Canon 50mm f1.4 - first impressions

Thanks very much.

I've contaced the store and they said I could change it for another.

I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle though (I don't need 1.4 that much), and from what I've heard from other people here, the is a strong chance the same CA will occur with the replacement.

Dave - it's difficult to answer that. From this thread, it seems about 50-50 as to whether the lens will be soft at 1.4. If you look at the sample shots thread you will see the lens can perform very well wide open. I would try it and if it doesn't work out, take it back.

Dave,

I just read the FAQ , which is obviously a stub and in no way comprehensive. Due to crop these will be two very different beasts , but my impression from surfing the PA section is that they generally use longer focal lenghts. That being said theres a massive price difference in what your looking at : curiousgeorge summed it up well , if you think youll be ok with the 50 give it a go,its a hell ov a lot different to the 85 , price included. In some situations at ISO 1600 you may actually get the apperture up a touch on the 50mm , it starts to get sharp two or three stops in ( but then you have the Tamron for that in any case.

I've picked up this thread very late but FWIW I had a 50 1.4 and sent it back as unusable at 1.4 and CA was pretty bad too wide open. I had another sent and while I was in possession of both I did a couple of tests and they were identical. So I just live with it, I'll go as wide as 1.8 but not often. On the whole it was a dissapointment in that department as I thought it would be great for low light wide open. I do find myself using it more now that I've gone full frame but still stear clear of 1.4

George
Good luck with the swop. hope it works out for you.
It makes sense to me that any lens should be usable wide open. of course it might not be as sharp as when closed down but usable none the less.
I know the 350D has trouble with fast lens's, thats why i got a 30d.
I had a Sigma 30 f/1.4 and that was good at f/1.4. might get another.

Thanks Dave.

dave_bass5 wrote in post #2126359
I know the 350D has trouble with fast lens's, thats why i got a 30d.

I never knew that. Is that docmented anywhere?

After peatoire's post I'm even more confused. Two lenses having the same problem! While others say theirs is fine at 1.4.

What isn't clear is whether those people who have posted clear images at 1.4 expereinced CA. And maybe those had USM applied.

George
Yes, its documented. its even talked about in the 400D review.
The 400D has the same AF as the 20d/30D which is better (or so we are told) than the 300D/350D
Of couse when the 350D came out it wasnt known and Canon wouldnt admit it anyway.
I first found out about it from Sigma when i was having trouble with my 30mm f/1.4 (at f/8 believe it or not) and they sent me a review of the lens and the reviewer went in to detail about the poor AF with fast lens's.
Now canon have admitted it.

I'll see if I can dig out my post with my 50 1.4 concerns.

freefallu - in light of the focus problem that Dave mentions, it would be interesting to see if you get the same softness with your 5D or 400D at 1.4...

Here is my original post, it was more concerning the CA which was pretty aweful. I have found the 50mm better for close ups at 1.4 rather than distance shots.
Only just got my 5D so I will do some tests on the same subject in a day or two and post the results if worthwhile.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=194481

PS I was shooting on a 350d at the time

I shot with my 50/1.4 extensively at a wedding shoot last weekend and it performed faultlessly. No focussing issues, and the images are certainly more than acceptable:

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Good to see Radiohead are responding to my posts, I've been a fan for years!

I take it those are all at f/1.4?

These are at f2 - but I'm pretty sure I have some at home that are at f1.4. Will have a dig out later. I've only gone through a small batch of the shots so far.

whilst not signifigant there is CA in these images at F2 but they seem sharply focussed

My copy is terrible wide open. What ever causes the problems focus etc. it never produces any keepers at 1.4. The attached picture is at 1/4000, iso 400, f1.4. The whole series of shots came out like this. I know it is not the best example but one of the very few I didn't delete.

That said once stopped down this lens gives me my best shots.

Radiohead - how does this lens compare to your 35L, ignoring the difference in focal lengths?

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