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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Canon 50mm, 1.8, 1.4, 1.2
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 30, (reverse)
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 07/19/2011 02:56:25 AM · #1
Long story short: I gave away my 50mm 1.8 in exchange for being able to use someones Canon 7D. For some reason I had it in my head that I would soon be getting the 50mm 1.2 and didn't realize how many zeros came on the price tag before giving it away.

Anyways, I can get the f/1.8 for free (I have points that can be used at a local camera shop) or get 200 bucks off the 1.4. OR I can wait and wait and wait until finally I have a good enough reason for the L glass.

Any advice on these would be great. I did like my 1.8 but it was pretty poor build quality. For video, focusing can be somewhat problematic. BUT the 1.4 and 1.2 are bigger. Still, is the 1.4 'better'. Is it worth the wait for the 1.2.

I'm looking at shooting portraits with the lens mostly. But who knows what I'll end up shooting really...
 07/19/2011 03:10:10 AM · #2
I have the 1.4, and it's a wonderful lens. As much as I'd like a 1.2, the amount of 0's in that price tag don't seem worth it to upgrade (to me)
this may help:

//www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm
 07/19/2011 03:14:25 AM · #3
I think the 1.4 is where the best value is. There is the 2.5 too though, excellent image quality, macro (sort of) capabilities. Though non USM noisy drive.
 07/19/2011 03:20:28 AM · #4
Originally posted by paulbtlw:
I think the 1.4 is where the best value is. There is the 2.5 too though, excellent image quality, macro (sort of) capabilities. Though non USM noisy drive.


I agree with Paul. The 1.4 is the best value balance between build/image quality and cost. The 1.8 II is the best value for your money, but you definitely step up in quality all the way around with the 1.4 without totally breaking the bank. Plus it's USM and has a focus scale etc. among other improvements over the 1.8 II.

Dave

Message edited by author 2011-07-19 03:23:19.
 07/19/2011 04:21:25 AM · #5
maybe you should also consider sigma 1.4. much sharper wide open than canon 1.4, but also a bit more expensive.

i love mine!
 07/19/2011 04:57:36 AM · #6
The 50mm 1.4 is a great lens. Much much better than the 1.8 - the 1.2 is incredible also, but not worth dropping the extra $1000s for - the same as the 85mm 1.8 - brilliant lens - I have the 85 1.2 and to be honest what I paid extra certainly isnt worth the gains to be had with that lens.
 07/19/2011 07:57:16 AM · #7
Originally posted by roksibanc:
maybe you should also consider sigma 1.4. much sharper wide open than canon 1.4, but also a bit more expensive.

i love mine!


With photography, yes I would consider the Sigma. With video, I've had some serious issues with all the Sigma lenses I've owned (Except the 30mm when I had the Canon 7D, that was a fantastic lens). While I'm looking at the lens for photography mostly, I want to keep working at my video as well.

Originally posted by Simms:
The 50mm 1.4 is a great lens. Much much better than the 1.8 - the 1.2 is incredible also, but not worth dropping the extra $1000s for - the same as the 85mm 1.8 - brilliant lens - I have the 85 1.2 and to be honest what I paid extra certainly isnt worth the gains to be had with that lens.


Yeah, the wedding photographers I've spoken to around here love their 85 1.2 and keep telling me to invest in it. Some even suggested I sell my 100mm and use it to get the 85 1.2. BUT...those extra 0's are scary when it comes time to pay. The 85mm is next on my list of many lenses I want to buy. It just never stops.
 07/19/2011 08:13:30 AM · #8
Going off track in terms of the OP but I have the 85mm 1.2 II and used to have the 1.8 and am soooo pleased I got the 1.2. However, it really comes into its own for close up portraits on a FF body. In those circumstances, you get a 'look' that you just don't get with other lenses I've used.
 07/19/2011 09:27:15 PM · #9
Originally posted by heavyj:
Originally posted by roksibanc:
maybe you should also consider sigma 1.4. much sharper wide open than canon 1.4, but also a bit more expensive.

i love mine!


