Review - Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L

[JonAustin]

I purchased a flawless Canon EF 50mm F/1.0L Lens from an Estate Sale for $300 ...

I was about to offer you $500 for it, then I read that you've already sold it. ;D

 

[Christopher Wadsworth]

I have owned two of these lenses, and I shoot about a third of my shots with one when I shoot my advertising shots.
I shoot exclusively at f1.0, and the look it produces is absolutely lovely. Second only to the ef 85mm f1.2, which renders an even more beautiful shot.

This lens isn't about sharpness or how low light it can shoot, it is about the look it can produce. This lens really is only about the look, the flare, the blur of the BG. Its really a one trick pony, but the trick is very unique.

Here is a shot I took with one for MGM grand in Los Vegas, its the lens I use when the 85mm is too long.

Saying that the lens is of no use is really missing its best attributes.

paul

I am going to agree completely with Paul on this. I recently replaced a canon 1.4 that I dropped across a floor and was debating a few replacements. Get the same, try a sigma, go for the 50 1.4 L, (at that point I wasn't liking the sony lenses, but the new G's may be better). What I loved most of this lens was it the way it handled skin and how it threw the background with my subjects at a close to medium distance. I was considering a newer Sigma, as I had borrowed one and liked how it handled light coming into the lens but a few things have started to change my thinking on lenses and what I'll use them for.

In short for some things I want precision and sharpness, though it personally gives me no thrill but the job calls for it. But when shooting people I want lens qualities that are harder to quantify in a review and to me is what Paul is getting at. That is a emotional reaction to the image and one that I find I get with canon L glass wide open. They are warm, they have a beautiful organic structure to their bokeh and they shape a face in a particular way. I am not knocking chart tests and sharpness ( they have their place), but I think we need to move to a fuller discussion when it comes to glass, one that you tend to hear more of in cinematography. Newsshooter has done a great interview series with 4 DOPs for the last 2 years at NAB about their thoughts on where things are going and it is there I first heard the idea that "lenses are the new film" and it has resonated with me.

I now shoot with both the 5D3 and the A7RII. I own canon, sigma and sony glass and some vintage nikons and a ff58 from Richard Gale. The Sony camera does many wonderful and the IBIS is mind blowing when I film, but the colour is just not as pleasing as my Canon and the skin tones are not nearly as good. Can that be corrected, yes but when I have 2k plus images a day to go through the time adds up. What the experience has showed me is how much of a difference there is. When I switch from Sony glass to the sigma 24 or 35 there is a jump in warmth and the canon lenses are just that much more. The Sony FE 55 f1.8 has never once given me a thrill, it is simply sterile, clean and dull. Sharp yes but it has never moved me in the way my canon 1.4 did. So now I look at what I need a lens to do, sometimes it is to carry sharpness edge to edge in a wide room shot for a hotel where they want clarity. But if I want to evoke a emotional intimate reaction, be it in a still life or portrait, I look for something all together different. Again theses qualities are harder to define in a review but this is where my learning curve is now and it took me shifting to a wider focus of jobs and a new sensor to realize.

So in the end I bought the canon 50 1.2 L and can't be happier with it. Because it is the best at what I want it to do, create shape to someone's body or face, good skin, warmth and the most delicious magical backgrounds. This is what this 50 1.0 seems best at as well and why you might buy it, if you simple want clinical precision there are cheaper options that better fit the bill.

 

[Respinder]

I really REALLY hope Canon does the right thing and release a new version of this lens, as opposed to releasing an upgraded f1.2 or f1.4 lens. I think Canon really needs another engineering marvel - they released the fantastic 11-24, and it just makes sense to release a new modern equivalent of the 1.0.

They won't, they have already proven they can do it, along with various other lenses that have no equal. Like the 85 f1.2 (which is very closely related to the 50 f1.0 but which has considerably more practical value), 200mm f1.8, MP-E65, TS-E17, 8-15 fisheye zoom, 11-24 zoom etc.

How many 'engineering marvels' do you demand? How many do other companies release to demonstrate such lens system domination? Besides I think the newer lenses are far more worthwhile from the perspective of more photographers needs and desires and the 50 f1.0 can retire into folklore, without a MkII messing with its mythical reputation.

I'm not sure you understand what I was trying to say. Yes they proved they could release a f1.0 lens decades ago, but it obviously had its flaws and limitations based upon the technology at that time. Using today's modern techniques, I am certain that Canon can release a flawless f1.0 lens that can be both practical and dominant - their track record on practically every other lens over the last 5 years has been very good.

Canon, like any other DSLR manufacturer, needs to keep pushing the envelope here - this is not about Canon vs Nikon vs Sony anymore. This is about the future of photography - which today, for better or worse, is dominated by cell phones. Let's face it: modern photography by the average user these days is Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook - social photography as we would call it. Traditional camera companies need to continue to push the boundaries - just like everyone else I might add - in order to keep traditional cameras relevant at a time when most folks don't care about resolution, megapixels, etc - that is the reality we are in.

