50mm 1.4 or 40mm 2.8?

[hyles]

Do you need 1.4? Get the 50. Can you live with 2.8? Get the cheaper 40.
Diego

[pdirestajr]

I would look into the 35 f/2. It's definitely an often overlooked lens. On a crop it is great and sharp. I have never had focusing issues (very fast focus at this focal range), and the sound of the focus motor does not affect the image quality!

I have a bunch of lenses, and the 35 f/2 always ends up on my 7D.

[Michael_pfh]

If you can live with MF you may want to look at the Zeiss 35mm F2.0.

[squarebox]

if you don't need the wide aperture, then go for the 40mm as it's sharper across the board compared to the 50mm. 

[dickgrafixstop]

I'd vote "neither" - with a crop body I'd look at the 24 or the 28 f2.8.  They're as fast as the 40mm with what's to
me a more "natural" FOV.  The 50 f1.4 is a great lens - particularly for portraits on the crop body - but unless you
need the speed - and don't like the look of a couple of clicks on the ISO setting -  at a third the price the 50 f1.8
is a winner for me.

[tobiasg@gmail.com]

I currently own both - tested both on a T4i and 5DM3.  I love the size and convenience of the 40, it is quite sharp even at f/2.8- focus is snappy and did I mention it is small!  When you compare images side by side with the 50 f/1.4 you start to see some noticeable differences in color rendition and sharpness, the 40 is not a bad lens and at 1/2 the price of the 50 f/1.4 it is a good value.  The 40 or 35 is a better focal range on a crop sensor but that 35 can focus so slow sometimes.

[neuroanatomist]

Haven't used the 50/1.4.  Have and really like the 40mm f/2.8 STM.  It's conveniently small - so small, that I can walk around with a 70-200 on the camera (hanging from a Blackrapid strap) and carry the pancake lens in my pocket, then leave the telezoom hanging from the strap and put the 40/2.8 on the camera if I need a wider AoV.

[Photo Gazelle]

Neuroanatomist - awesome tip on how to handle a larger lens such as the 70-200 with the Blackrapid system. You're connecting to the tripod ring correct?
Sorry for being off-topic but you just made me seriously reconsider my setup.

[neuroanatomist]

Neuroanatomist - awesome tip on how to handle a larger lens such as the 70-200 with the Blackrapid system. You're connecting to the tripod ring correct?
Sorry for being off-topic but you just made me seriously reconsider my setup.

Correct.  I have Wimberley P-20 plates on my lenses with tripod collars, and the Blackrapid FastenR-3 lug is semipermanently attached (with Loctite Blue) to a Kirk QRC 1" clamp.  That way, I have secure but quick-release capability to move the BR strap from camera plate to lens plate.