EF 50 f/1.4 USM

[surrephoto]

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.

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!!!

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 has just been a complaint thread bewteen you and limwhow

I believe all if not 80% of 50 1.4 USMs are capable of being tact sharp... that is given if you don't have a lemon AF copy.

Halation can be a result of bad optics or a lens being slightly out of focus from the perceived subject.

Also, my recent upgrade to Eos-1DsII has convinced me that this lens can obey it's owner and behave better when it's on a pro-grade body. This doesn't happen to other lenses such as the 85L when i was still using 5D... as we all know, canon loves to cull and kill. Hoho.

 

[auden09]

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

i like this statement. :thumbsup: but then again...just look at the price of the 24 f/1.4L II...it's like $2.7k?!

 

[rendition]

I believe all if not 80% of 50 1.4 USMs are capable of being tact sharp... that is given if you don't have a lemon AF copy.

Yes. 50 f/1.4 locks focus confidently and it's just tact sharp... than the f/1.2L... yes, yes, open for argument. But I've concluded that based on my experience and a so called test. Canon should just do something about the AF mechanism (only reason I have f/1.2L) and I will downgrade back to that.

 

[auden09]

i like the 50mm perspective a lot. good way of capturing what u see as the scene is to your eyes. its just a pity that the 50 f/1.4's AF is a pain. and it's really not worth spending $150 to fix a broken AF motor time and again. right now, i'm starting to consider the 35L. the 50 f/1.2L doesn't seem to worth the money. til i can make up my mind...i'll stick to the f/1.4 and treat it like a delicate piece of glass.

 

[lioneldude]

I just got my 50 f/1.4 on thursday. Lots of dust spots inside but the canon rep told me not to worry as dust spots will not show up on the image as they are micron size.

Did an extensive test yesterday night. Concluded that my lens at:

Min Focus Distance 0.45m ~ 0.6m
Backfocus till stopped down to f/4~5.6

0.6m ~ 0.8m
Backfocus till stopped down to f/2.8~4

> 1m
Slight backfocus till stopped down to f/2.

 

[auden09]

wah u check until so extensive?? for me i try to center focus on a letter on my keyboard at different distances and f-stops...den see if that letter is the sharpest letter that im seeing. so what ya gonna do with the back focusing? i'm already thinking if i shld sell this piece of glass.

 

[rendition]

Backfocus till stopped down to...

Backfocus is backfocus, it won't 'heal' by stopping down, just that the DOF gets larger and thus making the backfocusing seem less apparent. Nevertheless, if you have bodies like 50D, 5DII, 1DIII, you can use the Micro Adjustment feature before going to Canon, maybe you don't even need to.

 

[lioneldude]

I will go down to canon and get the AF done. Cos my body is 450D...

 

[auden09]

lol ic. u didnt test the lens when u were buying it?

 

[lioneldude]

Yup i did test for sharpness, but 450D lcd cant see clearly. Didnt test at less than 0.6m though.

 

[auden09]

ic...well i think my lens cant really focus damn well too when its like real close to the subject. but...its not a very big problem. from wad i see in 100%...its pleasing...far better than my 18-55...so i shan't care la.

 

[lioneldude]

Well i think shooting at MFD for this 50 f/1.4 its gonna be rather demanding, as its not really built for a macro function, but rather more for a portrait function lens. If at 1~2m at f/1.8~2.5 it gives you sharp portraits it should be good enough.

 

[auden09]

IMHO, this lens is a great value lens (if its not those lemon AF ones). and i'll be using this for as long as i can. however, 50mm is abit too wide for the 1.6x (its like 80mm)...so i'm considering the 35L. this is the lens that made me fell in love with primes. lol...at f/2 its sweet as hell already. i think this lens really spoilt me. i love the DOF and everything this lens can create at f/1.4-5.6. primes are really great for the art. thats why die die must have one sweet prime. its juz unfortunate that 50L doesn't live up to expectations, and 35L is on the verge of being replaced by spring in canada (according to CR). so i shall wait...build up my moolah, den decide. 15-85 is next on my list!

 

[soons]

My previous copy back focus a little at F1.4, but quite ok at F1.8~F2.0 onwards.
Didn't really like the feel of the Micro-USM duing FTM. Turning the ring feels kind of manually turning a motor. Very decent qulaity at F1.4. Great quality at F1.8 onwards.
Will surely recommend this over 50mm F1.8 due to the better bokeh.

Will give 85mm F1.8 a try, since it has Ring USM.

 

[wynx]

This thread is for the EF 50 f/1.4 users who can share their experience with this lens. The following quote was taken from FM user reviews. A user complained:

"the AF is fragile and if you happen to bump the front of the lens you can damage the AF motor. I had a lens hood on and someone walked past brushing their arm into the hood and it damaged the AF motor. It was a $150 repair."

He isn't the only one complaining about the poor AF mechanism. Some even complained abt the AF back-focusing or front-focusing.

Personally, I feel that this lens performs well. The AF don't seem to back or front-focus even at f/1.4 or f/2.8...its always focused on the right thing. What you guys think? Any experiences to share?

I had mine serviced by Canon for free..and they replaced the barrel. Anyhow, not sure why the lens locked up without being able to focus after I took it out of my camera bag, whether auto or manual. Fortunately, it is still under warranty and canon did the repair foc..
:dunno:

 

[auden09]

the AF motor is really fragile...gee...i must be very very careful from now on. is it true the 85 f/1.8 has Ring USM??

 

[TheStig]

no dry cabinet... :sweat:

and you wonder wonder got fungus!

I had my lenses inside the lens cases but not inside dry cabinet for 3 years, and no fungus at all. I just got my dry cabinet just for the sake of it :sweat:

 

[auden09]

u are lucky...lol.

 

[J-Chan]

the AF motor is really fragile...gee...i must be very very careful from now on. is it true the 85 f/1.8 has Ring USM??

Yup, it has Ring USM..

 

[auden09]

thanks. yeah was reading abt 85 f/1.8 from everywhere i cld find on the net. nice...but too bad 85mm on my 50D will look like 135mm, abit too far for a general purpose lowlight lens. but i'd definitely consider this lens someday for streets. the price of this 85 f/1.8 is roughly the same as 50 f/1.4...and the 85 has ring USM and it was launched a year before the 50 f/1.4...so weird. this makes the 85 f/1.8 a real gem.