Canon 50mm f1.4 too soft wide open?

olympus999 · Nov 22, 2015

I just recently received a canon 50mm F1.4 which seems to be extremely soft wide open, is it the lens or is it normal?

This is a shot with f1.4. It is not a bad shot, all of the shots are very similar to this one.

This is a shot with f2.2 which is a lot more sharper.

Another thing I wonder about, my friend has Nikkor 35 f1.8g which is WAY sharper at f1.8 than my canon at f2.2.

My camera is 500d, if this should matter. I am really surprised by the quality of the photo.

Mike Blunzenstricker · Nov 23, 2015

The 50mm 1.4 is a not tack sharp wide open. But it is very sharp from 2.5 on.

Did you shoot some images from the tripod, mirrow lock up and selftimer? You wont get crisp images handholding at 1/40, maybe not even at 1/60.

Did you try to "meassure" if the AF is spot on? Did you already try to micro-adjust using the menue settings of yor camera body?

Timbukto · Nov 23, 2015

Coma and astigmatism combined with strong light source relative to rest of scene.

jitteringjr · Nov 23, 2015

Here is what I get at f1.4 on my copy with my 7D. Try setting it on a tripod and use live view and see if there is a big difference.

[ATTACH]1228951[/ATTACH] olympus999 said:
I just recently received a canon 50mm F1.4 which seems to be extremely soft wide open, is it the lens or is it normal?

This is a shot with f1.4. It is not a bad shot, all of the shots are very similar to this one.

This is a shot with f2.2 which is a lot more sharper.

Another thing I wonder about, my friend has Nikkor 35 f1.8g which is WAY sharper at f1.8 than my canon at f2.2.
My camera is 500d, if this should matter. I am really surprised by the quality of the photo.

Timbukto · Nov 23, 2015

If you are shooting such that you are in perfect alignment with the subject and focal plane (easier said than done), than a well centered copy of the 50mm 1.4 will still show coma and astigmatism with the 'direction' of the coma having an orientation that is respective to the frame (i.e. so coma in the lower right should sort of blur to the lower right, coma on the right blurs to the right, etc).

Overall I do think the optical characteristics of the 50mm 1.4 is pretty weak as to consider the 50mm 1.8 STM which although equivalently weak, is the smaller, lighter, and arguably now better constructed 50.

I'm gonna get rid of mine. BTW if you shoot a scene without bright light sources near the edge of the frame you should be fine.

Here are some wide open 50mm 1.4 shots on the 6D. Again coma is crazy (and its still crazy on the STM, but at least its 1/3rd the price).

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

WindwardHaole · Nov 24, 2015

This is not normal for the Canon 50mm, 1.4 even considering that the 50, 1.8 will offer better wide open performance. The directional smeared quality of the image suggests that there is a significant optical misalignment, return it if you can or send it to Canon.

olympus999 · Dec 2, 2015

Using a tripod I get same results. Here are two pictures with tripod.

1/200 f1.4

1/50 f2.8

Looking around, other people seem to have considerably sharper photos at f1.4. What do you think?

Timbukto · Dec 2, 2015

Have you already been using liveview contrast detect focus? I just sold my 50mm 1.4 and the person I sold it to his camera body showed significant PDAF alignment issues (requiring MFA). Was kinda annoying cause I basically had to drop the price further just to get the sale cause of that (when its really lined up on my 6D).

Either way if you've ruled out MFA, its probably a dud.

WindwardHaole · Dec 3, 2015

If this is the same lens as before,you should expect the same result, whether mounted on a tripod or not. Most f/1.4 lenses have lower wide open sharpness and contrast than their marketing departments and street legend may promote. Have you tried to return the lens or contact Canon? If the lens is defective, as I and several others have suggested, you won't improve it by changing your shooting technique. Another thought, your examples have been low contrast images, the worst sharpness test for an f/1.4 lens. But the fact remains that your lens appears to show some optical problems. Good luck.

olympus999 · Dec 3, 2015

Timbukto said:
Have you already been using liveview contrast detect focus? I just sold my 50mm 1.4 and the person I sold it to his camera body showed significant PDAF alignment issues (requiring MFA). Was kinda annoying cause I basically had to drop the price further just to get the sale cause of that (when its really lined up on my 6D).