With photography, yes I would consider the Sigma. With video, I've had some serious issues with all the Sigma lenses I've owned (Except the 30mm when I had the Canon 7D, that was a fantastic lens). While I'm looking at the lens for photography mostly, I want to keep working at my video as well.



Just out of curiosity... what issues did you have with the Sigmas, and why is it exclusive to video? (video noob here)
 07/19/2011 11:06:14 PM · #10
I had the 15mm F2.8 EX DG and the 24mm F1.8 EX DG

As far as photography, they were fine. With video, the Canon lenses I have, have better tonality, color, contrast. I believe this has to do with light fall off.

When I shoot video, I use a flat color profile. In my NLE (Video editor) bringing back those beautiful colors and the sharpness seems to be easier than with the Sigma lenses. I've cut using both Canon and Sigma and have been able to notice the difference (Unfortunately). I believe if you light a scene properly you can probably get away with shooting any brand lens and making it work. But out of the box and run and gun where you're not sure what the lighting is going to be like, you can't seem to go wrong with Canon...at least not as far as I can tell so far.
 07/20/2011 01:26:25 AM · #11
I know it is an indefensible position, but I like the 1.8. It may be lousy on a full frame sensor, but I don't have one. It may be a cheap piece of plastic, but any drop that breaks it will send the 1.4 in for service, at a higher price that replacing the 1.8 one and a half times. I like the 1.8 and have never understood the ripping it gets. It is an amazing piece of glass for the dollar.

Of course if your choice is a $100 lens or $200 off a $400 lens, the choice gets much tougher.
 07/20/2011 01:28:43 AM · #12
Thanks for the info. Interesting.
 07/20/2011 01:42:24 AM · #13
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
I know it is an indefensible position, but I like the 1.8. It may be lousy on a full frame sensor, but I don't have one. It may be a cheap piece of plastic, but any drop that breaks it will send the 1.4 in for service, at a higher price that replacing the 1.8 one and a half times. I like the 1.8 and have never understood the ripping it gets. It is an amazing piece of glass for the dollar.

Of course if your choice is a $100 lens or $200 off a $400 lens, the choice gets much tougher.


Brennan, I've never really heard anyone bash the 1.8 II. Sure everyone knows it's got cheap construction, but the image quality is pretty darn nice for the lost cost. Actually, it's the opposite. I think most people love their 1.8, but obviously realize that stepping up to the 1.4 means better quality on top of what they already get from the 1.8.

I love having mine, but wouldn't mind going even further at some point with the 1.4.

So I don't think it's an indefensible position to take because I share it as well. LOL

Dave
 07/20/2011 01:54:51 AM · #14
Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

Brennan, I've never really heard anyone bash the 1.8 II. ...


Thread
And, to a lesser extent, here

;)
 07/20/2011 01:55:42 AM · #15
I have three complaints about the 1.8.

1. (the usual) hit the front at a tangent and pop! Off comes the front.. Fortunately you can pretty much just put it back together again.
2. (the serious) Hard edged pentagonal bokeh. Wide open it's mostly fine, but stop down and it's pretty bad sometimes.
3. (the picky) Crappy AF.

------

I've not used the 1.4, but the 85 1.8 is awesome comparatively..

