Canon EF 50/1.4 test shot

[jsklee]

http://www.pbase.com/jsklee_canon5014

Welcome all comments.

[PekkaM]

Well, it certainly appears to be sharper at 1.4 than at 2.

[scottbergerphoto]

I did my own test a few weeks ago:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/50mm_f_14__focus_test
Regards,
Scott

[maderito]

It would be easier to judge these shots if you cropped out a critical feature in the scene and showed the crops side-by-side at all apertures.

It seems that the f/5.6 and f/8.0 are sharpest with definite fall off as you stop down to f/16. However, this conclusion is also my bias, since conventional wisdom says that the "sweet spot" for this lens is about f/8.0. At f/16 image sharpness is said to be limited by diffraction (the dispersion of light rays passing through small apertures).

Although you mention that all shots are focused at the same distance, it is not clear whether all objects in the scene are within the depth of field for the given aperture. At the wider apertures, are we judging DOF or sharpness?

[Belmondo]

This particular example reveals some optical vignetting that's fairly obvious at f/1.4 and f/2.0. That is a little surprising, but certainly not unacceptable. This lens is a pretty impressive performer. Maybe I'll buy one.

Wait.

I already have one.

Maybe I'll use it. :!: :!: :wink:

Tom

[jsklee]

Yes, I agree that there may be a question of DOF vs sharpness.

But if we also consider the DOF factor, I can notice the comparion of sharpness offered by different apperture within the DOF as well as that out of the DOF.

[scottbergerphoto]

My experience with this lens is that by f/4 - 5.6 it is very sharp and marginally improves after that. There is a big improvement from f/1.4 - f/2 and smaller improvements after that. That is consistent with its MTF data.
Regards,
Scott

[jsklee]

May any one of you upload the MTF graph of this lens?

[garethhhhh]

http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CaEF50_14USM-90.shtml

http://www.usa.canon.com/eflenses/images/lenses/ef_50_14/ef_50_14mtf.gif

[jkelley]

Thanks for posting this series. Your shots at f/1.4 and f/2.0 are much better than the results I've been getting with my lens. I finally sent it off to Canon about a week ago to have them assess it. Hopefully, they will find something and fix it so I can use the larger lens openings with "reasonable" results.

[jsklee]

How was the results of your lens? May you show us some photos taken by your lens?

[Flyball Rebel]

I have had my new Canon f/1.4 lens now for about 10 weeks and have been very pleased with it. I leave it on my DRebel all the time as my regular lens. The image below was taken about 8 weeks ago, thought you may be intertested. Aperture: f/5, Shutter: 1/640 sec., Metering: Evaluative and ISO: 100. (some cropping was made). Regards [F.R.] :) :)

http://www3.sympatico.ca/flyball_2/images/Photos/23.jpg

[jsklee]

Good photos. There is no light fall off when the aperture is set under f/4.

[NILOLIGIST]

I have the 50mm 1.4 and I find it to be very sharp all the way through. I did some shots in very low light, hand held and they are sharper than I expected.

I read somewhere that every lens has a sweet spot that you must find. Some lenses are sharper than others. I have recently found with my 100-400 L 5.6 that the sweet spot is somewhere between f/8.0 and f/11. I recently tooks some shots that were super sharp which I haven't seen before.

I recently purchased the 180mm L 3.5 and I am looking for the sweet spot.

It makes sense to me that the lens would be sharper with the smaller apeture rather than the bigger. There is more in focus.

My .02

Sorry, some of the photos are of clients and I don't feel comfortable with posting them.

Funny, I would only shoot wide open and now since I know the secret I will shoot stopped down for the sharper images.

NiL,

[KennyG]

I have the 50mm 1.4 and I find it to be very sharp all the way through.

Mine is too, but F5.6 is certainly the 'sweet spot'.

[jsklee]

From my photos, the sweet spot of 50/1.4 is at f/4. What do you think?