Compare Canon 50mm - DPChallenge Forums

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

08/14/2009 08:04:36 AM · #1

I am looking to buy 50mm lens for portrait work for my 400D. I wish to know from the experts to put a comparison between Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II & Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

I am confused by the price difference & why I should not go for 50mm/f1.8?

MAK

Leica CL

08/14/2009 08:35:10 AM · #2

build quality, bokeh quality image quality all point to the 50mm f1.4 the f1.8 is a very nice lens too but not in the same class as the f1.4 IMHO I gave my 1.4 to the wife because she uses 50mm 90% of the time and I have now got her old 50mm f1.8 and to be honest, I doubt I will ever use it.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/14/2009 08:56:42 AM · #3

If you are on an extreme budget, the 1.8 is a great value. As previously mentioned, however, the build quality is cheap. Here is how mine looks after a drop onto a carpeted floor:

If you can afford the 1.4, get that one. If you can't, be advised of the fragility of the 1.8 and handle it with care. It will still give you nice photos.

undieyatch

Olympus E-10

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

08/14/2009 12:17:48 PM · #4

I think the Canon 85mm may be an optimum lens for portraits.
However here is another Canon 50mm - an alternative.

Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro

Inexpensive ($275.00) - durable, very sharp, but suitable for portraits (aprox 80mm on your Canon), small, no distortion, versatile fast close focus, but not necessarily the perfect all around macro. Poor autofocus but fabulous manual focusing.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

08/14/2009 12:28:48 PM · #5

I have the original AF 50 1.8 (series I). It is built with a built more metal in the body.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

08/14/2009 01:24:41 PM · #6

the 1.4 focus motor has been known to die with any sort of bump to the front of it ... so the build quality isn't all that great on that lens either. That being said, the 1.8 feels like (and sounds like) a toy, or a moped (very cheap and practical, but you feel like an clown riding it)

both are tack sharp ... if you can sidestep your materialistic urges, the 1.8 will be fine ... I wasn't able to do that :)

totaldis

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/14/2009 02:14:53 PM · #7

I have the f1.8 and love it. I picked it up for like 75$ new and it is a fantastic lens. I don't think the build quality is all that bad and I try not to drop any of my lenses. At the price it's almost thoughtless. It is one of the best performance to cost lens I have seen.

Message edited by author 2009-08-14 14:15:11.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

08/14/2009 04:28:40 PM · #8

One of the main differences is in the shape of the aperture. The 1.8 has a hexagonal shaped aperture and the 1.4 has a circular one. This makes the bokeh on the 1.8 "harsher" than the "creamy" bokeh on the 1.4. This may or may not be a concern for you, but since you mentioned shooting portraits, I thought I might mention it.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

08/14/2009 06:09:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

This makes the bokeh on the 1.8 "harsher" than the "creamy" bokeh on the 1.4.

yummmmmmmmmm, creamy bokeh

;-)

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/14/2009 06:15:47 PM · #10

I have owned both and the 1.4 version is far better, the images just come out looking more.... boss..

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

08/16/2009 09:45:10 AM · #11

Thanks a lot for replies. I am also considering SIGMA 50mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO LENS Does anybody will like to share their experience with it? Does it woks great for portraits? If it does then I will also like to enjoy it's macro capabilities until I can afford quality macro lens with long focal length.

rodneyg

Canon EOS R5

08/16/2009 10:22:45 AM · #12

I wouldn't discount the 60mm Canon lens either. Good portrait lens and a true 1:1 macro. It seems to have a very good build quality. I really love mine.

Canon 60mm Macro f2.8

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/17/2009 04:33:57 AM · #13

Well does anybody here will share their experience with Canon 60mm Macro f2.8 especially for shooting portraits? Is it equally sharp as both mentioned 50mm canon prime?

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

08/17/2009 07:52:19 AM · #14

Originally posted by Simms:

I have owned both and the 1.4 version is far better, the images just come out looking more.... boss..

I second this, I still own both(keep the 1.8 as a backup and for $80 why not) and the 1.4 is just superior in sharpness, contrast and build quality. I was a little iffy at first on buying the 1.4 but when I did it was a great move.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/18/2009 12:03:20 AM · #15

Asking again to 60mm users come on & tell me. Kindly share your experience of using Canon 60mm Macro f2.8 for portraits. I am highly considering to buy it!

ssturges

Canon EOS-50D

08/18/2009 02:36:03 AM · #16

I use the 50mm f/1.8 II simply because I got it for $20 due to a store error. So it it, in my mind, great for the price. I have considered upgrading, but for what I do, there isn't much incentive.

08/18/2009 02:58:32 AM · #17

Well finally I have placed a order for 60mm/f2.8 macro. I hope it will not disappoint me. Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

08/23/2009 10:08:44 AM · #18

Well I enjoyed working with canon 60mm/F2.8 but until yet I didn't got so sharp images.Most of the shots I have taken until yet are with f2.8,f4,f5.6. In some shots with higher settings I got somewhat good results but the sharpness limited in less area.

Either I am missing something or doing something wrong.Kindly help me with this issue.May be it's too early to test fully with this lens.I am first time using USM lens.

Message edited by author 2009-08-23 10:09:43.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/23/2009 10:32:27 AM · #19

Whatever problems you are having with sharpness, using the 60mm f/2.8 Canon lens, are NOT due to the lens being not sharp enough, unless you happen to have received a flawed copy of the lens, which is not real likely IMO. The lens itself, by design, is super-sharp. If you are using it at f/2.8 or f/4 at head-shot distances, then the DOF will be quite shallow and it will be difficult to keep an entire face in sharp focus, but that's not the fault of the lens, it would be a problem to exactly the same degree with ANY 50-60mm lens at the same aperture and shooting from the same distance.

If you have trouble getting sharp results at any aperture and any distance, then you need to test the lens on a tripod and find out if it is focusing properly with your camera.

R.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/23/2009 10:47:55 AM · #20

I might add that most "macro" lenses are "flat field" lenses, meaning that the lens focuses in a flat plane, instead of a curved area like the inside of part of a ball.
This may have something to do with what you are seeing in the portraits. Try shooting a flat object, like a textured or brick wall with the 60, and then again with another lens and see if there is a difference in the results toward the edges of the shots.
If you are manually focusing, make sure that the diopter adjustment for the viewfinder is adjusted correctly for the eye that you are focusing with. Make sure that the viewfinder is not smudged, and that the lens is clean, esp the rear element.

Like

Bear_Music said, that should be an excellent lens.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

08/23/2009 10:56:18 AM · #21

I use Macro lenses regularly and when I first started using them I was disappointed with the sharpness and DOF.

However, I never use mine wider open than f8, this seems to give acceptable DOF for flowers and insects and good sharpness. If the object is larger and you want to keep it all in focus, you will need to shut down the lens even more and this then mean lower shutter speeds. The answer is to use a tripod or monopod.

Some people use the swaying method to get the tightest focus point, but I use continous focus on the Nikon, this has improved my hit rate by loads.

Stick with it and you can have great fun with Macro lenses.