50 mm Can't make up my mind!

  • Thread starter Thread starter crasher8
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Sort by date Sort by votes
C

crasher8

Guest
#1
It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)
 
#2
Sigma is better on a crop, Canon is better on FF.
Thats assuming you do not have the AF issues with Sigma that many complain of.
I'm suprised that AF speed is a issue with anyone. Once the AF gets into the range of the subject, its virtually instant to refocus if the subject moves a little.
Checking AF speed by going from mfd to infinity does not represent many real world situations.
 
Upvote 0
#3
crasher8 said:
It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)
Click to expand...

I liked the canon 1.4. The sigma seemed Dicey on its focus and felt I couldn't fully trust it.

Eventually I bought the 50L and never desired another 50mm.
 
Upvote 0
#5
Mt Spokane Photography said:
Sigma is better on a crop, Canon is better on FF.
Thats assuming you do not have the AF issues with Sigma that many complain of.
I'm suprised that AF speed is a issue with anyone. Once the AF gets into the range of the subject, its virtually instant to refocus if the subject moves a little.
Checking AF speed by going from mfd to infinity does not represent many real world situations.
Click to expand...

I'd love some elaboration about the Sigma being better on a crop. Is this in regards to corner sharpness?
 
Upvote 0
#7
I got the canon 50 F1.4 recently for a 5D II. The corner softness and lack of contrast was rather huge towards the more wide open end. I upgraded to the sigma 50 F1.4. It blew the doors off the Canon more wide open. Upon stopping down though the Canon passes it in sharpness. In the end I'm not sure that difference more wide open was worth it. I'd been happy with the 50 F1.8 if it had a real focus ring on it, sigh. I never use auto-focus in that range so clueless there.

http://www.lenstip.com/216.4-Lens_review-Canon_EF_50_mm_f_1.4_USM_Image_resolution.html

Look at the 3 image comparison down a bit. I didn't believe that till I went through both lenses. The Canon 1.4 I had was at least that much worse than the Sigma I now have in that more wide open range. Some white pvc tubes for venting on top of the house show white "shadows" about the same width as them...the contrast open is so bad. But again, stop down F4 they are probably even and by F5.6 the canon is passing the Sigma in sharpness. So depend on what you want it for.

I guess when I was testing things I did do a couple autofocus tries that at least one of which was way off on the Sigma in bright daylight.
 
Upvote 0
#9
crasher8 said:
It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)
Click to expand...

The answer is YES... the sigma is that much better.

I had the same dilemma 2 mounts ago... i opted firs for Canon. the vignette under f/3.5 - 3.2 is quite visible , the sharpness is good but not impressive under f/3.2 . at f/5.6 an above no vignetting and sharp.

After i attached a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM on my everything changed.... MUCH sharper wide open, almost no vignetting at all apertures ( due to the aspehrical element) good colors better construction,better contrast, lens hood included... I returned the canon lens to the dealer immediately and kept the sigma.
 
Upvote 0
#10
 
Upvote 0
#11
nicku said:
crasher8 said:
It's between the Sigma 50 1.4 and the Canon 1.4

I've had the Canon in the past on a crop and wasn't that impressed by the micro motor. The DoF wide open was nice but not THAT good and the price is right. I believe on a FF it will shine a bit brighter.
I hate the dicey risk you take with Sigmas. I have had decent luck with them but I know it's hit or miss.

Is the Sigma THAT much better that it's worth it to try 2 or 3 attempts at a good one?

(On a 5D3 and Elan 7)
Click to expand...

The answer is YES... the sigma is that much better.

I had the same dilemma 2 mounts ago... i opted firs for Canon. the vignette under f/3.5 - 3.2 is quite visible , the sharpness is good but not impressive under f/3.2 . at f/5.6 an above no vignetting and sharp.

