50mm - Sigma vs Canon

I'm not reading the entire post, but the images from my newly purchased Sigma 50 are amazing... but it has to be sent it as when the lens focuses, the barrel vibrates and screeches.... wow.

I've been trying to get one question about the Siggy answered since it came out, and so far, I've not found a single person who can truly answer it.

Does the Sigma 50 focus better or indoor sports (basketball) than the Canon 50? The Canon 50 is OK for sports. Not fabulous, but not all that bad either. Is the Sigma better or worse?

The only info I've read is that it is the same or slightly worse. I want to hear from sports shooters who've had both.

Anyone ...?

Jman13 wrote in post #7812239
As much as I love the Sigma 50, the 85L is a better lens. If you like that FOV, and are switching to full frame, the 85L is where its at. I love mine, but I'm not a fan of the 85mm focal length on full frame, so I use the 100 f/2 now.

I really like the 50 on a crop body...Looks like I will start saving. I should have just collected mountains of cocaine for the kind of money I spend on this hobby.

n1as wrote in post #7812497
I've been trying to get one question about the Siggy answered since it came out, and so far, I've not found a single person who can truly answer it.

Does the Sigma 50 focus better or indoor sports (basketball) than the Canon 50? The Canon 50 is OK for sports. Not fabulous, but not all that bad either. Is the Sigma better or worse?

The only info I've read is that it is the same or slightly worse. I want to hear from sports shooters who've had both.

Anyone ...?

I use the siggy for Basketball inside but I have not used the canon one..

sorry..

Oh and I love my siggy

n1as wrote in post #7812497
I've been trying to get one question about the Siggy answered since it came out, and so far, I've not found a single person who can truly answer it.

Does the Sigma 50 focus better or indoor sports (basketball) than the Canon 50? The Canon 50 is OK for sports. Not fabulous, but not all that bad either. Is the Sigma better or worse?

The only info I've read is that it is the same or slightly worse. I want to hear from sports shooters who've had both.

Anyone ...?

Why are you shooting sports with a 50mm? Are you going to be on the court in the middle of the game?

I'd suggest a longer lens for that sort of thing, myself.

Future Blues wrote in post #7816934
Why are you shooting sports with a 50mm? Are you going to be on the court in the middle of the game?

I'd suggest a longer lens for that sort of thing, myself.

There are plenty of sports where a fast 50mm would be a good choice.
Darts, snooker, tiddley-winks, jenga, etc...

Seriously though, if you've got a spot under the basket for sports like Basketball and Netball then 50mm can be a great length.
Also for racing sports where you can be close to the road/track then these kinds of FLs can be good. I've shot track cycling for example from right up close to the track on the infield with a 50mm, 35mm , 28mm, even 10mm!

n1as wrote in post #7812497
I've been trying to get one question about the Siggy answered since it came out, and so far, I've not found a single person who can truly answer it.

Does the Sigma 50 focus better or indoor sports (basketball) than the Canon 50? The Canon 50 is OK for sports. Not fabulous, but not all that bad either. Is the Sigma better or worse?

The only info I've read is that it is the same or slightly worse. I want to hear from sports shooters who've had both.

Anyone ...?

I don't shoot sports usually, but the AF motor is noticeably slower than the 100/2, 85/1.8, and 200/2.8. I don't quite remember how the Canon 50 was. I'd put the Sigma as acceptable for sports.

The Canon 50 1.4 AF is slower than the 85 1.8, but still usable IMHO (the 85 1.8 has fantastic AF considering it's a non-L). I wouldn't say the 50 1.4 has fast AF but I wouldn't call it slow either. It's a LOT better than the 50 1.8.
I haven't yet closely examined the Sigma 50 AF speed, but the fact that I haven't really noticed it means it isn't particularly fast or slow. When shooting in one-shot AF It seems to focus quickly and quietly but then hesitates just a little before confirming focus. I'm not sure how it will perform in "real world" sports shooting just yet or if this hesitation will affect AI Servo operation in some way.

Photo's removed because they were taken with the sigma 30 and not the 50... Opps my bad..

GMCPhotographics wrote in post #7810960
It's interesting that every one is comparing this Sigma lens to the Canon 50mm f1.4. When it was released it was suggested that it would be a Canon 50mm f1.2 L killer. I guess not if it's considered to be equal or a bit better than the current Canon 50mm f1.4 usm.

How could it be considered 1.2 killer if they have quite different appertures ?
Comparing the images from Canon 1.4 and Sigma 1.4 they are far more than 'a bit' different.

vadim_c wrote in post #7818534
How could it be considered 1.2 killer if they have quite different appertures ?
Comparing the images from Canon 1.4 and Sigma 1.4 they are far more than 'a bit' different.

He's saying that because he doesn't have the Sigma 50 1.4.

I haven't tried the 50L, but at 3x the cost, I don't want to!
The everything about the sigma is CLOSER to the 50L than it is to the EF 50 1.4. For 1/3 of the price, I'd say that the Sigma is a great value!

Personally, I believe the EF 50 1.4 isn't worth more. It's pretty much the 50 1.8 with better build quality. The optics are the same between the two, but costs 3x as much as the nifty. Sounds like a gimick to me.

Not really 'quite different' apertures either. It's only 1/3 stop. So instead of 1/50s you get 1/60s. oooh. The DOF difference is negligible too.

Jman13 wrote in post #7818713
Not really 'quite different' apertures either. It's only 1/3 stop. So instead of 1/50s you get 1/60s. oooh. The DOF difference is negligible too.

So 1.2 at 1/60 is equal to 1.4 at 1/50 ? Something is wrong with your math

holland_patrick wrote in post #7818018
...

That's so cool !! Sigma 50/1.4 ( or was it EF 50/1.4) can even take pictures at 30mm ! How did you do that ?!

Holland Patrick... the EXIF of those shots you posted show the lens used was 30mm, not 50mm.

Also Vadim, I'd suggest that the Sigma 50 doesn't need to perform as well as the 50L to be a "50 1.2 killer", it just needs to steal potential sales away from the 50L which I'm sure it is already doing.
Also I'd suggest that the two lenses can be compared at every aperture except 1.2. I'm sure most 50L owners don't shoot wide open all the time. A third of a stop is a third of a stop. Sure it would be nice, but look at the price differences between these lenses and ask yourself is it worth it?

The positioning of this lens was a really smart move by Sigma IMHO; between Canon's 50 1.4 and 50 1.2L. But they really need to sort out their quality control issues. Sigma are their own worst enemy.

off-topic: Vadim, I just downloaded your EXIF IE addon, and from so far it looks really neat. I love that it is so minimal - it just does what it does and nothing more. Well done and thanks!