Canon 50mm f1.4

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 10:47

I've splashed out on one this week after another f1.8 literally falling apart.

Wish I'd done it ages ago. The contrast and colours are so much better. Very pleased with it.

ScarySquirrel · 22 Jan 2010 at 10:53

Any examples?

gjc10212 · 22 Jan 2010 at 10:59

Canon 450D using the 1.4

Mr.Pink · 22 Jan 2010 at 11:11

Beautiful shots.

I'm a bit of a noob. I have the F4-5.6 17-85mm USM canon lens. I like doing portraiture type shots, and my lens is great when outside, but i am constantly struggling with poor light for inside shots, and don't always want to use the flash.

Would this be an ideal lens to get me out of those difficulties?

Sorry for the hijack

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 22 Jan 2010 at 11:45

Yeah I hate the f1.8. build is awful.

Ive had two of them fall to bits. f1.4 is well worth the money.

Derek W · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:14

Fstop11 said:
Yeah I hate the f1.8. build is awful.

Ive had two of them fall to bits.

how?

iGiDK · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:29

Hired a 50mm 1.4 recently for a few group portraits, very nice lens, very sharp, enjoy!

Wasn't blown away by the bokeh though, I need to add a 50mm to my collection for an upcoming wedding so I may play the Sigma lottery instead

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:55

Mr.Pink said:
Would this be an ideal lens to get me out of those difficulties?

Yes, the perfect lens on a crop camera for indoor portraits, especially without a flash. £300 though. You'd get 80% of the improvement from the f1.8.

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:57

iGiDK said:
Wasn't blown away by the bokeh though, I need to add a 50mm to my collection for an upcoming wedding so I may play the Sigma lottery instead

Why not hire a f/1.2?

ScarySquirrel · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:03

I have the 50 1.8 and I treat it like crap. Not had any issues with it yet. In fact, I lost the lens cap a few months back so it's just been loose in my bag like that.

PS. Your kitten looks like my cat (colour and markings)

gjc10212 · 22 Jan 2010 at 15:16

ScarySquirrel said:
I have the 50 1.8 and I treat it like crap. Not had any issues with it yet. In fact, I lost the lens cap a few months back so it's just been loose in my bag like that.

PS. Your kitten looks like my cat (colour and markings)

Lovely cats - no longer with me (the ex took them).

This is with the 100m f/2.8 macro on the 450D.

dannyjo22 · 22 Jan 2010 at 16:28

I'm after a 50mm and I keep looking at the 1.4 and trying to decide whether it's worth the extra over the cheaper version.

For the photographs I do I think it will be the lens thats on my camera the most but is it worth 3 tims the money?

ScarySquirrel · 22 Jan 2010 at 16:39

The 1.8 is pretty damn sharp. The AF is a bit crap in low light, but otherwise I personally would find it hard to justify the extra for the 1.4.

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 16:41

dannyjo22 said:
For the photographs I do I think it will be the lens thats on my camera the most but is it worth 3 tims the money?

That's up to you. I'm taking pictures of my kids that I'll treasure forever. For me it's definitely worth it. I was even considering the 50mm f1.2 for £1300 :eek:

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 16:42

ScarySquirrel said:
The 1.8 is pretty damn sharp. The AF is a bit crap in low light, but otherwise I personally would find it hard to justify the extra for the 1.4.

My first was, second wasn't so much. Colours and contrast are much improved on the 1.4 IMHO.

Raymond Lin · 22 Jan 2010 at 16:53

Having had both, i think the extra cost is justified.

Still, its not as sharp as I like it to be (135L) or from the reviews, the 85/1.8.

Rojin · 22 Jan 2010 at 17:08

topbanana said:
My first was, second wasn't so much. Colours and contrast are much improved on the 1.4 IMHO.

Hmmmm I may have to look at the 1.4 again. I had pretty much decided on either the Sigma 1.4 or saving and going the whole hog for the 1.2. I love my 1.8 though, cheaply made it may be but mine is as solid as can be expected. So light that it may actually float and I certainly wouldn't want to drop it! The only thing I don't like is the slow AF in low light, colours and contrast seem fine to me.

topbanana · 22 Jan 2010 at 19:09

Rojin said:
Hmmmm I may have to look at the 1.4 again. I had pretty much decided on either the Sigma 1.4 or saving and going the whole hog for the 1.2. I love my 1.8 though, cheaply made it may be but mine is as solid as can be expected. So light that it may actually float and I certainly wouldn't want to drop it! The only thing I don't like is the slow AF in low light, colours and contrast seem fine to me.

You don't know what you're missing

If you were nearer Reading you could pop over and fire some shots with mine. Maybe ask in a shop? Last I checked Jessops were about the cheapest on this lens, so I bought from there for the ease of after-sales service.

dannyjo22 · 22 Jan 2010 at 19:19

topbanana said:
That's up to you. I'm taking pictures of my kids that I'll treasure forever. :

Yeah point taken, which is what I will be using the 50 for. Especially how many I've taken of my son in the 8 months of his life.

topbanana said:
Maybe ask in a shop? Last I checked Jessops were about the cheapest on this lens, so I bought from there for the ease of after-sales service.

I'm going to do that this weekend, go and have a look and see. Might have to save up for a little longer.

Rojin · 22 Jan 2010 at 22:44

topbanana said:
You don't know what you're missing If you were nearer Reading you could pop over and fire some shots with mine. Maybe ask in a shop? Last I checked Jessops were about the cheapest on this lens, so I bought from there for the ease of after-sales service.

I work near Reading

Used to stay in Reading in fact but the project got cut and I'm the only one left so no more company house

I found this thread interesting, I'm getting that "itchy" feeling again... I can almost smell a new lens! (and I'm still waiting for my Tamron 17-50!):

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=197523