50 mm Can't make up my mind!

[Luke]

I like my Sigma on the 5D III.
It had a focus problem, and had a MAF of -19 out of the box...
I took it and my canon to the Sigma repair center (here in Canada), and had it back that afternoon with a firmware update and the problem fixed...

 

[dtaylor]

Based on resolution tests the Canon 50 1.4 and Sigma 50 1.4 are both similar in the center but the Canon is much sharper in the corners.

They must have had a bad copy. All other reviews report the Sigma being much sharper wide open, as it was designed to be.

Hmm... don't know about that. LensRentals also noted that the Sigma had softer edges/corners.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/01/the-great-50mm-shootout

I have read that weeks ago. That's totally different with my experience. Actually you will see many people here have same feeling Sigma 50mm F/1.4 is much better than Canon 50mm F/1.4.

DPReview found the Sigma was sharper wide open except in the extreme corners. And you can see the results at TDP. I don't discount the two reviews that show otherwise, but against the body of user reports I think they show production issues / variability.

My suggestion for people cannot make decision between the two lenses is that first get both of them at the same time. And then keep the one you like and return another one.

Good advice. This might also be a lens that warrants cherry picking at a local store.

Regarding AF: I did some tripod mounted tests with the Sigma 50 1.4, Canon 50 1.4 and 1.8, and Canon 85 1.8. I repeatedly manually unfocused, then auto focused each. All of the above showed some variability shot to shot. The Canon 85 was the most consistent, followed by the Sigma, and trailed by the two Canon 50's. It should be noted that AF performance can vary unit to unit as well.

Why did I do this? At first I felt like I was missing more shots with the Sigma. Then it dawned on me that I was also using it wide open far more often then I ever did the Canons. I never really considered them usable wide open except in an emergency. I won't hesitate to use the Sigma at 1.4.

The Canon 50's are gone, though I kept the Canon 85 (great crop portrait and indoor sports lens).

 

[crasher8]

I really wish that Sigma made the 50 as reliable as their 85. I really want a low light lens as all I have right now are 2.8's and higher but maybe I'll just keep using the pancake for my near normal as the 5D3 does so well with higher ISO's that a 2.8 isn't as slow as it used to be. It's just that I'm doing more low key lately. Hmmmm…...

 

[Hector1970]

I've never used the Sigma but my Canon is simply brilliant. I love using it wide open. It has great bokeh and produces beautiful shots on APS-C and full frame. It just gives me shots I can't do on any other lens. I'd give it a very strong endorsement.

 

[crasher8]

I am really wanting Canon to do a refresh on the 50 line. Something along the lines of what they did to the 24/28 would be great.

I'll put off on a 50 for now, keep shooting with my flapjack and get the 28 2.8 IS for my wide low light low key shots.

 

[rj79in]

The Canon 50mm 1.4 is good enough for me (with the hood permanently on) ... though the "USM" autofocus is a bit of a joke!

Have tried two copies of the Sigma but both lenses were bad copies (soft corners) and were duly returned - got the Canon 50mm in the net result.

A friend of mine has a very good copy of the Sigma. Just try out the copy of the lens before committing to it!

 

[EOBeav]

Caveat: I have never used a Sigma 50 f/1.4, so I can't say anything about it. I do use the Canon 50mm F/1.4, though, and it suits my needs just fine. I've had to learn a few things about it through trial and error, and so will anybody who uses it for any length of time. Although many beginners start out with it (it's a cheap-ish prime with excellent IQ), many of them also get frustrated with it because of it's finnicky nature. Learn how it autofocuses. Know that sharpness is ok-but-not-great at f/1.4, but gets really, really good when you get into the f/2-f/8 range. Microadjust if you have the ability to, and learn how it responds to you and your camera body. Once you do that, I think you won't want another 50 (unless it's the 50L, of course). It's by far the lens that I own that has the biggest bang-for-the-buck value, and I own two L lenses.