Battle of the 50mm's - 1.8, 1.4 and 1.2L

[wickidwombat]

when I tested the 85 f1.2 II against the Sigma 85f1.4 side by side I felt that for weddings the AF might be a bit slow compared to the sigma.

Anyway got a wedding tomorrow so i get to test the sigma out in the field to put it through its paces

[Caps18]

I get to try out the 50mm f/1.2 over the weekend to see how it does against the 16-35mm and 85mm f/1.8. 

[scottsdaleriots]

So it's been confirmed that Canon have filed a patent for the 50mm 1.4 (along with a bunch of other lenses). Do I buy now (within the next 6months) or wait for the new one?

I would like to wait for the mkII but it could be another 12-24 months before Canon release it

[akiskev]

Zeiss 50mm 1.4 with M42 to EOS adapter.


Little Prince of the field

[EOBeav]

I would like to wait for the mkII but it could be another 12-24 months before Canon release it

That's a long time to not have a 50mm, just because you're waiting for the new version. The current model holds it's value pretty well, so you can always sell it if/when the mkII hits the market. In the meantime, you've got a lens with an outstanding price/performance ratio.

[bdunbar79]

I get to try out the 50mm f/1.2 over the weekend to see how it does against the 16-35mm and 85mm f/1.8. 

I bet you anything it will outperform the other two lenses at 50mm 

[RuneL]

I regularly use the 50 1.2. And I love that thing, it isn't as sharp as the 70-200 for instance, but that creamy nice borkeh is just awesome. But as others have said, it requires that you get used to and tame it, and that's wonderful, I think.

I had the 50 1.8 a long time ago and was pretty satisfied with it (image quality and borkeeeh is fine too), the AF is terrible, the build quality is worse, manual focus is next to impossible because of the tiny and loose focus ring. I've never tried the sigma or the 1.4. But I'd say the gain you get from the 1.2 compared to the 1.4?? Well.. I'm not sure, but I can tell you I wouldn't trade mine in for a 1.4.

[RLPhoto]

The Canon 50L is my favorite 50mm design I've ever used. It has a unique rendering that looks similar to the Planar 80mm f/2.8 I've used on my MF hasselblad 501CM.

Just love it.

[@!ex]

I just switched to canon and full frame a couple months ago and one of my first purchases was the 50mm 1.2L.  I never realized why 50mm lenses were so commonplace in the age of 35mm film, but now I do.  To me it is the perfect focal range to capture what the eye sees, and keeping it on my camera most of the time has really expanded my creative eye (even though it is a standard focal length, it somehow make me more unstandard in my captures).  The extreme speed and the buttery melting bokeh give it a unique character only rivaled by some of the best lenses I've seen from the past.  When you shoot with it wide open the color, bokeh, razor thin DOF and vignette make for a unique and beautiful combination that really can't be matched by the 1.4 (in fact it is so unique that I can now pick out shots in magazines and on the web that have been done with this lens).  If you get things just right wide open you can even get this one of a kind 3D effect that I have only seen from the .95 noctilux before (and the 1.0f 50mm).  To get its full benefit it would need to be used on a full frame IMO, but once you get used to the focus on this beast you won't be let down.  Here are a couple shots I've taken over the month or two since I got it showcasing the versatility of the lens from a super fast portrait lens to a stopped down tack sharp landscape lens...


Bugging Out by @!ex, on Flickr


Into the Sun by @!ex, on Flickr


Available Light... by @!ex, on Flickr


My Hood by @!ex, on Flickr


The Edge of America by @!ex, on Flickr


Through the Cracks… by @!ex, on Flickr


A Night @ Red Rocks by @!ex, on Flickr


Japanese Bokeh Garden by @!ex, on Flickr


Spring in Boulder by @!ex, on Flickr


The Edge of the Rockies by @!ex, on Flickr


Spring by @!ex, on Flickr


Baby Soren by @!ex, on Flickr


Skitzo by @!ex, on Flickr


Canvas by @!ex, on Flickr

[Quasimodo]

@lex. Through the cracks is an awsome shot! I thought that was impossible without some serious time in photoshop. I have the Canon 1.4 myself, and I just got it back from the shop today, and I am posting a shot I took earlier today with it. I love it, but I would buy a 1.2 if I could afford. (shot with a 5D II, @ auto iso, and F2.0

Gerhard.

[Quasimodo]

here is the picture...

[@!ex]

@lex. Through the cracks is an awsome shot! I thought that was impossible without some serious time in photoshop. I have the Canon 1.4 myself, and I just got it back from the shop today, and I am posting a shot I took earlier today with it. I love it, but I would buy a 1.2 if I could afford. (shot with a 5D II, @ auto iso, and F2.0

Gerhard.

Very nice striking portrait.  Looks Hemingwayesque.

[Quasimodo]

@lex. Through the cracks is an awsome shot! I thought that was impossible without some serious time in photoshop. I have the Canon 1.4 myself, and I just got it back from the shop today, and I am posting a shot I took earlier today with it. I love it, but I would buy a 1.2 if I could afford. (shot with a 5D II, @ auto iso, and F2.0

Gerhard.

Very nice striking portrait.  Looks Hemingwayesque.

Thank you:)

how did you do the through the cracks shot? is it possible to get the sharp image in the water with the superthin dof of the 1.2?

[lopicma]

I am happy with my 50mm f/1.8 as well.  I use it more for indoor shooting to compensate for the Rebel XS's low ISO range, and it serves me well.

I have a bunch of shots I took at a WWII re-inactor event with it.
https://picasaweb.google.com/118123760856646560072/TributeToTheFewAirborneAllTheWay

[bdunbar79]

@lex. Through the cracks is an awsome shot! I thought that was impossible without some serious time in photoshop. I have the Canon 1.4 myself, and I just got it back from the shop today, and I am posting a shot I took earlier today with it. I love it, but I would buy a 1.2 if I could afford. (shot with a 5D II, @ auto iso, and F2.0

Gerhard.

Very nice striking portrait.  Looks Hemingwayesque.

Thank you:)

how did you do the through the cracks shot? is it possible to get the sharp image in the water with the superthin dof of the 1.2?

Um yeah, don't set the aperture to 1.2.