5.0 out of 5 stars Undeniable Results

M.O. · July 13, 2013

At this point, this lens has such a strong backing that I'm just another voice in the wind.*If you want this lens, GET IT. You will NOT regret it if you want a fast, sharp, well-built investment in glass.*Keep in mind that when shooting with APS-C cameras (7D, 4/5/60D, T1/2/3/4/5i, SLi) this is a wonderful PORTRAIT lens, that gives you a head-and-shoulders frame at five feet, while on a full-frame camera (5D1/2/3, 6D, 1D3/4/5/X/C) it is a stunning STANDARD lens, with a full-body frame at five feet.It is well-built: the body is made up of a solid plastic that has survived a few bangs and falls already. I have it insured, so I have the peace of mind of not worrying about little things, but remember to put a cheap UV filter on it. *A scratched filter costs a LOT less to replace than a scratched lens. Buy a filter with this lens!*It is FAST: The USM is quick and snappy. It is the older version of Canon's USM, so it will 'hunt' in low light if you place a single AF point onto a black background or surface. Get around that by focusing on a lit subject and then recomposing, using either single shot AF or AF-lock.It is BRIGHT: or 'fast', but I didn't want to get confused between AF and aperture. If you are upgrading from a zoom lens, whether it's your kit 18-55 or your professional 24-70 F/2.8, you will INSTANTLY notice how bright and clean 1.4 is. It GOBBLES light at nighttime and indoors, and coupled with the high-ISO performance of almost every Canon DSLR right now, you can get stunning shots with this lens in the toughest of conditions without a flash. And, because of how fast it is, the depth of field (amount of your subject in focus) is razor-thin. You will find that someone's nose pores will be visible while their eyes will be blurry, which might ruin a shot for you: always confirm that what you want to be in focus, is. This is a VERY powerful tool for creative or portrait photography.It is SHARP: focus, movement, light, camera shake, and shutter speed all can alter the sharpness of your photo, which is the most important facet, but the fact is that this lens will not hold you back if you're looking for the sharpest photo possible. It is RAZOR sharp when stopped down, and center sharpness is stunning all the way to F/1.4. Anything from F/2 and up will be sharp all around, at at F/5.6 the entire frame is sharper than a lot of L lenses. The only reason people pay five times as much for the Canon 50mm F/1.2L is because they either need the build quality, aperture speed, or consistent sharpness. You can easily get equally stunning results from this lens, at 1/5th the price of its niche L brother.And, for creative photos and especially video, it creates wonderful creamy BOKEH. If you're looking at this lens you probably know what 'bokeh' means: all it references is the quality of the out-of-focus areas of your photo. Your subject, whether a face or a sign or a car or a person, will be sharp and in focus, while at F/1.4 the area from a few inches in front of and behind the subject become a wonderfully pleasing blur.Now, as far as competition goes, this lens competes with the Sigma 50mm F/1.4 and Canon's own 50mm F/1.8. The Canon 50mm macro lens doesn't count as a 'fast fifty', as at F/2.5 it is an entire stop slower than the other 50's.The Sigma is a better and newer lens than the Canon 50mm F/1.4, with better sharpness wide open and barely better bokeh. However, it costs slightly more, and it doesn't have the support of Canon software, hardware, and editing plugins. Their results are nearly identical, and bokeh is a personal preference. You will be perfectly content with either lens, though Canon's autofocus has been reported as being superior to Sigma's, with quality control issues and failing AF on early models of Sigma's 50mm's.The 50mm F/1.8 is well-known for its optical quality and fantastic value. However, it is also made up of plastic, and as such, it WILL break. The focus ring is also miserably bad for video. So, if you have the extra $200 to spend, GET THE 1.4. The build quality, USM focusing, and proper focus ring will last you years, wheras the 'nifty fifty' will last you until you drop it, or the cheap AF dies.Now, always remember that your lens is a creative tool: this one is a fantastic and versatile tool, but you still can't expect it to do anything it's not built to do. For example, while F/1.4 is a wonderful tool, you will find yourself missing focus at times. Stop down to F/2.8 not only for more accurate DOF and focus, but better sharpness. And, if you want stunning detail, or you're in bright sunlight, stop down to F/5.6 for nearly perfect sharpness for when you have a lot of light, a flash, or are set up to do portraits. And, when you need stunning bokeh or fast shutter speeds, crank it open.So, in conclusion: this is a wonderful lens that is sharp, fast, well built, and has excellent optical qualities when used right. If you think you want it, get it, and you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unequal perfection

