How bad is the Canon 50mm f/1.4 really?

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Carl Hall

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I'm off on holiday next week and really want to take a nifty fifty with me instead of a zoom lens, as I find I tend to take more interesting and creative photos when I'm forced to use one focal length which isn't too wide. I don't currently own a 50mm lens (I have 17-40, 24-70, 120-300 and 105) and I've got a hankering for a 50mm f/1.4 as I'm a sucker for shallow DoF photos.

I've been reading a lot of threads on here, and it seems like the general consensus is that the Sigma Art is hugely better in every way than the Canon, but it's like two to three times the price so I guess that's expected. Canon are doing cashback at the moment so you can get their 50mm 1.4 for £190 or so.

My question is, is the Canon really a bad lens, or is the Sigma just really, really good?
 
I don't think I ever read a review which placed the Canon f1.4 ahead of the non Art Sigma f1.4 so maybe add that (the old non Art Sigma 50mm f1.4) to your list of possible buys. I had one and though it was a very good lens.
 
I have bought Canon 50 1.4 from here recently and used to have 50 1.8 mk 1 years ago. The 1.4 is very small and lightweight compared to 35 1.4. Its quite sharp wide open in the centr of the picture focusea very fast. I think its worth the money if you buy it used but since i got 35l 1.4 it doesnt get used as much. 50 1.4 has a lot of CA wide open which can be corrected. If you are on a budged and need extra half a stop then 50 1.4 is good. Of you can spend more then Sigma art is the winner.
 
IMHO the order of preference would be:
Sigma 1.4 Art
Sigma 1.4
Canon 1.8 STM
Canon 1.4
Of course if money was no problem the Canon 1.2 and Zeiss would be in the mix too. The Canon 1.4 isn't optically better than the 1.8, it's just almost a stop faster, with a much better focus motor than the old 1.8 and nicer bokeh. But the new stm lens has the best focus motor of them and a new improved diaphragm. It is IMHO a no brainer if you can't run to the Sigma Art.
 
Phil V said:
IMHO the order of preference would be:
Sigma 1.4 Art
Sigma 1.4
Canon 1.8 STM
Canon 1.4
Of course if money was no problem the Canon 1.2 and Zeiss would be in the mix too. The Canon 1.4 isn't optically better than the 1.8, it's just almost a stop faster, with a much better focus motor than the old 1.8 and nicer bokeh. But the new stm lens has the best focus motor of them and a new improved diaphragm. It is IMHO a no brainer if you can't run to the Sigma Art.
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Before i went for canon 1.4 i tried 1.8 stm in shop. And its really much better than the old version but I have noticed if focuses just a bit less quicker than 1.4. Its also feels less solid but with modern plastic. For the price you cant beat 501.8 stm..
 
The other thing about the Sigma is that whilst optically fantastic it is really big and heavy which may be a consideration if travelling.

Not that I know much about Canon but given your usage I would probably go with the 1.8STM

This happened with Nikon, for ages their best 50mm was their AFS 50mm f/1.4 and then they revised the 1.8 version and it was better in pretty much every way except for the two thirds of a stop and is also cheaper.

You don't say what camera you have but if it's full frame then I found I barely ever used f/1.4 on my full frame cameras as DoF was just too thin. It is far too tempting to use wide open for some crazy shallow DoF but 9 times out of 10 the image would have been better with a deeper DoF anyway (but you just can't help yourself), it took me a while to learn that lesson.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone :) I'd looked at the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (non Art), but had originally discounted them.

Not sure why but the STM didn't appeal to me, perhaps because it's so darn cheap that I thought it couldn't be that great. I'm not a lens snob or anything, but putting an £87 lens on a full frame 5DmkII just seemed a bit odd. But, the end image is all I really care about, so I've ordered the STM based on the advice I've received here :) Should be here tomorrow, can't wait to get on and use it :D
 
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Nawty said:
The other thing about the Sigma is that whilst optically fantastic it is really big and heavy which may be a consideration if travelling.

Not that I know much about Canon but given your usage I would probably go with the 1.8STM

This happened with Nikon, for ages their best 50mm was their AFS 50mm f/1.4 and then they revised the 1.8 version and it was better in pretty much every way except for the two thirds of a stop and is also cheaper.

You don't say what camera you have but if it's full frame then I found I barely ever used f/1.4 on my full frame cameras as DoF was just too thin. It is far too tempting to use wide open for some crazy shallow DoF but 9 times out of 10 the image would have been better with a deeper DoF anyway (but you just can't help yourself), it took me a while to learn that lesson.
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I do agree with your last point definitely! I think we tend to use features of cameras and lenses just because they are there, rather than when they are appropriate.

I use medium format film (6x6 and 6x4.5) more than I use digital at the moment, and the main reason is because I really love the incredibly shallow DoF, but I think I tend to shoot wide open more than I really should do for the subjects
 
petersmart said:
In fact the 50mm f1.8 (Nifty Fifty) is, IMO, the best value lens Canon make.

I have used one for the last 8-9 years and now use it on my Canon 1Ds MKII with no problems at all.

It's also great for macro when coupled with extension tubes:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/sets/72157625975281497
.
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I used the mkII 50 1.8 but sold it a couple of years ago. I never used it with extension tubes though, but looking at your photos I really wish that I had!
 
landwomble said:
What kind of tubes are needed for that? I fancy having a go...
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I use a set of Kenko Auto tubes which I bought on here about 3 years ago now for about £75.00- an excellent buy.

Fitted to the Canon 50mm f1.8 you can get a better than 1:1 magnification ration on the sensor.

I have also used them on my Canon 70-300mm L lens so as to get large close-ups of various insects without the need to get too close and frighten them off.

As far as macro goes I consider the tubes really indispensable and incredibly versatile.

Some of these were taken with that combo:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/sets/72157623715955928
..
 
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