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50mm f/1.4 reliability

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Jaywhoopee

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My nifty fifty has started to fail after 3 years fairly light use.

I encountered some Err 99 messages the other week. I tried cleaning the contacts, tried the lens on my other body and used the DoF preview button to diagnose an occasionally sticking aperture.

I'm wondering about getting a 50mm f/1.4 but I've read enough to make me nervous about its reliability and wondered how many people here had encountered problems with it?

I don't want to leap from my current frying pan into a £200 more expensive fire :).

For a number of reasons the decision is purely between the 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/1.8 mk2.
 
Google search reveals some reliability issues with this lens.

It was really crying out for an update but Canon came out with the f/1.2 squashing any hopes of a redesign of this classic.

--
I see dead pixels
 
RiverSide Photography said:
Google search reveals some reliability issues with this lens.
Click to expand...
Yes.

Even a slight knock on the front element may break it. Been there, done that, bought the lens hood after that and never took it off again. (And then, out of frustration, replaced the lens with the Sigma 50/1.4.) So if you buy it, buy Canon's lens hood, too, and never reverse it or take it off. Some people have had trouble even though they've taken this precaution, but they are much more rare.
RiverSide Photography said:
It was really crying out for an update but Canon came out with the f/1.2 squashing any hopes of a redesign of this classic.
Click to expand...
The f/1.2 was published almost three years ago (Jan 2007), and as Sigma has since published its optically very nice 50/1.4, I wouldn't find it completely impossible that Canon would update the 50/1.4 in a few years. To a higher price than the old one, of course.

After all, it's a shame that Canon doesn't have a proper f/1.4 lens for the easiest to implement / the most popular (?) prime focal length. Flare resistance alone would be reason enough to update the lens, not to speak of the easy-to-break micro USM or its somewhat dreamy optical performance at apertures larger than f/2*.

Kind regards,
  • Henrik
* I am not saying the lens is useless below f/2. I've used it right upto f/1.4 just fine. But you have to control the dreaminess, or blue colour smearing as it's also called.

--
And if a million more agree there ain't no great society
My obligatory gallery: http://www.iki.fi/leopold/Photo/Galleria/
 
I've had my 50/1.4 for about 5 years and never had a problem, although I'm not a heavy user.

Great lens.
 
hi,

i had 50mm 1.8 mkII and i sold it after one month; the reasons were: very poor construction, too much cheep plastic, noisy and slow af, though optically it was not so bad. But the overall handling of this lens was horrible.

now i have 50mm 1.4 and i can say it is much better lens than the previous one.

on the other side the lens missfocuses on shorter distances and below f/2, it just somehow makes too many focus errors. From f/2.8 it's much better, almost perfect.

in my experience the lens is very sharp from f/2.8 with with fast and silent focus.
till f/2.0 it seems too soft to me.

good luck!

--
http://www.peterkorcek.com
 
The 'dreaminess' is a function of subject distance too with this lens, which I find quite annoying. It will at times yield acceptable sharpness in tight frames, but the moment you try 3/4 or full length shots wide open, it croaks.

--
Henrik Herranen said:
RiverSide Photography said:
Google search reveals some reliability issues with this lens.
Click to expand...
Yes.

Even a slight knock on the front element may break it. Been there, done that, bought the lens hood after that and never took it off again. (And then, out of frustration, replaced the lens with the Sigma 50/1.4.) So if you buy it, buy Canon's lens hood, too, and never reverse it or take it off. Some people have had trouble even though they've taken this precaution, but they are much more rare.
Henrik Herranen said:
It was really crying out for an update but Canon came out with the f/1.2 squashing any hopes of a redesign of this classic.
Click to expand...
The f/1.2 was published almost three years ago (Jan 2007), and as Sigma has since published its optically very nice 50/1.4, I wouldn't find it completely impossible that Canon would update the 50/1.4 in a few years. To a higher price than the old one, of course.

After all, it's a shame that Canon doesn't have a proper f/1.4 lens for the easiest to implement / the most popular (?) prime focal length. Flare resistance alone would be reason enough to update the lens, not to speak of the easy-to-break micro USM or its somewhat dreamy optical performance at apertures larger than f/2*.

