50mm 1.2L or 50mm 1.4 - Are either worth it?

FWIW the level of utility one gets forma lens is different from user to user. to me the 50/1.2 inst worth it, of course i dont have a need to 1.2 and considering it really isn't a whle lost sharper than the 1.4 variety. To some the 1.2 is worth alot...

the same reason im not rushing out to get 5d3. i have no use for the AF system or other features, the 5d2 suits me just fine.

Sirrith wrote in post #16038292
I would go for the Sigma out of all the AF 50's available for Canon today and I wasn't interested in the 1.8's (I don't use 50 a lot, so I'm happy with my Mk I nifty).

Sigma is the sharpest of all, in fact, when primes are considered, Sigma is always sharper than Canon's L glass (35, 50, 85), but then I guess it sort of stops there. You know the rest

TheLensGuy wrote in post #16039601
Sigma is the sharpest of all, in fact, when primes are considered, Sigma is always sharper than Canon's L glass (35, 50, 85), but then I guess it sort of stops there. You know the rest

Hi LensGuy, are you the popular Youtube guy LearningCameras.com ??

jkdjedi wrote in post #16039858
Hi LensGuy, are you the popular Youtube guy LearningCameras.com ??

I have no idea what or who that is. Did I say something wrong?

TheLensGuy wrote in post #16039951
I have no idea what or who that is. Did I say something wrong?

Lol!! No, you just reminded me of him for some reason.

I first had the Sigma 50/1.4 and then Bought the 50/1.2L. I decided to go with the 50/1.2L because I liked how it rendered more . . . actually, quite a bit more. The 50/1.4 was on sale with a filter last month for $288. I bought one on whim. I tested it against the 50/1.2L and there were scenes around my house where the 50/1.2L would focus and the 50/1.4 wouldn't and the 50/1.4 was slower. I sold the 50/1.4 and made $10 (meh). I am happiest with the 50/1.2L. Not sure why someone noted it's not an interesting focal length for full frame because it's a great street photography focal length, particularly at night with the 50/1.2L and Canon 6D. Delicious combo for available light shooting.

Edit, and I am not a Canon L defender . . . my favorite lens of all time is my Sigma 35/1.4, fwiw.

The 50L is not impressive for its price (on paper). You get the 50L for 'the look' - people use the word 'render' for a reason. Check out some samples and see if you like what it produces. Here's a set I shot near exclusive at 1.2:

http://www.flickr.com/​people/towhit/

If you don't love the look produced by the 1.2, you're not going to love the lens. OTOH, if you love the look...

I'm also liking mine for (of all things), product photography:

I would highly recommend the Sigma 50mm 1.4. There are lots of comparisons b/t this lens and the 50L. Unless you absolutely need f1.2, the Sigma is as good and in some areas better. Search this forum as I remember reading a few threads on folks comparing photos b/t the two lenses.

Thanks, the Sigma sounds good but the fact that there are so many terrible reviews on Amazon about the focusing doesn't exactly give me confidence to buy one...

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …dOneStar&showVi​ewpoints=0

I want to love the Sigma 50/1.4, but, I could never find a copy that auto focused reliably at both close and long distances on both my 5D2 and 5D3. Tried three copies before giving up.

Since I don't use 50mm focal length that often, I decided to stick with my 50/1.4, and occasionally borrow a friend's 50/1.2L.

When Sigma comes out with an upgraded 50/1.4 that's compatible with that USB dock to update firmware and focusing settings, I'll jump back in.

I actually have both the S50 and the Canon 1.4 with me side by side and I took test shots of both at same settings on tripod and found my copy of the S50 to be extremely soft compare to the Canon open wide. So it looks like this S50 is a dud out of the box. I would not take my chances with the S50 until it's updated. The Canon 1.4 had a lot of use for me and I loved it at first but then I picked up the Sigma 35 (which is a lot better built than their 50mm) and I havent use 50mm focal length much. Actually tempted on selling both 50mm right now.

BadHorsie wrote in post #16047686
Thanks, the Sigma sounds good but the fact that there are so many terrible reviews on Amazon about the focusing doesn't exactly give me confidence to buy one...

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …dOneStar&showVi​ewpoints=0

Optically the Sigma is fantastic and I think I prefer it's bokeh over the 50 1.2....
However yep, it's focus and build quality are issues.

I can only speak of the lenses I have owned: 50mm f/1.8 II, which you already have, and the EF 50mm f/1.4. The f/1.4 is certainly better. It might be sharper, but the 50mm f/1.8 II is awfully close (and very good in that respect; I can't flaw it for that) but the photos have better bokeh and the colour seems better. The contrast might be a bit better too. I am happy I upgraded. It's not perfectly sharp wide open, but it's acceptable. Mine is much better than many people indicate here in the forums. I can successfully shoot portraits wide open with it.

I should say, though, like the Sigma, buy yours from a cooperative retailer. The first 50mm f/1.4 I bought wouldn't focus worth beans on my 5D. I replaced it with another, and all was good.

The Sigma 50mm might be better in some ways, but I think it depends upon what you are doing with it. From the reviews I've seen, the Canon 50mm f/1.4 is significantly sharper in the corners stopped down. I use my 50mm for landscapes as well as portraits, so I need that. This is just what I've read, so take it with a grain of salt.

I think it's safe to say that whoever if first to market with a new under $1k 50mm lens, most likely a Sigma 50/1.4 Art or a Canon 50/1.4 IS, will sell a lot of lenses.

In the mean time, I have picked up a copy of the Canon 1.4 for infant shots, and I am much happier with it than the 50/1.8. Unfortunatley I consider it more of a f1.8 or f2.0 lens as it is just not that sharp at 1.4 and 1.6. The reported focus shifting of the 50L at different apertures and focus shifting with the Sigma 50/1.4 at different focus distances really put me off on both of those.

So I am going to keep using the Canon 50/1.4 until the next lens is released.

I owned the 1.8 and now own the 1.4 and definitely feel the upgrade was well worth it. I really don't feel the need to upgrade to the 1.2 at all. It seems like such a huge price increase for not that much of an upgrade.