50mm f1.4.....Camera brand or third party???

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Carole
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I'm going to invest in a 50mm f1.4 (and am giving hubby the f1.8 that I currently own) and am wondering what people think of the third party lens options as opposed to me sticking with Canon. I naturally want the best lens of this kind that there is .....and Nikon has to stay out of the equation......so any advice gratefully received.

Thanks.
 
i think people prefer branded glass than third party glass because the quality is better and the autofocus and everything is better with branded because its designed for that camera brand and not edited for different camera brands like third party.
 
Canon has really too many issues with all of their 50's. Get Sigma 1.4 *if* you can find a good reliable copy in a high street shop.

Canon 50mm f/1.4 is really poorly built and very easy to break, soft wide open, old spherical design. 50mm f/1.2 is extremely expensive and focus shifts with aperture. Sigma has focusing problems.

Adapted Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 or Leica R 50mm f/2.0 may be the best optically, but they are MF and stop down metering is required (I think you'd use them wide open though).

That is how I ended up with 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
 
You'll probably find the Sigma 50mm is about £50-60 more expensive than the Canon and it enjoys great reviews!
 
I can only speak of what I've actually used, but even then in some cases I've not owned the lenses in question for a long time. Also, for what it's worth I'm referring to Nikon versions on both crop and FF sensors.

I much prefer the Zeiss 50 2.0 rather than the 1.4 - due to both copies of the 1.4 I've tried proving to be quite soft wide open. The 1.4 is one of the last I'd consider.
The Voigtländer is nice, although that's 58mm. I thought it was a keeper but eventually sold it.
The 'new' Nikkor 50 is one I've only tried very briefly. I found it tends to vignette when wide open on FF.
The old Nikkor 50 - never tried it. At least, not that I remember.
The Nikkor 50 1.8 is a bargain. I don't care that it's relatively cheap - I leave my snobbery at the door.
The one I settled on (and the reason I sold the Voigtländer) is the Sigma 1.4 There have been reports that it can be difficult to find good copies of it, but mine is fine and another photographer friend (Canon user) hasn't had problems with his. One thing I'll say against the Sigma is that it appears sharper towards the centre compared to others. Then again, I like that. It's not a great comparison, but I understand when some who use it suggest it's similar to the Nikkor 85 1.4
 
Personally i would go with canon BUT go for the 85mm f1.8. I have seen some very nice image examples from the 50mm f1.4 but also some pretty poor ones. The 85mm images i have seen are superb. I really want the 85mm but funds etc :( so i'm looking out for an old manual focus 85mm f1.8 of similar quality.

I use the lens gallery to compare lenses which can be found here> http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=107

Just find the lenses you want to see examples of and droooool!!! :D I'm not saying the 50mm f1.4 is at all bad as it isn't, it's still a stunning lens especially for the money but i just think the 85mm is better and they are the same price. Good luck though and post up some examples when you have bought the lens.
 
No problem with Canon 50mm1.4 here. Good build imo, robust enough for me, and more than sharp enough [wide open] for me.
 
Another vote for the Zeiss f2,0
robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1582&PT_ID=287
I think most people maybe want 1,4 or 1,8 because it's a 50 but the Cosina built Zeiss 2,0 can be really excellent. The 1,4 version of the Zeiss is about as soft as I've seen wide open. Do like the Sigma on Nikon though so maybe if you can get to try one for a while it'll be an option for you on Canon.
 
Has anyone had experience with Canon 50mm 1.2 FD mount? would this be ok for occastional use and would it give better results over my mk1 nifty fifty.
 
Not familiar with all the options across all the marques but I've tried the Sigma on Canon full frame and was surprised to find I prefer it to anything else including some older 50s I've used on Nikon. That said a lot to me.
 
AndyWest said:
Personally i would go with canon BUT go for the 85mm f1.8. I have seen some very nice image examples from the 50mm f1.4 but also some pretty poor ones. The 85mm images i have seen are superb. I really want the 85mm but funds etc :( so i'm looking out for an old manual focus 85mm f1.8 of similar quality.

I use the lens gallery to compare lenses which can be found here> http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=107

Just find the lenses you want to see examples of and droooool!!! :D I'm not saying the 50mm f1.4 is at all bad as it isn't, it's still a stunning lens especially for the money but i just think the 85mm is better and they are the same price. Good luck though and post up some examples when you have bought the lens.
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Thanks Andy, but 85mm is too narrow for what I need it for.


sapper696 said:
Has anyone had experience with Canon 50mm 1.2 FD mount? would this be ok for occastional use and would it give better results over my mk1 nifty fifty.
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Can you tell me what "FD mount" means, please? I've never heard this expression before.
 