Kind regards,
  • Henrik
* I am not saying the lens is useless below f/2. I've used it right upto f/1.4 just fine. But you have to control the dreaminess, or blue colour smearing as it's also called.

--
And if a million more agree there ain't no great society
My obligatory gallery: http://www.iki.fi/leopold/Photo/Galleria/
Click to expand...
--
I see dead pixels
 
I turned up some other threads on the subject:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1029&thread=32546687

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1029&message=31022219

If it was a case of stretching now and saving N x 1.8 replacement costs then I'd have justified the 1.4, but there are just too many question marks over it and I can't afford the 1.2 or above, so I've settled on another 1.8 for the moment.

Ordinarily I'd be inclined to limp on until it completely fails, as the lens is still fairly usable at the moment - particularly after a brief "work out" with the depth of field preview button - but I have a couple of family occasions coming up where I'll need a fast fifty and I don't want the nagging doubts.

Hopefully it'll arrive in time! This is the first time I've ordered grey Canon kit, so I'll be interested to see how well Onestop perform, as it may affect future purchases of nicer kit.
 
the AF design of the canon 50 1.4 is so good that canon created a flat rate to fix it

a flat rate of 85 plus tax and shipping

imagine that

:)

the lens is good, but the AF was not well designed. So the flat rate comes into the play.
 
Eerily this is identical to my experience. The AF motor in the 1.4 is horrid: too fragile and it's not even really that accurate. Now, I did have problems with my Sigma 1.4 backfocusing and it ultimately required calibration to the body to resolve the issue. I have since traded it to my friend and he has no problems on his 40d though.
Henrik Herranen said:
RiverSide Photography said:
Google search reveals some reliability issues with this lens.
Click to expand...
Yes.

Even a slight knock on the front element may break it. Been there, done that, bought the lens hood after that and never took it off again. (And then, out of frustration, replaced the lens with the Sigma 50/1.4.) So if you buy it, buy Canon's lens hood, too, and never reverse it or take it off. Some people have had trouble even though they've taken this precaution, but they are much more rare.
Henrik Herranen said:
It was really crying out for an update but Canon came out with the f/1.2 squashing any hopes of a redesign of this classic.
Click to expand...
The f/1.2 was published almost three years ago (Jan 2007), and as Sigma has since published its optically very nice 50/1.4, I wouldn't find it completely impossible that Canon would update the 50/1.4 in a few years. To a higher price than the old one, of course.

After all, it's a shame that Canon doesn't have a proper f/1.4 lens for the easiest to implement / the most popular (?) prime focal length. Flare resistance alone would be reason enough to update the lens, not to speak of the easy-to-break micro USM or its somewhat dreamy optical performance at apertures larger than f/2*.

Kind regards,
  • Henrik
* I am not saying the lens is useless below f/2. I've used it right upto f/1.4 just fine. But you have to control the dreaminess, or blue colour smearing as it's also called.

--
And if a million more agree there ain't no great society
My obligatory gallery: http://www.iki.fi/leopold/Photo/Galleria/
Click to expand...
 
Jaywhoopee said:
I'm wondering about getting a 50mm f/1.4 but I've read enough to make me nervous about its reliability and wondered how many people here had encountered problems with it?
Click to expand...
If you are buying this lens because you love the 50 mm focal length, it's a good value for the price.

But, if you are buying this lens to use mostly under f2.8, you're better off investing in a better lens in my opinion.

Of course everyone's experience is different, but I've had two versions of this lens and both had difficulties with focus and with shots below f2.8. I've used them on the 5D, the 40D, and the XTi. Both have been sold.

I'm not saying good shots below 2.8 are not possible with this lens.

Although it's not exactly the same, I have been extremely happy with the 60 mm 2.8 Macro. It serves as a nice portrait lens, like the 50 1.4 on APS-c cameras, but also has great macro, lightweight, and I believe it has true ring USM. It is very sharp wide open and its only fault is it doesn't work on full frame.

Dave
 
This is precisely why I bought the 1.8 II instead of the 1.4. Canon's 1.4 has problems noted above. Sigma's 1.4 has a storied history of having focus problems right out of the box. At least with the 1.8, you know you are getting a quirky lens and are charged the appropriate price for one. If I am going to have to deal with some lens issues, at least I'm only out $90-110.
 
