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Very happy with purchase!

Started Oct 18, 2013 | User reviews
primalspy Regular Member • Posts: 133
Very happy with purchase!

I had been using the 50 1.8 & was never satisfied with the cheap build, the colors & the AF noise. I was on the fence between the really expensive 1.2 & the 1.4. I am so glad that I didn't fall for the hype over the 1.2. BTW: using FF. I found the 1.4 to have more accurate colors, sharp all the way down to 1.4, super accurate focus, & brighter (compared using same Fstop). In some cases shutter speed increased with the 1.4 vs 1.8.

Just did my first shoot with it for some corporate head shots & unlike some of my other lenses, I didn't have a single shot out of focus & they were incredibly sharp! Compared to the 1.8 version, build quality is much improved, better bokeh, it's about twice the weight, focus sounds smoother, doesn't look tiny on a FF body, & overall....just looks better.

I highly recommend this lens.

 primalspy's gear list:primalspy's gear list
Canon EOS 550D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM +3 more
Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM
Prime lens • Canon EF • 2515A003
primalspy's score
4.5
Average community score
3.7
Abu Mahendra Veteran Member • Posts: 5,312
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Bought in 2006. Sold it in 2008.

Now waiting for the Canon 50mm F 1.8 IS USM.

 Abu Mahendra's gear list:Abu Mahendra's gear list
Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM +5 more
photosen Veteran Member • Posts: 6,226
Re: Very happy with purchase!

It was my first lens, it has never let me down. Reading other people's experience I do keep a hood on at all times and don't use filters with it; and it does have peculiar qualities at 1.4, but even that can be useful.

 photosen's gear list:photosen's gear list
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 70D Canon EF 35mm F2.0 Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF-S 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 USM +3 more
OP primalspy Regular Member • Posts: 133
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Abu Mahendra wrote:

Bought in 2006. Sold it in 2008.

Now waiting for the Canon 50mm F 1.8 IS USM.

Is this a new lens coming out? I didn't see anything on the net about it.

 primalspy's gear list:primalspy's gear list
Canon EOS 550D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM +3 more
OP primalspy Regular Member • Posts: 133
Re: Very happy with purchase!

photosen wrote:

It was my first lens, it has never let me down. Reading other people's experience I do keep a hood on at all times and don't use filters with it; and it does have peculiar qualities at 1.4, but even that can be useful.

I still have to out it thought some more tests but so far....Super happy that I didn't spend the money on the 1.2

 primalspy's gear list:primalspy's gear list
Canon EOS 550D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM +3 more
Abu Mahendra Veteran Member • Posts: 5,312
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Abu Mahendra wrote:

Bought in 2006. Sold it in 2008.

Now waiting for the Canon 50mm F 1.8 IS USM.

Is this a new lens coming out? I didn't see anything on the net about it.

Canon filed a patent for it, sO I can only hope.

 Abu Mahendra's gear list:Abu Mahendra's gear list
Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM +5 more
rsn48 Veteran Member • Posts: 7,755
Canon 50mm f1.8 mk 1

This is the original 50mm ef lens, mine was made in 1987 and costs more than a new mk 2 version

The original 50mm f1.8 has a much better build as you can see in the above image I ripped off from the net. The build is metal, the focusing ring is superior, you have depth scale for hyperfocal calculations. The backing is metal instead of plastic like the mk 2 version. In fact it has been speculated and I agree now, that the current f1.8 was dumbed down to make the f1.4 more appealing for sales.

Most say the optics are the same, but some have actually tested out that claim and found that the original crispy model has slightly better optics. I own this lens and the Sigma 50mm f1.4, both of which I use for different shooting. I use the Canon f1.8 for travel, loving its small size, and I use the Sigma 50mm f1.4 for low light and night shoots, both urban nightscapes and night street photography.

http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/Reviews/g_Fifty_versus_fifty/a_Fifties_duel_--_f1.4_vs_f1.8.html

-- hide signature --

Hindsight is better than foresight, except for lost opportunity costs.

OP primalspy Regular Member • Posts: 133
Re: Very happy with purchase!

We shall see. For now, I'll go with what's available. 

 primalspy's gear list:primalspy's gear list
Canon EOS 550D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM +3 more
OP primalspy Regular Member • Posts: 133
Re: Canon 50mm f1.8 mk 1

I can't speak for the original 1.8 but when comparing the current 1.8 against the 1.4, I can tell the difference.

I still have more tests to do . I have no complaints.

 primalspy's gear list:primalspy's gear list
Canon EOS 550D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM +3 more
Press Correspondent
Press Correspondent Veteran Member • Posts: 3,362
Re: Very happy with purchase!
1

You've been shooting FF with 50/1.8, you think 50/1.4 is sharp wide open, and you believe 50/1.2 is a "hype". And you write lens reviews. Great. I love this forum...

 Press Correspondent's gear list:Press Correspondent's gear list
SeaLife DC2000 Panasonic LX100 II Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM +12 more
salamander1 Senior Member • Posts: 1,427
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Press Correspondent wrote:

You've been shooting FF with 50/1.8, you think 50/1.4 is sharp wide open, and you believe 50/1.2 is a "hype". And you write lens reviews. Great. I love this forum...

well, there is always a beginning and there is always an end. passion, any passion, including the passion for taking pictures is always a mystery and unaccountable. 1.8, 1.4, 1.2. you will see.

wazu
wazu Senior Member • Posts: 1,408
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Press Correspondent wrote:

You've been shooting FF with 50/1.8, you think 50/1.4 is sharp wide open, and you believe 50/1.2 is a "hype". And you write lens reviews. Great. I love this forum...

Agree that these user contributed reviews are mostly to be considered gear fanatics reassurance to themselves that they made wise choices.

I wound up with the 50/1.4 as a throw in when I bought my 5D3 with 24-70II. I won't splurge on a 50/1.2 just yet since  I believe Canon will release a 50 IS soon. Hopefully they will decide to keep the 1.4 aperture. If they don't then the new 55/1.4 from Zeiss is appealing.

But yes the 50/1.4 works but is really not one of Canons best products. Better than the 50/1.8 yes but leagues from the 50/1.2 IMO.

-- hide signature --

There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen

jitteringjr Veteran Member • Posts: 3,608
Re: Very happy with purchase!

Corporate head shots with a 50mm lens on full frame?  I guess I just prefer much longer lenses for head shots. I like 135 on crop for that.  Glad you are happy with it.  I made the same upgraded and concur.

 jitteringjr's gear list:jitteringjr's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM +9 more
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