Review - Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
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I own so many lenses, but this one and my 70-200 f2.8 mkII are my go-to lenses. I love the vignetting on this 50mm 1.4 and the resulting photos have been nothing short of magical.
For your dime, this lens is the best value out there (imho).
For your dime, this lens is the best value out there (imho).
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Hi,
I just read 50 1.4 review and completely have no idea why NOONE mentions about its huge problems with AF. I have a 5D3 and tested 7(yes-seven) samples of 50 1.4. First one I just sold after servicing as I thought it's a lens problem or camera, next one I serviced 3 times with my camera. Thought it might be something with calibration, adjustments etc. Then I checked with my local shop another samples so...every 50 1.4 has the same issue!!
Why nobody check this lens AF with different distance??? it has HUGE focusshift at close distance and it is almost unuseble in some circumstances when stopped down. To be more detailed:
When focusing at close distance ie. up to 1m ie. 60 or 70 cm (if u set AFMA perfectly @ F1.4) the lens hits the target Checked and adjusted with LensCal. Now check the lens at f3.5 or f4.0 at the same close distance. No way u achieve the proper focus. It far away for your desired focus point. Backfocus is really bad. Point "0" is completely out of focus and blurred, the sharpest point is "2" or "3" at the scale.
The lens is completely unusable stopped down at close distance, 1.4 is very soft therefore there is now way the get really sharp photos or desired details. Lens spec. mentions 0,45m as minimum focus distance. Checked it with ie. f3,5 and watch where is focus, sharpness and where is the whole DOF-behind the focus point!
Now do the same with LV-perfect focus, razor sharp, completely different DOF position.
Another problem is focusing in incadescent light-try this with this lens-results are really different from daylight.
Tested a lot of 50 1.4 (seven) from diffrent sources, not is the same time, and all have the same problem. Why nobody mention about such a issue???
I just read 50 1.4 review and completely have no idea why NOONE mentions about its huge problems with AF. I have a 5D3 and tested 7(yes-seven) samples of 50 1.4. First one I just sold after servicing as I thought it's a lens problem or camera, next one I serviced 3 times with my camera. Thought it might be something with calibration, adjustments etc. Then I checked with my local shop another samples so...every 50 1.4 has the same issue!!
Why nobody check this lens AF with different distance??? it has HUGE focusshift at close distance and it is almost unuseble in some circumstances when stopped down. To be more detailed:
When focusing at close distance ie. up to 1m ie. 60 or 70 cm (if u set AFMA perfectly @ F1.4) the lens hits the target Checked and adjusted with LensCal. Now check the lens at f3.5 or f4.0 at the same close distance. No way u achieve the proper focus. It far away for your desired focus point. Backfocus is really bad. Point "0" is completely out of focus and blurred, the sharpest point is "2" or "3" at the scale.
The lens is completely unusable stopped down at close distance, 1.4 is very soft therefore there is now way the get really sharp photos or desired details. Lens spec. mentions 0,45m as minimum focus distance. Checked it with ie. f3,5 and watch where is focus, sharpness and where is the whole DOF-behind the focus point!
Now do the same with LV-perfect focus, razor sharp, completely different DOF position.
Another problem is focusing in incadescent light-try this with this lens-results are really different from daylight.
Tested a lot of 50 1.4 (seven) from diffrent sources, not is the same time, and all have the same problem. Why nobody mention about such a issue???
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Martin said:
I've never had this issue, at least not that I know of (also using a 5D3)... but I also don't necessarily do focus calibration tests. I take photographs of subjects, and if they're "off" I adjust (I've done this with my Sigma 35 1.4 slightly).
Anyone else have this issue?
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Nope. Used same lens/body combo for about 6 months before finding the 1.2L for a bargain.JVLphoto said:
I suspect I can answer why no one else mentions this huge issue: Nobody else is having the same issue as the poster asking the question.
Let's see: 1 body, 7 copies of the same lens. What are the common denominators here?
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I agree totally with the review and love my 50 1.4. I'd like to see the review doing a bit more to push would-be buyers into getting a hood though. Aside from reducing flare, the hood does a lot to protect the 50 1.4's particularly delicate AF mechanism. What's more there's no need to pay through the nose for the Canon hood - cheap compatibles serve just as well.
Regarding focus shift, that's not a problem I associate with the Canon 50 1.4. The AF isn't always as precise as newer lens designs (I usually take extra shots for safety) but once the MA has been dialled in it's pretty good. I wonder if Martin is talking about the Sigma 50 1.4, which is renowned for distance-related focus shift? (I experienced this myself with three copies, damn shame because the 77mm filter thread would have been nice)
Regarding focus shift, that's not a problem I associate with the Canon 50 1.4. The AF isn't always as precise as newer lens designs (I usually take extra shots for safety) but once the MA has been dialled in it's pretty good. I wonder if Martin is talking about the Sigma 50 1.4, which is renowned for distance-related focus shift? (I experienced this myself with three copies, damn shame because the 77mm filter thread would have been nice)
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GammyKnee said:
Ah, yes, I should have mentioned this. I have a cheap rubber hood that folds in and out and works great. No way was I paying for Canon's branded plastic money maker.
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Ok, guys but the shift focus issuse cannot be realted to camera. I check focus at 1.4. Do not change distance. Change aparture to f 4.0 and the whole DOF is behind the proper point. Always the same behaviour.
