Canon 50 1.4 worth the upgrade?

[RLPhoto]

So I have the canon 50 1.8. I use it some but am not super impressed with it. It's great stopped down but I can get about the same quality with the 24 105 IS. I just recently upgraded to a full frame camera. I've only gotten to do one shoot with the full frame but I'm noticing the 35 2.0 that I used a ton on my crop body isn't the focal length I'm looking for as much on full frame. What I'm trying to figure out is if I should just try messing around with the canon 50 1.8 some more or if it's worth upgrading to the 1.4. I hear lots of complaints about it not being a true usm focus system. It would be nice to have the better aperture blades but if that's the main thing I'm getting it's not worth it. Has anyone been in a similar situation and have some advice? Thanks.

Short Answer - YES, Its worth it.


Long answer - It has manual focus overide, USM, Better Bokeh, Metal Mount, Better lens hood design, Good Wide open performance (On par with the 35mm 1.4L or Better.) and its only 350$. Its worth the extra monies.

 

[vuilang]

yes, the 50 1.4 is worth the upgrade. (so is the 50 1.2, but not by much IMHO)
I owned 50 1.8II and still have it (though never mount it in last 2,3yrs).
I was amazed by its IQ compared to the much more expensive Canon 24-70.

 

[brianleighty]

Thanks for everyone's input. I think I'll try renting the 1.4 the next time I rent from lens rentals. Interesting suggestion regarding the tilt shift 45. Although with it only being 2.8 that's a little slow. I do want to try one out at some point but my main purpose for primes is light input. The one exception being the 100 is macro. I have looked at the zeiss 50 makro and would love to try that out at some point as well. That's a little out of my price range at the moment but I'll definitively keep that in mind.

 

[jabbott]

Here is my comparison of the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.8:
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=5927.msg112725#msg112725

 

[rahkshi007]

I have this lens on 5d markii... i like to use due to its lightweight compare to L lens. The focus is fast and accurate. However i find that the shot taken at f1.4 is okay but not extremely sharp. For very sharp image, it start from f1.8 to f2. The main reason i choose this lens over the 50mm f1.8 is the bokeh quality as this lens has more blade. Furthermore, i feel that the 50mm f1.8 look funny when it is on 5dm2 ( just personal taste)

 

[3kramd5]

I found the 1.8 frustrating; focus is too slow. The USM in the 1.4 is noticeably better. As mentioned above, the bokeh is much more pleasing than the 1.8.

So I have the canon 50 1.8.
I just recently upgraded to a full frame camera.
I'm noticing the 35 2.0 that I used a ton... isn't the focal length I'm looking for as much on full frame.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and have some advice? Thanks.

Moving to a FF Camera, you will want to look at the 85mm f1.8 to to use in place of your 50mm; it will provide a similar field of view that the 50mm did on your Crop Body.

... unless he got the larger frame camera because he wants to make use of the larger frame

 

[Canon Cliff]

I had a canon 50mm 1.8 and wanted something that had better build quality and a quieter AF motor. I got the sigma which had to be retuned for a major front focusing issue on return it was not much better so it went back again! it then focused correctly at f1.4 but the focus shifted as i stopped down and was front focusing again by f2.8. i returned the sigma and got my money back which is a shame because it was a very well built lens with a nice quiet focus motor.I now have the canon 1.4 which is better built than the 1.8 has a slightly quieter AF motor and slightly better bokeh it is soft at 1.4 but i find mine very useable by f2.0 and great by f4. If you fancy taking a chance of getting a good copy of the sigma go for it, its a great lens if you can get a good one my friend is lucky to have a good copy and its very good from 1.4 but its a risk u take in my opinion. Regarding the canons unless you want better build quality and a slightly better and quieter AF motor id stay with the 1.8. the better build & AF was enough for me to pay the extra!