Canon LTM Canon Fast 50s compared; 1.2 1.5 1.8

[Nokton48]

Bottom shot looks better to me, less "grayish" and blacks are solid. Looks like cleaning helped.

 

[Mackinaw]

Hi, I've always heard nothing but good things about the 50/1.5, it's usually listed as about the best lens Canon made.

It's a sonnar-type lens so the sonnar crowd loves it, but the best Canon lens ever? Nonsense.

Jim B.

 

[Bingley]

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]

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]

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.

The middle one looks the best. I wonder though: Is that the one taken with the better lens or the better light?

 

[raid]

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.