Worn-out lens?

I have an EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens that I bought to use on my 60D. It works great on that camera. It is very good, straight from f/1.4 - on the 60D. When I mount it on the 6D, it is just as good at f/1.4, out to about 10-12 feet. After than it hit or miss. Some shots are good, more than half are OOF. Lighting does not appear to matter; it does the same in bright sunshine, or indoors at night with flash. It is not just missing focus, MFA could cure that. It is inconsistent. If I take 10 shots of the same subject from the same distance (de-focusing between shots), I will get one dead-on, 2 or 3 close, and the rest either front- or back-focused. It does behave better if I stop down, but I still get OOF shots at f/2.8 & f/4 - just on the 6D. Is this lens just worn out? If so, why does it work so well on the 60D? Any ideas?

It's a problematic lens, stick with the 50 stm or nifty. I've fixed mine multiple times, only to have the issue come right back.

The lens is junk.

Charlie wrote in post #17595598
It's a problematic lens, stick with the 50 stm or nifty. I've fixed mine multiple times, only to have the issue come right back.

The lens is junk.

Thanks for the response. I've heard that before.

I bought the 1.4 because I tried 3 copies of the 50 1.8 II on at least 3 different bodies. None of them would focus, on any of the bodies, at anything wider than f/2.8. And the f/1.4 nails focus predictably on my 60D. It is inconsistent enough to be useless on the 6D, though.

Junk? Methinks not. Problematic? Apparently on a full-frame body. I'd test it with film, but that costs money!

I've wasted too much time and money on that lens. There are polls on this board on the lens, and the rate of fault is very high:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1227944

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1032353

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=765821

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1356950

there was a much larger poll, couldnt find it though, which had much better data. In short, the lens is junk. The optics are fine really, it's the motor has less durability than that of the nifty fifty. The nifty, highly inconsistent, at least you can work around it by using center point and something high contrast. The 1.4 would just break on you, nevermind how much you protect the front, it'll still break on you.

I think you are thinking of the 50 f/1.8. The 50 f/1.4 is a very good lens and should not have this problem.

Charlie wrote in post #17595681
I've wasted too much time and money on that lens. There are polls on this board on the lens, and the rate of fault is very high:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1227944

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1032353

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=765821

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1356950

there was a much larger poll, couldnt find it though, which had much better data. In short, the lens is junk. The optics are fine really, it's the motor has less durability than that of the nifty fifty. The nifty, highly inconsistent, at least you can work around it by using center point and something high contrast. The 1.4 would just break on you, nevermind how much you protect the front, it'll still break on you.

I've tried the 50 1.8 - three times, but all of them were used. I am guessing my 1.4 is on the way out, too. I like the focal length and the speed. Are there any alternatives besides the outrageously expensive 1.2L? My 28-105 II, and 24-105 STM are very good at f/5.6, but that is... f/5.6, not f/1.x.

I literally gave up and said F it, I'm getting the 1.2. By far the best 50 that canon makes, however it's not a super lens like it's super price. If I were to go back to canon, I'de probably explore the 50 stm. If the AF of the nifty were decent, it would be a fine lens, supposedly the stm is the fix. I'de also explore the 50 non art, if the L were too much.

No, he has the right lens. The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a good lens until the AF fails. It is a well documented problem. Keeping the lens hood always on and never using the full time manual supposedly helps prevent AF failure. I know many have had the lens and have never had a problem, but way too many have had the problem.

I got the 50mm f/1.8 (MKI) because I didn't want to possibly end up with a non-focusing lens. Recently, I've picked up a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (non-ART) for a much quieter AF, full-time manual override, and non-pentagonal OOFHs.

Are you manually focusing? I have owned all three versions of the Canon 50mm lenses and have always focused the manually with good results. The 50/1.4 was a good lens for me and many others but the 50L is more than most will spend. I'm afraid that poor results are probably from user error, trying to shoot too shallow of aperture or because technology has not met our expectations. I shot Nikon back in the F4s and 8008s days and auto focus seemed to assume that the user only wanted the center of the frame in focus and we only used F8 or deeper, so I simply rarely used AF. It could be as simple as a micro adjustment or sending the body and lens into Canon to be diagnosed.

