What is the best 50mm lens

Without a doubt the new sigma.

For another 3k you'll get a zeiss Otus but compare test charts yourself it's no better (maybe fractionally when wide open) but lacks autofocus.
 
If you want the absolute best image quality the Zeiss Otus, if you want the fastest the Canin 50mm f/1.0 and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART if you want the best autofocus 50mm.
 
Laudrup said:
If you want the absolute best image quality the Zeiss Otus, if you want the fastest the Canin 50mm f/1.0 and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART if you want the best autofocus 50mm.
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I saw some pictures of that Canon f/1.0 recently. I had never heard of it till then. Wasn't that impressed but couldn't tell if it was the lens or user error.
 
Stevie- said:
I saw some pictures of that Canon f/1.0 recently. I had never heard of it till then. Wasn't that impressed but couldn't tell if it was the lens or user error.
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Might have been a combination of both. It probably belongs to more collectors than people who actually shoot it. If it was me I'd look at a Canon 50mm f/1.2L or the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART.

There is a sample thread here of the 50 f/1:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=621722&highlight=F/1

Skip to the end as some have broken image links.
 
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shaylou said:
No I do not have that lens yet. I see a lot of people suggesting the sigma but from what I read it is not even close to as good as the 1.2 Canon. I posted this because I was thinking hard on buying the 1.2 but want to make sure I am not over looking anything else.
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The new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART is better, are you sure you're not looking at the older Sigma 50mm f/1.4 vs the Canon?
 
Laudrup said:
The new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART is better, are you sure you're not looking at the older Sigma 50mm f/1.4 vs the Canon?
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I can only assume this is the case. Although you never know what ol ken Rockwell has been saying. I think he was the only person to slate the 35.
 
Even the old Sigma 50mm f1.4 was very well regarded. As I remember DPR said it essentially redefines its class. That was back in 2008.
 
No idea what you are reading, but I haven't yet seen a bad report of the new sigma, or many of the old for that matter.

The new sigma is as good, if not better than any 50mm available except for perhaps the very expensive Zeiss one.

It seems you are set on the canon regardless, so you may as well just buy that.


shaylou said:
No I do not have that lens yet. I see a lot of people suggesting the sigma but from what I read it is not even close to as good as the 1.2 Canon. I posted this because I was thinking hard on buying the 1.2 but want to make sure I am not over looking anything else.
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TCR4x4 said:
No idea what you are reading, but I haven't yet seen a bad report of the new sigma, or many of the old for that matter.

The new sigma is as good, if not better than any 50mm available except for perhaps the very expensive Zeiss one.

It seems you are set on the canon regardless, so you may as well just buy that.
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According to some easily found reviews it's actually better than the Zeiss in some ways and as the Zeiss is MF I think it's possible to say that the new Sigma 50mm Art is arguably the best AF 50mm available... unless you prefer the particular look another 50 gives you for some reason.
 
TCR4x4 said:
No idea what you are reading, but I haven't yet seen a bad report of the new sigma, or many of the old for that matter.

The new sigma is as good, if not better than any 50mm available except for perhaps the very expensive Zeiss one.

It seems you are set on the canon regardless, so you may as well just buy that.
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You shouldn't assume, I always look at all options first. I just hear so many bad things about this company's quality control and even this lens. There are a lot of good reviews for the lens but they are too good in my opinion, like they are trying to sell you something rather than give you an accurate description of it's performance.. I spoke to a owners of this lens and he said the lens doesn't even get sharp till it stopped down and even then the edges never get sharp. He also complained about the af (nothing new with sigma). His description was very close to the one below. I have the opportunity to buy the Canon 1.2 for the same price as the Sigma and I can't afford or want a manual focus Zeiss lens. I respect the opinion of the forum so I am listening to what everyone has to say.
Thanks.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-50mm-f-1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx
 
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Sigma 1.4A

AhQYfwc.jpg
 
You asked "what is the best 50mm lens for a Canon full frame. Price is not relevant."

but then said

"I have the opportunity to buy the Canon 1.2 for the same price as the Sigma and I can't afford or want a manual focus Zeiss lens"

So perhaps you'd like to be a bit more specific about budget, purpose etc?
 
ScottM70 said:
You asked "what is the best 50mm lens for a Canon full frame. Price is not relevant."

but then said

"I have the opportunity to buy the Canon 1.2 for the same price as the Sigma and I can't afford or want a manual focus Zeiss lens"

So perhaps you'd like to be a bit more specific about budget, purpose etc?
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I made the post before I new there was a 50mm with such an outrageous price tag out there. I thought that they were all 2000 and under for the most part. I also find that when you include price on a question like this it turns into a "is it worth it" question really quickly and that is not the info i'm looking for. I hope that clarifies.
 
