Nokton48
Veteran
Bottom shot looks better to me, less "grayish" and blacks are solid. Looks like cleaning helped.
Mackinaw
Think Different
It's a sonnar-type lens so the sonnar crowd loves it, but the best Canon lens ever? Nonsense.
Jim B.
Bingley
Veteran
I wouldn't say that the 50/1.5 is the best lens Canon made... but it can be a very fine lens if you have a good copy (as the OP appears to have). Overall, I think the 50/1.8 is sharper, possibly the 50/1.4 too, but the 50/1.5 has unique qualities that the other lenses don't possess, mainly due to its sonnar design. The 50/1.5 also renders color beautifully, even when stopped down.
raid
Dad Photographer
I agree with Steve on the Canon 50/1.5. I sold the Canon 50/1.4 but kept the 50/1.5 not because the 50/1.5 is better than the 50/1.4. It is for my needs "better suited" since I prefer Sonnar design lenses for portraits and I already have several non-Sonnar 50mm lenses already. The 50/1.4 is Neraly perfect overall, so I may get one back one day.
DanOnRoute66
I now live in Des Moines
The middle one looks the best. I wonder though: Is that the one taken with the better lens or the better light?They certainly all three have a different look. But you're right, with the sun going down, it wasn't a totally scientific and identical test. Finally, here are all three in speed order at F5.6.
raid
Dad Photographer
This is one of the problems with photos taken outdoors for lens comparisons. It is part of the confounding of effects in such "experiments". I therefore did my last two large lens comparisons in the shade (outdoors). This way, light conditions were very similar for all lenses being used that day.