Please check it on a close distance. It is not possible thats the camera issue. Thats the way i understand it. I am not talking about tiny shifts. Thats difference beetwen sharp eye or blurred eye on close portrait. I ve checked seven canon's 50s 1.4 and all behave the same.
Also I sent one copy to canon with my camera 2 or 3 times. Always the same result...and i am not crazy.
Please check it on a close distance. It is not possible thats the camera issue. Thats the way i understand it. I am not talking about tiny shifts. Thats difference beetwen sharp eye or blurred eye on close portrait. I ve checked seven canon's 50s 1.4 and all behave the same.
Also I sent one copy to canon with my camera 2 or 3 times. Always the same result...and i am not crazy.
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It is a great lens. However, I sold mine in favor of the Sigma which renders closer to the 50 1.2
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Want canon to come out with an update.. I think it's a great middle class lens that really performs well but they can do better with build quality in general. Maybe add IS? Sigma 50 is really nice.. Going there if canon doesn't come out with an update soon.
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"While the outer shell of the 50mm 1.4 is clearly stronger than the 50mm 1.8" Pure B.S! The internet is full of cases of people and videos repairing their Canon 50mm 1.4. A moderately sharp bump to the front usually breaks the auto-focusing. It is a notoriously fragile lens. Boken is better than the 1.8 bit after 5.6 the 1.8 is noticeably sharper than the 1.4. So, the 1.4 is more fragile than the 1.8, less sharp than the 1.8 and smaller apertures and costs 3x as much. It's the least desirable of the Canon 50mm lenses. I have a 25 year old metal mount 1.8 that could beat the pants off of the 1.4 and you can pick one up for 100 bucks. The difference between 1.4 and 1.8 with a camera with a modern sensor is meaningless, both are really, really fast. both are really really sharp. Certainly not worth a triple price premium . This review sounds like someone trying to justify a recent purchase that they have clearly over paid for
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Really like that lens and it works well on crop and FF, with two different flavours ;-)
On the 600D at f/1.6 :
missing passenger par Eneade, sur Flickr
On the 5D Mark III at f/1.4 :
sturmey archer par Eneade, sur Flickr
On the 600D at f/1.6 :
missing passenger par Eneade, sur Flickr
On the 5D Mark III at f/1.4 :
sturmey archer par Eneade, sur Flickr
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Justin,
I own this lens and use it often. I usually nod my head in agreement to your good work, but I had a few differing viewpoints with this one:
As I've said many times, this is the #1 lens in need of a refresh for Canon. I still see the F/1.2L as the specialist / art / portraiture lens and this F/1.4 as the workhorse 'for all other reasons' lens.
Given that, there is clearly a price point and technical need for a new 50 prime with the following features:
They'd sell it for $799 and I'd gladly pay that price. The good news is that lens is being made, and we should have in the next 12-18 months based on the 24, 28, and 35 non-L refreshes we've seen. It's only a matter of time.
Sorry for the long post -- but I love 50mm and we need this lens. (Or a Sigma Art line version of their 35mm F/1.4 in this length.)
- A
I own this lens and use it often. I usually nod my head in agreement to your good work, but I had a few differing viewpoints with this one:
- This lens has an older style of USM that is faster than kit or STM glass, but it's nothing compared to a modern ring USM system. Besides the sheer speed of adjusting focus, the focus also seems to hunt more on this lens, further increasing it's overall 'time to target'. In fairness, I don't miss with focus on this lens often -- you know when it's off as it won't confirm. But chasing kids / animals / sports with this is exceptionally frustrating.
- This lens is not an internally focusing lens. That should be a must for a prime to avoid a clear entry pathway for dust, water, debris, etc. (even if it is not weather-sealed)
- You made a comment that the L is sharper at similar apertures, and I would disagree. I have shot both and not had that experience. The 1.2L is for wide aperture center sharpness, color and great bokeh -- and that's it. In my hands, the the F/1.4 is sharper lens from F/2.8 to F/narrowest, and the PZ charts (attached below) would agree with that. This single upside of the F/1.4 is why I kept the F/1.4 when I can afford the F/1.2: it produces better images at the apertures that I shoot.
- Agree completely on your F/2 and narrower with this lens. Anything wider than F/2 may be interesting or memorable, but it will not be very sharp.
As I've said many times, this is the #1 lens in need of a refresh for Canon. I still see the F/1.2L as the specialist / art / portraiture lens and this F/1.4 as the workhorse 'for all other reasons' lens.
Given that, there is clearly a price point and technical need for a new 50 prime with the following features:
- Better build
- As sharp as the current L of the same length (...which is a really low bar given the data I've shared)
- Internal focusing
- IS
- Modern USM
They'd sell it for $799 and I'd gladly pay that price. The good news is that lens is being made, and we should have in the next 12-18 months based on the 24, 28, and 35 non-L refreshes we've seen. It's only a matter of time.
Sorry for the long post -- but I love 50mm and we need this lens. (Or a Sigma Art line version of their 35mm F/1.4 in this length.)
- A
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CANONisOK said:Nope. Used same lens/body combo for about 6 months before finding the 1.2L for a bargain.JVLphoto said:
I suspect I can answer why no one else mentions this huge issue: Nobody else is having the same issue as the poster asking the question.
Maybe not the body. The person with the issue may be right. I have always seen my F/1.4 hunt. That said, once it confirms it is correctly in focus.
- A
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