Canon EF 50mm 1.4 USM OR Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG HSM
- Thread starter apcaw
- Start date
Now I still 'pro' Sigma
So far never have any issue (I never visited Sigma Service Centre before)
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gundamseed84
New Member
TS: Why don't you just rent or borrow the lenses and try them out? I think field experience is better than reading forum posts or reviews since the word "better", "faster", etc might be subjective.
You can join some outings organised and ask politely if anyone with the above lenses can lend you for a short while to test.
Once you have decided which one to get the next thing is making sure that you test the copy you are given by the shop to your satisfaction.
You can join some outings organised and ask politely if anyone with the above lenses can lend you for a short while to test.
Once you have decided which one to get the next thing is making sure that you test the copy you are given by the shop to your satisfaction.
Kenneth67C
New Member
Personally I think its a question of finding a good copy. If you have the patience and are willing to hunt for one, then you could get lucky.
Also if you're willing to make that trip to the service centre to have it calibrated, then go ahead, the Sigma is a fine lens.
I had other considerations as well: weight, constrast, and somehow I liked the Canon's bokeh better - strange isn't it :dunno: that soft dreamy effect :bsmilie:
Also if you're willing to make that trip to the service centre to have it calibrated, then go ahead, the Sigma is a fine lens.
I had other considerations as well: weight, constrast, and somehow I liked the Canon's bokeh better - strange isn't it :dunno: that soft dreamy effect :bsmilie:
I have to agree with the others that bokeh isn't the gauge of a good photo (my opinion). What matters is the sharpness and its no OOF.
Spent the whole night watching YouTube videos of people testing the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the Sigma 50mm 1.4. Its still a toss up. Some videos do recognize that some of their shots from the Sigma were OOF and lack sharpness on the edges (plus having some vignette).
I like the built of the Sigma more since its relative new compared to the canon lens. Plus it comes with a lens hood. Weight is not much for me since I'm relatively a big guy and prefer that over the canon's size (it would look like I'm actually holding a canon 50mm 1.8 hehe)
But if one would like to go for a safer choice, then it looks like that the canon 50mm 1.4 is the right choice.
Spent the whole night watching YouTube videos of people testing the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the Sigma 50mm 1.4. Its still a toss up. Some videos do recognize that some of their shots from the Sigma were OOF and lack sharpness on the edges (plus having some vignette).
I like the built of the Sigma more since its relative new compared to the canon lens. Plus it comes with a lens hood. Weight is not much for me since I'm relatively a big guy and prefer that over the canon's size (it would look like I'm actually holding a canon 50mm 1.8 hehe)
But if one would like to go for a safer choice, then it looks like that the canon 50mm 1.4 is the right choice.
What lens work better with my canon 550D?
Actually not just in this thread but in practically ALL other forums. If you dun read completely and carefully, you may get a biased picture of how good this lens is without being informed of the possible problems it will give you.
It depends on your luck. Those who get the AF issue resolved seems all praise for the Sigma lens. So they come to forums and comment "What problems? Mine is a good." But that's them. You may not be so lucky.
And also, those who said this lens is good may not have the same usage as you. For eg, some are crazy about shooting at f/1.4 only and some are pixel peepers. Any minute difference they will play it up as WOW, get the Sigma!
But bear in mind some problems encountered by others:
1. The Sigma may give inconsistent AF accuracy. Reported that at certain distances, pics turn out OOF (Can you accept this? Some suggest do MF instead. Are you ok with this?)
2. Even after calibration, the Sigma is excellent but you can't solve the AF issue completely. Some are successful though. ALL forums I went to (Many!!) reported this.
3. At smaller apertures, like after f/2, the difference between the Canon and Sigma is negligible. In fact, after f/4 or so, all the reviews I read show that the Canon is better than the Sigma in terms of sharpness. ALL reviews I read (many!!) mention this.