When it comes to fast lenses, this is still an area that cell phones cant come close to. Most of my colleagues simply don't understand why I haul around a DSLR until they've seen a picture with shallow depth of field. In terms of "engineering marvels" - hate to say it but pretty much every market is driven by innovation - its about releasing the most unique products that will attract the greatest attention - a new f1.0 lens will certainly do this, just as the recent 11-24 release did.

 

[JonAustin]

@Christopher Wadsworth

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[d]

...I am certain that Canon can release a flawless f1.0 lens that can be both practical and dominant - their track record on practically every other lens over the last 5 years has been very good.

But at what cost? A "flawless" 50 1.0 will likely be prohibitively expensive.

...hate to say it but pretty much every market is driven by innovation...

Markets are driven by profits from sales. See my point above.

 

[Zv]

I really REALLY hope Canon does the right thing and release a new version of this lens, as opposed to releasing an upgraded f1.2 or f1.4 lens. I think Canon really needs another engineering marvel - they released the fantastic 11-24, and it just makes sense to release a new modern equivalent of the 1.0.

They won't, they have already proven they can do it, along with various other lenses that have no equal. Like the 85 f1.2 (which is very closely related to the 50 f1.0 but which has considerably more practical value), 200mm f1.8, MP-E65, TS-E17, 8-15 fisheye zoom, 11-24 zoom etc.

How many 'engineering marvels' do you demand? How many do other companies release to demonstrate such lens system domination? Besides I think the newer lenses are far more worthwhile from the perspective of more photographers needs and desires and the 50 f1.0 can retire into folklore, without a MkII messing with its mythical reputation.

I'm not sure you understand what I was trying to say. Yes they proved they could release a f1.0 lens decades ago, but it obviously had its flaws and limitations based upon the technology at that time. Using today's modern techniques, I am certain that Canon can release a flawless f1.0 lens that can be both practical and dominant - their track record on practically every other lens over the last 5 years has been very good.

Canon, like any other DSLR manufacturer, needs to keep pushing the envelope here - this is not about Canon vs Nikon vs Sony anymore. This is about the future of photography - which today, for better or worse, is dominated by cell phones. Let's face it: modern photography by the average user these days is Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook - social photography as we would call it. Traditional camera companies need to continue to push the boundaries - just like everyone else I might add - in order to keep traditional cameras relevant at a time when most folks don't care about resolution, megapixels, etc - that is the reality we are in.

When it comes to fast lenses, this is still an area that cell phones cant come close to. Most of my colleagues simply don't understand why I haul around a DSLR until they've seen a picture with shallow depth of field. In terms of "engineering marvels" - hate to say it but pretty much every market is driven by innovation - its about releasing the most unique products that will attract the greatest attention - a new f1.0 lens will certainly do this, just as the recent 11-24 release did.

People who only take pictures on smartphones and photographers who even know what f/1.0 even is are two completely different ends of the consumer spectrum. I highly doubt either one has any correlation with the other. Making a new f/1.0 lens will make absolutely no difference to that market.

Lamborghini could make a flying car but I'd still ride my bike to work.

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but I just got one of these lenses. It's interesting to use so far, but admittedly I'm a little scared of damaging such a rare and valuable lens. I live near Midwest Camera repair though, and they did tell me that their system shows that they can still repair this lens, and there was nothing in the system that showed limited parts availability or anything like that.

I'm interested to see what it will do with respect to taking practical photos, not just doing super closeups to show off the bokeh.

 

[Viggo]

The question is, would they get the part if they actually ordered? It's no longer serviced and kept parts by Canon, so expect this information to be a glitch in the Matrix.

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Yeah, I am still a little suspect of any place that claims they can repair it. I'm on the fence between just using it, enjoying it, and assuming that risk, and just re-selling it to someone else. It's cool to have a piece of Canon history though.

What has the value of these been doing recently?

 

[Canon Rumors]

Yeah, I am still a little suspect of any place that claims they can repair it. I'm on the fence between just using it, enjoying it, and assuming that risk, and just re-selling it to someone else. It's cool to have a piece of Canon history though.

What has the value of these been doing recently?

I actually have a backup focus motor for the EF 50 f/1.0L, which I obviously hope is in working order if I ever need to repair my EF 50 f/1.0L. I purchased it from a repair centre in Hong Kong for a pretty penny.

I'm likely SOL if I drop the lens and damage the barrel or front element. I've been trying for a while to get a front element. I believe it's like the 85 f/1.2L II, in that there are various front elements depending on the copy.

 

[Eldar]

Since all the others are releasing 50mm and 85mm primes, with stunning performance, Canon must do something to maintain their position. One thing they could do, to stand out, is to release a new 50mm f1.0L. The only alternative would be a 10k$ manual focus Leica. I would line up for it (as you may know, I have a very weak character).

I suppose a 50mm will sell better than an 85mm and I would certainly get one, but I would be more happy for a new Otus class 85, preferably F/1.2 with IS and weather sealing.

 

[Jopa]

I would be more happy for a new Otus class 85, preferably F/1.2 with IS and weather sealing.

+1. Something like 35/f1.4 II quality with BR glass. I highly doubt it will have IS though, but it would be so awesome. That's what the Sigma 85 Art is missing IMHO.