| Brand: | Canon | ||
| Average Rating |
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Canon offers this standard lens featuring superb quality and portability. Two high-refraction lens elements and new Gaussian optics eliminate astigmatism and suppress astigmatic difference. Crisp images with little flare are obtained even at the maximum aperture. more info
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Fast Lens – No flash needed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The F1.4 maximum opening makes a big difference on being able to take indoor shots without flash at 1/60sec versus 1/20sec with the standard kit zoom (F3.5 to 5.6).
must have lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This lens is one of the best I own!!!!!
This lens has a wide open aperture at 1.4 allowing for great nighttime shots. The only downside is it won’t zoom. It’s worth every penny regardless.
Favourite lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For a long time I had the 1.8 for use on my XTi, I finally made the move up to full frame and the 50/1.8 somehow did not sit right. I was slowly building up a trinity of fast primes, one wide, one telephoto and one normal and felt that the 50/1.8 lagged behind my 28/1.8 and 85/1.8 so I decided to take the plunge on the 50/1.4… I have never looked back. In general the reviews are right, shot at 1.4 it is not razor sharp, it is acceptable but does not capture jaw dropping detail, so I only shoot at this aperture when I am trying to feed as much light to the sensor as possible, but shot stopped down just a 1/3 of a stop to f1.6, it starts to sing.
On full frame this lens really shines, wide enough to get lots of the subject in, but long and fast enough that the DOF can be used to pick out points of interest or guide the viewers eyes. For full length portraits many people comment on the ’3D’ quality the images have caused by the out of focus areas in front and behind subjects. I love this lens for travel shots, the combination of wide and fast means you can get inventive with the ‘tourist’ shot having an out of focus person gazing out over a vista, or their face sharp and the famous landmark being a creamy but recognizable bokeh blur in the background. On a crop frame camera it would be too long for such a shot.
So what does the 50/1.4 give you over the 50/1.8 because that is the main quandary people face. It is noticeably better built, the autofocus is much better, you get that 2/3rd extra stop (which counts for a lot in DOF if not that much in light gathering), the 1.4 is sharper at equivalent f-stops (i.e. the 1.4 is sharper than my 1.8 when both are shot at f2). The con is it is 3-4 times the price.
All in all the proof was in the pudding and I do not regret one bit getting this lens and am very happy with it, if I was still on a crop frame however I am not so sure I would be.
Great lens !
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
GREAT lens ! I can’t say enough ! The pictures are great even in low light.
I put 3 stars under economical because of it’s price. The 50mm f/1.8 is half
the cost. But I love the extra stops, really comes in handy.
Got a good copy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Got a really nice copy. at f/1.4, it is still sharp unlike the others I’ve seen which is soft. I am happy I got this over the 50mm 1.8. The body of the 1.4 is really well built. Nice solid feeling. I debated on getting this or the 1.8, and decided to get the 1.4 based on its built. Its 3x more, but I think its worthed it. Read too many reviews on the 1.8, the lens just breaks apart after a few use. I picked up a lens hood to protect and reduce flare.
Get the Canon 50mm f/1.4!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this lens from Amazon and had been debating for a long time which one to get. It was either the Canon 95 dollar “cheep” lens or go all out and get the Sigma 50mm. I was hung up having to spend 500 on a Sigma. The Canon I chose was listed here at 369 and that was my range (tax not included). I started using it right away and was very impressed with the quality and crispness of the images. I shot my son sitting in the kitchen using available light, no flash and WOW! I ran the shots through Canon’s Digital Professional Software and feel the shots are just sweet! I am attaching the shot. If this is what it can do and “I wasn’t even trying…”, then it has great potential. Worth every penny! Jim Enos
Great Picture Quality-some focus lock issues
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I decided to give this lens a try after reading all the great reviews.
One problem I have is…I like to use the center focus spot and then recompose. Many times I have locked the focus by pressing the shutter down halfway, then I recompose, then I press the shutter all the way down to take a pic and then my camera tries to focus on something in the background. This is very frustrating. Once I lock focus the camera should take a pic with the current focus setting no matter where I point the camera. This lens has caused me to miss a few really good shots. None of my other lenses do this.
Sometimes I have to lock the focus, and then switch to manual so I can be sure the lens will stay focused on my subject. I shouldn’t have to compromise like this. Did I get a defective lens or is this common with all the Canon 50mm 1.4 lenses?
Even though I am having a few minor problems I still love using this lens because it is so light and the I.Q. is really good. I love having an F1.4 if I need to use it. (I rarely go below F2.0 because that is where this lens starts to get a little soft) This allows me to get a really shallow depth of field (this helps make ordinary subjects become extraordinary)and also it helps keep the ISO really low, which greatly improves image quality.
This focal length (on a small sensor like my 40D) is a little long for a walk around lens but I find myself carrying it around anyway. I just hope there is always room to back up.