Where did you find a negative review of the 50mm Art? I can't see any floating about? I know Matt Granger didn't like the 35 art but all other reviews are glowing.

Sounds like you want the L, or at least feel more comfortable with buying it, so do that. It is a very good lens.

I think the good reviews for the Sigma come from so many people that they can't all be paid adverts like you seem to be suggesting. I know Raymond loves his.
 
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I've owned many sigma lenses and they have all been fantastic bar the very old 24-70 I had that was a little soft. I've had the old 50mm 1.4, the 85mm 1.4, 70-200 f2.8, 105mm macro, 150mm macro, 12–24mm and probably more I've forgotten.

Sure, some older sigma lenses had some issues, but so do nikon and canon. One of my top end nikon lenses had a major manufacturing defect and almost wrote off the lens and my camera!

Sigma have massively stepped up the game with the new art lenses and to disregard them just because of old rumours would be very silly.
 
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they have changed, the new head guy there doesnt care about growing the company, but he wants to impress people, thats their goal now
 
sigma art lenses are really good value for money and I think are soon going to be the preferred lens over zeiss
 
Raymond Lin said:
Sigma 1.4A

AhQYfwc.jpg
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Even if the Sigma is better - some people will crave the L Canon to the point that they will even buy it knowing it's inferior.

Good to see Sigma giving people a red ring to make them feel better about themselves lol
 
tray271 said:
sigma art lenses are really good value for money and I think are soon going to be the preferred lens over zeiss
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The Zeiss is still the ultimate in IQ which will still appeal. The Sigma looks like it is telling Canon and Nikon to raise their game although the need for reverse engineering in third party lenses will always mean Canon and Nikon have an advantage over Sigma.
 
dinners said:
Even if the Sigma is better - some people will crave the L Canon to the point that they will even buy it knowing it's inferior.

Good to see Sigma giving people a red ring to make them feel better about themselves lol
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I don't crave the red ring, I care more about the final results so just get whatever is best bang for buck really, besides, I have enough red rings :p

nnhQiFx.jpg
 
Raymond Lin said:
I don't crave the red ring, I care more about the final results so just get whatever is best bang for buck really, besides, I have enough red rings :p
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Nice

"He forged the One Ring with the purpose of controlling the thoughts and deeds of those who wore the lesser Rings" :cool:
 
dinners said:
Even if the Sigma is better - some people will crave the L Canon to the point that they will even buy it knowing it's inferior.

Good to see Sigma giving people a red ring to make them feel better about themselves lol
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If you buy canon L prime - buy 85mm not 50.
 
Back to the original OP, I had no budget too, well except the Zeiss, I ruled that out because manual focus on this kind of lens is stuck in the 50's, on a wide angle for landscape I understand, for a 50mm and more importantly for what I need it for, AF is critical.

So I ended up with the Sigma and have absolutely no regret, it is built nicer than some of the Canon Ls too.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Back to the original OP, I had no budget too, well except the Zeiss, I ruled that out because manual focus on this kind of lens is stuck in the 50's, on a wide angle for landscape I understand, for a 50mm and more importantly for what I need it for, AF is critical.

So I ended up with the Sigma and have absolutely no regret, it is built nicer than some of the Canon Ls too.
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Which Canon L is it built nicer than?


Sent from my iPhone using Talk Photography Forums
 
I rented the canon 1.2 this weekend and realize the trouble I had with it the first time I rented it was do to the new body I had bought. I got my 5DIII figured out now and using this 50 has been great. It's really an awesome lens. The place I rented it from has the sigma 50 as well so I will rent it soon and see how I like it. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Talk Photography Forums
 
shaylou said:
Which Canon L is it built nicer than?


Sent from my iPhone using Talk Photography Forums
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I would say the 35L mostly, it is the oldest of the Canon L currently and it shows. The plastic barrel actually feels plastic whereas the plastic on the 100L does not give off that impression immediately.
 
is their an adaptor which allows you to use Nikon or Leica lens on a Canon?
 
If you head over to lens rentals, Roger has done a test of the best 50's out there and included the sigma Art and the Zeiss Otus.

What surprised me was that the Sigma Art was better than the Zeiss Otus from F2.

What really surprised me was how 'poor' (and all things are relative!) the Sigma Art lens is when you compare it to a lens beginning with 'L' and I don't mean Canon L.
 
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