Sigma f1.4 is a big ass, heavy lens. The Canon f1.4 is a very light and compact lens. The Sigma is likely a sturdier lens but I am happy with the Canon, I don't go round hammering nails with it. Quality is amazing as well, I shoot with a couple of Sigma lenses then when I pop the Canon on the difference in quality is noticeably better.
 
Well, I have the canon 1.4 and I'm getting fed up with the thing, it WAS my favourite lens until yesterday when the auto focus decided it didn't want to work :( I'm not sure how common focus problems are with this lens, I'm just doing my research now :D
 
I had a Nifty Fifty which was ok. But slow noisey focusing, build quality and lack of sharpness in the low f stops made me sell.

Now I own a MF Pentax Takumar 50mm f/1.4 and 55mm f/1.8, both of which run rings around the Nifty IME.
 
2Thumbs said:
I had a Nifty Fifty which was ok. But slow noisey focusing, build quality and lack of sharpness in the low f stops made me sell.

Now I own a MF Pentax Takumar 50mm f/1.4 and 55mm f/1.8, both of which run rings around the Nifty IME.
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Nice one!!! I have:

Super Takumar 28mm f3.5
Super multi Coated Takumar 35mm f2
Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8
Super Takumar 55mm f2

£35 was the most i paid for one of these lenses.

I'm now on the look out for a Super Takumar 85mm f1.8. I also have a few Helios lenses which have been mega cheap 58mm F2 =£8 and 135mm f2.8 = £16.01 and have proven to be very good lenses indeed! I also have an Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.4 but not used that much.
 
Ah, it's good to see another Takumar fan in a world of AF lenses. :D

My 55mm f/1.8 cost me £9 posted. Cosmetically it's a bit worse for wear and didn't have case etc. But mechanically and optically it's perfect.

The 1.4 cost me.... a lot lol (in comparison). But it's minty fresh and I love it.

Good luck finding an 85mm 1.8 for less than £35 though. ;) Last one I seen on eBay went for around £180.
 
I think dpreview have tested most of the 50mm 1.4 lenses inc the sigma.
 
My 55mm f/1.8 cost me £9 posted
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You jammy git!!! :D :D

It's a toss up between a Canon 85mm f1.8 AF lens (new) or the 85mm Tak. Really don't know which way to go :(
 
The Canon is meant to be superb.

The Tak', on the other hand, is meant to be magnificant.

It all depends on if you get excellent results with your current MF lenses as it does need a certain 'touch' on digital viewfinders.

My current list is:

S-M-C Takumar 28mm f/3.5
S-M-C Takumar 50mm f/1.4
Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8
Late Super (First lens produced with S-M-C coating) Takumar 70-150mm f/4.5
S-M-C Takumar 200mm F/4

Sorry for the light hijack photostar. Here's a pic of my one'point'four to make up for it? :)

3653092387_b500c7b28d_o.jpg
 
oooooooh that's yummy!! One to add to my collection!

There is a 85mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4 for sale together on the bay but they are £420 for the pair!!!! There's a 50mm f1.4 on it's own for £120, tempting.....

Yes, sorry for the hijack photostar but we are trying to convert you to the dark side!! :D
 
Are all of the Takumar lenses manual focus on canon bodies? and if so, any way to achieve AF?
 
I have the 50mm 1.4 after upgrading from the 1.8
I rather like it and wouldn't write it off for build quality
I did have one fail on me...only found out when I went to a gig :( but I did remember dropping my bag from a small wall about a week earlier, so I can't grumble about that too much
I'd go for L glass on this but frankly the 1.4 is a great piece of kit and very sharp I think

not had a chance with the sigma alternative and don't have the patience or time to shoot manual focus with a nice old skool lens I'm afraid
 
Merovingian said:
Basically, mounting system for Canon SLR[FD], not DSLR[EF]
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Close, but no cigar ...

First there was FD - the lens fitting for Canon before autofocus.

Then there was AC (only 3 lenses, used on the T80 (and maybe T90) - introduced mid 80s). AC was Canon's entry to autofocus.

Then came the EF fitting (late 80s) that was the fitting for autofocus lenses - designed primarily for the EOS range of cameras (that started out as film SLRs and now dSLRs). My EOS 50e has an EF fitting that accepts all my modern lenses. Equally my digital Canon accepts my old EF lenses.

