Canon EF 50 f/1.4. Users opinions

[p.giannakis]

Hi everyone,

I am using the canon EF 50 f/1.8 for a few years and i am happy with it. I found locally a second hand EF 50/1.4 and if i trade in the 1.8 it will cost me £50 more to buy it.

Has anyone used both lenses? Are there any advantages in trading in the 1.8 to get the 1.4?

 

[JP Owens]

I've looked very closely (pixel peeping) at both the 50 1.4 and 50 1.8, and I have never seen enough difference to make a difference in their image quality. The 50 1.4 is better built; but, having said that, I've had a 50 1.4 fail several times in the same way. Each failure has resulted in the lens not autofocusing through it's full range. This was two different lenses, with the result that I'm reluctant to use the lens anymore.

I also own a 50 1.8 (the original metal mount version) that I've had since the late 1980's and used a lot, and it has never failed.

 

[Bille]

Are there any advantages in trading in the 1.8 to get the 1.4?

Not really. The 50/1.2 would be an upgrade though.

 

[JP Owens]

Absolutely, the 50 1.2 is sweet, and incredibly well built.

 

[CliveC]

For the incremental cost for the upgrade, it's worth it. That said, I am very impressed with the new 50mm 1.8 STM. The build quality is much improved over that of the old 50mm 1.8II. It's also slightly smaller and focuses closer.

 

[Fraser]

I went through the same thing between Nikon 1.8d and 1.4d and annoyingly the 1.8 seems better. I also have a canon ef 50mm 1.8 mk1 and the Canon 50mm 1.2 and the 1.8 is really good. If I was looking for a canon standard lens as already said would probably go for the 1.8 stm or even the 40mm.

 

[AndersG]

For an increment of just £50 I'd certainly upgrade to the 50mm f/1.4. One extra stop can be handy and the 50mm f/1.8II is rather fragile - I'm already on my second in only 12 years. Additionally, it got stuck on the camera when it broke.. (but, ok, when getting it off the camera again its weak construction was for the better :-/).

 

[Fraser]

For only an extra £50 even if you only shoot the 1.4 at 1.8 its probably worth it.

 

[gavinlg]

My 50mm f1.8's were better than my one 50mm f1.4, which was frankly crap at anything near wide open. Sharp from f2, but f1.8 was better.

The f1.2L is an incredible 50, on a different planet to the other two.

 

[Bille]

I'm already on my second in only 12 years.

Assuming your 50/1.8 lived for at least 12/2 = 6 years you paid about 1.30 € per month for it.