After i attached a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM on my everything changed.... MUCH sharper wide open, almost no vignetting at all apertures ( due to the aspehrical element) good colors better construction,better contrast, lens hood included... I returned the canon lens to the dealer immediately and kept the sigma.
Click to expand...
+1
I used to use Canon 50mm F/1.4. Once Beach Camera had great deal for Sigma 50mm F/1.4 and I decided to give it a try. In a week, I decided to keep Sigma 50mm F/1.4.
crasher8,
I always think the best way is trying those lenses out by yourself and deciding which one you want to keep. Many stores(local and online) allow you return lenses without charge in 30 days. Why don't you just order both Canon and Sigma 50mm F/1.4 and decide which one you want to keep/return?
 
Upvote 0
#13
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.
IcqxJ.png

CRC0t.png
 
Upvote 0
#14
Axilrod said:
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.
Click to expand...

They must have had a bad copy. All other reviews report the Sigma being much sharper wide open, as it was designed to be.
 
Upvote 0
#15
Upvote 0
#17
I like my Canon 50mm f/1.4... I really do, but it doesn't spend much time on my body unless I really need to push the issue with lack of light. I think it is because of my assortment of lenses. I use a 24-105 often when I need versitility, I use a 100mm f/2.8L macro when I want to do some candid portraiture, or maybe some action sport shots. And I have a 70-200mm f/2.8L USM which I may or may not keep. So the 50mm just takes a back seat, which is a real shame.

Strangely enough, when I had a 50mm f/1.8 in my bag, that was the sharpest lens I had at the time so it spent the most time on my body. Strange how things work out.
 
Upvote 0
#18
Canon is built to break, build quality of sigma is superior. There's a better feel to the image from the sigma, I find it to be sharper too, not towards the outside, but def in centre. Autofocus for both very similar, not great for either in poor light. Just think I paid about 500 for the canon, was gonna cost 250 to fix and it would likely break again even though I took care of my lens the motor/ focusing mechanisms broke. Sigma doesn't have front focusing element which protrudes its all internal. I love my sigma much more than the old canon. Would never consider getting that poorly designed lens again.
 
Upvote 0
#19
I have a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 up for sale. (PM me if you live in Sydney). I bought it to replace an EF 50mm f/1.4. Both were mildly erratic in the AF department with the Sigma coming off slightly more erratic. Both were for emergency use only at f/1.4, both looked GREAT at f/2 all the way through to f/8. But it was largely a wasted exercise, I should have kept the Canon and just got on with taking photos. All the Sigma does is take up more room in my bag. It's MUCH bigger. Now the little 40mm pancake has lightened my load. It's a bit of a novelty item, admittedly great value and very good in the centre wide open, & consistent AF results.

50mm is not a focal length I tend to use much...I tended to keep a 50 f/1.4 just for emergency unexpected low light requirements. The astounding high iso performance of the 5D3 has made this largely redundant for me.

The next lens is the new 24-70 f/2.8II

-PW
 
Upvote 0
#20
Random Orbits said:
dtaylor said:
Axilrod said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

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
Click to expand...
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. 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.
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
Sigma USB DOCK for Canon EF Discontinued
Replies
4
Views
532
Jon741
J
S
Canon’s disdain for APS-C users.
Replies
34
Views
2K
EricN
EricN
H
Apple-branded Full-Frame and Medium-Format Cameras plus Super-fast 3D Printers and User-Friendly A.I.-assisted CAD/CAM/CAE/FEA Software Coming Soon!
Replies
2
Views
8K
HarryFilm
H
D
Considering RF 85mm f2 and 50 1.8 - impressions from owners (esp. on RP)?
Replies
11
Views
7K
drhuffman87
D
S
135mm SHOOTOUT! Detailed Analysis of the Hand-Holdability and General Sharpness of the RF135/1.8, the RF100-500/4.5-7.1, and the EF135/2
Replies
24
Views
10K
Loswr
L
Top Bottom
Home
Forums
Media
Menu