50mm f/1.4

Davie

Davie

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I'm considering buying a Sigma 50mm f/1.4. I've read a few mixed reviews and was wondering what peoples thoughts were on this lens, particularly in comparison with the Canon equivalent.

Ta
 
The Sigma 50mm f1.4 is a great lens and you should buy one today. :)
 
Well there's one in the classifieds but Amazon have them new at £379 and I'm sure I can get Jessops to price match it, theirs is £399. I think after reading about some focussing issues with this lens I'd probably opt for a shop I can march into..
 
I've got the Canon 50/1.4 and I would not call it anything special. As an upgrade from my 50/1.8 I was underwhelmed. Wide open it is far softer than my 50/1.8 was, rendering f/1.4 of questionable advantage, and while the AF is better than the 50/1.8, it is not a patch on my other lenses that have proper ring USM AF. Add to that the reputation for damage to the AF, unless you know the steps to take to avoid that damage, and, like I say, I'm not thrilled by it.

Everything I've read about the Sigma says it is superior to the Canon, apart from that one small niggle about AF accuracy. If you can get one that actually plays nice with your camera(s) then you should be well sorted. If, on the other hand, the AF calibration is up the creek then you may spend some time getting it straightened out. Of course, with AF microadjustment on the 7D you might be able to fix the calibration yourself.

If you don't mind the risk of putting in a bit of effort to get a perfectly calibrated lens then I would say go for the Sigma.
 
I went from a 50mm 1.8 to the Siggy 50mm 1.4 and LOVE IT.
Fast, great bokeh and just a beautiful bit of kit.

Pick y'self one up in the classifieds, get involved in the 50mm 1.4 goodness ......
 
All 50mm lens are good, cos they are so easy to design. I have the Nikon 50mm f1.4 and the Canon 50mm f1.4. Both excellent lens, but I think the Nikon has the edge.
 
been looking at moving on from the Canon 50mm mk1, and the benefits seem to be small given the outlay required...

Al'
 
sezzi said:
been looking at moving on from the Canon 50mm mk1, and the benefits seem to be small given the outlay required...

Al'
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The benefits are very incremental, unlike the price. With respect to the Canon 50/1.4, probably the most significant benefit is the better bokeh shape when stopping down. In other areas...

- the AF is better, but not especially great;
- the lens is faster wide open, but not as sharp;
- the build is better, and it may not self-disassemble, but the AF is prone to failure if the lens receives some pressure or a knock to the front of the lens when focused at anything other than infinity. The safeguard against that is to always store the lens or transport it with it focused at infinity and/or to buy a proper Canon lens hood (or exact equivalent, not something that screws onto the filter threads) and always keep the hood fitted in the "ready to shoot" mode, not reversed.

So, it certainly is a better lens, and I think we all know that quality is rarely in direct proportion to cost - you certainly don't get twice as much performance from anything by paying only twice the price. Whether the extra cost is worth it is very much up to the individual to decide. I was expecting more from the Canon 50/1.4 than it delivered, but at least I only paid £220 brand new, 17 months ago, instead of the £287 it costs today.
 
Davie said:
Well there's one in the classifieds but Amazon have them new at £379 and I'm sure I can get Jessops to price match it, theirs is £399. I think after reading about some focussing issues with this lens I'd probably opt for a shop I can march into..
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It's a lovely lens.

Jessops? Amazon?! You can get it from Jacobs mail order for £354.99 delivered, and, once you get your hands on it, there's currently an offer from Sigma where you can register it for a 3-year warranty, so even if it works fine on your 7D, but then you upgrade to a 5D2 (say) in the next couple of years and focussing issues arise (which MFA can't resolve), you can still send it back to them for recalibration gratis :thumbs:
 
tdodd said:
I've got the Canon 50/1.4 and I would not call it anything special. As an upgrade from my 50/1.8 I was underwhelmed. Wide open it is far softer than my 50/1.8 was, rendering f/1.4 of questionable advantage, and while the AF is better than the 50/1.8, it is not a patch on my other lenses that have proper ring USM AF..
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I had pretty much the same experience I was seriously dissapointed. Mine used to hunt a fair bit as well which leads many people to tell me that the lens was faulty. I took many shots with my 1.4 indoors in lowish light and wasn't happy with any of them compared to my 1.8.

I will try another when I get a chance to see a comparison.
 
tdodd said:
I've got the Canon 50/1.4 and I would not call it anything special. As an upgrade from my 50/1.8 I was underwhelmed. Wide open it is far softer than my 50/1.8 was, rendering f/1.4 of questionable advantage, and while the AF is better than the 50/1.8, it is not a patch on my other lenses that have proper ring USM AF. Add to that the reputation for damage to the AF, unless you know the steps to take to avoid that damage, and, like I say, I'm not thrilled by it.
.
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I agree with this on the AF part - but mine is definitely better quality than the 1.8, wide open and stopped down.

