The Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L

Sort by date Sort by votes
#41
I was very interested in getting lens a couple of years ago. But inability to find replacement parts for this lens even from Canon and not impressive optical properties were deal-breakers for me. But nevertheless, congratulations! Please post some pictures and maybe me or some other CR readers will be more convinced of getting it :)
 
Upvote 0
#42
Am I the only one who would perhaps re-write that quote to something like:
either get the left eye or the right eye in focus ... maybe?
Click to expand...

You miss the point. If you want to shoot portraits in a distance of 2 metres you're right. But to isolate a tree in 20 metres, this is the way to go. I always hear the same "too small DOF" claims everytime... it's just a matter of your usage. The problem of this 50L f1 is the soft rendering wide open. :)
 
Upvote 0
#43
congrats on owning the legendary lens !~

a lot of ppl in hong kong and taiwan owned the lens as well. They have pointed out the inaccuracy of the lens due to internal mapping of circuits. there is a guy in taiwan which helps to make it sharper. here is the link (in Chinese):

http://www.ldsclub.net/forum/viewthread.php?tid=44263

hope you find it enjoyable reading it through google translate ~
 
Upvote 0
#44
lesliekaki said:
congrats on owning the legendary lens !~

a lot of ppl in hong kong and taiwan owned the lens as well. They have pointed out the inaccuracy of the lens due to internal mapping of circuits. there is a guy in taiwan which helps to make it sharper. here is the link (in Chinese):

http://www.ldsclub.net/forum/viewthread.php?tid=44263

hope you find it enjoyable reading it through google translate ~
Click to expand...

Very brave modify. But I think he only make the lens focus correctly.
I think he can change job to calibrate lens with his skill and make a lot money.
 
Upvote 0
#49
m8547 said:
Attach an EOS M to it!
Click to expand...
no problem! :)
kit.jpg
 
Upvote 0
#50
I had one of these way back when they annouced the system a friend getting me the lens who lives in Japan. The reality was I never really used it enough to justify the price and it was heavy. That said it did produce great photographs albeit then it was still film.
The other lens I purchased was the EF 28mm f2.8 now that lens I still have and it still produces great results and you can carry it all day without feeling like a tonne.
 
Upvote 0
#52
Kos said:
danski0224 said:
zlatko said:
It should be a fine useable lens as long as the AF motor lasts. Check out how Jessica Claire used her 50mm 1.0:
http://www.jessicaclaire.net/blog/7345/Wedding-with-DJ-Brittany-and-Rod
Click to expand...

One of the images indicates 1/12000...

I wonder what she is using. Film camera or a 1D. Typo?
Click to expand...
I wonder too. It is more amazing 1D has no 50ISO.
Click to expand...

The 1D has an ISO50 ("L"), even the 5D Series has. To the 1/12000of a second... the first 1D even had 1/16000, so I guess it was the first Digital Pro 1.
 
Upvote 0
#53
vscd said:
The 1D has an ISO50 ("L"), even the 5D Series has. To the 1/12000of a second... the first 1D even had 1/16000, so I guess it was the first Digital Pro 1.
Click to expand...
You are wrong.
ISO speed range Equivalent to ISO 200-1600 (in 1/3-stop increments),
ISO speed can be expanded to ISO 100 and 3200.
Please, refer to http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dslr/data/1995-2004/2001_eos-1d.html?lang=us&categ=crn&page=1995-2004&p=2
 
Upvote 0
#55
jeffa4444 said:
That said it did produce great photographs albeit then it was still film.
Click to expand...

Easily the worst L-lens ever made. And the shortest production run of any Canon L-lens.

One of my friends also got it in the film days. So very frustrating to get good pictures wide open. And this at a time when you paid real money for every click in Europe for good film + decent sized prints.

Good the OP knows what he has bought into. For a collector its a unique lens from Canon even if others have produced even wider lenses (50mm f/0.95 for SONY and also the f/0.95 Leica Noctilux). I have no idea of how these compare today if shot on a SONY rig. The Leica may have been with a Canon mount?).

That said I have seen a few people use the 50L f/1.0 for digital b/w night shots with what seemed to be excellent results - at least I was impressed compared to what I expected. Maybe this is the best way to use its unique character.

For those with the lust of super-wide the 50L f/1.2 - a lens with its own quirks - makes for far better pictures.
 
Upvote 0
#56
Before the EF 50mm f1.0 I had the FD 55mm f1.2 I believe the first Canon lens with an Asperical front element. In its day this was also a coverted lens but it was inferior to the EF 50mm f1.0 but not as heavy from memory.

These are noteworthy fast lenses http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/08/06/14-super-fast-aperture-lenses-worthy-of-note/#.VL6fHyusX74

Stanley Kubrick used the Canon 50mm f.95 on "Barry Lyndon" for the many candle shots but it was an awful lens as well as the Zeiss 50mm f.7. Stanley used to play with many adapted stills lenses as did others at that time like Lester Bookbinder.
 
Upvote 0
#58
I tried it in a photography fair in Milan in 2005 for the second time.
Then had a eos 300d.
I did some tests at maximum aperture. See by yourself!
Amazing !!!!
The first time was in a meeting in 1989 with the CPS in Barcelona, an engineer told me that he had been designed especially thinking at basketball games. Thus the photographer could use the ambient light without the flash, and the angle of the lens capture all the action of a player making a basket.
Then I decided it was more versatile the 28 80 EF EF 2.8-4L and the 80 200 2.8L zooms. Almost at the same price ...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5224.JPG
    IMG_5224.JPG
    892.6 KB · Views: 401
Upvote 0
#59
vscd said:
Am I the only one who would perhaps re-write that quote to something like:
either get the left eye or the right eye in focus ... maybe?
Click to expand...

You miss the point. If you want to shoot portraits in a distance of 2 metres you're right. But to isolate a tree in 20 metres, this is the way to go. I always hear the same "too small DOF" claims everytime... it's just a matter of your usage. The problem of this 50L f1 is the soft rendering wide open. :)
Click to expand...

And that's only a problem if you need/want sharpness at all times and see the quirks of such lenses as flaws rather than characteristics that can be put to worthwhile artistic effect. I've recently been enjoying using some old 55mm mf 1.2 lenses (Canon, Minolta & Revuenon), all of which would likely be dismissed out of hand by some here at 1.2. At $4000 or so the Canon f1 is a bit pricey (to put it mildly) for my likely use, but the $800 f0.95 Mitakon-for-Sony seems more than a little interesting. Anyway, let me add to the congratulations - looking forward to more interesting photos than Rockwell provides....
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Canon Rumors
Is it finally happening? Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 USM [CR1]
Replies
180
Views
33K
EricN
EricN
LSXPhotog
What is Your Most Wanted Canon RF Lens/Camera That Isn't Available?
Replies
140
Views
28K
DK_jake
D
Canon Rumors
Canon recalls certain Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lenses
Replies
12
Views
6K
EOS 4 Life
E
Canon Rumors
Is a Canon RF 60mm f/1.0L USM on the way? [CR1]
Replies
59
Views
28K
Ruined
R
dlee13
My Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Review
Replies
7
Views
13K
Johnw
J
Top Bottom
Home
Forums
Media
Menu