A few days ago I really wanted to take a pic of store front but there was no room to back up so I took three shots and merged them in Photoshop CS3. It was a little extra work (about a minute for Photoshop to put them together) but the extra time was worth it because the final image came out great. And, with plenty of megapixels to spare. Whenever I combine pics in Photoshop I get pictures that have more megapixels than my camera is capable of producing.
One big plus for this lens is that it doesn’t give you severe neck pains after using it for many hours. This lens is so light you don’t even feel the extra weight on your camera.
I hope I can solve my focus lock issues because I would love to only have to carry this lens around with me all day long.
I can’t wait to do some portraits with this lens. I have seen some examples on the internet of people using F2.0 for portraits and the quality is amazing. The huge aperture throws the background out of focus and puts all the emphasis on your subject. Love it!! Just be very careful where you focus because if the very shallow depth of field. You could get a nose in focus and blurry eyes.
Versatile and good price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It’s either the 50mm f/1.2 or 50mm f/1.8. This lens falls in the middle with good quality and good price.
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a fantastic lens. It’s great in low level light and performs excellent in all conditions. The one thing to remember is that since it’s a fix focus lens, meaning no zooming capability, then you have to make sure you have enough room to back up in order to get the view you want. I actually won a photo contest with the lens and continue to use it for all my family photos. I even took some photos for a couple of my friend’s kid’s first birthday and they were quite happy. I’m not a professional, but definitely think it’s worth it if you want to be able to take pictures inside without the use of a flash. Highly recommended!
Love it so much!….
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I came across this lens simply by accident!…I like to shoot in very low light, without using the flash, so I really didn’t know how to
solve this problem. I”m a self taught passionate amateur with tons of digital camera questions that needed to be answered.
So, one day, I asked a photographer how could I solve this “low light” problem… he spoke highly of the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens…
I use it for shooting in very low light with great results. And, I never use the flash because I don’t like it!..
For portraits, it can’t be beat!. And the “Bokeh” is always on target! (meaning backround blur)
I constantly use it for my Macro work. I attach a Kenko extension tube to it and the macro results
are stunning!…
A few weeks ago, this lens was “stolen” from me and I immediately ordered another one.
Not all people may have a use for this lens, but for me, its “priceless!”…
A great difference
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been using the zoom 18-55mm that comes with my canon 350D f 3.5 and with a Sigma 70-300mm apo f 3.5, and the difference it’s incredible I really enjoy the posiblities of this lens and quantity of light allow me to take portrait pictures at night without problem. I really recommend this one.
Fabulous
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this lens. I can’t come up with any complaints. Super Fabulous should sum it up!!!
Great lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic lens. Only thing I miss is the Image Stabilization that I had on my other lenses.
-Very sharp images.
-Fantastic portraits
I highly recommend getting this lens.
Great lens -challenging to use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been reading reviews of this lens for many months and finally decided to take the plunge. As an amateur I was hesitant to buy this because of the fact that its zoom was “fixed”, but after a couple of weeks I am as happy as can be. The other issue was that my camera body is a Rebel XT -hardly capable of getting the most out of this lens, but when I upgrade I will not be out the investment.
Having a prime lens sure is challenging. I actually took this on a couple oh hikes, which normally would have begged for a much more wide angle view in order to best capture the sweeping vista’s, but you know what? This one forced me to really think about my composition far more than the kit lens and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the images after getting home and viewing them on the PC.
The one thing this lens is best at, indoor photography, is the one thing I have not really done. Can’t wait for the Christmas season and the pictures I am able to snap of various light displays!
Nice price for a 1.4 but a fragile lens.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a very reasonable price for a 1.4…….but you must baby this lens….If you attempt to manual focus it while in af mode you will damage this lens…And you will need to manual focus frequently when shooting in very low light which is the point of this lens…..That being said if you can avoid manual focusing of the lens while in af mode its a nice lens for the price. This lens is just particularly sensitive to that problem….
I Love This Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the first of the mid-range canon lens that I have bought. I needed something asap because my Rebel XTi kit lens wasn’t up to par after 3 years. I debated it for the longest time because I had read quite a few mediocre reviews. I’ve been using it for over a month now and am loving how tack sharp the images are!! Also, I’m loving how I can use it indoors with 1.4 f/ with 1/100 sec at 100 ISO. Absolutely amazing!
makes magic happen
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The canon ef 50mm f/1.4 does beautiful things. I also own the canon ef 50mm f/1.8 mk1. Having the f/1.8 I fought long and hard on getting the f/1.4. With the f/1.8 I took some really beautiful pictures, but i would have so many out of focus pictures too. Lots of people complain about the built of the f/1.8, who cares as long as it takes good pictures for $125.00. In my eyes the worst part of the f/1.8 is the focus ring. I photograph kids, toddlers, and infants. If you can make the f1.8 work, but you’re going to have some long sessions or spend lots of time on the pc trying to correct. Even if you don’t mention that the f/1.4 goes to 1.4 and lets in so much more light, the f/1.4 is just a better lens mainly because of the usm focus ring (even if its micro). If your subject can’t hold still and moves a lot this is a no brainer… Get the canon ef 50mm f/1.4 it makes magic happen. Really nice lens. Also own canon ef 85mm f/1.8 and it gorgeous too (between it and the canon ef 100mm f/2.8 macro there may not be a better non-L lens).