A.&.A. · May 24, 2013

I bought this lens after reading several reviews and trying to decide if the 1.8 vs the 1.4. I also decided to borrow a 1.8 and almost immediately I could see the difference.Using an aperture of 2.0 is clearly the best for sharp pictures. I have almost started to use this lens exclusively. I have taken some pictures that amaze me when reviewing on the computer.This lens is an absolute must for anyone armature or professional. This lens should be the first purchase when upgrading to new lenses. The essential addition to your kit.Pro:- Blohke is amazing. The aperture blades make wonderful octagons out of light and makes blurred water look incredible.- Sharp Focus is best at F2.0 but awesome at most f-stops. I cannot complain but I definitely keep it at 2.0 more often than not.- Quiet autofocus. This does not seem like much until you change out to another lens. Holy cow is it quiet. This can be a major advantage while taking video with your DSLR.- Cost (Pro and Con) is low for what you get. The quality of this lens from build to optics is definitely worth the price. It just feels solid compared to the 1.8. If you think that 300 is high for a lens then you will view this as a con but if you think of a lens as a long term investment into your profession or hobby then the 300 will pay off end dividends.Cons:- Autofocus can be touchy at lower f-stops and may require very very minor manual adjustments. It can be agrivating if you do not pay attention to where you want the focus but you should be able to adjust easily.- Cost but if this is a con for you then you are not investing in your photography.Overall:This lense is surpassed by none and should be in your camera bag. It's going to last you far beyond your normal lenses. It is going to be more reliable and better quality than any stock lens. Also remember that this is an EF lens and will be able to go from camera to camera unlike the EF-S lenses. If you ever move to a full frame from a cropped frame camera you will be able to use the lens and long lose your investment.

Desfoque lindo

M.B.M. · August 14, 2024

Qualidade das fotos ficam lindas. Porém quando usada na abertura 1.4 em algumas fotos surgem muitas aberrações cromáticas. Hoje em dia tiro foto em um desfoque 2.8 que continua lindo o desfoque.

Super contento.

A.C. · December 30, 2018

Calidad - Precio de ese lente sigue siendo excelente. Se nota la ventaja de un 1.4 y aun con esa apertura están bastante nítidos. En mi opinión un clásico de Canon. Entrega en tiempo y forma, rápido y en top condiciones, Muchas gracias!

Snel binnen gekregen , goede verkoper

T.I. · July 8, 2020

Ik heb een canon 50mm lens gekocht bij deze shop en het was zeer snel verzonden. Binnen 2 dagen werd het al bezorgd. Product is nieuw. Uitgeprobeerd en is prima bevonden. Zou zo weer wat kopen bij deze verkoper.

Overall, great! - Dans l'ensemble, Bien!

a. · January 26, 2018

Quality of the image I get are very nice. Package was well secured. Not sure if there is a problem with mine or it's normal but sometimes, the AF seems to struggle. Not a big problem tho. Construction feel a bit cheap as well but compared with the nifty 50, it's a better construction. (Far from the f/1.2 tho.. but for the price it's good enough!)Les images que j'en retire sont de bonnes qualité. Le colis est arrivé rapidement et sans soucis, bien emballé. Je ne sais pas si c'est un problème unique à mon exemplaire, ou si c'est généralisé, mais l'AF a parfois de la difficulté à faire sa mise au point. Ce n'est pas un problème majeur pour moi. La lentille semble un peu "cheap" au niveau de la construction mais si on la compare avec la nifty 50 (f1.8), c'est mieux. (Pas près de la f/1.2, mais pour le prix ça va !)

Great lens

g.L. · June 20, 2024

This lens is very good. It was what I was looking for. Shame there was not a lens hood with it. You can’t have a lens’s without a hood.