Canon 50/1.4 focusing

[zsolex]

Hi,

I have read several article about focusing issue about above lens. I also tried with 500d in the shop and it was terrible about 50cm range. From 5shot 2 was good. I can't make more photos unfotunatly.
Has anybody experience with this lens? With 7D?

The Sigma one could be better in focusing issue? I have read the Sigma has better image queality.. but the manufacturing quality has big deviation..

[marekjoz]

It works fine by me with 7d. No issues. Check your minimal distance to subject in LV as it might be too close.

[jrista]

I have read several article about focusing issue about above lens. I also tried with 500d in the shop and it was terrible about 50cm range. From 5shot 2 was good. I can't make more photos unfotunatly.
Has anybody experience with this lens? With 7D?

Well, 50cm is about 19 inches. The EF 50/1.4 has a minimum focus distance of just over 18 inches, so yeah, your going to have a hard time auto-focusing at that distance. You'll run into the problem where, if it needs to hunt, it can really only hunt in one direction...out, so it will search for focus, come all the way back to MFD, and search out again if it doesn't lock right away. If you regularly need to focus very close to MFD (minimum focus distance), then you might just want to stick with manual focus.

[ScottyP]

You could get the EF-S 60mm macro lens if you really need to be that close to your subjects.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Every lens has a minimum focus distance, and it sounds like you exceeded it.  No lens will focus closer than the MFD.

The Sigma will focus to 17.1 inches, but users report problems with close focus distances. 

As another said, if you need to get close, look at macro lenses.

[tt]

Every lens has a minimum focus distance, and it sounds like you exceeded it.  No lens will focus closer than the MFD.

The Sigma will focus to 17.1 inches, but users report problems with close focus distances. 

As another said, if you need to get close, look at macro lenses.

Would a ring insert (not sure exactly of the name) make the MFD decrease?

[darrellrhodesmiller]

i love my 50mm f1.4 but its on its 2nd trip (in 4 yrs) to canon service for focusing issues.. i use it a ton.. it gets bumped around quite a bit.. so i dont mind sending it in.. when it works.. its amazing.. but this is the 2nd time mine has had focusing issues in 4 yrs.

[wickidwombat]

I've never had a problem with is on my 1D3 or the 5D2s i have i could try it on some other models friend have
but generally its a pretty good lens IMO

[irena]

I constantly have focusing issues with this lens.  I typically have it mounted on my 30D.  I'm curious to see if it will get better with the 5D Mk2/3.   

I usually have constant focus hunting in low light and when I am at the edge of MFD.  I suggest in challenging situations like those being willing to lean back/forward, as well as limit your AF to the center focus point and then recomposing your image once focus is locked. 

[vuilang]

Would a ring insert (not sure exactly of the name) make the MFD decrease?

There is nothing you can do to decrease the MFD
........ Unless you mod it or attach another lense on top of it at a reverse macro... Or Simply just buy a macro lense

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Every lens has a minimum focus distance, and it sounds like you exceeded it.  No lens will focus closer than the MFD.

The Sigma will focus to 17.1 inches, but users report problems with close focus distances. 

As another said, if you need to get close, look at macro lenses.

Would a ring insert (not sure exactly of the name) make the MFD decrease?

You can buy a closeup screw-on lens, but AF will likely not work, and you will only be able to focus on very close items until you unscrew it.  You will be wanting a tripod and macro head too.

Since he is looking at new lenses, it might be better to just get the right one if he needs to be close.

[Blaze]

I use the 50mm f/1.4 on my 7D occasionally. The auto-focusing is pretty unreliable compared to my other Canon lenses, especially in low light and close distances.

For that reason (and the fact that it's quite soft wide open), it's my least favorite and least used lens that I own.

[eos650]

Would a ring insert (not sure exactly of the name) make the MFD decrease?

There is nothing you can do to decrease the MFD
........ Unless you mod it or attach another lense on top of it at a reverse macro... Or Simply just buy a macro lense

Sure there is. You can add macro extension tubes. They will decrease the Minimum and Maximum focus distance, causing you to lose infinity focus. Macro tubes come in different lengths and can be stacked. The greater the length, the shorter the minimum and maximum focus distance. If you go too long, you won't be able to focus at all, since the maximum distance would be inside the lens.

There are several brands available. I own the Kenko tubes. They retain AF and exposure. Also, they are compatible with both EF and EF-S bodies and lenses. I paid about $110 on EBay for my set.

The macro tubes are nice, if you want to experiment with macro or use them in a pinch, but are no substitute for a real macro lens.

[papa-razzi]

I use the 50mm f/1.4 on my 7D occasionally. The auto-focusing is pretty unreliable compared to my other Canon lenses, especially in low light and close distances.

For that reason (and the fact that it's quite soft wide open), it's my least favorite and least used lens that I own.

I have had similar experiences with this lens on my 7D.  A lot of people love this lens, so I was thinking I had a bad copy.  I bought this lens to use in low light situations, so it is always close to wide open, and the results are really disappointing.  My EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 is far superior in sharpness.

Will Canon service a lens if it is a soft copy?  Or is that something you have to live with?

[eos650]

I'm happy with my 50mm f1.4, but the DOF is pretty shallow when used close up at f1.4. Have you tried manual focusing, on a tripod to see if it's any sharper? I'm wondering if the lens is actually soft, of if the softness is being caused by something else.