Great lens for a great price!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This was the first lens I bought after my kit lens. I was going to shoot indoor sports so wanted the wide aperture. This lens produces great pictures that are very sharp. The bokeh is also quite nice. Considering this one is $800 less than the 50 1.2, I think it’s a steal. This lens almost never leaves my camera. I shoot portraits now and it is great for shallow DOF shots! I would buy it again.
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Love this lens! Upgraded from the 50mm 1.8 and couldn’t be happier in all aspects. From the durability, build and feel of this lens to the picture quality, this lens has been a great upgrade with no regrets!
A Perfect Lens for Everyday and More
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is simply a fabulous lens — it’s almost never off my Canon 40D. I looked at the 1.8, which came highly recommended because of the price, but then I noticed comments that said it would probably last a year, because of the build. So I looked at the 1.4. This lens works well in so many conditions, it’s sharp, has beautiful DOF, I just can’t say enough about it. It’s my first prime lens — like a lot of people, I was attracted to the zoom feature of other lenses. But even though with this lens you have to zoom yourself, don’t let that stop you at all.
I’m an intermediate level photographer. I highly recommend this lens for anyone around my level.
Good lens despite some flaws.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised at how sharp this lens is, but was upset at the amount of Lateral Chromatic Aberration (color fringe) between f/1.4 and f/2 when zoomed in on my computer full frame. At F/4 it seems to sharpen up quickly though, and shoots consistently good shots from there on out.
Would recommend.
Versatile Portrait Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
F/1.4 — need I say more? I suppose, for sake of the review, I do.
The lens is sturdy and has the feel of quality. The photos come out great to the outer edges. The large aperture allows for tremendous depth-of-field versatility. Speaking of versatility… Although this lens is the ideal portrait lens, it is easily flexible enough to capture brilliant landscapes as well. The large aperture makes dusk, dawn, and night time shots easier and most of the time the tripod doesn’t make it out of the case. It also has allowed me to take shots of beauty pageants and clubs in minimal light without having to succumb to the graininess of a high ISO setting or the poor lighting given by a direct flash to the face. Did I mention the large aperture? Finally, the price is right. I would be happy with this lens even if I paid twice the price. Thankfully (for my marriage’s sake) I only paid the listed price.
Let’s lay out the options…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you’re looking at this, then you’ve probably decided on a 50mm or so prime lens, likely because the kit zoom lens is both slow and not very good quality. Here are the options for Canon:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (version 2): It’s inexpensive, very fast compared to any cheap zoom and exceptionally good for the price. On the down side, it’s cheap feeling, noisy in focusing, and difficult to focus manually. You should buy at least this.
Canon 50mm f/1.4: A little bit faster, but that’s a less important trait these days with good digital high effective ISOs. More importantly, it’s robust, easy to use, with full-time manual focusing (you can just grab the ring even when it’s autofocusing), and good image quality
Sigma 50mm f/1.4: More expensive than the Canon lens, but slightly better image quality wide open. It’s a tough sell since the quality change isn’t huge. But if the extra money and Sigma logo don’t bother you, then go for it.
Canon 50mm f/1.2: Big money for that extra light-gathering ability. If you need this for photographing in a club, then you’ll buy it. If you don’t need it, it’s too expensive and heavy to compete with the lenses above.
Another, used, option, the original Canon 50mm f/1.8 EF lens was sturdier and better built, but they’re only available used and possibly abused. I own one and am happy with it. I have shot with the Canon f/1.4 as well and that’s the lens that I’d buy today.
Should be an “L”
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This lens has all the sharpness you could ever ask for all the way down to F2 or so. Makes an excellent portrait lens on your Canon DSLR. Note that with the 1.6x “cropping” associated with most SLR’s, this effectively is an 80mm lens. Makes a very nice walkabout lens at a party too, especially when coupled with any of the Canon Speedlite flashes. I recommend getting the lens hood, although the Canon hoods are absurdly expensive.
Fantastic!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought mine used from a coworker a week ago. I have used it daily and I am very happy with the lens. Built-in flash is evil to me, but the wide 1.4 aperture means I will rarely need to use my flash now. I LOVE the blurred backgrounds, especially when taking photos of my family/people.