Just posted! Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM lens review
In the second instalment of our latest series of lens reviews, we focus on Canon's mid-range standard prime, the EF 50mm F1.4 USM. With a distinctly traditional optical formula dressed up in a modern AF body, and designed as a standard lens for 35mm film but now more frequently serving as a short portrait lens on APS-C, how does this relative veteran compare to Sigma's brand new 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM which we reviewed last month?
NOTE: Just a reminder that comparative test data for the Nikon AF-Nikkor 50mm F1.4 D lens is also available through our lens review widget.
Click here for our lens review of the Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM
Sigma, Canon, Nikon, and Pentax 50mm F1.4 lenses compared
| |
 Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM |
Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM |
Nikon AF-Nikkor 50mm F1.4 D |
Pentax smc P-FA 50mm F1.4 |
|---|
| Street price |
$500 |
$325 |
$290 |
$200 |
|---|
| Maximum format size |
35mm full frame |
35mm full frame |
35mm full frame |
35mm full frame |
|---|
| Focal length |
50mm |
50mm |
50mm |
50mm |
|---|
35mm equivalent focal length
(APS-C) |
• 75mm (1.5x)
• 80mm (1.6x)
• 85mm (1.7x)
|
80mm |
75mm
|
75mm
|
|---|
| Diagonal Angle of view (FF) |
47º |
47º |
47º |
47º |
|---|
| Diagonal Angle of view (APS-C) |
31º |
31º |
31º |
31º |
|---|
| Maximum aperture |
F1.4 |
F1.4 |
F1.4 |
F1.4 |
|---|
| Minimum aperture |
F16 |
F22 |
F16 |
F22 |
|---|
| Lens Construction |
• 8 elements/6 groups
• 1 aspherical element
|
• 7 elements/6 groups
|
• 7 elements/6 groups
|
• 7 elements/6 groups
|
|---|
| Number of diaphragm blades |
9, rounded
|
8 |
7 |
8 |
|---|
| Minimum focus |
0.45m |
0.45m |
0.45m |
0.45m |
|---|
| Maximum magnification |
0.14x
|
0.15x |
0.15x |
0.15x |
|---|
| AF motor type |
• Ring-type ultrasonic
• Full-time manual focus |
• Micro-type ultrasonic
• Full-time manual focus |
• 'Screw drive' from camera body |
• 'Screw drive' from camera body |
|---|
| Focus method |
Unit, internal to barrel |
Unit |
Unit |
Unit |
|---|
| Image stabilization |
• None
|
• None
|
• None |
• None |
|---|
| Filter thread |
• 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus |
• 58mm
• Does not rotate on focus |
• 52mm
• Does not rotate on focus |
• 49mm
• Does not rotate on focus |
|---|
| Supplied accessories |
• Front and rear caps
• Hood
• Soft Case
|
• Front and rear caps |
• Front and rear caps |
• Front and rear caps |
|---|
| Weight |
505 g (17.8 oz) |
290g (10.2 oz) |
230g (8.1 oz) |
220g (7.8 oz) |
|---|
| Dimensions |
84.5mm diameter x 68.2mm length
(3.3 x 2.7 in) |
73.8mm diameter x 50.5mm length
(2.9 x 2.0 in) |
64.5mm diameter x 42.5mm length
(2.5 x 1.7 in) |
63.5mm diameter x 38mm length
(2.5 x 1.5 in)
|
|---|
| Lens Mount |
Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma, Sony |
Canon EF only |
Nikon F only |
Pentax K only |
|---|
Click here for our lens review of the Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM
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Aug 23, 2011
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Aug 23, 2011
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Aug 23, 2011
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Aug 23, 2011
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