Canon 50mm 1.4 or Sigma 50mm 1.4

Cliffsh

Cliffsh

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Cliff
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Can anyone give some first hand experience of these two lenses please, pros and cons, apart from the obvious price difference! thanks alot for any help
will be mounted on a 5dmk2....


cliff
 
Sigma can be hit or miss in terms of focus. I really don't like sigma smudgy corners either if you are that kind of person like me.
Canon is much more consistent, as long as you treat as f/2. f/1.4 is too fuzzy for my liking. And worst of all it is built like a toy and is the most unreliable canon lens. A permanently installed hood is a must.

I have Canon, and it does it's [limited] job. Would I change to Sigma? No. Would I get mk2 when it is out? Definitely. Rumours say that day is getting close (maybe an L with an appropriate price tag)
 
I have the canon and a friend has the sigma..... Looking at the images, the Sigma looks better!
 
I have a canon which has the common auto focus fault, I will be buying a sigma when one appears for sale.
 
Generally the Sigma gets better reviews for image quality but suffers from poor QA, i.e front focusing when close and rear focusing at distances, which can apparently sometimes be compensated for by micro adjustment. However many people who aren't happy with their copy send it of to Sigma for calibration after which they seem to be smitten with the results. I've recently ordered one myself and hopefully it'll turn up in the next couple of weeks, from the reviews fully expecting to send it off for calibration, but hey I may be lucky.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/664291@N24/
Has many images taken with the lens.
 
I have the Siggy f1.4 and it's at least match for my Canon f2.5 at every aperture that the Canon can match. I've never ever had the dreaded Sigma focus issues, with any Siggy lens, ever.

I've never read a single review that places the Canon ahead of the Siggy so buy with confidence and if you do get a duffer (Canon or Siggy) return it, simples.
 
The canon 1.4 or 2.5? Is that not a macro lens? We're comparing the 1.4 versions of both
 
thanks for the info guys, seems the only way is to get them both and test them out.
 
like said the sigma reviews are always better and its sharper wide open, some people have had duffers though. 2nd hand might be the key to getting a good one (review taken pics etc).
 
The Canon 1.4 has been my main lens for the last year, and I haven't experienced any of the focusing problems mentioned above and think it's a great bit of kit.

It's also got the best review of any Canon lens on WhatDigitalCamera
Canon 50mm 1.4

The Sigma gets great write ups too so hopefully whichever you pick will be a winner.
 
I've got the Canon and have had focus issues (sorted by Fixation under warranty) but I do like the look of the images from the Sigma, I also like that it's a 77mm filter thread, so the same size as the rest of my lenses. I don't think it's worth upgrading yet though.
 
If anyone has a Sigma 1.4 in Canon fit available Ive got a wanted up. thanks
 
To add my 2p worth.

I've had both 50 f1.4s and also the Canon 50f1.2L for comparison.

I sold both the Canons and kept the Sigma.

The Sigma is MUCH better made than the Canon f1.4 and sharper up to f2.8 or thereabouts. Both give good colours/contrast in my experience and focus similarly quickly.

I did like the compact size of the Canon f1.4 though. IMHO, the Sigma is as good, or better, in every other resect though.
 
EOS_JD said:
The canon 1.4 or 2.5? Is that not a macro lens? We're comparing the 1.4 versions of both
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I mentioned the f2.5 as some say it's Canon's best 50 (and therefore better than the f1.4) and maybe even their sharpest lens. If any of that is true it's impressive that the Siggy at least matches it (and possibly betters it) at every aperture the Canon can match.

Just added for extra info. :D
 
Ordered the Sigma today, seems nobody wants to sell used, says something I guess. Cant wait.
 
Interesting how a third party can make a lens better than the camera manufacturer! Always makes me question what goes in to building a lens that two similar lenses can have such a difference in image quality. Let us know how you get on with the Sigma!
 
Got my lens today, got major back focus, when shooting on a tape measure its about an 1" so a lot. Really disappointed, but I shouldve known better than to buy another Sigma. Bokeh is stunning though.
 
send it off to get it calibrated with to your camera body?

sigma do this free of charge I believe and optimise it for you
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
send it off to get it calibrated with to your camera body?

sigma do this free of charge I believe and optimise it for you
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Rather not, my other lenses are pin sharp and focus well so theres no way Im doing that and risking them being out. Ill send it back for a replacement, if thats also out Ill get a refund.

Have read this lens suffers from BF/FF but thought Id give it a go as it really does produce stunning images when you have a good copy. Just wish Sigmas quality control was better as its really put me off touching anything from them again.

Thats after owning 2 poorly focusing 70-200s, the 3rd was calibrated and pretty good, 3 10-20, 1 was good though and now a bum 50 on various mounts. Never had an issue with Tamron or main manufacturers though (touch wood!)

Gutted.
 
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sitbh said:
Interesting how a third party can make a lens better than the camera manufacturer! Always makes me question what goes in to building a lens that two similar lenses can have such a difference in image quality. Let us know how you get on with the Sigma!
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Take in account that the Canon 50 f1.4 was released in June 1993. Its almost 19 years old design.
 
twist said:
Got my lens today, got major back focus, when shooting on a tape measure its about an 1" so a lot. Really disappointed, but I shouldve known better than to buy another Sigma. Bokeh is stunning though.
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I am sorry about that but I did mention right at the beginning about the risks buying this lens. You may find that shooting into infinity it starts frontfocusing that's how unpredictable it can be.

sitbh said:
Interesting how a third party can make a lens better than the camera manufacturer! Always makes me question what goes in to building a lens that two similar lenses can have such a difference in image quality. Let us know how you get on with the Sigma!
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... or can they? if it is unstable / unpredictable it is not better. Buying a lens should not be a lottery. I'll keep the canon which delivers consistently even if it is not optically perfect at 1.4.
 
