Is this lens still available ?????

I have to agree! That guy is incredible!!! amazing artist

Yes, get that 1.2 instead.
Not only is the f/1 kind of silly and lame, but the price of it used had pretty much tripled in the last four years as a "colectors" peice.

Hi Folks,

yeah Mark used to be on another forum I posted on, now his site is part of my "when you need inspiration" web list. Yes the prices for 50 f1.0 were getting silly and the 50 f1.2 will hopefully fill the niche for those people who need it.

all the best

BearSummer

CDS, is it really silly and lame? (I'm looking into buying the 1.2 when it FINALLY gets released but when I saw the 1.1, never knew it existed, I wondered why they discontinued it)

I agree with you on the "lame" part.

However, when the lens was first introduced (1989 ?) , a new one cost twice as much as a new 85L.

Today, you should also be able to get a "near new" condition copy for about 2x85L(new) price.

So the price ratio between the two has remained almost constant.

I wouldn't call f1 silly or lame. Personally I would love to have it as an option and I would love to have that lens. Personally I find it silly and lame to buy f4 lenses=D

Your talking about a specification., not a lens.
Being f/1 does not guarantee a good lens, I have f/4 lenses that I'd never trade for this f/1

It's great on paper, but most people that get it end up disappointed, and sell it again in no time. It does not have the IQ results that you would imagine, it is not in the same catagory as for instance the 85mm L, 200mm 1.8L, or the 35mm L.

Canon has some discontinued superfast lenses that are legendary for there performance, and they are legnedary for good reason, ..they live up to it.

There is also good reason that this lens is not "legendary".

However....if one is prepared to accept generally very soft images whereby nothing is in focus in order to be able to shoot handheld night scenes in the city and such at f/1.0......then that lens does it for them.

Just to make life interesting, I'm going to agree and disagree with CDS.

Legendary, well it is as it's F1.0. For low light its going to be amazing, which isnt such a big bonus now as we can bump our Iso, however for controlling the DOF and really highlighting just one area, then its hard to beat. Is it a specialist lens, without a doubt, will it be softer that the 1.4 or 1.8, looking at the MTF charts without a doubt. But its still a stop faster.

Is the IQ in the same region as the 35 1.4/85 1.2/200 1.8, no but then these are the sharpest lenses that canon make, they are legendary for that reason, whereas this is legendary for its speed. Nothing else is faster in the EF range.

Is IQ everything, not if you miss the shot.

All the best

BearSummer

Alas....the only EF f/1.0 game in town.......take it or leave it.
BTW, Bearsummer, you know what they say....this thread is worthless without pictures.

lensview wrote:
As uncommon as this lens is, half-decent images taken with it are even scarcer !
I've seen perhaps 1/2 a dozen or so over the years.

There's several images from the 50/1.0L on PBase:

http://www.pbase.com/c​ameras/canon/ef_50_1u

William Castleman reviewed the lens and tested it against the 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 II here:

http://www.wlcastleman​.com/equip/reviews/50m​m/index.htm

It doesn't compare well in technical terms, but it is still a highly-desired lens for it's f/1 aperture, bokeh, and excellent build quality.

I'm holding out to see what the new f/1.2 can do.

Tom W wrote:
There's several images from the 50/1.0L on PBase:

http://www.pbase.com/c​ameras/canon/ef_50_1u

Those were the ones I was referring to.

Rather conclusive results and it would not appear to be worth tracking one down

We'll have to see how the f1.2 performs before getting one

Tom W wrote in post #1996387
It doesn't compare well in technical terms, but it is still a highly-desired lens for it's f/1 aperture, bokeh, and excellent build quality.

I know they say bokeh is slightly a subjective thing, but I don't believe the f/1 has good bokeh in pictures I have seen. I believe it is because the rear element is so wide, there is a 'step-in' to allow the electrical contacts to mate with the camera. This spoils the circular aperture wide open, which affects the bokeh. I could be wrong, but that's what I think.

In my opinion people desire a lens like this like they might desire a 200mph supercar: for what it is, rather than what they will do with it. The 50mm f/1.4 is a much better lens (from f/1.4 upwards), but doesn't impress your mates as much.

It's that old heart versus head thing, and if you've got the money and you want it, go for it! I just find it mildly amusing when people try to justify it in other ways.

Sorry, didn't mean it to turn into a sermon! Just commenting on bokeh originally

Well I think the bokeh on the 50 1.0 is better than the bokeh on the 50 1.2

but you are right it is a personal thing

all the best

BearSummer