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dancam
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Registered: Nov 13, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 1250
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Review Date: Jun 12, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,650.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Amazing bokeh and excellent IQ. A real low light monster.
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Cons:
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The price and very slow AF
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The 50 f/1.0 is nothing short of amazing. This lens has a very distinctive look and the images that it generates are absolute magic. My copy is supprisingly sharp wide open and improves slightly when stopped down. It has very noticeable vignetting wide open to about f/2. It will also flare easily into the sun or other bright points of light. These to qualities where actually something I was looking for so I don't consider them negatives. The lens delivers a timeless, flattering look to portraits. The 50 1.0L pairs nicely to the 5D2 which makes the combo useable in almost near darkness and also gives the ability to correct for the vignetting if so desired. The only real negative of this lens for me is the slow AF. Don't use this lens for chasing toddlers or sports action. The size, weight, and design/build is almost identical to the 85L. The price is worth every penny if this on your list.
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 Jun 12, 2009
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eraneran70
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Registered: Apr 16, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Apr 17, 2009
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Gaonan
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Registered: Feb 23, 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 8, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,200.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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low light ability and can be handy to use in broad range of condition.
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Cons:
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Not shape with f1.0 due to very shallow DOF.
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bought it used at a image show recently. Heard a lot about poor IQ but want to check it out personally. It is very difficult to use with wide open f1.0 due to very shallow DOF. I took some pictures during the show, the images were pleasing but not sharp. Eyes were sharp but ears were not sharp. But when use with f1.2 or higher aperture, it is as good as other 50mm lenses. Because of its beautiful bokeh, I believe that it can prouce beatiful pictures in certain condition or special effects.
The following picture taken with this lens with 1dmkIIn:
http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/view?id=2263893
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Dec 8, 2008
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Mimoso
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Registered: May 20, 2005
Location: Portugal
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 20, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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I just saw some amazing daylight and indoor shots from this lens on Jessica Claire's Blog: http://www.jessicaclaire.net/index.cfm?postID=263
Even though they're highly processed, the overall quality, especialy those in daylight (one of the main negative issues that critics often point to this lens), is simply amazing!
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Feb 20, 2008
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pookipichu
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jul 13, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1475
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Review Date: Feb 6, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $4,000.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Widest aperture available for 35mm, bokeh, color, build quality, accurate focus
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Cons:
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Price, heavy.
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Cons - The lens is incredibly expensive in new condition. Rather large and heavy for a 50mm lens. Focus speed is slightly faster than 85mm f/1.2L mk II, in other words, slow. Lens flares easily when shooting into the sun. Barrel distortion evident.
Pros - 1.0 is amazing. Shooting in near darkness, capturing the otherwise uncapturable. The colors are beautifully rendered in tones and saturation. Build quality is excellent, and focus is accurate, snapping with confidence.
Mixed - Lens is not as sharp as the 85mm 1.2Ls, but sharper or sharp as the 50mm 1.2 in the samples I owned/tested. Lens vignettes HEAVILY in many lighting conditions, beautiful for vintage photos/portraits, but easily can annoy those who don't like vignetting. Very low contrast, which I love, but if you like snappy photos/jpeg out of camera, well you might need to turn up the contrast settings.
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Feb 6, 2008
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M Annaratone
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Registered: Apr 14, 2007
Location: Italy
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 14, 2007
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 5
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Substantial vignetting (in line with that of the Noctilux, qualitatively speaking) at f/1.0 and even at f/1.4, but that was to be expected. Resolution at full aperture and whereabouts is sufficient at best. This too is not surprising. Significant barrel distortion, and that was a real surprise to me. Lastly, the unfortunate habit of Canon to design heavy and bulky lenses (the Noctilux is half of the Canon 50/1.0: is this because of the AF?). Someone should explain the rationale to me, I just don't get it.
Any 1.0 lens has a ton of appeal, and indeed there are situations where the extremely shallow depth of field becomes a creative tool in the hands of the photographer. But my take is that the 50/1.0 is by now a somewhat old design and the new 50/1.2 a much, much better use of one's money. For collectors of exotic pieces of glass --- and Canon's 50/1.0 is undoubtedly a milestone in 35mm lens design --- the story is of course different.
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Apr 14, 2007
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Amsterdam
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Registered: Jun 16, 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Oct 11, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,000.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Excellent low ligh capabilities, dreamy bokeh (tho not as good as the 85mm f/1.2),
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Cons:
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Price, softness of the picture at f/1.0 (high ISO and noise reduction can make this even worse), slow AF, vignetting
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I've used this lens for a few years and finally decided to sell it. I was quite happy with it tho. I mainly used it for the available light shooting at f/1.0. That's what this lens is made for. For all other kinds of photography a 50mm f/1.4 is a much better choice.
I do recommend this lens only if your favorite style of photography is available light or street photography.
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Oct 11, 2006
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Lars Johnsson
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Registered: Jun 29, 2003
Location: Sweden
Posts: 22463
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Review Date: Sep 29, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Very fast,Build
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Cons:
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A bit soft at large apertures, expensive
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Very similar to the 85/1,2. But not as sharp as that lens. Especially wide open or close you will see the difference.
Fantastic ability in low light.
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Sep 29, 2006
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johnastovall
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Registered: Apr 7, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1332
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Review Date: Sep 3, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,900.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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You can shot where no other Canon lens can. Interesting Monet like Bokeh. This will the low noise Canon dSLRs and you can truly stalk light in the night. Beautiful solid build.
