50mm 1.4 Sigma or Canon

aumz · 3 May 2013 at 14:35

I am looking to purchase a prime 50mm 1.4. It will initially be used on a 350d and then hopefully later in the year I will purchase a 60d.

Will be looking to buy it used so just looking for people's thoughts on which one to go for. I have used the Canon one some time back and really liked it and the picture quality.

King Damager · 3 May 2013 at 15:06

The Bokeh is better on the Sigma. I tried both in store. There wasn't much between the two focussing speed wise, but the Sigma honestly seemed like the better lens to me. (FF)

I went to store, tried the Sigma and Canon 1.4 and the Canon 1.2. Left with the Canon 1.4

kd

neil_g · 3 May 2013 at 15:19

sigma always comes up trumps in comparison reviews

-Ad- · 3 May 2013 at 15:32

Sigma 35mm F1.4

aumz · 3 May 2013 at 15:45

-Ad- said:
Sigma 35mm F1.4

Too pricey for me

niko · 3 May 2013 at 17:53

wait if you can there's probably going to be an update to both fairly soon .
if you need one now id go for the canon .the image quality seems better to me and its sharper to the corners than the sigma .the sigma was very much designed for centre sharpness but the corners where secondary in the design.

aumz · 3 May 2013 at 18:15

I will be buying 2nd hand so will the update do a great deal to the 2nd hand Marley place. I will probably go for the Canon then.

niko · 3 May 2013 at 18:22

I don't think it will affect the 2nd hand prices as I suspect that they will both be over £500 when released

a1ex2001 · 4 May 2013 at 10:26

niko said:
wait if you can there's probably going to be an update to both fairly soon .
if you need one now id go for the canon .the image quality seems better to me and its sharper to the corners than the sigma .the sigma was very much designed for centre sharpness but the corners where secondary in the design.

I wouldn't count on a canon replacement anytime soon, people have been demanding one for as long as I've been into photography and nothing has happened same with the 100-400mm. Like you say if it does arrive people should be ready for a massive price hike all Canon's recent upgrades have made the put the lenses out of reach of most hobbyists I would expect the new 50mm to be close to 600 quid which if anything will push up second hand prices for the current lens much like the release of the new 24-70mm did for the mki.

Back in topic when making the same decision as the op I decided to save a few quid and go with the canon 1.4 over the sigma as the real world performance is so close that it didn't really bother me which was sharpest in the labs.

ElDude · 4 May 2013 at 23:04

a1ex2001 said:
I wouldn't count on a canon replacement anytime soon, people have been demanding one for as long as I've been into photography and nothing has happened same with the 100-400mm. Like you say if it does arrive people should be ready for a massive price hike all Canon's recent upgrades have made the put the lenses out of reach of most hobbyists I would expect the new 50mm to be close to 600 quid which if anything will push up second hand prices for the current lens much like the release of the new 24-70mm did for the mki.

Back in topic when making the same decision as the op I decided to save a few quid and go with the canon 1.4 over the sigma as the real world performance is so close that it didn't really bother me which was sharpest in the labs.

They've been talking about that for as long as I can remember. There seems to be a lot of rumours around that it may be coming this year, or at least the announcement anyway.

Still there's no reason not to go for the Sigma at the moment. It's awesome.

SDK^ · 6 May 2013 at 12:46

Go for the Sigma version - I'm about to buy one myself.
The Canon 50mm 1.4 design is 20 years old, has the slower USM focus and feels cheap.

ElDude · 6 May 2013 at 23:32

SDK^ said:
Go for the Sigma version - I'm about to buy one myself.
The Canon 50mm 1.4 design is 20 years old, has the slower USM focus and feels cheap.

It also has problems with the cog on the focus ring failing/wearing out.

a1ex2001 · 7 May 2013 at 11:38

SDK^ said:
Go for the Sigma version - I'm about to buy one myself.
The Canon 50mm 1.4 design is 20 years old, has the slower USM focus and feels cheap.

Whats the age of the design got to do with anything? Other than centre sharpness wide open, which is hardly terrible it is a decent match for the sigma.

The USM is a funny one as it's not the usual ring type but it is quiet and pretty much as fast as my 80mm f1.8 USM.

I think the trouble with this debate is the two lenses are very evenly matched with the sigma better at centre sharpness wide open and with a slightly more pleasing bokeh especially stopped down. Where as the Canon has better corner to corner sharpness and is cheaper on the second hand market.

The Canon has reported issues with the focus mechanism breaking but given the number sold the idea that every lens will die if you so much as touch the extending barrel is clearly not true. The Sigma has quality control issues which again are exagerated but still certainly there in terms of soft copies needing adjustment.

At the end of the day you will be happy with which ever lens you choose if you get a good copy, both produce lovely sharp results with great DoF control and at normal print sizes from sensible viewing distances hardly anyone will be able to tell the difference.