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

[Flake]

If you're meaning the big whites then all of them are cheaper on the street than the Nikon equivalents, lenses like the fisheye zoom are impossible to compare.  I think that covers 5 can't remember the other 2!

Recent lenses like the 100mm IS L Macro lens is marginally more expensive than the Nikon 105mm but then it does have the new H-IS system.

[Macadameane]

as for the 500 1.8 if it has USM and same or better IQ even i am crazy enough to pay 220 bucks for it and im a real nitpicker on prices.

Wowee, 500mm f/1.8, I would pay $220 for it too!  Imagine the creamy background of that.

[dilbert]

as for the 500 1.8 if it has USM and same or better IQ even i am crazy enough to pay 220 bucks for it and im a real nitpicker on prices.

Wowee, 500mm f/1.8, I would pay $220 for it too!  Imagine the creamy background of that.

Yeah, but can you imagine how much a lens like that would weight? It'd be one big heavy M-F...

[dnhjr]

Yeah, the 50/1.8 needs a update big time IMO. A metal mount and USM w/ FTM is a must.

[unruled]

I wish it would get a metal mount again.. but that would be awkward seing as how they went from Mk I metal -> Mk II plastic ..

il probably get a version of a 50mm between now and 12 months (no rush, no  money in the bank), so im glad to see this rumour. hopefully its true and  brings something nice. Presumably the 100$ 50 should stay 100$ though..

[hutjeflut]

I wish it would get a metal mount again.. but that would be awkward seing as how they went from Mk I metal -> Mk II plastic ..

il probably get a version of a 50mm between now and 12 months (no rush, no  money in the bank), so im glad to see this rumour. hopefully its true and  brings something nice. Presumably the 100$ 50 should stay 100$ though..

they can verry well keep producing this lens and make a usm version alongside it

[HughHowey]

5D3 this year. 

[CR Backup Admin]

Although a metal mount seems better, I've not seen a plastic mount that broke badly enough to malfunction.  On such a light weight lens its really not needed.  I did have a plastic mount EF power zoom that had a chip out of the mount, but it was a old lens.

This lens is positioned as a low cost entry level lens, so making changes that would double the price would not be the best idea. 

From what I've read, the earthquale effects have already affected planned introductions out into 2013, so its entirely possible that we might see new versions of the made in Taiwan lenses, assuming that they were not badly affected by the component shortages.  I'm sure that Canon is looking at all the possible ways to increase production.

[unruled]

is there any reason to believe taiwan made lenses are inferior to japan made lenses?

I remember reading about people complaining about made in china lenses (dont know about taiwan).

[Caps18]

I wonder if there is going to be a newer 50mm f/1.2 lens?  That is one of the lenses I'm looking at getting.

[CR Backup Admin]

is there any reason to believe taiwan made lenses are inferior to japan made lenses?

I remember reading about people complaining about made in china lenses (dont know about taiwan).

Canon farms out the lower cost mass produced lenses to Taiwan (18-55, 50mm f/1.8, ...).  The lenses are designed for low cost manufacturing.

This does not mean that manufacturing quality is inferior, just that the lenses are not designed to be "L" grade construction.

Its likely that the high end lenses could be made in Taiwan, or most anywhere.  Canon just wants to keep the high end stuff at home.

On the other hand, Nikon farms out assembly of their lenses to plants in Thailand.  Some of the critical lens components are still made in Japan, and they cannot be easily outsourced on short notice, it takes years to tool, startup, and debug a lens plant. 

Canon has been trying to get a lens production factory started up in Oita for two years now.  Thats where the new supertelephoto lenses were to be made as I understand it.  Its not fast or easy.

[neuroanatomist]

I wonder if there is going to be a newer 50mm f/1.2 lens?  That is one of the lenses I'm looking at getting.

I doubt it.  The 50/1.2L is not that old (released in 2007), and was itself an update of sorts, from the 50mm f/1.0L (released in 1989, and still shows up on the used market occasionally for $3-4K).  The other two current 50mm standard primes are from the early 90's. 

[ronderick]

On the other hand, Nikon farms out assembly of their lenses to plants in Thailand.  Some of the critical lens components are still made in Japan, and they cannot be easily outsourced on short notice, it takes years to tool, startup, and debug a lens plant. 

Canon has been trying to get a lens production factory started up in Oita for two years now.  Thats where the new supertelephoto lenses were to be made as I understand it.  Its not fast or easy.

Just to add my 2 cents....

Canon's plant in Taiwan is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

They've been shipping out lenses since 1994, totalling to nearly 20 million as of March 5, 2011.

It currently manufactures the following lenses: 18-55, 60-macro, 17-85, 28-135, 18-200, 18-135, 15-85, 55-250 (from the 40th anniversary publication - p.63 -  at their website:http://tcw.canon.com.tw/history_01.html)

[CR Backup Admin]

Just to add my 2 cents....

Canon's plant in Taiwan is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

They've been shipping out lenses since 1994, totalling to nearly 20 million as of March 5, 2011.

It currently manufactures the following lenses: 18-55, 60-macro, 17-85, 28-135, 18-200, 18-135, 15-85, 55-250 (from the 40th anniversary publication - p.63 -  at their website:http://tcw.canon.com.tw/history_01.html)

I think we will see more lenses from Taiwan in the future.  They can build good lenses of high quality for less than Japan.  I hope Canon won't forget the lesson learned about not having a backup production line in case of a disaster.  I'm certainly not afraid to buy a "L" made in Taiwan if Canon starts building them there.

[Lawliet]

I'm certainly not afraid to buy a "L" made in Taiwan if Canon starts building them there.

I second that - some of the chinese products I recently bought are of excellent craftsmanship and well designed.
A price similar to their western counterparts, but of higher quality.

If Canon enforces strict quality control the location of the factory doesn't matter.