Message edited by author 2011-07-20 02:01:50.
 07/20/2011 02:00:19 AM · #16
I have the 1.4 and I love, love, love it!!!
 07/20/2011 01:31:22 PM · #17
IMO, the Canon 50/1.4 is well worth the upgrade cost vs. the Canon 50/1.8, for the bokeh alone. That said, it sure isn't perfect. For the *huge* upgrade cost over the 50/.14, the 50/1.2L is, IMO, not a good value. Is it a better lens? Heck yes. Is it worth two grand? No, IMO.
I'd really like to get my hands on the Sigma 50/1.4 (did I really just say that??) to see how it compares to the Canon 50/1.4. Supposedly it is better.
 07/20/2011 02:01:46 PM · #18
Just get the 1.4, if you get another 1.8 your only going to prolong your itch to upgrade.
 07/20/2011 10:12:50 PM · #19
Originally posted by kirbic:
IMO, the Canon 50/1.4 is well worth the upgrade cost vs. the Canon 50/1.8, for the bokeh alone. That said, it sure isn't perfect. For the *huge* upgrade cost over the 50/.14, the 50/1.2L is, IMO, not a good value. Is it a better lens? Heck yes. Is it worth two grand? No, IMO.
I'd really like to get my hands on the Sigma 50/1.4 (did I really just say that??) to see how it compares to the Canon 50/1.4. Supposedly it is better.

What the man said..... I might also hit that 30f1.4Sigma on a crop body instead of a 50.
 09/06/2013 12:55:33 AM · #20
I did a comparison of the 50mm 1.8 mark i & the 50L on my blog, with whole pictures and 100% crops if anyone interested to see that. You can check it out here robmosesphotography.com/2013/09/02/canon-50mm-1-8-vs-1-2/
 09/06/2013 01:57:17 AM · #21
I borrowed a 1.4, and I knew then that I'd never buy one. I hated it for it's build quality. It's just junk. I choose instead to just buy the 1.8. But that is plastic junk, and after I had to buy three more of them, I bought the 50mm f/1.2 instead. The 1.2 is a great lens.
 09/06/2013 01:57:54 AM · #22
The 1.8 is my favourite ever lens though I have only even owned 2 lenses ever. I have always wondered how much difference the 1.4 would make and from this thread it sounds like there is quite a difference. I don't care about it being plastic or the cap falling off. I actually quite like the pentagon shaped bokeh too. However if the image quality is significantly better I would definitely consider a 1.4 if finances ever permit.

Anyone able to show some photos highlighting how much better the 1.4 is than the 1.8. A picture is worth a 1000 words:)
 09/06/2013 05:41:47 AM · #23
I've used all three. The 1.2 didn't wow me until I used it at night using only garden lights. The 1.2 also produces prettier bokeh but the 1.4 is pretty damn sharp. The 1.8 is softer in comparison even at f8, f11 but a photographer with smarter postprocessing can make results Identical.

I bought the 1.8 after keeping a friend's 1.4 for a week because I don't make money off photography and neither am I portrait person. I'm glad I did. I use it exclusively for street shots and its nice to get such sharpness at that money.

If money is not a barrier then go for the 1.4. Heck if I had bagloads of dough I would go for the 1.2 :)

Message edited by author 2013-09-06 05:48:13.
 09/06/2013 07:43:21 AM · #24
Thanks Urfa. Money is definitely a barrier for me hence why I have not bought a new lens since the original 2 I got with my camera in 2008. I may possibly have finances to buy a lens soon and was just considering my options (another thread for this!!). I love the nifty fifty (1.8) so much so the thought of something similar but better is of course tempting but my gut feeling is I should get something different such as a macro, a better zoom or a wide angle one.

Still be interested to see photographic comparison showing how the 1.4 exceeds the quality of the 1.8
 09/06/2013 08:03:09 AM · #25
I had the 1.8, and once it managed to focus correctly the shots were pretty sharp. But it became so wobbly over time that it looked to me a bit like a T/S (mainly tilt) lens. When some relatively big piece of plastic (or whatever) appeared between the lenses I gave up on it (although one couldn't see the black spot in the pictures, only when looking through the lens directly).

I bought a 1.4 then and I'm really happy with it, it works very well and seems to be worth the price.

The price tag of the 1.2 was prohibitive for me - even if I had the money I would use it for something else first, mainly because I'm not sure I would notice the difference in my shots as much as I would notice the different in my pocket.
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