You can still buy FD lenses (some of which are of exceptional quality) and purchase a separate adaptor to make the FD lens work on an EOS camera. You still have to focus manually, but some of these adaptors have a focus confirm mechanism that confirms when you have focused. For most adaptors, you do not have all exposure methods.

Hope this helps ...
 
I really can't understand why people buy Canon dSLR for their extensive collection of Pentax lenses (sometimes exclusively) :shrug:. Pentax dSLR like K20D or K7D would be a better deal really with aperture control, in body IS and maybe even AF :rules:
 
sdb123 said:
Yes.



No.

:)
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im not that good with MF yet, really rely on AF. Are their any other lens out there that I could try that are compatible with Canon and have AF other than the 3 common makes (Canon, Tamron, Sigma)

Thanks!
 
hsuffyan said:
im not that good with MF yet, really rely on AF. Are their any other lens out there that I could try that are compatible with Canon and have AF other than the 3 common makes (Canon, Tamron, Sigma)

Thanks!
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Tokina also make good AF lenses (probably better than Sigma and Tamron), but I don't think they have fast primes.
 
daugirdas said:
I really can't understand why people buy Canon dSLR for their extensive collection of Pentax lenses (sometimes exclusively) :shrug:. Pentax dSLR like K20D or K7D would be a better deal really with aperture control, in body IS and maybe even AF :rules:
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For me it was the fact that i had the Canon 40d before i found out about old lenses. The lenses are superb quality and cost very little! Value for money is impossible to resist.

I was SO close to buying a 50mm f1.4 but have bought 8 MF lenses for the same price!
 
AndyWest said:
For me it was the fact that i had the Canon 40d before i found out about old lenses. The lenses are superb quality and cost very little! Value for money is impossible to resist.

I was SO close to buying a 50mm f1.4 but have bought 8 MF lenses for the same price!
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I've gone a leeetle bit mental over this too and am currently watching about 40 lenses on fleabay. God, I hope the wife doesn't find out!
 
daugirdas said:
I really can't understand why people buy Canon dSLR for their extensive collection of Pentax lenses (sometimes exclusively) :shrug:. Pentax dSLR like K20D or K7D would be a better deal really with aperture control, in body IS and maybe even AF :rules:
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Most because of how the EOS system works in terms of the distance of sensor from the back element of the lens.

It allows nearly all types of MF mounts (Nikon, Contax, m42, Pentax bayonet, Olympus) to be used with it without requiring an optical element in the adapter so you get no drop in IQ.

Imagine the look of disgust on purest's faces when they see you using an AIS Nikkor lens on an EOS body. It's great. :D
 
2Thumbs said:
Most because of how the EOS system works in terms of the distance of sensor from the back element of the lens.

It allows nearly all types of MF mounts (Nikon, Contax, m42, Pentax bayonet, Olympus) to be used with it without requiring an optical element in the adapter so you get no drop in IQ.

Imagine the look of disgust on purest's faces when they see you using an AIS Nikkor lens on an EOS body. It's great. :D
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And it is this versatility that has my ebay stacked up with lenses from every manufacturer under the sun. ;)
 
sdb123 said:
Have you used one or is this something else you've read? :suspect:
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I've got no reason to challenge the integrity of the OP but on the point of sharp copy/soft copy why would I want to buy a lens from a manaufacturer with loose/variable quality control? What kind of recommendation is that for a long and happy relationship?

My EF 50mm f/1.8 mk1 has been just fine. I've just acquired a new EF f/1.4 which is certainly soft at 1.4 but sharp after that. I was going to sell the mk1 nifty but now I'm worried that my f/1.4 is going to fall apart as soon as I pick it up!:bonk:
 
tikkathreebarrel said:
I've got no reason to challenge the integrity of the OP but on the point of sharp copy/soft copy why would I want to buy a lens from a manaufacturer with loose/variable quality control? What kind of recommendation is that for a long and happy relationship?
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All manufacturers produce imperfect lenses (sure Sigma have got more than most), if you think that Canon or Nikon never produce a lemon you'd be mistaken.

FWIW I have now owned seven Sigma lenses (six primes and one zoom) and never had any build or focus issues with any of them. I may have been lucky however I'd sooner try it and give it back than not try it and think "what if?".
 
Anyone got a comparrison between the canon and sigma? Seems a few people are having or have ad problems with the canon 1.4's reliability.
 
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