What is the lifespan of an EF 50mm f/1.4 USM?

I have a bunch of photographer friends that shoots Canon. All of those that bought the 50mm f/1.4 has had the same problem: the AF breaks down within a couple of years. Were they just unlucky or does this lens have some serious quality issues? Searching the web doesn't make me more sure about buying it. Should this lens be seen as a consumable?

I wonder if someone has actually had the EF 50mm f/1.4 for, say, over 7 years and still has a working copy.

Can't remember when I bought mine, but it's well over 7 years ago. Well over 10, for that matter. That said, it's not one of my most-used lenses, but there's certainly no timed self-destruction function in it.

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Digital Imaging Technician wrote:

I have a bunch of photographer friends that shoots Canon. All of those that bought the 50mm f/1.4 has had the same problem: the AF breaks down within a couple of years. Were they just unlucky or does this lens have some serious quality issues? Searching the web doesn't make me more sure about buying it. Should this lens be seen as a consumable?

I don't have one myself but this is a well-known issue. The 50/1.4 has a unique AF mechanism not used on any other lens - micro USM with a clutch to provide full-time manual focus so it masquerades as Ring USM but it's actually inferior to the real thing. It seems to be prone to mechanical damage if there is pressure on the extending inner barrel.

The solution I often see suggested is to keep a lens hood attached to protect the inner barrel from pressure, and always remember to retract the barrel before putting in a bag.

I wonder if keeping the lens hood attached is always a wise thing to do.  Lenses do come with hoods for some reasons...I've always assumed the reasons were 1) to block sunlight, and 2) to protect the front element.  Maybe the list is longer...

I keep my hoods on all my lenses that have them...and if they don't come with one, I usually buy a cheapo off amazon.

I wonder if someone has actually had the EF 50mm f/1.4 for, say, over 7 years and still has a working copy.

I'm sure there are many.

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I've also had the AF fail after a few years.  It was never dropped or had any undue force applied to the front.  I wish I'd known about this issue earlier on.  Leaving the hood on (even when not in use) would more than likely avoided the problem.

+1 Mine failed too. Its not a very good lens. There are some great 3rd party ones nowadays.

Rock and Rollei wrote:

Can't remember when I bought mine, but it's well over 7 years ago. Well over 10, for that matter. That said, it's not one of my most-used lenses, but there's certainly no timed self-destruction function in it.

Incidentally, it replaced a 50mm f1.8 Mk II, which just fell apart in my hands - now that was a lens that really wasn't built to last.

I like the f1.4 - yes, it's got a very old-fashioned look, being somewhat soft wide open. Thankfully! Hard to find modern lenses with real character without paying through the nose for a modern recreation of an old lens.

I had to go into my amazon order history, I've had the 50mm 1.4 for 8 years. Still working perfectly, which doesn't mean others haven't had problems, nor does it mean most people have had problems.

I've kept the hood on at all times and I try not to use filters with it.

Digital Imaging Technician wrote:

I have a bunch of photographer friends that shoots Canon. All of those that bought the 50mm f/1.4 has had the same problem: the AF breaks down within a couple of years. Were they just unlucky or does this lens have some serious quality issues? Searching the web doesn't make me more sure about buying it. Should this lens be seen as a consumable?

I wonder if someone has actually had the EF 50mm f/1.4 for, say, over 7 years and still has a working copy

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57441765

Mine is 16 years old and still going but with a little focusing glitch from time to time. I asked the same question 2 months ago...

I bought the 50mm f/1.4 at around 2005 and it worked nicely until 2014. In my case it wasn't the AF that failed, instead I think some lens element must have become partially dislocated, as regardless of using AF or MF it was no longer possible to achieve truly sharp images at any aperture; even at best the fine details were mushy and there was a kind of halo-like effect.

I considered that to be a valid excuse for upgrading to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art (which I haven't regretted, optically it's a very much superior lens especially at large apertures) and maybe getting the Canon lens examined / serviced at some point later as a back-up (which I still haven't done).

So in my case it survived about 9 years of frequent use, give or take a few months.

Spotted Cow wrote:

retracting the front part of the lens in by manually focusing to infinity before I put on the lens cap.

I do that too, and with all my non internally focusing lenses as a reflex.

Depends!

I have two, the first one has been repaired many time over 10 years, focus motor (well that is what it is called), the gear goes out of round and jams. As many people have said, don't push on the front of the lens.

I don't use either of them that much becasue the focus speed is slow, inaccurate and not consistent. Very bad CA until you get to approx f2.2 or 2.4.

If you shoot at night without any bright lights in the scene you get excellent results which you would not normlly get.

Contrast is very bad until f2.2

I've broken two of them. The one I have now has lasted six years... because I never use it.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50521140

Not used a lot, but OK never the less.

Only item I recall that has actually died was a 550 EX flash after 16 or 17 years of service.