My terrible Canon 50mm/EF1.4 first experiense

glen_dc wrote in post #16638691
I am sitting at the dinner table next to big bay window into backyard covered with 5 inch snow at 1 pm, shooting photos of things on the table. That’s day light plus reflection from snow. I have Tv=1/80 priority and with IS0=100 or 200 I get aperture 1/4. When I have Tv=1/80 and ISO=800, I get aperture 2.8 or 4 that's 'sweet spot' of the 50/EF1.4. I cannot believe that I have to use such high ISO (800) during day with 50 mm lens. The lens behaves like there is a thick UV or Natural Density filter that drastically reduce the light.

Your comment seems to indicate you think you had a lot more light than what was determined by the camera/lens combination. Unless that "daylight plus reflection from snow" was actually casting shadows of objects, then there was likely much less light than you thought. The eye has amazing dynamic range. In addition, if your home has been built or had its windows replaced in the last 20 years, you might have low-e glass. The eye compensates but low-e can reduce the light a considerable amount.

What does canon mean by eliminate crop factor?
Is that a euphemism for buying a full frame?
If so, that is wrong that they couldn't answer your question or guide you with the equipment that you own.

It sounds as if your camera gear is fine... you just need a better undestanding how it works.

Not sayin' this to be nasty.... we were all there at one time or another.

Please do yourself a huge favor.... spend $19 and get a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Read it thoroughly until you fully understand all it has to offer. That will take a while, because it has a lot of detail. It's especially useful for people with minimal experience, just starting out and wanting to know more about and do more with their cameras. But it can also be a useful read for old farts like me who think they know it all. This book will do more to improve your photography than all the lenses and cameras you might buy.

Yeah, Canon would much rather you buy an $1900 camera rather than an $19 book to better understand how to use the camera you already have.... but if you do buy that FF camera instead, you'll still have the same problems!

If you didn't get it, I would suggest you buy the matching lens hood for the 50/1.4. If the Canon ES-71 II hood seems too pricey, there are third party clones that are much cheaper and will do the job just fine.

Use the hood.... when shooting it helps protect the front barrel of the lens from bumps. When storing the lens, reverse the hood and it covers and protects the focus ring from bumps while in your camera bag. One of the problems with the EF 50/1.4 is that it's autofocus mechanism can be damaged by a hard bump. Some people also think that manually overriding focus might accelerate wear and tear on the AF mechanism, too. So it's probably best to just use autofocus or switch it off if you want to focus manually. (My copy of the lens is over 10 years old and still going strong, but it's always been used with a hood and I rarely have reason to focus it manually.)

The 50/1.4 lens will be a wonderful "short telephoto/portrait" lens on your camera. The image below was shot by North window light with the 50/1.4 at f2.8, ISO 800, 1/400 shutter speed, with a Canon 10D (much older camera than yours)...

Thanks for your replies, already bought "Understanding Exposure" on Amazon.

I have a lot more questions, but I think I should start a new thread for that.

gremlin75 wrote in post #16641439
Pick up the book "Undersyanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson". It will help your understanding of the exposure triangle!

You can write a whole book about it?

EF 50mm 1.4 sucks. My manual Takumar out does it everywhere. Sharp as ****!

Sold mine and got myself a REAL lens.

See my signature.

Manual lenses only "kill" if you focus them right. That's a huge if for most people. What's your hit rate at f1.4? Mines pretty crappy.

Kanye wrote in post #16644694
EF 50mm 1.4 sucks. My manual Takumar out does it everywhere. Sharp as ****!

Sold mine and got myself a REAL lens.

See my signature.

Awesome advice to give someone who is clearly a beginner :sarcasm:

talk about posting out of context to pimp your gear....

Anthon wrote in post #16644687
You can write a whole book about it?

Given how many people don't understand the subject, yes.

Kanye wrote in post #16644694
EF 50mm 1.4 sucks. My manual Takumar out does it everywhere. Sharp as ****!

Sold mine and got myself a REAL lens.

See my signature.

What happened to your 5D Kanye? You using those canon killers as paperweights now?

Kanye wrote in post #16644694
EF 50mm 1.4 sucks. My manual Takumar out does it everywhere. Sharp as ****!

Sold mine and got myself a REAL lens.

See my signature.

The EF 50/1.4 is just as good as your Takumar in all ways but build quality, it just renders differently.

OP's issue had nothing to do with the lens anyway...

Once you fall for the "upgrade" mentality to fix your problems, it will never end. You will bankrupt yourself trying to upgrade your equipment faster than you upgrade your skills. It takes time and patience and I know this from experience. Im STILL learning the basics.

Kanye wrote in post #16644694
EF 50mm 1.4 sucks. My manual Takumar out does it everywhere. Sharp as ****!

Sold mine and got myself a REAL lens.

See my signature.

You might consider buying "Understanding Exposure" if you believe the OP's issues have anything to do with the lens...

Its quite known that the 50 f/1.4 is relatively soft and has subpar IQ.