EF 50 f/1.4 II & EF 50 f/1.8 III [CR2]

[Canon Rumors]

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New 50′s on the block?

Received word today that prototype 50 f/1.4 II’s and 50 f/1.8 III’s exist. The thought was both would be announced at the same time.

The 50 1.4 is in dire need of an update, and I think you could expect to pay twice as much for one than the current model.

No mention of IS in either lens.

Nikon has updated both lenses, so this one seems plausible. I’ve given up posting when such stuff would be announced. No one can truly know.

cr

[skitron]

This is very good news if true. Not surprising given the success of the Sigma. I have a very recent copy of the Sigma and it has very little focus shift and hits focus most of the time and is a nice lens. But I would imagine the Canon 1.4 II would hit focus more often plus do much better on full frame. That would make me very interested in this lens since I plan on going full frame when 5d3 hits.

[CR Backup Admin]

The 50mm f/1.4 is a bit weak wide open, but its also fairly cheap.  I find myself using 35mm and 85mm a lot more than 50mm, so I'm doubtful that I'd pay $700 for a new 50mm lens. 

Here is a shot at f/1.4, ISO 1600 taken at our local school play. Reasonable at f/1.4 for a $350 lens.

[J. McCabe]

With Canon's new lens prices, the only thing dire is photographers' need to win the lottery.

[dvdbrm]

I don't have a problem with the price going up as long as they give us a quality product.

Make it rock solid.

[nocojoe]

With Canon's new lens prices, the only thing dire is photographers' need to win the lottery.

+1

With any new increases other than the AF, it may make the only differences between the cameras the size of the apertures. 

[dg28]

With any new increases other than the AF, it may make the only differences between the cameras the size of the apertures.

If you look at Canon's track record on MkII lenses the other thing they almost always do is to reduce the minimum focus distance. If they could do that on a MkII 50mm f1.4 then that would be a big advance. The 85mm f1.8 really needs to knock 15cm off of it's closest focus distance too.

[Flake]

I think the optics of the 50mm f/1.4 are pretty good, especially considering how old the design is.  Sure it's a bit soft a very large apertures, but then most if not all of these lenses are.  The biggest problem with it is the autofocus and the USM micro motor, which makes it the most unreliable lens in Canon's product line.

I can't envisage Canon putting IS into a 50mm prime, there's no market precedent for that, and a lot of people like their primes because of the light weight, IS would negate that advantage.

This is a CR2 rumour so it carries a bit more weight than the usual gossip which does the rounds.

[Frankie T Fotografia]

Would this 50mm f1.8 be Canon's first MK III lens?

[LuCoOc]

Would this 50mm f1.8 be Canon's first MK III lens?

No there is the 75-300 III http://www.canon.de/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Telephoto_Zoom/EF_75-300mm_f4-5.6_III_USM/

i would like to see a new 1.4. i could find myself paying 600€ for a decent imagequality

[adamdoesmovies]

I think the optics of the 50mm f/1.4 are pretty good, especially considering how old the design is.  Sure it's a bit soft a very large apertures, but then most if not all of these lenses are.  The biggest problem with it is the autofocus and the USM micro motor, which makes it the most unreliable lens in Canon's product line.

I can't envisage Canon putting IS into a 50mm prime, there's no market precedent for that, and a lot of people like their primes because of the light weight, IS would negate that advantage.

This is a CR2 rumour so it carries a bit more weight than the usual gossip which does the rounds.

Having IS in a 50mm 1.4 would be ridiculously amazing for low light. a 3-4 stop advantage ON TOP of an f/1.4 aperture would have capabilities similar to the Noctilux (though your focus would no longer be razor thin, thankfully).

[MarkB]

I use the current 1.4 almost as much as my 24-105L.  It is less reliable in focus but it has great contrast and my 3 favorite photos were taken with it.  I have never taken a keeper open wider than f1.8 so IMO that is usable max aperture.  It seems to work magic around 2.2-3.2.

[7enderbender]

A new 50 1.4. would truly be good news. I wouldn't even want them to change the optical design. I like it as is. Just more sturdy and with internal focusing and I'll be happy to trade mine in. In other words: I'd be more than happy to shell out $600 or $700 on an EF version of my old FD 50 1.4 lenses...

[azf]

It's quite hard to justify $700 for 50/1.4 if it's just a minor upgrade of the old model. For that price, it'd better be a lot better (doubtful), have something more (like IS) or be significantly more compact (very unlikely). Of course the lottery winners among us might go for that even if they just added red "L" ring to it and nothing more.

[neuroanatomist]

Of course the lottery winners among us might go for that even if they just added red "L" ring to it and nothing more.

I highly doubt they'd make a 50mm f/1.4L given that there's already a 50mm f/1.2L.  But given the cost of the L version, even a $600-700 50/1.4 II would be cheap by comparison.  I suspect there are quite a few people out there who would be interested in a 50mm prime but are put off by the micro-USM AF and wide-open softness/halation of the current 50/1.4 (at least, that's what kept me from buying one, so I have the 35L and the 85L instead).