. That twist the filter/end of the lens manual focus feels bizarre. Great price, takes nice shots, but it's still freakin' weird.

[dennykyser]

And I must say they both do take good pics, but I figured mine would be one of my most used Portrait lenses so kept the f/1.4

Here is a picture of my son using the f/1.4, He is still thinking about his inheritance I am spending.

http://photos.photosig.com/photos/13/38/1173813-a0a393d7d2d13112.jpg

[rodbunn]

1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6
1.8

[scottbergerphoto]

Hello Bunn from the Berger :D
Regards,
Scott

[Moses]

And I must say they both do take good pics, but I figured mine would be one of my most used Portrait lenses so kept the f/1.4

Here is a picture of my son using the f/1.4, He is still thinking about his inheritance I am spending.

http://photos.photosig.com/photos/13/38/1173813-a0a393d7d2d13112.jpg

Denny: That is one priceless photo! If he were my son, I'd be real proud. You seem to be an expert at getting all the right expressions. That being said, I am very new to photography and wanted to ask about the space above your son's head. To an untrained eye, it seems there's too much space. Of course don't take my observation as anything meaningful, I'm just trying to learn. Would this have anything to do with the 50mm being used?

[rodbunn]

How goes the battle ???
<- thats a REALLY SMALL photo of me in Big Bear shooting
snowboarding (or actually, goofing off) . . . I'm known as
Monopod Rod !

I might stop at BUN BOYS on the way to Vegas in a few weeks !!!!!

Take care !

Rod

[jyrgen]

http://www.hot.ee/jyrgen/dof.jpg


Couldn't agree more :D

[iwatkins]

What a classy response jyrgen.

8) 8)

[sparktography]

OMG you guys are right. I got my 1.4 less than a week ago and buy am I pleased. I just went to the Seattle Conservatory and took a bunch of macro shots with the 1.4 and an EF12 Extension Tube. They came out pin sharp, with a DOF so narrow I had to stop up the lens to get most of the shots I wanted :)

[sparktography]

http://sparktography.blogs.com/photos/conservatory/ <-- a few pics from my first big shoot with the lens. I have to say damn - I love that really narrow DOF. Cactus waves and Tower are my favorites. SHARP :) :) :)

[MediaMagic]

Hello Bunn from the Berger :D
Regards,
Scott

I just now saw this one. That's hilarious.