I had the Canon 1.4 and loved it--till the AF broke. Repair place said that happens all the time with that lens, $125 please. I've heard of people getting Canon to do it for only $50, but that's iffy.
Oh my my.. I love what adrianb has said. I also agree to him. Being said that, I just want to add that in your original query you asked whether you should pick up 50mm f/1.8 II? I say Yes, its cheap for the Image Quality the lens provides. For about $100 US I feel that the it should be in your bag. I have one with me .
Its focussing ring is noisy and a whole plastic body. But come to the optics and it is a clear winner.
Oh my my.. I love what adrianb has said. I also agree to him. Being said that, I just want to add that in your original query you asked whether you should pick up 50mm f/1.8 II? I say Yes, its cheap for the Image Quality the lens provides. For about $100 US I feel that the it should be in your bag. I have one with me .
Its focussing ring is noisy and a whole plastic body. But come to the optics and it is a clear winner.
David Baldwin wrote:
Frankly I find the 50mm f1.8 Mk2s build quality impossible to accept, at any price.
I totally agree! I have a Mk I which is much better built with a metal mount. Sadly it gets very little use since I bought the 50L, but I don't think I'll sell it as it's a bit of a classic in my eyes.
I have the EF 50/1.4 - worked with good IQ, but now it shows beginning of AF defect. Bought a bajonett hood to prevent full defect.
But after I bought my EOS 5D I bought a Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2 to convert it to EOS.
I love this lens for its image quality and for its glow - and for the build quality.
I own the EF 50/1.4 and both 1.8 versions too. They are far far away from the quality feeling. The Zeiss (C/Y) 1.4 and 1.7 are very close to the Rokkor, but the last years I did not use them.
But it is essential for me to use the EE-S screen.
atroester wrote:
I'm looking for something with AF -- I had the Rockinon 85 1.4 and it was wonderfully sharp -- but trying to hand-hold and eyeball the focus on anything wide aperture can be rough. I don't want to have to put in a focusing screen, etc.
For me the EE-S screen is no problem with some of slower lenses.
For AF I think it is hard (more exactly expensive) to get a lens with such high build quality.
From what I read I would not suggest the Sigma 50/1.4, because the lens seems to be a bit of quality gamble.
I thought I'd update -- I went ahead and got the 50L. I figured I'd get a 50 once and for all! And wow, I'm glad I did. It's amazing and built like a M1 Abrams!
I prefer the 50mm 1.8 II over the 50mm 1.4 as I also don't think the "upgrade" is worth it.
If I was you I would either get the Sigma 50mm 1.4 or a Zeiss 50mm 2.0 Macro Planar. Both
are cheaper than the 1.2 Canon and perform very (!) well. I had the Sigma but sold it because I
own a 50L and didn't really need or want three 50mm lenses in my bag.
I had a 50F1.8 and then tried a 50F1.4 and eventually bought a 50F1.2L and have not looked back. Wish i'd just got one to start with. Best lens i own imo, absolutely love the 50L now.
aznmochamike wrote:
oops just read the other message u wrote =)... yea you have to MF this one but it is very easy to do... also has that electronic verification when it is in focus... after some handling, you'll get the hang of it
Does 'electronic verification' on non-AF lenses? I have tried the feature before but with Canon AF glass - I thought it was only possible on AF glass. Good to know for the future as there are a lot of nice MF lenses out there, many of which are mentioned in this thread.
cheem wrote:
Does 'electronic verification' on non-AF lenses?
Yes...but....you need adapters for different mounts of course....AND get the latest generation of chips as they activate/deactivate the LED more precisely than the 1st gen....
...or don't get the chipped adapters and get better 3rd party focusing screens made for MF
So, a divergent question here - I'm looking at the 35L at some point in time to go with my MkIV. Is that generally considered a good all-around focal length for the 1.3 crop? (As Anthony's 50L is on the FF?)
Thanks and hope the "OP" doesn't mind me going off topic!
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