Looking for a Canon 50/1.4 - suggestions?

januaryman

januaryman

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I've been looking around for a nice clean Canon 50mm 1.4 and have seen some, but can't afford the prices at either KEH or Kevin's.

I keep bidding on them on ebay whenever jiri lists one and they always go for more than 200. That's my budget, though. Am I on a fool's errand even trying to find one for this price?

Anyone thinking of selling theirs for this?
 
Maybe set sights on something you can afford, maybe a 50/1.8, or perhaps a Jupiter-3 ? Perhaps even sell off one of your fixed lens rangefinders if it means bettering your P/Bessa setup.
 
I got mine from Jiri at 200$ or so. It was described as having some tiny scratches in the glass and the cosmetics were a bit below the regular stuff.

I almost left a negative. The lens arrived but not the scratches...😀

Jiri is a very nice fellow to deal with ...

Patience....
 
There's one on pnet right now for $300 (HERE). No connection with the seller, etc...

You can always try to find one for $200. But I can't remember seeing any nice ones sell for that recently. Still, you might get lucky.
 
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@ $200 that will be hard to find, I`d say add another $100 and you have one - problem lately is that many of them are busted up and abused/scratches etc.

Finding a clean one is a challenge, I`m still looking for one myself......

Tom
 
LeicaTom said:
@ $200 that will be hard to find, I`d say add another $100 and you have one - problem lately is that many of them are busted up and abused/scratches etc.

Finding a clean one is a challenge, I`m still looking for one myself......

Tom
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I've noticed this too, as I am also saving up or selling stuff to regain the ~300ish balance I had. But now I'm at a delima do I get a 50/1.4 Canon (or perhaps maybe the 1.8), or do I get the CV 15/4.5 and stick with the Industar-61LD I been using for the 55mm range.

Either way, I generally advise not to skimp on the glass, often if you try to hard to go really cheap on the lens (like say trying to get nearly half off the going price of a 50/1.4) you'll find that in some cases you'll be making up that extra 100$ or more in repair cost, or cleaning, or in search of a 'nicer one'.

(I'm somewhat regretting having gotten rid of my 50/1.8)
 
If you really have the budget problem, why ponder?? It isn't "settling for less" buying a nice Canon 50/1.8, either black or chrome. I like the chrome, which is heavier, but seems to give me better balance on the P or the 7s that I usually shoot. Either way, you get a truly fine lens, for relatively little money. It's also easy to recoup the money invested later, when your finances improve, if you decide on that option.
I own several, and have often thought about selling a couple, bet the price is low, and the lenses are paid for, so it just doesn't happen. I did own a 1.4 for a brief period, but it had problems, and I never replaced it. I love my 1.5, like my 1.2, and use my 1.8's. Anyway you go, Canon is nice glass.

Harry
 
You might try the cameras shows. I've managed to pick up lenses for less at Photorama shows than most other places.

The other way to do it is to buy the lens on a body, and sell the body. My Canon 7 with 50/1.4 was $400. The Canon 7 is EX+ or better, meter works. It would easily fetch $200.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
The other way to do it is to buy the lens on a body, and sell the body. My Canon 7 with 50/1.4 was $400. The Canon 7 is EX+ or better, meter works. It would easily fetch $200.
Click to expand...

An excellent idea. And, keeping with this theme, there's a guy on APUG who's currently selling a Canon 7 with Canon 50/1.4, Canon 35/2.0 and Voightlander 25/4 (with viewfinder) for $865.00. All are in excellent shape.

Jim B.
 
I paid $265 for mine - in the mail from jiri e now. Very curious to see the condition. Jiri really is a good person to deal with - he doesn´t oversell his gear. As Michael said, it´s more like the other way round. Bought 2 P´s and a couple of lenses from him before.
leif e
 
I FINALLY found one!

Early this morning and this is going to be one of my MAIN users in the PinUp Gal biz....... 😀

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290201153407&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=019

The owner was nice enough to show me pics taken with it and it`s dead on, kool n killer Bokeh King! Hooooray 🙂

I have serious been considering RETIRING/SELLING my entire Leica collection
(cept one "Half Race") and go ALL Canon RF built around a 7s or 7sz *I`m still looking for a body* and then only to add the f2.0 100mm and the f0.95 50mm to my pallet and I`m finished - until I can find a fine condition 100% working RD-1 for $1,500/$1,600

It`s time to seriously get down and work with my (F-1 SLR) my M6, IIF2 and a 7s/7sz - I think 4 cameras loaded is enough all at once while shooting Retro 🙂

I can`t wait to get the f1.4, as soon as I get it here and can arrange a shoot, I`ll be shooting a very very kool TEST for everyone to enjoy - stay tuned!