My canon 85mm 1.8 USM kills this lens in sharpness wide open, AF accuracy and speed.
 
twist said:
Rather not, my other lenses are pin sharp and focus well so theres no way Im doing that and risking them being out. Ill send it back for a replacement, if thats also out Ill get a refund.

Have read this lens suffers from BF/FF but thought Id give it a go as it really does produce stunning images when you have a good copy. Just wish Sigmas quality control was better as its really put me off touching anything from them again.

Thats after owning 2 poorly focusing 70-200s, the 3rd was calibrated and pretty good, 3 10-20, 1 was good though and now a bum 50 on various mounts. Never had an issue with Tamron or main manufacturers though (touch wood!)

Gutted.
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They won't adjust your camera, only the lens to match it perfectly, so sending it off couldn't result in other being out.

If calibration on the 70-200 wasn't an issue why not try it again?
 
I briefly had the F1.4 canon and replaced it with the F1.8. I thought the pics at f1.8 weren't much better using the f1.4lens so why pay the extra.
 
daugirdas said:
I am sorry about that but I did mention right at the beginning about the risks buying this lens. You may find that shooting into infinity it starts frontfocusing that's how unpredictable it can be.

... or can they? if it is unstable / unpredictable it is not better. Buying a lens should not be a lottery. I'll keep the canon which delivers consistently even if it is not optically perfect at 1.4.
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Looking at a well know lens hire companies report on the net it's interesting to note that their highest failure rate is not with a Siggy or Tamron but with a Canon lens, and it's not a budget lens either, and yet you don't see people on forums consistantly warning others not to buy it.

My point is that all this Siggy phobia is a little over done IMVHO. It's disappointing to receive a duffer although I wouldn't know as I've never had any optical issues with any lens I've ever bought but if I wanted a lens and did get a duffer I'd either return it for another or get the original sorted :D Simples :D and then with the Siggy 50mm f1.4 you'll end up with arguably the best mass market 50mm f1.4 :D
 
In my experience theres receiving a duffer then theres receiving a lot of duffers in a row which prove there is an issue with QC. I wouldve thought the most hired lenses would not be 3rd party. A lot of people have issue with Sigma lenses and it is something to bear in mind when spending your money so warning people who expect to get a perfect lens on their first attempt is justified.

Anyway, I love the images this lens produces so have decided to go with a recalibration but am sending my body at the same time to Sigma.
 
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It amazes me when reading reviews on lenses how many people seem to have issues with them.. Is quality control really that much of an issue with the manufacturers? When spending £££'s the least I expect is for the product to work correctly.
 
To add, the new smooth Sigma coating is really nice. Much better than previous sparkly rougher version.
 
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ltchippy said:
It amazes me when reading reviews on lenses how many people seem to have issues with them.. Is quality control really that much of an issue with the manufacturers? When spending £££'s the least I expect is for the product to work correctly.
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Yes, at least Sigma and to a SLIGHTLY lesser extent Canon have flooded the market with less than acceptable products, quoting their own tolerance levels.
Apparently even L glass is 'cheap' (not to me or most on here) - just have a look at zeiss compact cine primes. I'd love to get my hands on them, but to be fair, I'll first need to buy a house.
 
Finally picked up a Siggy 50mm today. Had a couple of test shots great bokeh, included a candle in shot to highlght this:

MG_2117-TEST.jpg


Focusing I noticed was a bit, how should I say, hit and miss:shrug:. Getting really close to subject i.e a couple of feet tends to front focus move back even a few inches, focus is spot on. Haven't tried distance yet. Doesn't seem to like the IR assist from my speedlight either, apparently causing front focus issues also. That was all at 1.4 which should be too much of an issue as most forums and info state that it suffers from focus shift. So I'll stop down to f2 and see if the focus shifts when the aperture blades close up.

The manual focusing ring isn't particuarly smooth (compared to L), not aiding focusing when close and wide open.
 
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Neil,

that is EXACTLY the same problem i had with mine - i started a thread on it just before christmas.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=373718

when i had my camera on a tripod, i was able to calibrate it to focus consistently, but the closer you moved to the subject the more it seemed to front focus, but that was with the lens wide open - the focus shift seems to happen even wide open and not stopped down. i think stopping down actually conceals the extent of the problem as by f2/f2.8, the lens is consistently sharp so the dof seems to cover the focus shift.

i'm not sure if what we are seeing is inherent in the design or whether the lens is truly defective.
 
You have to keep in mind that there's a minimum focus distance in the lens spec and I'll bet that it's not 100% gospel.
 
Same issues here, 9 out of 10 are FF. Guessing the other one is in focus either due to distance or rocking a little.
 
I got a sigma one for xmas and it is FF and a bit soft. With -8 ish microadjust it improves a lot but it is still soft. Both with real world samples and test targets with camrea on tripod. The more you stop it down the sharper it gets.

I have the option of a full refund but I think I my try and get it recalibrated to my body a/w turnaround time.
 
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