I did consider the 60mm macro, but I'm trying to avoid EF-S lenses because at some point in the next year or so I'll upgrade from my 350D and 400D combo and I've not decided what to get yet!

I was thinking maybe a 40D then adding a 50D when it reached the end of its life (I really like having two bodies) but I'll no doubt change my mind before I can afford to buy anything :)

If I end up with another crop I will probably look at the 60mm EF-S, but I'm dreaming of full frame at the moment!

Thanks for the info - I think a combo of 60mm macro with nifty fifty in my pocket "just in case" could work quite well for portraits
 
Mine was doing great for about 2 years. I used it frequently, but I used the hood, cleaned it regularly, and always kept it in a padded spot in my camera bag.

One day the autofocus just flat out stopped working. It sort of moves, but wont focus on anything, but yet gives the camera the signal that it is in focus.

I havent yet brought it to servicing, but I was a bit sad to see my dependable lens just stop working, without receiving any damage to cause it. Then again it is also the cheapest piece of equipment I own, so its not that unexpected.
 
The focusing on my 50/1.4 failed after years of use. I took it into Canon, Irvine. They fixed it for free, because it's a common issue with this lens. It's as good as new now. Of course, I was fortunate that I could drop it off at the service center. Otherwise, I would have had to pay for shipping.
Jaywhoopee said:
My nifty fifty has started to fail after 3 years fairly light use.

I encountered some Err 99 messages the other week. I tried cleaning the contacts, tried the lens on my other body and used the DoF preview button to diagnose an occasionally sticking aperture.

I'm wondering about getting a 50mm f/1.4 but I've read enough to make me nervous about its reliability and wondered how many people here had encountered problems with it?

I don't want to leap from my current frying pan into a £200 more expensive fire :).

For a number of reasons the decision is purely between the 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/1.8 mk2.
Click to expand...
 
Is it really that bad? I see that some people have reported that the AF has failed, but what is the percentage of failures? Canon sells thousands of these.

And the 50/1.4 might not be an L, but the 50/1.8 in comparison is a toy piece of plastic. The OP himself says:
tkbslc said:
My nifty fifty has started to fail after 3 years fairly light use.
Click to expand...
so is it any better? Any lens can encounter problems.

I have had my 50/1.4 for 5 years and it has performed flawlessly and is one of my most accurate lenses. Even if it were to break tomorrow (which I doubt very much), it is so much better than the 50/1.8 in terms of build, color, contrast and AF that it would still have been worth all the better photos I now have. And I would go out and buy another one (or simply get it fixed).

I can only go on my experience of course, but if you have the money, I think the 50/1.4 is a much better buy than the toy 50/1.8.
 
Jaywhoopee said:
My nifty fifty has started to fail after 3 years fairly light use.

I encountered some Err 99 messages the other week. I tried cleaning the contacts, tried the lens on my other body and used the DoF preview button to diagnose an occasionally sticking aperture.

I'm wondering about getting a 50mm f/1.4 but I've read enough to make me nervous about its reliability and wondered how many people here had encountered problems with it?

I don't want to leap from my current frying pan into a £200 more expensive fire :).

For a number of reasons the decision is purely between the 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/1.8 mk2.
Click to expand...
see this:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1029&message=32552709
 
A Google search will reveal some reliability issues with ANY lens. Go ahead. Check.

The 50mm f/1.4 is basically a fine lens, especially for the relatively low cost. Its construction is perhaps best described as being somewhere between some of the cheaper entry-level lenses and the best L lenses. I don't see mine as being as absurdly fragile as some posters suggest. I use a lens cap and keep a think, collapsible rubber hood on mine, but otherwise I'm not especially gentle with it.

If this is a lens whose functionality you need, I'd not worry about the reliability/build quality issue - just get one and start using it.

Dan
RiverSide Photography said:
Google search reveals some reliability issues with this lens.

It was really crying out for an update but Canon came out with the f/1.2 squashing any hopes of a redesign of this classic.

--
I see dead pixels
Click to expand...
--
---
G Dan Mitchell - SF Bay Area, California, USA
Blog & Gallery: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gdanmitchell
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdanmitchell/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gdanmitchell
IM: gdanmitchell

Gear List: Cup, spoon, chewing gum, old shoe laces, spare change, eyeballs, bag of nuts.
 
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