Tom
 
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Congratulations! It is a nice lens, you'll be pleased.

An all-Canon kit built around a 7s or 7sz. You might also want to check out the Canon P.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Congratulations! It is a nice lens, you'll be pleased.

An all-Canon kit built around a 7s or 7sz. You might also want to check out the Canon P.
Click to expand...

Well, I might say the P is more sexier.....and sleeker in build and maybe better workmanship, but I`m figuring in the 7s/7sz cuz of the f0.95 and the "do it all" viewfinder system, I`m going to give it a go, what do people here think?

Are there people happy with the 7s/7sz or is it another M5? LOL!!!! 😉

Tom
 
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Nice looking/sounding lens at an excellent price. This one you should enjoy. I sold mine years ago to buy something else (I forgot what), and never replaced it. I enjoy using my 1.5, so never got serious about finding another.
The F-1N is one of my favorite cameras, and, of course, there are soo many excellent FD lenses for it. I also use my 7s as a primary shooter, frequently with the 35/2.
The IIF2 also makes a good prop for the style you take, and I hope we get to see the new series with the 1.4. I envy you your job.... Your stuff is beautiful, and the models aren't bad, either. BTW, the 7s and the M3 make a nice pair. There is still nothing that completely compares with the M3 VF with a 50.
Have you used the Sonnar 50/1.5?? I have a couple mounted on Contax bodies that I take out fairly often. They are possibly a tad sharper than the Canon, with a similar look.
You should see some serious action, if you decide to dispose of the Leica's. Interesting, but way out of my price range. I'm just happy I own what I do...

Harry
 
sanmich said:
Been there, said that 😀

Congrats! Nice catch!
Click to expand...

YEAH I`m trying to set some goals.....I`ve been sittin on my behind now with older gear that`s more a collectors item then practical users - I`m not getting younger and the Leica viewfinder in the IIIC seems to be getting smaller and smaller every year LOL!!!

I think a Canon 7s/7sz and later (when I scrape the dough up $$$ AFTER I find the f0.95) I`ll consider a RD-1 *but I do find buying them is getting riskier and risker as they get older and older*

Tom

PS: THANKS GUYS FOR THE WELL WISHES ON THIS LENS - I`m going to make it all worthwhile, next shoot I`ll get my buddy Cyndi to express herself in some Retro art nudes ala Canon RF!
 
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Funny lines.... "I'm not getting any younger"... I'm almost 30 years senior, and I still like the 7s. The P is a sexy design, and beautifully built. It's simple, as befits a "budget camera", which is the whey they marketed it. It's just a bit smaller than the 7 series, but does feel good and solid in the hand. At the current prices, you really can't go far wrong trying one, and a nice one may even appreciate over time. I don't use mine as much since I got the 2 7s', which is too bad, because I do like shooting it.
The price on the 0.95 is a bit much. I'm not too sure about that last one in M mount that just sold. I really can't figure the focusing mount on that, and that's a lot of weight, which is why Canon designed that extra large external mount. Also, the VF on the M's is a bit short for the tiny DOF on the lens wide open. It does work well on the 7's, however.

Harry
 
harry01562 said:
Have you used the Sonnar 50/1.5?? I have a couple mounted on Contax bodies that I take out fairly often. They are possibly a tad sharper than the Canon, with a similar look.

Harry
Click to expand...

I did at one time look for a "real"? CZJ F1.5 50mm Sonnar in LTM, but it`s a losing battle with that lens having 98.9% of them fakes - and I`m no expert on CZJ 🙁
*Thank God they can`t fake Canon LTM lenses hahahahaha*

I know of the Sonnar`s beautiful signature, but sadly if I go that route I need a Contax body and they just seem to be one camera I was never really into

I also have a really pristine f1.4 50mm Nikkor that`s resting on my M6 now and she`s going to get some work put into her for that "Sonnar" look and style - I am having some close focusing issues with her - but that`s for another thread/another time

My f1.5 50mm Canon is really "spot-on"
(it came off a VT I once had that one of my models bought me for a photoshoot trade) and it`s performed very well on one of my Leica bodies, I have yet to try it on my IIF2
(another camera I will never sell) I`m sure that will go well on that camera too

The f1.5 50mm Canon is "dreamy" enough for me and if I need to push the envelope a little I just ummph it up a touch in Post Processing, so far the pics have only needed slight tweaking (color channeling mostly and a slight sharpness factor)

For me it`s all about getting that old "Girlie" magazine look and I think after all this time the f1.4 will complete with my affection with the f1.5 and together they will produced hopefully some memorable images 🙂

Tom
 
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