Canon 50mm f/1.4 vs. 50mm f/1.2
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- smielke0
Get the 5D if you can as long as you have a good Widangle. Only then will you appreciate the full frame. I have the 50mm 1.4 and love it. Only reason I'd get the 1.2 is if I needed to do shots with very very little light. I don't so I just use the 1.4. The DOF on the 1.4 is more than enough and almost too much on some shots.
- antoine_1010
i have the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens, which is the cheap one, and it takes great pics do a search on flickr for some examples
- chl0
For the record: I have the 50mm f/1.2, and I've shot a bunch with a friend's 50mm f/1.4. Here's my take in a nutshell.
The f/1.2 lens is a better lens. It's not a $1000 better lens.
So basically, look at your checking account and make the call. Compared to the very affordable 50mm f/1.4, the pro L lens, in this case, I can't honestly say is worth the cash. I can however honestly say that it is a better lens. It's just not *that* much better.
- ok_not_ok0
- DON'T DO IT!dibec
- nice camera.jaylarson
- very very nice camerasikma
- I'm wet.omgitsacamera
- looks way cooler than the eoserikjonsson
- D700 is a very very good camera. on my wishlist as well. it's like a smaller D3.janne76
- dibec0
5D not worth it.
You are buying old technology. Canon is putting a nice price on these cameras for a reason, to get rid of stock. The New 3D, 5D Mark II, 7D, or whatever they call will be one hot camera. Of course price is always a fighting point, the 5D is a beautiful camera, but it is old. Full frame or not, there have been a lot of changes since the 2005 RELEASE, let me say that again 2005 RELEASE.
If you are looking for something for a bargain go for it, or you can also come over and I will watch you put Ben's in the toilet and I will flush it for you.
- sikma0
I'd wait for the 7D to be released and then buy a 5D when the price drops.
The 5D is an amazing camera. Unless your making enlargments around 20x24 or are VERY specific technical reason I HIGHLY doubt you will see a big difference between these two cameras.
- slappy0
Well I just bought a 5D, thats free's up some coin for a 70-200 f2.8 as well and I can have it now!
Paid US$2500 for 5D and grip. Now I wait by the mailbox... :(
- omgitsacamera0
5D Mk II is probably gonna be announced later this year, people are saying it'll thrump the D700, but I don't really care because Nikon and Canon have been basically been equal these past few years and it's all a matter of preference.
- rafalski0
Nikon only recently caught up with CMOS sensors, it was inferior in high ISO department up until about a year ago
- slappy0
I'm trying to work out which 50mm to get.
Canon 50mm f1.4 (micro usm, average build, AUD $450)
Canon 50mm f1.2 L (ring type usm, brilliant build, AUD $1600)
Sigma 50mm f1.4 (ring type usm, great build, AUD $600)Appparently the sigma is a bit of a beast compared to the canon 1.4, faster AF, stonger build and better IQ wide open.
Sigma on left Canon on right.
The 1.2 is still the best but costs 2.5x more than the sigma. Money that would buy me a 85mm f1.8 and 580exII with the savings.
A friend has damaged the auto focus in his canon 50mm f1.4 twice after dropping them into his bag.
Might be worth giving the sigma a go, anyone have one?
- slappy0
If I buy the 50mm 1.4 (sigma or canon) I can afford another 580exII and a 85mm f1.8...
I might give the sigma a shot. It's specs are better than the 50mm L on paper, I can always return it.
- want to buy my 580EX II?omgitsacamera
- Nah I need a warrenty as my gear gets thrashed. My current one cooks out and shuts down for 10 minutes after using the strobiscopic mode.slappy
- strobiscopic shooting mode.slappy
- well, back to craigslist...omgitsacamera
- stuart0010
I just bought a 50/1.2 and have been walking around all day comparing it to the 50/1.4. I can't tell much difference in picture quality between the two. The 1.2 vignettes less, is a tad sharper under f/2.0, but has noticeably worse CA side open and above f/2.0 it's actually a less sharp than the 1.4. The bokeh was where I expected to see improvements, but I can barely tell the difference. Both the 1.2 and 1.4 seem to have a high miss rate in good light, and neither handle highlights that well. Now, I do have the 85/1.2 and it's definitely better than both 50's (except focusing speed). I tested it for front/back focus and it's on the money. I keep thinking I'm missing something with the 50/1.2.
- ...in your wallet? :)
j/k, I'm sure it's a great lensraf
- ...in your wallet? :)
- slappy0
The Bokeh should be much smoother on the 1.2. Also the colour should be a touch warmer and it should be sharper than at 1.4 than the 1.4.
The difference in bokeh between my Sigma 50mm f1.4 and my friends Canon 50mm f1.4 is pretty significant. The Sigma has creamy bokeh while the Canon bokeh is busy and a little noiser.
My friend hasnt leant me his 1.2 yet so cant compare yet.
- Peter0
>let me say that again 2005 RELEASE
I got my camera years before that.
Knowing the camera it's not hard to take some crisp pics with it.You don't always need the latest or the most exclusive. Or as that horrid tv-show puts it; "the best".
- schjetne0
I love it when nerds are trying to help out with advice like "That 50mm is shit, get the 30mm 1.4 instead". Great advice there, really helping the thread poster figure out which 50mm to buy.
Oh, by the way, if you're still wondering, I only EVER use the Canon 50mm f/1.4 when I shoot digital and I cannot imagine I'll ever want another lens. But that's MY shooting style, you might well have other needs.
The 1.2 is quite expensive for what you get (compared to 1.4), but apparently the build quality is a metric fuckton better than the 1.4. So if you throw your shit around a lot maybe it's worth the extra money.
- I just realised this discussion is a year old and probably not very relevant anymore.schjetne
- Projectile0
i've got a 1.8 and the focal depth is brilliant. But i guess a lot of people have the same lens, so yr pics might not be as unique. I imagine it's a bit tougher to use, though.
but be warned.. 50mm is really zoomed in, and that gets really annoying. I saw there's a 30mm 1.8 on the market somewhere, definitely go for that. I wish i'd heard of it
