My thoughts on the 50L

So, I took advantage of the B&H code and Canon rebates and dropped the funds for a 50L. Been thinking about this lens for months, going back and forth (like a lot of us do) You hear a lot of bad things about this lens. I rented it twice to see what I thought....The first backfocused bad, the second had slight front focus. The "focus shift" at apertures 2 to 2.8 freaked me out a bit and having to use the off center focus points seemed really lame for a $1400 lens. But, after seeing so many wonderful images with this lens and needing something between 35 and 85 I decided against the 1.4 and went with the L.
I have to say, I was a little more than paranoid when I reieved the lens today, I've just put in way too much research on this lens not to be (forum syndrome) So I ran it through my usual test drive tests with rulers, medicine bottles and this little statue I use that's seems to be my favorite test drive subject.

Happy to say.........I really love this lens, no BF, no FF, no Shifting, just plain perfect, put it through all apertures with success!! This thing focuses in the dark with no assist light, not kidding, blew me away. This lens is a perfect fit between the 35L and the 85L. The AF speed, IQ, FL and price are all right in the middle of the 35L and the 85Lmk II.

If anyone has been thinking about this lens and like me worried about all the issues you can read about it, I say get it, it's worth it, it's a gem....My lens code is UV02xx, not sure if they did something to make those issues I read about go away or if it's just sample variation or user variation but I read on another forum another post of a newer date 50L not having any issues either.
I am a very happy new owner and I'm sure will be posting in the smple galleries as soon as I get to some quality "real world" pics....thanks Canon!

Cheers all
PS, someone buy my 1Dmk II so I can pay for the 50.....LOL hahahaha

That is great to hear, congratulations! Surprised nobody has asked for a duck yet.....

That is great news. I was going to get one myself, but held off b/c of the reasons you listed. I'm still a bit worried, so am going to get the 85L for the time being.

Good to hear a positive note on that one. I'm hoping to pick one up after I save up.

Enjoy yours!

SunTsu wrote in post #4187799
That is great news. I was going to get one myself, but held off b/c of the reasons you listed. I'm still a bit worried, so am going to get the 85L for the time being.

Sun, I did the same thing..picked up the 85 first...made me want another 1.2 even more there's no doubt in my mind the 85LmkII is an amazing lens that will give you results like you've never seen if used correctly. The AF speed is much improved and the DOF is soooooo thin. The 50L is very near the 85 in IQ though with faster AF... if you"need" a 50 and don't mind dropping the cash...........Get which length you want/need, just buy either with confidence

With the price at BH now, I decided to go ahead and pick up a 50 1.2 before the discount expires. I hope I have the same results as you.

I think I am all set for primes now, but would consider 135L if it came up at a discount.

That's a good news to hear.
I really wanted this lens, but I am also afraid of receiving a lens with focus shift.
If Canon has indeed fixed the problem, then i might as well go ahead and order one from them...

To me, the 135 is already a bargain without the discount

xiskool wrote in post #4198476
With the price at BH now, I decided to go ahead and pick up a 50 1.2 before the discount expires. I hope I have the same results as you.

I think I am all set for primes now, but would consider 135L if it came up at a discount.

Glad to hear of you story. I just placed a big order at B&H a couple of days ago, and I was going to buy a 50mm lens. I REALLY wanted the 50mm f/1.2L as the B&H price and the rebates made it attractive, but I was scared of the focus shift issues. I chickened out and bought the 50 f/1.4 instead. If the 50mm f/1.2 start coming out problem free, I might seriously consider upgrading to the f/1.2L

thatkatmat wrote in post #4199449
To me, the 135 is already a bargain without the discount

I hear ya, but as you already know, the 70-200 is a great substitute and I am very happy with that for now. I would like to have the extra stop, and I'll probably pick up the 135L eventually - just not this month. : )

I think next year we'll be seeing a 50 1.2 Mk II lol.

This is just what I've heard lately and just my experience Khiromu, I suggest you go to a shop, bring your body and test drive a late model 50 and make sure it's what you expect....if you like it....go for it, it's a joy to use

khiromu wrote in post #4199415
That's a good news to hear.
I really wanted this lens, but I am also afraid of receiving a lens with focus shift.
If Canon has indeed fixed the problem, then i might as well go ahead and order one from them...

I love the big white, just doesn't get a lot of use lately with the 85 and the 135. But the versitilatility of the zoom for sports makes it tough to replace. I sometimes feel a bit like a perfect mark carrying the big white lens, especially traveling, thus I think about the 200 2.8 prime a lot.....but my kids are very active in sports and, as stated this is a great lens for ...baseball for instance, I can zoom from the dugout to the pitchers mound to 3rd base and not have to worry to much about how I'm gonna frame.

xiskool wrote in post #4199503
I hear ya, but as you already know, the 70-200 is a great substitute and I am very happy with that for now. I would like to have the extra stop, and I'll probably pick up the 135L eventually - just not this month. : )

thatkatmat wrote in post #4187091
no BF, no FF, no Shifting, just plain perfect, put it through all apertures with success!! ...

My lens code is UV02xx, not sure if they did something to make those issues I read about go away or if it's just sample variation or user variation but I read on another forum another post of a newer date 50L not having any issues either.

I am a very happy new owner and I'm sure will be posting in the smple galleries as soon as I get to some quality "real world" pics....thanks Canon!

When you say no shifting do you mean no shift at all (that is the DOF is centered around the intended focus plane when shooting close in and stopped down) or that the focus shift though present doesn't shift the focus plane outside the DOF? Would you mind posting your focus shift tests shots?

It would be nice to hear that Canon has quietly fixed the lens. That give hope to those of us that have the issue. Isn't your date code from Feb? That means the fix has been around for some time.

tmr wrote in post #4209251
When you say no shifting do you mean no shift at all (that is the DOF is centered around the intended focus plane when shooting close in and stopped down) or that the focus shift though present doesn't shift the focus plane outside the DOF? Would you mind posting your focus shift tests shots?

It would be nice to hear that Canon has quietly fixed the lens. That give hope to those of us that have the issue. Isn't your date code from Feb? That means the fix has been around for some time.

Yes, from February, lets see...test shots...very sorry, no matter who or where or whenever someone posts testshots they get chastized, I'm not gonna spend lots of "my" time and trouble doing all the tests to be the target of photo-scientists raping my tests...I've been to that movie and swore I'd pass on the sequal.
Please don't get me wrong, I'd love to help you out but I must pass. The point to my thread is this "My" and some others who've posted on XXreview lately have found no focus shift (your description is what I was reffering to....stopped down, then through the aperture up to f16, I tried close subjects then 4 ft, then 10 ft) on our 50L's. It is a fact that some lenses had it....no doubt in my mind....mine is perfect, no doubt in my mind....sorry and thanks
-Matt