I'll reserve my opinion until we see what it can actually do. I would really like a fast prime in this range because the three copies of the 50 f/1.4 I tried were dismal.
Molded instead of ground elements? Is there any advantage between one and the other? Production cost maybe?
Well if it lowers production costs its certainly not reflected in the MSRP. Robbing gits. Unjustifiable price IMHO and one thats made a potentially great selling lens into an irrelevance to the vast majority of us.
the price is kinda within my expectation actually... seeing as the 85mm retails here for $3500, the 50mm will have a likely price of around $2500 (after conversion)...
not as cheap as some might have hoped, but i guess it is in line with the prime L pricing.
Woohoo! Finally the lens we've all been asking for! I wonder how the 50 1.0L prices will change now that the 1.2 is out. Hopefully this glass is amazing wide open like it's 85mm brother.
the mtf charts look dissapointing. It seems that 50 1.8 is sharper stopped down and this new lens looks like it's going to be poor wide open. The only positive i can see in it is if it actually is an accurate focusing 50.
One interesting quote from RG's site: "The new lens includes a ring-type ultrasonic motor and high-speed CPU for faster initial focus with 1-series Canons."
Hopefully it focuses faster than the 85 1.2. You could get some pretty wild basketball shots with that lens assuming it can focus quickly and accurately enough.
Edit: From the link lord_malone posted directly above me, "The EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens is now the fastest autofocus lens in its class"