Either way if you've ruled out MFA, its probably a dud.

I think you are right and it is MFA issue. In the picture below I focused on letter 'B' from word 'Banana' and as you can see it is totally out of focus. So as my Canon 500d does not support MFA I need a new camera?

Thank you for help guys!

Timbukto · Dec 3, 2015

olympus999 said:
Timbukto said:

Have you already been using liveview contrast detect focus? I just sold my 50mm 1.4 and the person I sold it to his camera body showed significant PDAF alignment issues (requiring MFA). Was kinda annoying cause I basically had to drop the price further just to get the sale cause of that (when its really lined up on my 6D).

Either way if you've ruled out MFA, its probably a dud.

Click to expand...

I think you are right and it is MFA issue. In the picture below I focused on letter 'B' from word 'Banana' and as you can see it is totally out of focus. So as my Canon 500d does not support MFA I need a new camera?

Thank you for help guys!

I would never buy an OVF/DSLR type camera and not have MFA on it unless my only intention was to shoot f5.6 consumer zooms. I find the fact that DSLR manufacturers would produce MFAless cameras (or tightening up lens manufacture tolerances) as shooting themselves in the foot and giving consumers good reason to not enjoy DSLRs and shoot mirrorless instead.

Another contribution of it being soft is that you are revealing that you are shooting APS-C 15MP or so crop. This equates to some 36+ MP FF camera in terms of magnification. Meaning most 20-22 MP FF sensors shooting the 50mm f1.4 will look 'better' in the center area since there is much less magnification.

I still think your 50mm 1.4 looks a bit soft relative to what I remember I could get out of my 18MP EOS-M. Canon 50mm 1.4 can probably vary a bit, its not like the 50mm 1.8 STM in consistency.

But I wouldn't take these random snapshots as a true measure of its quality, I'd need to try it on infinity scenes.

p5freak · Dec 3, 2015

This lens was made back in 1993. Thats 22 (!) years ago. It was built for film, not digital sensors. You cant expect it to be sharp wide open on todays cameras.

crashpc · Dec 21, 2015

From time to time, I argue FOR 50mm f/1.4, especially for the sharpness. It´s propably not "tack sharp" by means of DPR forum geeks, but it is plenty sharp, if you know how to handle this beast. In past, I made a statement, that it holds very well for FullHD output image (lets say 12-15" wide).

Now I believe it´s more. It holds even for 4K (24"-30" wide, respecting some viewing distance, from 2" and further). And this is even on crop sensor, where this lens is "softer" even more.

Little Sindy was the victim again, for my testshot...

p5freak · Dec 21, 2015

crashpc said:
From time to time, I argue FOR 50mm f/1.4, especially for the sharpness. It´s propably not "tack sharp" by means of DPR forum geeks, but it is plenty sharp, if you know how to handle this beast. In past, I made a statement, that it holds very well for FullHD output image (lets say 12-15" wide).

Now I believe it´s more. It holds even for 4K (24"-30" wide, respecting some viewing distance, from 2" and further). And this is even on crop sensor, where this lens is "softer" even more.

Little Sindy was the victim again, for my testshot...

You must have the sharpest Canon 1,4/50 USM copy there is. I have never seen such sharpness from that lens wide open, i had three of them, and they needed at least stopping down one or two stops to achieve that kind of image quality.

crashpc · Dec 21, 2015

p5freak said:
crashpc said:

From time to time, I argue FOR 50mm f/1.4, especially for the sharpness. It´s propably not "tack sharp" by means of DPR forum geeks, but it is plenty sharp, if you know how to handle this beast. In past, I made a statement, that it holds very well for FullHD output image (lets say 12-15" wide).

Now I believe it´s more. It holds even for 4K (24"-30" wide, respecting some viewing distance, from 2" and further). And this is even on crop sensor, where this lens is "softer" even more.

Little Sindy was the victim again, for my testshot...

Click to expand...

You must have the sharpest Canon 1,4/50 USM copy there is. I have never seen such sharpness from that lens wide open, i had three of them, and they needed at least stopping down one or two stops to achieve that kind of image quality.

