50mm f/1.4

[koffiejunkie]

And just as I decided I'm going to go down to my local camera store today and try out both the Canon and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lenses and buy one or the other, this shows up:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/05/ef-50-f1-4-ii-ef-50-f1-8-iii-cr2/

If Canon gives the 50mm f/1.4 a ring-type USM motor and rounded aperture blades, I'll buy it.

 

[James]

I have been put on 2-4 week waiting list now for my replacement, maybe they can get it confused in the factory and send me the new one

 

[koffiejunkie]

I have been put on 2-4 week waiting list now for my replacement, maybe they can get it confused in the factory and send me the new one

Unfortunately the rumour-to-available cycle is usually a wee bit longer

 

[James]

James: What do you think the chances are of a guy like me... ending up with that lens?
koffiejunkie : Well, James, that's difficult to say. I mean, they don't really...
James: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
koffiejunkie : Not good.
James: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
koffiejunkie : I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
James: So you're telling me there's a chance... *YEAH!*

 

[koffiejunkie]

LOL @ James

 

[bwana]

If Canon gives the 50mm f/1.4 a ring-type USM motor and rounded aperture blades, I'll buy it.

so as it stands you're not going to buy the current model, which is an awesome lens, based on a rumour of a prototype?

 

[koffiejunkie]

so as it stands you're not going to buy the current model, which is an awesome lens, based on a rumour of a prototype?

I didn't say that. I am already in doubt about the current model, as awesome as it is. It has the same shortcomings as my 50mm f/1.8 II

 

[bwana]

I didn't say that. I am already in doubt about the current model, as awesome as it is. It has the same shortcomings as my 50mm f/1.8 II

I'd love to hear what all those shortcomings are.

 

[koffiejunkie]

I'd love to hear what all those shortcomings are.

I like FTM and rounded aperture blades.

 

[bwana]

I like FTM and rounded aperture blades.

The canon 1.4 has ftm.

 

[koffiejunkie]

The canon 1.4 has ftm.

Ouch, my mistake on that. But the point is, I'm not going to replace a perfectly good 50mm lens unless I'm doing a major upgrade. As it stands right now the 50mm L and Sigma 50mm models are my two candidates. If Canon updates the 50mm f/1.4 with rounded blades, it would be a no-brainer. I just like being able to get nice round bokeh balls at f/8, and right now I can do that with the 24-105L.

 

[bwana]

Ouch, my mistake on that. But the point is, I'm not going to replace a perfectly good 50mm lens unless I'm doing a major upgrade. As it stands right now the 50mm L and Sigma 50mm models are my two candidates. If Canon updates the 50mm f/1.4 with rounded blades, it would be a no-brainer. I just like being able to get nice round bokeh balls at f/8, and right now I can do that with the 24-105L.

the 1.4 is leagues ahead of the 1.8 in every regard. If you gave it a try you'd realise that. The 1.2 however really doesn't offer that much more than the 1.4, at least not enough for me to justify the massive price difference. To each their own though.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Overall, I believe you. But ignoring the 2/3 stops extra, the build quality, and the better focus motor (since that's already a reason why I'm considering an upgrade), is what's left that much better? The 1.8 is sharp and the colour is good. But it's not a FL I use a lot on my crop body, and when I do it's seldom below f/2.5-ish, and not because it's not good wide open, but because I seldom want that thin DOF.

 

[Edduck]

I didn't say that. I am already in doubt about the current model, as awesome as it is. It has the same shortcomings as my 50mm f/1.8 II

I have heard too many tales about the 1.4 AF suddenly dying or not being accurate... I am curious to see if Canon will improve the body design of the 1.8II, I would really like a decent AF ring and DoF markings like the Nikon 50 1.8

 

[koffiejunkie]

Speaking of the Nikon lenses, I had a chance last night to play with a D300S and AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED. I still find the body slightly confusing to use, but the pictures came out nice...

 

[bwana]

Overall, I believe you. But ignoring the 2/3 stops extra, the build quality, and the better focus motor (since that's already a reason why I'm considering an upgrade), is what's left that much better? The 1.8 is sharp and the colour is good. But it's not a FL I use a lot on my crop body, and when I do it's seldom below f/2.5-ish, and not because it's not good wide open, but because I seldom want that thin DOF.

ignoring those all important benefits the 1.4 is sharper and a lot easier to use. My qn is though if 50mm is not a focal length that interests you why are you even interested in the expensive 1.2?

 

[koffiejunkie]

I'm not. I said it's a candidate, i.e. it checks all the boxes for me. But I'm not about to spend that much on a lens that I don't use often.

 

[bwana]

I'm not. I said it's a candidate, i.e. it checks all the boxes for me. But I'm not about to spend that much on a lens that I don't use often.

If you dont think you'd want to shoot wide open with a f/1.4 then why not look at the Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro?

 

[koffiejunkie]

If you dont think you'd want to shoot wide open with a f/1.4 then why not look at the Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro?

I said seldom, not never.

 

[bwana]

I said seldom, not never.

And when you do you'll still have the F/1.8.