Should I get a Sigma 50mm 1.4 - Details inside!

Hey guys,

My main body is a 5D Mark II and I'm looking to upgrade my backup camera (T2i).
I've been thinking about getting another 5D Mark II but have been looking into the 7D to add versatility of the FPS, much faster AF etc.
I was also going to get a 50mm 1.4 by Sigma after trying it out instore but I've been wondering something.

Is there any point into getting a Sigma 50mm 1.4 if I already have a 35mm 1.4 for my 5D MarkII?

I think it becomes 56mm on the crop sensor, still very much the normal range. Would the 35mm 1.4 just be redundant?

After trying to decide myself, I ended up with the 5dii, 35L, and the sigma 50mm. Buying the 70-200 mkii now.

Problem is, all this is ordered and I don't have any of it yet,lol. But your thinking was the same as mine. I think you will be fine.

Putting a 50mm on the 7D would give you a view of 80mm. So you would have a 35mm view on the 5D2 and an 80mm view on the 7D if you keep the lenses separate on each body.

^^^^ correct

welcome to the crop factor.

It really depends on what you are doing.

Getting a 7D simply to have a second focal lengths for your primes isn't a good reason. The 7d has drastically different properties from the 5d2. The AF will allow you to get things you can't get before. The noise will be as bad as your t2i. How much it bothers you is a different matter.

Also, the AF on the 7d isn't faster. Center point 5d2 and center point 7d are about the same, dominated by the lens AF speed. If the thing to shoot isn't moving there isn't that much advantage. If it is the advantage is huge.

The way I read your post I think keeping the t2i and reassigning the money toward glass seems the way to go?

Fwiw, I found 35mm and 50mm to be too close to each other when I had FF and 1.6x bodies.

One thing I like is having the 70-200mm on the crop to get more reach at ceremonies.
I think I'll forgo the 50mm and get a 7d and spend some cash on getting some lighting.

I think having 35, 50 and 85 and both bodies is overkill. I find myself having a hard time with the 35mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4 when using anything but the center AF Point.

Which has made me learn AF Lock really well and I'm probably going to buy the EG-S focus screen to replace the EG-D

There's other advantages of a 7D over a t2i other than the simple explanations of "It's got as much noise.. " and its FPS and faster AF. It's got better ergonomics, more AF points- like 19 of them, f/2.8 sensitive AF points, etc.. Having two usable FL's from a single lens is not something that should be overlooked either.. It's a distinct advantage.. Being able to use your lenses on a second body for either a longer FL or for a shorter FL- is a definite advantage.

Were you considering the 50 f/1.4 because you wanted some fast glass in between your 35 and 85, or because you wanted 80mm equiv on the crop ? Curious more than anything.

Sure, get one. You know you want it, or you wouldn't have posted your note.

wayne.robbins wrote in post #13542721
There's other advantages of a 7D over a t2i other than the simple explanations of "It's got as much noise.. " and its FPS and faster AF. It's got better ergonomics, more AF points- like 19 of them, f/2.8 sensitive AF points, etc.. Having two usable FL's from a single lens is not something that should be overlooked either.. It's a distinct advantage.. Being able to use your lenses on a second body for either a longer FL or for a shorter FL- is a definite advantage.

Were you considering the 50 f/1.4 because you wanted some fast glass in between your 35 and 85, or because you wanted 80mm equiv on the crop ? Curious more than anything.

Because I don't have a 24-70 and felt like I needed something in between. I've decided to forgo it and just get a 7d. The 35mm can act as a 50mm on the 7d. In fact I hear it'll be alot better than the sigma 50mm

I dont have 35mm 1.4, but I have 5D2 and Sigma 50. It is a great combo and I'm glad I gave them together. Sigma 50 simply performs wonderful on 5D2. Even though I need to micro adjust to +6 to make it focus correctly, but that's the benefit of having micro adjustment function, isn't it? It's nice and sharp at F1.4 on my lens. If you are not satisfy with that result, simply step down to F2.0 or 2.8 and trust me, it's amazing and you won't regret that.

i wonder if the sigma focus issues apply on say a 1DsII body as well.

Why put a crapy sigma lens on such nice cameras get a canon lens.

shadowcat wrote in post #13548400
Why put a crapy sigma lens on such nice cameras get a canon lens.

The only (potential) thing bad about Sigma lenses is their quality control, and I suspect that is mostly due to people applying super high levels of scrutiny to any Sigma lenses because of their reputation. Good copies are great.