4. Some say the Canon has better contrast and even colours. (Not all reviews mention this though.)
And personally from me, consider these extras:
5. Sigma lenses resale not as good as Canon.
6. As some mentioned, it is a much more expensive lens than Canon's f/1.8 or f/1.4. So muc bigger and heavier also. In fact, it's the heaviest 50mm f/1.4 from Sigma compared to other brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.
7. And next time, when you get a new Canon body, the Sigma lens may not work well or is incompatible. So then what, another recalibration and spend more $ cos your warranty is over?
So make your decision! If you are crazy over every small diff in sharpness and nothing else at f/1.4 and like to examine your images zoomed in BIGGG, try to find a good Sigma.
Enough of ranting. I finally went to try out the Sigma briefly and compared it with my Canon. Yes, bokeh does seem a tad smoother, and at f/1.4, it is a tad sharper than Canon. But these are only noticeable if I really zoom into the image. Even so, the difference is not significant to me. The Sigma's AF is comparable to Canon's, but I still get OOF shots at large apertures and although the focusing at large distances is spot on, the image quality is nowhere superior to Canon. I thought the Canon was indeed sharper as reported, especially at the corners.
Instead of reading up on the Sigma, go read on Canon's f/1.8 and f/1.4 and see the sample pictures. There are many many excellent pics taken at their widest apertures. I think sometimes, people are just overly anal about sharpness issues rather than concentrate on photography.
kiwi2 i very much agree with your saying.
"people are just overly anal about sharpness issues rather than concentrate on photography" :bsmilie: this happen to my friend who complain to me his Nikkor 50mm f1.4 lens via adaptor to EOS body are not sharp at all when taking shots wide open as compare to his EF 50 f1.8.
As not all people can live with the dreamy effect of f1.4. So its up to the user to accept it or reject it. Or live with EF 50mm f1.8 which produce sharp image at f1.8.
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Rawbeansta
Senior Member
Run the focus chart test after you get your lens. It will be a good indicator of whether you need to calibrate it or not.
If you bought a local set, calibration is free and you can collect it on the same day that you send it in (reported by other CS-ers), however you have to make an appointment beforehand.
Just some add on, Sigma service opens only on weekday during office hour so be prepare to take leave if you are working. Check and re check after collection for the FF/BF issue before leaving. I think bring the focus chart along to test. I send in mine in the morning and collect back after lunch about 2+pm, this is base on my past experience when i sent in mine 12 months ago.
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Actually if really cannot appreciate the stuff like bokeh or you think that your clients/usage would not need that and your style does not gel into this to get you better pix, just get a norma 2.8 zoom and be done with it since that would be safest. That's why stuff like 24/1.4 sucks as for some I guess. No problem, it depends on your needs.
Its actually the same argument with quite a number of lenses, 85/1.8 vs 85/1.4 etc.... Some say 85/1.8 suffices, which it really does actually for most.
There is nothing new about this AF thing.....its been there since the 30/1.4, and it definitely there for Canon and Nikon lenses from all the other pros I have asked. Not as if I never touched also in a real setting, so many VGs are using dSLRs and so many hobbyists nowadays with good equipment who rent and bring them to weddings. L and AF-S are not a god-send vs Sigma. There are so many posts, I also emailed overseas pros who happen to post as well, and from my experience, it works well for static objects/test charts and have good accuracy, you still have to set the record straight and expect like 50% for moving objects however slight, that's the reality.
Its still working on my newer bodies.....itchy-handed, I just tried what kiwi and some others said. ~ 20 pix in good light, close up/mid/infinity, all spot on (i'm surprised. But I am very aware that under low-light (usually much lower light that most of you guys encounter regularly), it has issues. But I can get past that with some techniques. My AF-S 24/1.4 also got issue last night during a banquet with a particular setting but again solved by technique "on-the-go"....."stupid" 3k lens? LOL!
How low-light, I was just on the fly whacking with my Sigma 17-50/2.8 not to miss the moment, shucks.....about 2 seconds ISO1600 f2.8. You are engrossed in composing and just getting the shoot, press button, hear the mirror flip up but not come down you sian 1/2 already !@$@# Flash AF assist can also miss for people/face focus pix, don't know how to describe but its not easy.
