Terrible coma on Canon 50mm. Do I have any options? Would servicing be worth it?

My Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM has always had really bad coma. I assumed these lenses were just bad like that and for the most part stopped using it, but I recently learned they're normally better than this.

Is there any cost-effective way to get a normal-quality lens instead of this dud?

I bought it two years ago so the warranty has expired.

I've contacted Canon and got a boilerplate-sounding recommendation to send it in for service. There was no indication that this is something they can fix and no cost estimate. I have no experience with their servicing and I'm concerned that this could be weeks of hassle only to find out that they'd like $200 to repair a $300 lens that they should not have sold to me in the first place, or charge for a repair that when I finally get it back, hasn't improved the coma very much.

Does service sound like a route I should take? Are there any other options that make sense? Any tips or recommendations?

Thanks!

J Fisher wrote:

My Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM has always had really bad coma. I assumed these lenses were just bad like that and for the most part stopped using it, but I recently learned they're normally better than this.

Is there any cost-effective way to get a normal-quality lens instead of this dud?

I bought it two years ago so the warranty has expired.

I've contacted Canon and got a boilerplate-sounding recommendation to send it in for service. There was no indication that this is something they can fix and no cost estimate. I have no experience with their servicing and I'm concerned that this could be weeks of hassle only to find out that they'd like $200 to repair a $300 lens that they should not have sold to me in the first place, or charge for a repair that when I finally get it back, hasn't improved the coma very much.

Does service sound like a route I should take? Are there any other options that make sense? Any tips or recommendations?

Thanks!

Are you sure the lens is normally better?  I thought 50mm 1.4's had bad coma pretty often.  To be honest with you, if you don't like it, I would consider selling it and getting the 50mm 1.8 stm.   I think it's a better lens especially for the money.

The Canon 50 1.4 has never gotten good press. I bought a Sigma 50 1.4 instead but rarely use it or my other primes except for 100L macro. Guess I'm just a zoom guy.

Kent