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Cons:
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Its cost but you get what you pay for. Very hard to learn to use with in it's DOF. But it's the only game in town for SLR's.
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I love shooting in low light at night and this is the greatest one for that. It takes time to master and learn what it will do and what it does. But on a 5D body it opens up the nigth to you. No tripod just walking the streets, taking snaps of the dark world. Here is come of the thing's I've doe with it. All were taken before the sun was above the horizion.
http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=635539
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Sep 3, 2006
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KPV-1Ds
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Dec 29, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1063
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Review Date: May 20, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,500.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Low light shooting ability, amazing build quality, selectable focusing range, exellent bokeh
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Cons:
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Bokeh not as smooth as the 85mm f/1.2, crazy used price tag...more than original price!
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I first saw this lens in my dealer's shop when I picked up my first DSLR, the Canon 1Ds. It was in his personal collection and he wasn't interested in selling it. He let me try it out in his shop though. I fell in love with this lens and vowed to own one someday.
This lens has become somewhat analagous to a mythical creature. Its extraordinary used price tag keeps it out of reach of most, except for the terminally insane, such as myself.
Well, it is 2006 and I have upgraded the original 1Ds to a 1Ds Mark II. The 50mm f/1.0 lens has been discontinued for a number of years. It was still desirable to me so when a good example came on the market, I decided to buy it.
I really love this lens. I don't necessarily always use its primary feature, the f1.0 stop, but it has proven itself in the mid stop range quite commendably. I like having the ability to shoot in a wide variety of lighting conditions without changing lenses.
I prefer it over my 85mm f1.2 many times due to the wider field of view.
Will the newer, faster focusing, 50mm lenses beat it in a pixel peeping contest? In the majority of cases, yes. Will they be able to open up to f/1.0? Nope.
I will admit, part of this purchase was emotional. It was a chance to own the mythical beast that has been touted unobtainium.
I can't recommend it to the masses due to its hefty price, however, if you have the spare change and a good copy is available, I urge you to try it out. You just might like it as much as I do!
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May 20, 2006
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bayerische
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Registered: Feb 24, 2004
Location: Finland
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Mar 3, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,400.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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F:1.0! Solid build, you can almost smell the quality.
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Cons:
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Weight, but that comes almost always hand in hand with quality. Price. Extremely difficult to use.
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WellI bought this lens a bit inpulsively. It's used, but as new. Price paid 1400€.
The F1.0 aperture makes otherwise impossible shots a possibility. In the middle of night I can shoot at a shutter speed from 40-80/1 sec. During day it's almost impossible to use the F1.0 outside, it's simply too light.
Optical performance at maximum aperture don't really blow you away, but stopped down to 2.8, or even better 5.6 it's good.
But the real show stealer is ofcourse the Aperture, and the possibilities it gives the lens users.
The lens is difficult to use, and it is a special tool, it's not you average lens. When used for portraiture, the focus areas dept might be as shallow as 2-3mm, so focusing takes on a new meaning.
I believe it's original price was about 3300€ in Finland. That's a lot! You get the 1.4 and 1.8 50mm for about 100€ and 350€, so you pay a lot of money for the aperture, and the 1kg weight.
I think many people don't like this lens, because even the 1.8 50mm lens can out perform it, but this lens is not ment for razor harp pictures, it's ment for low-light work. And the effect you get from this lens, can't be reproduced by any other lens. It's simply super for what it was intended for.
I would never had payed 3300€ for it, but 1400€ is a reasonable price for a mint specimen.
Even though its dinosaur weight, millionaire price-tag, shabby slow focus and not so sharp images at f1.0 I will rate it EXCELLENT. Because it really is excellent. It's a specialist tool, and it can get you those impossible shots. It's pretty small, and so solidly built I think it would fit god as a coconut cracker.
Love working with it. If you love low light, handheld, so much different than tripod work. Find yourself one. It's not easy to find one. And last its price is done sinking, it will become a rarity.
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Mar 3, 2004
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Olsen
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Registered: May 4, 2003
Location: Norway
Posts: 147
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Review Date: Jun 3, 2003
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Large aparture. Just amazingly large application area. Nice bukeh. Fairly sharp when used under normal light conditions. Sturdy design and very solidly built.
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Cons:
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Out of this world expensive; you pay 2,000 US$ for one aparture stop! Heavy.
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Would never have bought this animal new. It just isn't cost effcient to pay 2,000 US$ for one aparture stop. Still, it is a thrill to have and I use it a lot. Not only a collectors item, but a tool with some unique application areas. Like night city scenes. Hand held, mind you. People tend to think that you are only fooling around since it is too dark for normal photography. Then they relax.
Does that one click stop, that magic 1:1,0 mean so much? It does. It makes it possible for you to shoot hand held down to EV 6 (100 ASA) which is light from a 60 W bulb. Or, at this time of the year, you can shoot 24 hours a day, - hand held, through the northern Scandinavian bright summer nights.
Equally, it is ideal for outdoor shooting, - at all, at dull and gray Scandinavian winter days with equally marginal light. Hand held. The only lense around for that kind of conditions.
It is extremely difficult to use to what it was intended to be used for; portraiture. The DOF is only millimetres thick at full opening. But it leaves a beautiful bukeh-background and slides in and out of focus nicely.
Solidly built. Something it shares with all the white tele lenses and the equally designed 85 mm/1,2 L. Far more rigid than anything else on the EOS/EF program. More in line with Carl Zeiss/Hasselblad. Heavy like a hand grenade out of WWI.
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Jun 3, 2003
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