Canon 50mm Advice.

Seanoog

Seanoog

Seanoog

Associate
Joined
4 Aug 2011
Posts
647
I am seeking some advice regarding a dilemma I have,
regarding Canon Fit 50mm Lens.

Similar to the thread listed: with regards Prime Lens
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18391812


I have Canon 550D + 50mm 1.8 MK2 (Hoya UV Filter + Hoya Polarizing Filter)
Tripod + Canon 70-200L F4

For the past year they have been a wonderful combination on a low budget.
But I have always lusted for the Canon 50mm 1.4.
However until the weekend past, when I was photographing the Armagh Rally,
I usually used my Canon 70-200L F4 for MotorSport.

On certain stages, I tried the 50mm.
Kept the exact settings:
(AV Mode, Raw, High Speed Shooting, AI Servo, ISO 100-400 varied)
But was shooked that 1 out of ever two pictures was soft
(when shooting in High Speed Suscession)
Commonly this was in good light, commonly all pictures where taken at 1000s Secound, so not camera shake.
So I am fearing that the lens was unable to auto-focus quick to keep the cars in focus. Would this be a good hypothesis?


This leads me to my next choice!
Do I keep the lens, or considering upgrading?

Obvious choices been:
Canon 50mm 1.4
Sigma 50mm 1.4


Can members give me some tips, or advice.
Regards Seanoog.
 
The 50mm 1.8 is fine, I just wouldn't use it for Motorsport - as you've found out for yourself.

The (Canon) 50mm 1.4 is a great lens but I would question the upgrade if you are on a budget. If you think it will be similar to your 70-200 you will be disappointed. The AF is nowhere near as quick.
 
The 50mm 1.8 is a phenomenal lens for the money. Unless you're desperate to upgrade, it should do you fine. I've had mine for 7 years and have just given it to my sister with my old 30D. If you must upgrade, I personally would recommend the Sigma 50mm 1.4 over the Canon. One thing you'll find is that the images have a lovely smooth feel to them with the bokeh, but there is a lovely contrasty feel to the 1.8 lens that the 1.4s don't seem to have.

As mentioned above, I'm not sure why you'd want to upgrade for motor sports though. Possibly close stationary photos? I've no idea as I've never done it :D

But yeah, get a Sigma, you won't regret it. Oh, the Canon 1.4 has a known issue with a component failing on it too, which the Sigma doesn't. Still, I'm not telling you what to go for. Look on flickr to see which image quality you prefer as the Canon and Sigma have a different look to the images.
 
The 50mm 1.8 is a phenomenal lens for the money. Unless you're desperate to upgrade, it should do you fine. I've had mine for 7 years and have just given it to my sister with my old 30D. If you must upgrade, I personally would recommend the Sigma 50mm 1.4 over the Canon. One thing you'll find is that the images have a lovely smooth feel to them with the bokeh, but there is a lovely contrasty feel to the 1.8 lens that the 1.4s don't seem to have.

As mentioned above, I'm not sure why you'd want to upgrade for motor sports though. Possibly close stationary photos? I've no idea as I've never done it :D

But yeah, get a Sigma, you won't regret it. Oh, the Canon 1.4 has a known issue with a component failing on it too, which the Sigma doesn't. Still, I'm not telling you what to go for. Look on flickr to see which image quality you prefer as the Canon and Sigma have a different look to the images.
 
theheyes said:
The 50mm 1.8 is fine, I just wouldn't use it for Motorsport - as you've found out for yourself.

The (Canon) 50mm 1.4 is a great lens but I would question the upgrade if you are on a budget. If you think it will be similar to your 70-200 you will be disappointed. The AF is nowhere near as quick.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your replys, guys.
I have always bought good len's, trying to stay within a reasonable budget. Not that I have been afraid to invest a little more than the buying the most basic lens when it would be benificial - (70-200L F4).

But as you have suggested, upgrading the Lens to either Canon/Sigma 50mm, will see no massive improvement in AF performance there is little benifit in spending the money, on the two I initially suggested
Can any one suggest other lens (Prefarably Prime) that would significantly improve AF Performance, too meet my MotorSport requirements?

Or am I destined to enjoy, Rally'ing from my 70-200L Lens?
 
I've got the 70-200 F4 non IS and it's very nice. Really I'd say just use what you have until you get to the point when you realise there's a specific lens you're missing. You'll cost yourself a fortune otherwise :D
 
To be honest, if you're strapped for cash, and know that you'll never drop the Canon lens, or store it unsafely, then you could just save yourself a headache and a few quid by getting that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Canon, it's just older and there is a known problem with the focus ring. I seem to remember it relates to a little cog in the focus ring that often easily breaks, meaning it won't focus. You can see for yourself by googling "known canon 50mm 1.4 issues".

The Sigma seems to occasionally get reports of CA when wide open (I see this sometimes, but it's barely noticeable most of the time and has never been a cause of a throw away image) and front and back focusing. The problem you have here is that people see these negative posts and believe it's across all the copies of 50mm from Sigma. You hardly ever see people randomly posting about how good their lenses are, just when they break or are flawed. It's only in threads like this you will see positive comments about the lenses, or in specific groups on Flickr.


Danbo & Simon's cat by Niall Allen, on Flickr

My latest shot with mine, when I was bored :D There are more on there, not that I'm any good, but the Sigma lens is fantastic and I've not experienced front or back focusing other than when I move!

Oh, and yes you have to buy a Danbo if you're into photography, it's the law :D
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom