50mm f1.4 or not?

[DirtyHarry]

As ye can see iv a 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 but im wondering should i buy a 50mm f1.4.


On my 10D with the 1.6x factor thats 80mm so are you losing out on the uniqueness of the 50mm? Also the lens above covers 80mm so what should i do?

Iv also just ordered a 70-200 L f4.0!! woohoo!! :D


Cheers!

[jyrgen]

Try it. Then you'll buy it.

[Aylwin]

If you can afford it, I say get it. If not, then at least consider the 50 1.8. The Canon prime 50's are wonderful. The 50 1.8 was my most used lens until I upgraded to the 1.4.

Of course, it may depend on what you normally shoot but the 50's are definitely keepers and will always be handy at some point. If you shoot any portraits then I think it's a must-have.

[scottbergerphoto]

http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/50mm_f_14__focus_test
It's a great lens at a reasonable price.
scott

[DaveG]

As ye can see iv a 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 but im wondering should i buy a 50mm f1.4.


On my 10D with the 1.6x factor thats 80mm so are you losing out on the uniqueness of the 50mm? Also the lens above covers 80mm so what should i do?

Iv also just ordered a 70-200 L f4.0!! woohoo!! :D


Cheers!

I own a 50 f1.4 and it's a very useful lens, especially at its effective focal length. It will give you a dramatically increased low light capability, especially along side the lenses that you already own. I've found mine to be more than useful, so I'd certainly reccomend it.

[Belmondo]

Another option to consider is to look around for a Mk I 50mm f/1.8. There are other discussions of that lens in the forum so I won't go into any detail. They're not that hard to find, and you'll probably end up paying $125 (plus or minus). I will only say that I took my sharpest photo ever with that lens. I have the f/1.4, but will only use it when I need the extra partial f/stop.

[DirtyHarry]

As ye can see iv a 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 but im wondering should i buy a 50mm f1.4.


On my 10D with the 1.6x factor thats 80mm so are you losing out on the uniqueness of the 50mm? Also the lens above covers 80mm so what should i do?

Iv also just ordered a 70-200 L f4.0!! woohoo!! :D


Cheers!

I own a 50 f1.4 and it's a very useful lens, especially at its effective focal length. It will give you a dramatically increased low light capability, especially along side the lenses that you already own. I've found mine to be more than useful, so I'd certainly reccomend it.


hmmm your tempting me!! ;)

but doesnt my lens cover the 80mm focal lenght, yes. but your saying i should buy it because it is in reality a 80mm prime at f1.4 and i can get far get pics in low light conditions?

[DocFrankenstein]

I know I'm gonna buy the f/1.4 when I do get a 50mm. Better bokeh, metal mount, range ring, same performance as f/1.8 when stopped down...

[DaveG]

As ye can see iv a 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 but im wondering should i buy a 50mm f1.4.


On my 10D with the 1.6x factor thats 80mm so are you losing out on the uniqueness of the 50mm? Also the lens above covers 80mm so what should i do?

Iv also just ordered a 70-200 L f4.0!! woohoo!! :D


Cheers!

I own a 50 f1.4 and it's a very useful lens, especially at its effective focal length. It will give you a dramatically increased low light capability, especially along side the lenses that you already own. I've found mine to be more than useful, so I'd certainly reccomend it.


hmmm your tempting me!! ;)

but doesnt my lens cover the 80mm focal lenght, yes. but your saying i should buy it because it is in reality a 80mm prime at f1.4 and i can get far get pics in low light conditions?

Yes, exactly that. I have a 24-85 lens as well as the 50 and although they share that one specific focal length the are different tools for different jobs.

[blinking8s]

if i had the money, i wouldnt even think twice...

[Aylwin]

...same performance as f/1.8 when stopped down...

Hmmm... depends on what you mean by "performance". :roll: Stopped down, the f/1.4 will still be better in terms of bokeh (as you've already mentioned) and more importantly (to me) in terms of color.

[Sendide]

I remember, after reading a lot of positive feedbaks, I went to get a 50mm 1.8 MKII. my only mistake was that I asked to try the 1.4 one....
well, that erased all my thoughts and that's the 50mm I now own, so as mentioned before, even if you don't wanna buy it, jsut try it then get back to us to congratulate you :wink:
regards
Khalid

[boone]

I like this comparison:

http://www.photo.net/canon/ef50/

The 50mm 1.4 is on my to-get list.

[friscomgm]

I am looking into getting the 1.4 very soon as well. And not just because my 1.8 broke. :-P

[Tom W]

I like this comparison:

http://www.photo.net/canon/ef50/

The 50mm 1.4 is on my to-get list.z

That was the test that put me over the edge and into the 1.4.

[DocFrankenstein]

...same performance as f/1.8 when stopped down...

Hmmm... depends on what you mean by "performance". :roll: Stopped down, the f/1.4 will still be better in terms of bokeh (as you've already mentioned) and more importantly (to me) in terms of color.
Yeah, I can see how it's a misleading statement.

What I meant is that the f/1.4 lens when stopped down to f/1.8 will perform as well if not better than the f/1.8 lens wide open. It's not always so (take 70-200 L 2.8 and L 4.0) 2.8 is noticeably softer at f/4.0 than f/4.0 L

By performance I mean sharpness, colors, bokeh... Everything related to performance. I don't know which one focuses faster though...

[Aylwin]

I am looking into getting the 1.4 very soon as well. And not just because my 1.8 broke. :-P
You sure you didn't "accidentally" drop it to give yourself a good excuse? :wink:


What I meant is that the f/1.4 lens when stopped down to f/1.8 will perform as well if not better than the f/1.8 lens wide open. It's not always so (take 70-200 L 2.8 and L 4.0) 2.8 is noticeably softer at f/4.0 than f/4.0 L

By performance I mean sharpness, colors, bokeh... Everything related to performance. I don't know which one focuses faster though...

Okay, I get it now. Yeah, I agree. The f/1.4 does focus faster too. I'd also say more accurately which may be one of the reasons why it's a bit sharper then the f/1.8.