EF 50 f/1.4 USM

[limwhow]

i see. thanks for sharing. wow, seems like for $560...u pay for what you get. so did canon charge you a fee for the repairs?

unfortunately for canon fans, there are no other cheaper canon primes that can do f/1.4, shoot sharp at f/2 and be great from f/2.8. sighs...i think i'll juz stick with the 50 f/1.4 and be very very careful with this baby. perhaps i'd get a lens hood for this lens now.

It is a very good lens. But one has to learn hard to use it to its maximum.
Otherwise the results come up short of sharpness.
Just treat it like a princess.
Honestly, if I have some extra cash, I would certainly sell it off and buy the 50mm f/1.2. But sadly, this is just day dreaming.

 

[auden09]

It is a very good lens. But one has to learn hard to use it to its maximum.
Otherwise the results come up short of sharpness.
Just treat it like a princess.
Honestly, if I have some extra cash, I would certainly sell it off and buy the 50mm f/1.2. But sadly, this is just day dreaming.

bro u need more than some extra cash. but nah its not day dreaming. its not like 2.3k is anywhere near the price of a car. its just the price of a good laptop. haha! every one year buy one L lor. i'll make do with my princess 50 f1.4 for now first, den save up. i love primes. but i can't have everything. so its either 70-200 f/2.8IS or 35L f/1.4L...i have to think hard now. real hard. btw the 50 f/1.2 is a princess. focusing is an issue with that girl. canon's 50mm primes are problematic.

 

[limwhow]

bro u need more than some extra cash. but nah its not day dreaming. its not like 2.3k is anywhere near the price of a car. its just the price of a good laptop. haha! every one year buy one L lor. i'll make do with my princess 50 f1.4 for now first, den save up. i love primes. but i can't have everything. so its either 70-200 f/2.8IS or 35L f/1.4L...i have to think hard now. real hard. btw the 50 f/1.2 is a princess. focusing is an issue with that girl. canon's 50mm primes are problematic.

Yeah... I can't help but agree with you.
So what's my plan?
I'll take a trip down and test out the new 24-70mm f/2.8L IS when it comes out. I love the 24-70 so much that it would do me lots of good to have the IS to hand-hold this lens at very slow shutter speed in low lights.
... coming a remote second would be the January 2010-launching MkIV. That is, if I strike TOTO...

 

[Headshotzx]

I traded my 85mm 1.8 for a new 50 1.4 with topup in April because the 85mm wasn't getting much use. On hindsight, perhaps I shouldn't have done that and instead save up, but what the heck, it's done.

I got myself a legendary copy of the 50 1.4 - tack sharp with no halation wide open, and AF that tracks well.

 

[limwhow]

Haha... life is like that, isn't it, Zexun?
Some lucky ones will get the good copy, while other not so lucky ones will get lemons instead...

 

[auden09]

i believe i got a tack sharp 50 f/1.4 copy. actually i'm very very very impressed and in love with this lens. that's why i am pretty shocked by the negative reviews regarding the AF and durability of this lens. i dun like the idea of paying $150 to repair the AF because of a small bump towards the front element. its ridiculous. lens shldn't be as fragile as tofu. -_-" but i guess...i'll juz save up and decide between 70-200 f/2.8 IS II or the 35 f/1.4L II. both will be about the same price, costing a bomb, but its worth it. memories are forever!!!

 

[auden09]

nice shot. my copy is also like that...just like yours...no problems wide open.

 

[limwhow]

You know, if your copy is a recent edition, I won't be surprised that there would have been some improvement in the manufacturing (now, this I am guessing) as compared to my older copy dated March 2008. Good for you guys.
So go on, use it to your heart's content.
Me, I will just stick to my 24-70....

 

[auden09]

hey bro, how do u check when is the lens manufactured? anyway...if they have been facing this problem since 1993 all the way til 2008, i dun tink canon will specially go rectify it in 2009. the AF is abit jialat i can agree. it tends to hunt a lot in low light and things with low contrast.

 

[limwhow]

hey bro, how do u check when is the lens manufactured? anyway...if they have been facing this problem since 1993 all the way til 2008, i dun tink canon will specially go rectify it in 2009. the AF is abit jialat i can agree. it tends to hunt a lot in low light and things with low contrast.

