50 mm Can't make up my mind!

[crasher8]

It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Sigma is better on a crop, Canon is better on FF.
Thats assuming you do not have the AF issues with Sigma that many complain of.
I'm suprised that AF speed is a issue with anyone.  Once the AF gets into the range of the subject, its virtually instant to refocus if the subject moves a little.
Checking AF speed by going from mfd to infinity does not represent many real world situations.

[RLPhoto]

It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)

I liked the canon 1.4. The sigma seemed Dicey on its focus and felt I couldn't fully trust it.

Eventually I bought the 50L and never desired another 50mm.

[florianbieler.de]

I owned the 50mm 1.4 before on my crop 500D and was very satisfied, but back then I was more of a beginner, now after using higher quality lenses with my 5D3 I didn't fancy it that much anymore on FF. Quality really suffers at 1.4 but well tell me one lens where it doesn't on such a high aperture.

[crasher8]

Sigma is better on a crop, Canon is better on FF.
Thats assuming you do not have the AF issues with Sigma that many complain of.
I'm suprised that AF speed is a issue with anyone.  Once the AF gets into the range of the subject, its virtually instant to refocus if the subject moves a little.
Checking AF speed by going from mfd to infinity does not represent many real world situations.

I'd love some elaboration about the Sigma being better on a crop. Is this in regards to corner sharpness?

[sandymandy]

Quality really suffers at 1.4 but well tell me one lens where it doesn't on such a high aperture.

Lenses that are even wider? Noctilux f/0.95 is not bad at 1.4

[extremeinstability]

I got the canon 50 F1.4 recently for a 5D II.  The corner softness and lack of contrast was rather huge towards the more wide open end.  I upgraded to the sigma 50 F1.4.  It blew the doors off the Canon more wide open.  Upon stopping down though the Canon passes it in sharpness.  In the end I'm not sure that difference more wide open was worth it.  I'd been happy with the 50 F1.8 if it had a real focus ring on it, sigh.  I never use auto-focus in that range so clueless there. 

http://www.lenstip.com/216.4-Lens_review-Canon_EF_50_mm_f_1.4_USM_Image_resolution.html

Look at the 3 image comparison down a bit.  I didn't believe that till I went through both lenses.  The Canon 1.4 I had was at least that much worse than the Sigma I now have in that more wide open range.  Some white pvc tubes for venting on top of the house show white "shadows" about the same width as them...the contrast open is so bad. But again, stop down F4 they are probably even and by F5.6 the canon is passing the Sigma in sharpness.  So depend on what you want it for.

I guess when I was testing things I did do a couple autofocus tries that at least one of which was way off on the Sigma in bright daylight. 

[dtaylor]

Sigma 50 1.4 any day of the week. Wide open it's comparable to the Canon 50 1.2L.

[nicku]

It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)

The answer is YES... the sigma is that much better.

I had the same dilemma 2 mounts ago... i opted firs for Canon. the vignette under f/3.5 - 3.2 is quite visible , the sharpness is good but not impressive under f/3.2 . at f/5.6 an above no vignetting and  sharp.

After i attached a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM on my everything changed.... MUCH sharper wide open, almost no vignetting at all apertures ( due to the aspehrical element) good colors better construction,better contrast, lens hood included... I returned the canon lens to the dealer immediately and kept the sigma.

[dtaylor]

Sigma is better on a crop, Canon is better on FF.

How so?

vs. Canon 50mm 1.2L on FF
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=473&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=403&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=1

vs. Canon 50mm 1.4 on FF
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=473&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=115&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

Though the tests above do not show this, the bokeh of the Sigma is as good as the L.

[cliffwang]

It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)

The answer is YES... the sigma is that much better.

I had the same dilemma 2 mounts ago... i opted firs for Canon. the vignette under f/3.5 - 3.2 is quite visible , the sharpness is good but not impressive under f/3.2 . at f/5.6 an above no vignetting and  sharp.

After i attached a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM on my everything changed.... MUCH sharper wide open, almost no vignetting at all apertures ( due to the aspehrical element) good colors better construction,better contrast, lens hood included... I returned the canon lens to the dealer immediately and kept the sigma.

+1
I used to use Canon 50mm F/1.4.  Once Beach Camera had great deal for Sigma 50mm F/1.4 and I decided to give it a try.  In a week, I decided to keep Sigma 50mm F/1.4.
crasher8,
I always think the best way is trying those lenses out by yourself and deciding which one you want to keep.  Many stores(local and online) allow you return lenses without charge in 30 days.  Why don't you just order both Canon and Sigma 50mm F/1.4 and decide which one you want to keep/return?

[ghstark]

Never used the sigma but have the Canon used it for over a year as main lens for group Photos at weddings it's very sharp lens and sharper than my 24-105f4L as expected.

[Axilrod]

Based on resolution tests the Canon 50 1.4 and Sigma 50 1.4 are both similar in the center but the Canon is much sharper in the corners.

[dtaylor]

Based on resolution tests the Canon 50 1.4 and Sigma 50 1.4 are both similar in the center but the Canon is much sharper in the corners.

They must have had a bad copy. All other reviews report the Sigma being much sharper wide open, as it was designed to be.

[Random Orbits]

Based on resolution tests the Canon 50 1.4 and Sigma 50 1.4 are both similar in the center but the Canon is much sharper in the corners.

They must have had a bad copy. All other reviews report the Sigma being much sharper wide open, as it was designed to be.

Hmm... don't know about that.  LensRentals also noted that the Sigma had softer edges/corners.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/01/the-great-50mm-shootout