The Mad Kiwi · Dec 21, 2015

That's typical, it's pretty soft close to the minimum focal distance, it ain't no macro.

It's better at the distance you'd typically use it.

I think the 50mm 1.4 has a nice look and it renders a very pretty kind of soft. The lens does have a unique look to it. You can spot it when compared to other lenses at a the same aperture.

If you're after sharpness this lens isn't for you, try the Sigma 50 Art.

If on the other hand you want soft slightly dreamy looking images, it's a nice lens. Good for portraits where you don't necessarily want to see every minor wrinkle in somebody face. Better for shooting adults than kids, kids you want sharpness to show off their flawless skin.

LaszloBencze · Dec 21, 2015

Well said. Good advice. Can't add a thing to it.

Dan_168 · Dec 21, 2015

olympus999 said:
I just recently received a canon 50mm F1.4 which seems to be extremely soft wide open, is it the lens or is it normal?

This is a shot with f1.4. It is not a bad shot, all of the shots are very similar to this one.

This is a shot with f2.2 which is a lot more sharper.

Another thing I wonder about, my friend has Nikkor 35 f1.8g which is WAY sharper at f1.8 than my canon at f2.2.
My camera is 500d, if this should matter. I am really surprised by the quality of the photo.

Well, the EF 50 1.4 is never known as a sharp lens, pretty much any 50mm lens you can fine in the world will be sharper than this one.

Yeah any Nikon 1.8G series lens is way sharper than this Canon, they are newer series lens and all have good sharpness. so it's not about your camera, you will see the same effect on any camera with these lens you mentioned, I had a EF 50 1.4 a while back so it all sounds normal to me, you have a few more alternative, the even cheaper 50 1.8 is much sharper, but with ugly Bokeh wide open, and there is a Sigma Art 50, super sharp lens, but a lot more expensive, there is also a older version Sigma 50 HSM 1.4, GREAT bokeh, very well built, however, not as sharp anywhere from center to edge when compare to the Art, I replaced my EF 50 1.4 with this one as soon as it came out, you can find that used for pretty low price now as a lot of people upgraded to the Art version. sold that for the Zeiss and kind of regret and may just go get it back some day.

Timbukto · Dec 21, 2015

crashpc said:
p5freak said:

crashpc said:

From time to time, I argue FOR 50mm f/1.4, especially for the sharpness. It´s propably not "tack sharp" by means of DPR forum geeks, but it is plenty sharp, if you know how to handle this beast. In past, I made a statement, that it holds very well for FullHD output image (lets say 12-15" wide).

Now I believe it´s more. It holds even for 4K (24"-30" wide, respecting some viewing distance, from 2" and further). And this is even on crop sensor, where this lens is "softer" even more.

Little Sindy was the victim again, for my testshot...

Click to expand...

You must have the sharpest Canon 1,4/50 USM copy there is. I have never seen such sharpness from that lens wide open, i had three of them, and they needed at least stopping down one or two stops to achieve that kind of image quality.

--
Stupid is as stupid does - Forrest Gump

Click to expand...

Man! I´m not even sure if It´s focused well, because I used it on my M in manual mode, with external flash. The exposure simulation looked almost like night. I found where is the head, I saw it´s focused somehow back, so I turned the lens focus ring "to a taste", blindly as I remember it should work, and I got the shot. LOL.

Well, If I have the sharpest copy, I propably deserve being lucky from time to time. This one cost me $166, and I´m very happy with this piece. Also my 11-22mm IS STM shows some awesome sharpness right toward all corners. But what now? All other pieces are damned and doomed, and I shouldn´t recommend that lens.

I've had *many* Canon 50's. And I have EOS-M so I know what the magnification and pixel pitch is like. Your copy at least dead center looks very sharp. Hold onto that lens. Actually if the eye isn't the center of the lens and is off axis a bit, that is even more impressive. That said very little of the image is within DOF, but whatever slivers there are looks pretty good.

crashpc · Dec 21, 2015

There are nice comparisons "there online", and it doesn't show that 1.8 versions are sharper from wide open to f/4. If that was true, there woud not be easier thing for me than selling my 1.4 for 1.8,.with some money left on hand...

Canon 50mm f1.4 too soft wide open?

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