PS. Actually only recently I only knew that I could calibrate Sigmas at Bukit Merah :embrass:, coz I was really busy shooting esp last year so no visit CS. My copy is uncalibrated since there is no need to fix something which has been working for hundreds of shoots, but I do test a lot before buying. Too bad it seems that in the shops the 30/1.4s seems like NOS - New-old-stock now. (and you think the owners will replenish with new ones?)
I remember clearly before buying the piece of glass, I was at Alan Photo and testing with about nearly 200 shots. Everything from close-mid-far, shooting at keyboard, LCD, lens box, battery, AF human hair, eyes, mouth, nose, neckline, armpit hair, fingernails close up, other customers, fluorescent lamp. I did the same for my AF-S 24/1.4 which is more hairy as it costs 3k! Try to bring a notebook and test for 1hr or so, go to a good shop and pay tens of dollars more only.
PPS. Here's something that you have used for like nearly 500 over shoots. That's a new problem for you in this thread. :bsmilie: Hood doesn't lock so need gaffer, "lost n found" a couple of times so just gaffer!
Its actually the same argument with quite a number of lenses, 85/1.8 vs 85/1.4 etc.... Some say 85/1.8 suffices, which it really does actually for most.
There is nothing new about this AF thing.....its been there since the 30/1.4, and it definitely there for Canon and Nikon lenses from all the other pros I have asked. Not as if I never touched also in a real setting, so many VGs are using dSLRs and so many hobbyists nowadays with good equipment who rent and bring them to weddings. L and AF-S are not a god-send vs Sigma. There are so many posts, I also emailed overseas pros who happen to post as well, and from my experience, it works well for static objects/test charts and have good accuracy, you still have to set the record straight and expect like 50% for moving objects however slight, that's the reality.
Its still working on my newer bodies.....itchy-handed, I just tried what kiwi and some others said. ~ 20 pix in good light, close up/mid/infinity, all spot on (i'm surprised. But I am very aware that under low-light (usually much lower light that most of you guys encounter regularly), it has issues. But I can get past that with some techniques. My AF-S 24/1.4 also got issue last night during a banquet with a particular setting but again solved by technique "on-the-go"....."stupid" 3k lens? LOL!
How low-light, I was just on the fly whacking with my Sigma 17-50/2.8 not to miss the moment, shucks.....about 2 seconds ISO1600 f2.8. You are engrossed in composing and just getting the shoot, press button, hear the mirror flip up but not come down you sian 1/2 already !@$@# Flash AF assist can also miss for people/face focus pix, don't know how to describe but its not easy.
PS. Actually only recently I only knew that I could calibrate Sigmas at Bukit Merah :embrass:, coz I was really busy shooting esp last year so no visit CS. My copy is uncalibrated since there is no need to fix something which has been working for hundreds of shoots, but I do test a lot before buying. Too bad it seems that in the shops the 30/1.4s seems like NOS - New-old-stock now. (and you think the owners will replenish with new ones?)
I remember clearly before buying the piece of glass, I was at Alan Photo and testing with about nearly 200 shots. Everything from close-mid-far, shooting at keyboard, LCD, lens box, battery, AF human hair, eyes, mouth, nose, neckline, armpit hair, fingernails close up, other customers, fluorescent lamp. I did the same for my AF-S 24/1.4 which is more hairy as it costs 3k! Try to bring a notebook and test for 1hr or so, go to a good shop and pay tens of dollars more only.
PPS. Here's something that you have used for like nearly 500 over shoots. That's a new problem for you in this thread. :bsmilie: Hood doesn't lock so need gaffer, "lost n found" a couple of times so just gaffer!
