50mm 1.4 owners looking for some insight

[boomerang]

Hey guys new to photography and have a RebelXT with the 50mm 1.4 and was wondering if there was a sweet spot for sharpness at a certain f-stop?

Im really happy with the shallow depth of field. Just looking for experiences using the lens and what makes the lens really pop.


Thanks guys!

[tim]

LIke most things in photography, the answer is "try it for yourself". One rule of thumb is stop it down two stops from its maxiumum aperture and it should be pretty good.

[Tom W]

The lens tightens up quite a bit during the first stop to stop and a half. That is, from f/1.4 to f/2 brings a dramatic increase in sharpness. From f/2 to about f/2.5, the increase continues, but perhaps not as dramatic. Anything from f/2.8 on is extremely sharp.

It's a very nice lens. Even wide open at f/1.4, it is fairly sharp, with just a bit of "dreamy" look to the images.

[boomerang]

Great thanks Tom!

[jfrancho]

The lens tightens up quite a bit during the first stop to stop and a half. That is, from f/1.4 to f/2 brings a dramatic increase in sharpness. From f/2 to about f/2.5, the increase continues, but perhaps not as dramatic. Anything from f/2.8 on is extremely sharp.

It's a very nice lens. Even wide open at f/1.4, it is fairly sharp, with just a bit of "dreamy" look to the images.I concur 100%. Set up a shot of a cylindrical object with a tripod and bracket the shots one aperture click at a time. I did this with a pop bottle and the increase from 1.4 to 3.2 is indeed remarkable.

[Maureen Souza]

3.2 is my fave so far.