EF 50mm f/1.4 USM MKII

[Wobbles]

According to CR there's a strong possibility that there is a new Canon 50mm 1.4 coming (soon?)

http://www.canonrumors.com/2010/03/ef-50-f1-4-ii-usm-cr2/

I'm still debating between buying the existing one or the Sigma 50 1.4 so this will add to the confusion :confused013 but i think I'll wait a bit longer...

[Helen S]

Can't understand why Canon would want to improve on something that's already perfect. :confused013

I understand why they upgraded the 50mm 1.8 (better glass), though they went backwards with a plastic mount as far as I'm concerned, but the 1.4 is IMHO optically and build-wise an excellent lens with a fabulous price tag (unlike its 1.2L counterpart).

[mikec]

Can't understand why Canon would want to improve on something that's already perfect. :confused013

I understand why they upgraded the 50mm 1.8 (better glass), though they went backwards with a plastic mount as far as I'm concerned, but the 1.4 is IMHO optically and build-wise an excellent lens with a fabulous price tag (unlike its 1.2L counterpart).

It's not 100%, the USM is micro and not ring type, ideally it'd be ring like the most of the other USM lenses out there as it is more reliable apparently.

Also because it extends during focusing and you can bump the extended part and damage the AF apparently.

Optic wise its fine, but the build is really something to be desired.

[pom13]

As others have said.... don't see the need to!?

[DavidB]

Helen, my understanding is that the optical design of the 50mm/1.8 II is the same as the I! The only reason for the Mk.II was to reduce the price.

The focus mechanism of the current 50mm/1.4 could do with improvement (to make it ring USM, which will have a tangible effect on its behaviour) and as an "almost-L" lens it could be a bit more robust, but I can't think of other "glaring issues" with it.

[TimCz]

I have the 1.8 and have been looking at getting the 1.4 ever since i got my 35mm 1.4. I loooove the DOF at 1.4.

If canon need to improve on any of the 50mm lenses it should be the 1.2 - ive heard from many people its either hit or miss half the time. And should be a lot better for its price.

[jaclarkaus]

The 50 1.2 has focus shift, much the same as the Zeiss Planar models do, and it's a design flaw.

If you know how the problem comes about, it's easy to make adjustments for.

While not bad, the 50 1.4 I had was quite boring, so got sold. If the II model follows on from other II's (especially in the L series) it should be much nicer

[arubaato]

I had a Canon 50 1.4, which broke after about 3 years of use. Rather than getting it fixed I bought a Sigma 50 1.4. Have to say I thought the sigma was significantly better, in terms of image quality and AF speed and accuracy.

[joele]

Comparing it to the Sigmalux (50/1.4) I think a modern redesign couldn't hurt the Canon 50/1.4, I would hardly call it perfect optically..

I have also had a loan of my friends 50/1.2L and that and the SigmaLux are so close in optical quality it isn't funny, I would give the edge to the Sigma though if you need 1.2 obviously it can't compete..

[kobeson]

Can somebody with the 50 1.8 and the 50 1.4 post comparison photos?

I am new to SLR, and I have seen many posts on the net about the "nifty fifty" but I want to see what the 1.4 can do - I understand that the bokeh will be increased somewhat, but would love to see comparison shots.

[darylcheshire]

I read that the 50mm f/1.4 is not robust whatever that means, mine is fine.

I still have a FD 50mm f/1.4, can you get a FD-EF adaptor?

Daryl.

[Schmenz]

kobeson .. have a google and im sure you will find stuff.

try: http://photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

daryl - i think i remember hearing that there was an adaptor but you lose any autofocus. i cant remember 100% so could be wrong. again google will probably tell you.

[darylcheshire]

daryl - i think i remember hearing that there was an adaptor but you lose any autofocus. i cant remember 100% so could be wrong. again google will probably tell you.

The FD is a manual focus lens series made in the '80s (not sure about the '70s)

Therefore you don't lose what you never had.

In the early AF days I remember a canon lens which had a bulky box in the middle of it which held the AF mechanism. Probably a motor and a gear and batteries!

Daryl.

[kwokask]

Note however that the FD->EF adapter has lens elements in it (unlike other mount adapters) which will affect image quality.

[kobeson]

kobeson .. have a google and im sure you will find stuff.

try: http://photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

daryl - i think i remember hearing that there was an adaptor but you lose any autofocus. i cant remember 100% so could be wrong. again google will probably tell you.

Thanks for the link :)

I had meant to search but ran out of the office after that post lol