Focussing really is crap. Even on my 1Ds it will hunt back and forth for abiout a second or two before acquiring focus unless the light really is good - but whats the point of having a 1.4 lens if it has f*** all focussing ability in such light? The amazing IQ is the only thing stopping me getting rid of it. I can't describe it..

When I had it, my Sigma 10-20 could focus on pretty much anything - it regularly surprised me just how good it was. Point it at something solid black or white, like a carpet or whatever and it'd focus just as well as on a contrasty object. If the Sigma 50 focussed that well and had comparable, if not better IQ than the Canon.... I might go for it!
 
I have a Sigma 50mm 1.4. It was front focusing a bit when new, but I took it to Sigma to be set up. It will focus correctly now on my 1D, but struggles sometimes on my 5D. Excellent lens, a lot bigger than the Canon 50mm 1.4.
 
trencheel303 said:
I agree with this on the AF part - but mine is definitely better quality than the 1.8, wide open and stopped down.

Focussing really is crap. Even on my 1Ds it will hunt back and forth for abiout a second or two before acquiring focus unless the light really is good - but whats the point of having a 1.4 lens if it has f*** all focussing ability in such light? The amazing IQ is the only thing stopping me getting rid of it. I can't describe it..

When I had it, my Sigma 10-20 could focus on pretty much anything - it regularly surprised me just how good it was. Point it at something solid black or white, like a carpet or whatever and it'd focus just as well as on a contrasty object. If the Sigma 50 focussed that well and had comparable, if not better IQ than the Canon.... I might go for it!
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that may be slightly linked to the age of focussing system as its reasonably responsive on a 1d3
 
Huss1100 said:
I have a Sigma 50mm 1.4. It was front focusing a bit when new, but I took it to Sigma to be set up. It will focus correctly now on my 1D, but struggles sometimes on my 5D. Excellent lens, a lot bigger than the Canon 50mm 1.4.
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And it's for that reason i'm put off it!

I got the 1.8 as i prefered the size and weight with the 5D2, compared to the others. The Canon 1.4 is only a bit bigger, but the Sigma is a lot bigger with a LOT bigger and more expensive filters. :(
 
Thanks for all your opinions and Tim for the detail. :thumbs:

Nifkin do you have a link for Jacobs at that price, on their site I see it listed as £379.

I'm not convinced either way yet so I think I'll have a drive to Edinburgh this weekend and have a wander round Jessops and probably Jacobs to have a gander.

cheers
 
Looks like I have all of june to make my mind up then ;)
 
Tis a no-brainer really ;)
 
david1701 said:
that may be slightly linked to the age of focussing system as its reasonably responsive on a 1d3
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Possibly but it did the same thing on my 450D (the lens). In fact, it's better on the 1Ds than it was on the 450, probably because I have more focus points, and well, just a better AF system all round.

You say 'reasonably responsive on a 1D3', well, I would consider it reasonably responsive. Just not as responsive as I'd like.
 
to counter everyone else, my /canon 1.4 is brilliant.

Never had a problem with it and that includes dropping it (and my assistant dropping it last week)
 
Well I popped into Jacobs in edinburgh and they didn't have one for canon in stock, just my luck. A helpful young ozzy lady said I should try Jessops 2 doors down...:bang:
 
i was considering the sigma when i upgraded from my 50 1.8 to 1.4. eventually i went with canon simply because there was a lesser chance of me ending up with a lemon
 
macro_man said:
i was considering the sigma when i upgraded from my 50 1.8 to 1.4. eventually i went with canon simply because there was a lesser chance of me ending up with a lemon
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So to avoid the very slim chance of ending up with a lemon (which could of course be corrected on the off-chance), you go for the lesser lens? :suspect::lol:
 
I would love to see tests to prove which is really the inferior lens.
 
nifkin
i agree the sigma is a superior performer especially in IQ dept.
but at the end of the day there is always an element of personal preference
 
woof woof said:
Nice to see Sigma making a winner, even if I do own three Canon lenses and a Tamron, eh Trencheel? :o)
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yes indeed, dog.

I might see for myself what the fuss is about.
 
Davie said:
Thanks for all your opinions and Tim for the detail. :thumbs:

Nifkin do you have a link for Jacobs at that price, on their site I see it listed as £379.

I'm not convinced either way yet so I think I'll have a drive to Edinburgh this weekend and have a wander round Jessops and probably Jacobs to have a gander.

cheers
Click to expand...

I got one you are welcome to try.
I'm up the road on the A9 .... :thumbs:
 
Thanks for the offer Meeten, very much appreciated and I was considering it but lenslust has just got the better of me and I've bought one on the classified section :D

It has the receipt (jacobs) and isn't registered for the 3 year warranty yet so it's not too great a risk. Looking forward to getting it now.
 
I too used the Jacobs discount code and found the lens front focused on 40d and 450d. sigma adjusted and it's spot on. The IQ is stunning, zero flare at f1.4 and stunning bokeh.
Unmissable.
 
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