Charlie wrote in post #17595704
I literally gave up and said F it, I'm getting the 1.2. By far the best 50 that canon makes, however it's not a super lens like it's super price. If I were to go back to canon, I'de probably explore the 50 stm. If the AF of the nifty were decent, it would be a fine lens, supposedly the stm is the fix. I'de also explore the 50 non art, if the L were too much.

Can't afford the L. The Σ non-A has a poorer reputation than the EF 1.4.

jimewall wrote in post #17595705
No, he has the right lens. The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a good lens until the AF fails. It is a well documented problem. Keeping the lens hood always on and never using the full time manual supposedly helps prevent AF failure. I know many have had the lens and have never had a problem, but way too many have had the problem.

I got the 50mm f/1.8 (MKI) because I didn't want to possibly end up with a non-focusing lens. Recently, I've picked up a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (non-ART) for a much quieter AF, full-time manual override, and non-pentagonal OOFHs.

I could afford a refurbed 1.4. Do you think it would last a while? I also have access to a clean 50 1.8c (original), on CL. Not sure how well it works though. Worth checking our for $50?

tcphoto1 wrote in post #17595706
Are you manually focusing? I have owned all three versions of the Canon 50mm lenses and have always focused the manually with good results. The 50/1.4 was a good lens for me and many others but the 50L is more than most will spend. I'm afraid that poor results are probably from user error, trying to shoot too shallow of aperture or because technology has not met our expectations. I shot Nikon back in the F4s and 8008s days and auto focus seemed to assume that the user only wanted the center of the frame in focus and we only used F8 or deeper, so I simply rarely used AF. It could be as simple as a micro adjustment or sending the body and lens into Canon to be diagnosed.

I am too old and too lazy for MF. I can't shoot any glass at f/8 and get good results. I am starting to think a refurbed 50 1.4 may be the best option. At least if it struggles to focus, I can send it back.

Ok so here it goes, that piece of c--p nifty fifty, plastic fantactic what ever you wanna call it is a piece of junk. Just give it a light tap on the front and the lens separates into two pieces! I have gone through two of them already, I would rather deal with a slight softness at 1.4 then buying another 50MII, I'm gonna wait and see if the the new stm version of this lens suffers from the same problem, even though it may have a metal mount , I like to see how the rest of the build is.

I've heard somewhere, that the 1.8 STM is not better than the 1.8 II when it comes to AF reliability. I'll go look at reviews. Any opinions on the original 1.8? A local Craigslist-ing has one for $50. I can live without 1.4 if the damn thing will focus at 1.8!

EDIT:
After some looking around, I think I confused the new YN 50mm f/1.8 with the STM. I can't find any complaints about the AF on the 50 STM. That is the cheapest route. Perhaps I'll try one of those.

Personally if I were to get a Canon 50mm f/1.4, I'd get a hood at the same time. As many suggested I'd keep it on even when stored. So far I've chosen not to get it. Again there have been plenty of people who have not had a problem with the lens.

As far as the f/1.8 (MKI), If you are lucky you can get it cheap. If not some will pay the same price as a new MKII (I wouldn't and didn't). For $50 I'd check it out (remember you can make offers for less.)

The New 50mm STM version seems to get rid of two faults of the MKI & MKII - it doesn't sound like a can of bees when focusing and has seven diaphragm blades (not five for nicer OOFHs). Sharpness and AF accuracy does not seem to have change.

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 original is a good lens if you get a good one. If you use Craigslist and can test it out for mainly AF accuracy (possibly sharpness).

I just picked up the Sigma this month, mainly because I at the moment can't justify the 50L or the Sigma Art.

jimewall wrote in post #17595809
Personally if I were to get a Canon 50mm f/1.4, I'd get a hood at the same time. As many suggested I'd keep it on even when stored. So far I've chosen not to get it. Again there have been plenty of people who have not had a problem with the lens.

Picked up on that storage hint here on POTN, I store mine with hood on, AF set to off and lens focused to infinity and in the bag it goes. So far so good.

I know about the 'hood' thing. Mine has had a hood on it since I bought it - used, however. I just can't get past the thing that it works on my 60D, it just struggles on the 6D, past 12 feet or so. Waiting to hear back about my offer of $50 for the CL 50c. Seriously considering ordering a 50 STM. I can't find a complaint about the accuracy of its AF.