50mm/1.4 questions - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/06/2012 06:43:22 PM · #1

with the obvious answers being the build quality and the f1.4 (not to mention smoother bokeh), how much better is the 50mm/1.4 over the 50mm/1.8?

I have the 50mm/1.8 and it just takes forever to focus in low light. will i see a drastic improvement in focusing?

i'm trying to decide if i want to upgrade my 50mm now which is my most used lens, or set the priority on seeking out a wide angle lens. im happy with IQ of the nifty 50 for the most part, just not the AF. if theres not much improvement i my even get a wider prime to use indoors instead.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

01/06/2012 06:57:14 PM · #2

You should see some improvement, after all you will have twice the photons to work with... the 50/1.4 is also USM, which should help some. I don't know if the improvement would qualify as "dramatic."
The 50/1.4 does have significantly better bokeh than the 50/1.8, and it is sharper at the same aperture (well duh, it's stopped down further, LOL). The 50/1.4 does still have the extending front element (but it does not rotate, so polarizer use is easy). Build quality is fine, but certainly not L quality.
All in all, I do think the 50/1.4 is worth the upgrade price from the 50/1.8.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

01/06/2012 07:00:27 PM · #3

Yeah - I have both here (I got an f1.8 to put on my old 20D for my teen)....

1.4 is not a great build quality & focus but it's a lot better then the 1.8 [I wish they would upgrade to it more like the 85f1.8]. IMO the ONLY thing going for the 1.8 is the image quality and price (oops that's two :-) ).

Brent_S

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/06/2012 07:27:38 PM · #4

I had the 50mm/1.8 for just a brief time and considered it a great value. I did upgrade to the 50mm/1.4 though and think it is a worthy upgrade. I found the 1.4 to be more sharp wide open and the bokeh is prettier. It does focus faster than the 1.8 too but it is still not that fast and hunts more than my L lenses or 100mm macro in low light situations (but not as much as the 1.8 did). I believe you gain full-time manual focus with the 1.4 too and the focusing ring is certainly nicer than the almost non-existent one on the 1.8.

I think you would like the 1.4 :)

01/06/2012 07:49:23 PM · #5

thanks guys, im shipping back the 100mm back and im trying to decide if i should pull the trigger on the 50mm at the same time.

the used 50mms that i have found dont seem to be that much cheaper than brand new off amazon. i can get it $350 shipped and most sellers want $325 shipped used.

i also was looking at a wider prime, but none caught my eye, maybe the sigma, but the reviews are mixed. i use my 50mm all the time indoors, i love it. i just want to make sure i'll be happy with the upgrade.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

01/06/2012 08:17:14 PM · #6

Originally posted by Brent_S:

I had the 50mm/1.8 for just a brief time and considered it a great value. I did upgrade to the 50mm/1.4 though and think it is a worthy upgrade.

Exact same story with me. Worth it.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

01/06/2012 08:24:38 PM · #7

Originally posted by mike_311:

i also was looking at a wider prime, but none caught my eye, maybe the sigma, but the reviews are mixed. i use my 50mm all the time indoors, i love it. i just want to make sure i'll be happy with the upgrade.

The sigma 30f1.4 has a bit of a following but I have not used it (it's APC only).

The 35f2 is ok... similar build quality to the 50f1.4 from my memory of it and image quality usually pretty good.

I have 1/2 an eye on that Canon28f1.8 - seems to have a good following but it ain't cheap.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

01/06/2012 08:27:11 PM · #8

USM over gear focus is worth it all by itself.

KristinaG

Canon EOS-7D

01/06/2012 08:47:47 PM · #9

I have used both. I own the 1.4 and the newspaper I volunteer for has the 1.8, and I much prefer the 1.4 and use it whenever I can.
The extra aperture really helps for lowlight situations and I do think it is a sharper lens.
Also the 1.8 is absolutely TINY. Like seriously half the size of the 1.4. I am always worried its going to break easily

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

01/06/2012 08:54:57 PM · #10

Originally posted by KristinaG:

that's one thing i love about the nifty 50, its light. very light.

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

01/06/2012 08:57:39 PM · #11

love love love my 50 1.4. My 1.8 hasn't been touched since I upgraded, well besides for this...

KristinaG

Canon EOS-7D

01/06/2012 08:59:38 PM · #12

Originally posted by mike_311:

Originally posted by KristinaG:
I have used both. I own the 1.4 and the newspaper I volunteer for has the 1.8, and I much prefer the 1.4 and use it whenever I can.
The extra aperture really helps for lowlight situations and I do think it is a sharper lens.
Also the 1.8 is absolutely TINY. Like seriously half the size of the 1.4. I am always worried its going to break easily

that's one thing i love about the nifty 50, its light. very light.

Haha, when I use it with the newspaper's mark 1d, it just looks wrong. Because its such a massive camera with this tiny little lens.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

01/06/2012 09:04:37 PM · #13

argh, if i could find the other lens im looking for used, i'd have enough to get both. of course at the rate im going selling lenses and upgrading through so many different outlets, i may confuse my wife so much she'll have no idea how much is being spent! :)

bohemka

Nikon D700

01/06/2012 09:52:10 PM · #14

Time to put it in stealth mode, man. I've talked so much about my gear I've bored my wife into a coma. I can rotate new lenses into the bag now without even the slightest bit of interest on her part.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/06/2012 10:05:06 PM · #15

Originally posted by bohemka:

Time to put it in stealth mode, man. I've talked so much about my gear I've bored my wife into a coma. I can rotate new lenses into the bag now without even the slightest bit of interest on her part.

i think i may be at that point. the problem is she handles the finances so she sees when money leaves, however i may have her so messed up right now between amazon and paypal and ebay and returns she may not even be able to follow. lord knows i can barely!

goinskiing

Canon EOS-6D

01/06/2012 11:51:02 PM · #16

Originally posted by mike_311:

I used the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II for a long time, but the focus killed me more often than not. I am now going for all Canon USM across the board and feel it will be well worthy upgrade, especially for general indoor purpose and portraiture. I think you'll be surprised at the quality of the Canon EF 50 F1.4.

goinskiing

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/06/2012 11:53:15 PM · #17

Originally posted by bohemka:

I here you there, and then there's the justification of price part too. :S

01/07/2012 08:33:15 AM · #18

ok you guys sold me.

i found a good price for a used one. im putting the wide angle on hold for now, at least until a used one shows up. the news ones have rebates and it may drive down the prices.