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Archive 2014 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX

  
 
sivrajbm
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Looking for some advise and possible experience with these two lenses. Size and weight are not a problem either way. I guess my main question is paying more for the Canon going to get me more than a 1/3 of a stop?

Edit: Sorry, I shoot mostly portraits, events some weddings and sports

Thanks for your help

Edited on May 14, 2014 at 05:24 AM · View previous versions



May 13, 2014 at 10:57 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


You forgot to answer the cardinal question- what are you going to shoot?

I could honestly make an argument for either one, especially on a 1D X.



May 13, 2014 at 11:27 PM
TrojanHorse
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


If you need 1.2, you need 1.2. It's reputedly a quirky lens though.

If you don't, get the sigma.



May 13, 2014 at 11:50 PM
kevinsullivan
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


http://www.slrlounge.com/head2head-sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art-vs-canon-50mm-f1-2
http://www.slrlounge.com/sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art-full-review
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/04/yet-another-sigma-50mm-art-post

"From a resolution standpoint the Sigma is nearly as good as the Zeiss Otus, and clearly better than the Canon 50mm f/1.2 L." -- Roger @ LensRentals




May 14, 2014 at 12:55 AM
mttran
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


50L1.2 is closer to 50L1.0 and Noctilux 50mm f0.95 than 50A. Both are good but I prefer 50L for its bokeh, colors and much lighter lens. A calibrated 50L can be as sharp as 50A. Below is [email protected] from http://bit.ly/RO6Usu 50L seems brighter and much longer than 50A.

http://66.49.198.175/kent-digital/new-article/140509/kk16.gif



May 14, 2014 at 02:20 AM
sivrajbm
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Thanks for the help guys.
Thanks for the info and links Kevin.
Thanks for the GIF there Michael.



May 14, 2014 at 05:29 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


I voted for the 50/1.2L because that's what I use. Sometimes, faster is better.


May 14, 2014 at 07:34 AM
chmod
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


After having owned and used a Canon 50 1.2 for years, I sourced a CONTAX 50mm 1.4 N-EOS, converted by Conurus - so it auto focuses.

I sold the Canon.The CONTAX is hard to find, but they're out there.

Ultimately, for my uses, the lack of resolution out from the center resulted in my changing. The CONTAX (in case you don't know it is a Zeiss) is sharper edge to edge by a slim margin wide open, and by a larger margin stopped down.

I routinely shoot dance performances and often am asked to cover the full stage. 50mm is almost perfect for the distances being used, the scale of the places since there is little room to back up, etc.

I was unhappy, many times, with the detail other than the center and by the outer thirds I was very unhappy with the Canon. It's all about specific use cases, afterall. The Canon is a beautiful, dreamy lens but it is not very good if you use the full aspect, stopped or otherwise, unless you are seeking the edge softness.

So, with my 1DX, and previously a 1Ds M3, the CONTAX 50 1.4 is my most used lens for photo and videography.




May 14, 2014 at 10:51 AM
sivrajbm
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Thanks to the pollsters, the Sigma scored a 60-40% win.
I will probably get both to decide and the loser gets returned.
Thanks again for the help...



May 16, 2014 at 07:05 PM
mttran
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Jarvis,

A well calibrated 50L can be a really sharp lens.

100% crop sample at f/1.2
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8176174762_5134bba1f8_o.jpg
50% crop sample at f/1.8
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8176239302_3055a8a97c_o.jpg

Michael



May 16, 2014 at 07:09 PM
mttran
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Another full and crop off center sample of 1ds2 and 50L@f/1.8

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6021/5932592175_265a0c4dd8_b.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6003/5932677549_489f6cddf0_b.jpg



May 16, 2014 at 07:16 PM
sivrajbm
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Thanks Michael, the 50L does look pretty darn good...
I may get CPS to send me one to play with...



May 17, 2014 at 11:41 AM
rscheffler
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


Michael,

IMO the problem with the 50L and off-center sharpness isn't when it's a single point off-center, but when trying to get uniform sharpness across the frame without having to stop down a huge amount.

I've used the 50L since it was first released and like it a lot for people photos/portraits at typical working distances, but dislike it for any kind of more technically demanding use where uniform sharpness is desired. If the latter is what's desired, then the Sigma will likely be more satisfactory.

Jarvis, I think that's the way to go about it.. try both and keep the one you like best (let us know your decision, and why).

Maybe not so much here on the Canon board, but over at the Alt board, it's possible to become a connoisseur of 50mm lenses. There are simply so many of them with their own subtle rendering characteristics. Often it's extremely difficult, or impossible, to choose just one to suit everything.



May 17, 2014 at 12:57 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


rscheffler wrote:
IMO the problem with the 50L and off-center sharpness isn't when it's a single point off-center, but when trying to get uniform sharpness across the frame without having to stop down a huge amount.

I've used the 50L since it was first released and like it a lot for people photos/portraits at typical working distances, but dislike it for any kind of more technically demanding use where uniform sharpness is desired.


I agree. That's why I also have a Zeiss MP 50/2 ZE.



May 17, 2014 at 08:52 PM
mttran
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


+1, I have always thought 50L was made for people portrait only but also OK applicable for other application when we stop it down to f2.8 and smaller. I have many landscapes keepers from the 50L while using its range from f4.0 to f11.0. I also like the 50A but worry about its long term AF supports when we change our main bodies.

Imo, 50A might need a AF re-chip to support future canon bodies and really don't know the dock will support this or not.



May 17, 2014 at 09:00 PM
NCAndy
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


The 50L is a great lens for portraits though it can be a bit frustrating nailing focus. Mine lens generally works very well but every once in a while I'm left scratching my head. I really like how this lens renders an image. Here's a slightly cropped photo and a zoom in on the eye, handheld at f1.2.












May 17, 2014 at 09:35 PM
mttran
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Which 50mm for Canon 1DX


5D2&50L SOOC. Sharp enough @f1.2, click on image for bigger size: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8143976115_9155d0f84a_k.jpg


May 18, 2014 at 12:41 AM





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