Haha.. you've asked me a question which I admit that I have no answer to.
I guess when I bought it in March 2008, then it must have been manufactured around then, minus perhaps a few months to half a year?
A wild guess.
Still, you have got a point about the technology not changing over night in 2009.

 

[J-Chan]

Yea, I have both the 85 1.8 and 50 1.4, there is a very noticable difference in AF between the two..

 

[Garion]

sigma

well according to TDP...the sigma isn't a great performer itself...and it's selling for $700+ here.

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens is somewhat soft wide open and steadily improves to quite sharp at f/2.8.
my 50 f/1.4 is already sharp at f/2 and it shines from f/2.8...i think its pretty much spoiled me. now i'm thinking if i wanna sacrifice a 70-200 f/2.8L for the 35L. haha!

I think he's referring to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM. Which reputedly has better optical performance than the EF 50mm f/1.4. I am also considering this particular lens. No go for the Canon for me coz of all the reports of softness wide open. :thumbsd:

 

[auden09]

lol yup. this lens was made in 1993...for 15 years (til 2008), the geniuses at canon didn't do a thing abt this...and this lens continued to sell. there's no way would they bother to rectify it. if the 50 f/1.4 ever goes the path of the 50 f/1.0L den canon will start noticing...and soon u will see 50 f/1.4 II. til that day comes...let's just use whatever we have and get the photos we want!

 

[auden09]

I think he's referring to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM. Which reputedly has better optical performance than the EF 50mm f/1.4. I am also considering this particular lens. No go for the Canon for me coz of all the reports of softness wide open. :thumbsd:

yeah but TDP said it's AF is inconsistent...and he highly recommends the canon 1.4 instead.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-50mm-f-1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx

 

[TheStig]

Whoa I didn't know the 50mm f1.4 was so fragile. I recommended this lens to my friend, and the only problem he had was fungus developing inside the lens. He sent it to repair under warranty, and he hasn't had a problem since. Well, he doesn't abuse his lenses. He treats his lenses better than he treats himself. He even got himself a dry cabinet right after the fungus experience.

 

[Garion]

yeah but TDP said it's AF is inconsistent...and he highly recommends the canon 1.4 instead.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-50mm-f-1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx

The lens AF is a known problem - some copies have inconsistent AF but Sigma provides free of charge calibration service at their service centre. My personal experience with this lens is that the focusing can be problematic sometimes also, especially in low lighting. However, love it for its IQ and bokeh (much preferred compared to the Canon's).

Sorry for OT...

 

[spartacus.ret]

i'll juz save up and decide between 70-200 f/2.8 IS II or the 35 f/1.4L II. both will be about the same price, costing a bomb, but its worth it.

i doubt the 35L II will be as expensive as the 70-200 F/2.8 L IS.

 

[spartacus.ret]

lol yup. this lens was made in 1993...for 15 years (til 2008), the geniuses at canon didn't do a thing abt this...and this lens continued to sell. there's no way would they bother to rectify it. if the 50 f/1.4 ever goes the path of the 50 f/1.0L den canon will start noticing...and soon u will see 50 f/1.4 II. til that day comes...let's just use whatever we have and get the photos we want!

if there really was a 'problem' with the 50/1.4, don't you think it would be less popular than it is?

and how many people do you hear actually complaining about the built? if you allow your lenses to be subjected to impact, i don't think you can expect it to come out unscathed. they are not indestructable.

This thread is for the EF 50 f/1.4 users who can share their experience with this lens.

this thread has just been a complaint thread bewteen you and limwhow

 

[spartacus.ret]

You know, if your copy is a recent edition, I won't be surprised that there would have been some improvement in the manufacturing (now, this I am guessing) as compared to my older copy dated March 2008.

it is very presumptuous to insinuate that there was a slump in manufacturing standards during march 2008? do you any evidence?

 

[spartacus.ret]

Whoa I didn't know the 50mm f1.4 was so fragile. I recommended this lens to my friend, and the only problem he had was fungus developing inside the lens. He sent it to repair under warranty, and he hasn't had a problem since. Well, he doesn't abuse his lenses. He treats his lenses better than he treats himself. He even got himself a dry cabinet right after the fungus experience.

no dry cabinet... :sweat:

and you wonder wonder got fungus!