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you can take a look at this:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en...iew-Which-50mm-lens-for-my-camera/Canon-Mount
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Lets make it clear: this lens is the best 50mm choice among our 4 Canon-mount competitors, no matter the sensor size. It has the best definition of all the lenses displayed in these pages. Mounted on a 1Ds MkIII, it climbs to 63 lp/mm. No other lens-body couple listed here can outperform this. Moreover, this 50mm shows a very good MTF and has a very constant definition on the whole picture field. Vignetting is quite visible when fully opened, but almost disappears 2 stops later. Its only weakness, as with all the Canon lenses listed here, are that its chromatic aberrations are more noticeable than those for other brands.
In summary:
The Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 USM is the 50mm to have if you have a Canon body, no matter the sensor inside. It is a very sharp lens.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
Just like its Nikon-mount counterpart, this 50mm for Canon is a highly reliable lens, especially with respect to its central resolution. It reaches very good definition at f/2.8; moreover, it achieves its best DxOMark score fully opened. This is very good for a fast lens. But as it is the case with the Nikon mount, this 50mm shows some soft edges softer than those for the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM. Further, while the vignetting is well-contained, the chromatic aberrations are a bit strong.
In summary:
An excellent performer on every Canon sensor, this Sigma is a perfect alternative if you want something other than the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.
Bottomline, I think the best way for you to decide is to go to a shop (or borrow from friends if they have them) and try them both and see what works best for you.
HTH.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en...iew-Which-50mm-lens-for-my-camera/Canon-Mount
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Lets make it clear: this lens is the best 50mm choice among our 4 Canon-mount competitors, no matter the sensor size. It has the best definition of all the lenses displayed in these pages. Mounted on a 1Ds MkIII, it climbs to 63 lp/mm. No other lens-body couple listed here can outperform this. Moreover, this 50mm shows a very good MTF and has a very constant definition on the whole picture field. Vignetting is quite visible when fully opened, but almost disappears 2 stops later. Its only weakness, as with all the Canon lenses listed here, are that its chromatic aberrations are more noticeable than those for other brands.
In summary:
The Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 USM is the 50mm to have if you have a Canon body, no matter the sensor inside. It is a very sharp lens.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
Just like its Nikon-mount counterpart, this 50mm for Canon is a highly reliable lens, especially with respect to its central resolution. It reaches very good definition at f/2.8; moreover, it achieves its best DxOMark score fully opened. This is very good for a fast lens. But as it is the case with the Nikon mount, this 50mm shows some soft edges softer than those for the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM. Further, while the vignetting is well-contained, the chromatic aberrations are a bit strong.
In summary:
An excellent performer on every Canon sensor, this Sigma is a perfect alternative if you want something other than the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.
Bottomline, I think the best way for you to decide is to go to a shop (or borrow from friends if they have them) and try them both and see what works best for you.
HTH.
nottipiglet
New Member
Focus shifting is where the sharpest plane of focus moves when you change the f/stop. For example, you aim the focus cross-hair at the subject's eyes. At f/1.4, the eyes will be the sharpest plane of focus, which is good. However, at f/2.8, the ears are the sharpest point, even though you aim at the eys. Eyes are still sharp because the depth-of-field widens at f/2.8, but none-the-less, the sharpest plane has shifted. That is focus shifting.
nottipiglet
New Member
some testing on Sigma 50mm F1.4 on focus shifting. the cam is 1m away from object
F1.4, a bit front focus problem
F2, still have front focus problem
F2.2 focus is good
You cannot test a front/back focusing problem like that. The camera takes an area and maximises the contrast of that area. It does not take a single spot as there is no contrast to maximise in a spot. So, if the subject falls on a slanted plane, the camera will try its best to resolve the focus on this slanted subject. From my experience, a nicely calibrated lens will exhibit front focusing in such a flawed test. The best solution is to have the focus surface squarely parallel to the camera lens. the second best solution is to have a very simple clean bold line as the focus subject, so that there is no subject to maximise contrast on before and after the bold line.
My guess is... your lens is properly calibrated. At f/1.4, focus should be good. At f/2.2, the focus shifts backward, so it should show backfocusing. However, as the DOF widens at this stop, the subject should still remain within focus.
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