Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

Archive 2007 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Abhinav Jain
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Hello!!
I have a 50mm 1.8. Although it is great for the price but sometimes I have trouble focusing in low light. My only purpose of buying that was for low light conditions.
Do you recommend going for the 1.4 version? Is the price difference justified for the difference in quality.

(I am saving for the 85 1.2, so dont want to blow the money on 50mm 1.2)

cheers,
AJ

Aug 22, 2007 at 07:02 AM

Steve Torelli
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

The short answer is "yes".
The price of the 1.8 is always mentioned in discussions of the two lenses, but the bottom line is the 1.4 is a better lens in just about every way, from IQ to boke and build. And at roughly $300 new and less used, it's still a great little lens for the money.
Another route might be to put the bucks towards a used 85 1.2. Save some money, the only real difference between it and the MKII version is focus speed, and from what I've read that's not much of a difference. I have the 85 1.2 and it's an amazing piece of glass. Indispensable for portrait work IMO, especially on FF. Good luck.

Aug 22, 2007 at 07:17 AM

Jerren
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Wow Steve, thats a big jump from the 50 1.4 to 85 1.2L lol although I have touched an 85 1.2L and I had to be dragged out of the camera store by my mate with my credit card in hand.

Aug 22, 2007 at 07:27 AM

dcains
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Don't neglect the idea that the camera body is a huge part of the equation. It's the AF sensors that direct the lens to focus, and if they're not getting enough light, regardless of the lens, too bad. Certainly an f/1.4 lens will shed more light on those sensors than your f/1.8, but that difference may not cure all evils. If you're using the 350D in your profile, it's part of the problem. In great light I don't have the sort of AF issues some 350D owners mention, but in low light, my 30D is much more effective with its AF system. FWIW, I've had the 50 1.8 Mk1, Mk2, and now use only the 50 1/4 (I did own them all at the same time), and always found the body made a bigger difference than switching between those lenses did.

Aug 22, 2007 at 07:35 AM

twistedlim
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

I would not expect the 1.4 to solve all of you low light focus issues. While it is a very nice (sometimes sharp) lens I have never trusted the AF in low light or in AIServo. I cannot say it is any better than the 1.8.

Aug 22, 2007 at 07:59 AM

Steve Torelli
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

I mentioned the 85 because the OP had talked about saving up for one. The difference between a 50mm and a 85mm AFA perspective isn't that great, a few steps up or back.

I don't currently have a 50mm though I've owned a couple copies of the 1.4 in the past. With a 35 1.4 and a 85 1.2, I feel like I can do what I need to do in the mid FL. Although, if the 50 1.2 wasn't so damned expensive, I'd have one. But, it's just too much money to fill what, for me, would be a minor need.
Good luck.

Aug 22, 2007 at 08:00 AM

Steve Torelli
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Jerren wrote:
Wow Steve, thats a big jump from the 50 1.4 to 85 1.2L lol although I have touched an 85 1.2L and I had to be dragged out of the camera store by my mate with my credit card in hand.

You're right on there. It's a hunk a glass that performs every bit as well as it you think it will when you hold it in your hand !

Aug 22, 2007 at 08:08 AM

PierreB
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

As well as the lens, doesn't the camera body used not affect low light focus performance? I recently picked up a 50mm 1.8 and using it with a 1DMkII, I've had no problems with AF in candle light only.

Pierre.

Aug 22, 2007 at 08:14 AM

Mingming Lu
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

PierreB wrote:
As well as the lens, doesn't the camera body used not affect low light focus performance? I recently picked up a 50mm 1.8 and using it with a 1DMkII, I've had no problems with AF in candle light only.

Pierre.

Yes, I do feel my 50mm/F1.8 II is focusing better on my 1D MkII than my 350D, not only in low light situation. Before it seems sometime the lens would gimme back focusing issues. Now with 1D MkII, it's all gone (I got my 1D not long ago. So still needs time to tell the truth).

Aug 22, 2007 at 09:15 AM

Abhinav Jain
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Hmmmm...so I dont need to buy a new lens. May be a 1Ds Mark III.
I get the drift

)

Aug 22, 2007 at 11:29 AM

claudermilk
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

What Dean said. You don't need to make that radical of a jump (I get the sarcasm), but the Rebel AF is known to be deficient in low light compared to it's bigger brothers. This is one of hte rare cases where a different body might be a better idea than better glass.

Aug 22, 2007 at 02:13 PM

mh2000
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

>>The short answer is "yes".

Actually, *my* short anwer is "no," in fact, I think my 1.8 locks on to focus better than my 1.4 did.

Aug 22, 2007 at 02:32 PM

Mike Tuomey
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

I've used the 50 1.8 (mk I) on a 1D, 1Ds, 1D II, and 5D in low light levels (candle and dark street lighting). Meets my expectations. I believe the 1-series bodies and 5D have reliable low light AF performance, so I expect any lens with f2.8 speed or better to focus well if there's any contrast to lock onto. And I haven't been disappointed yet.

I agree with the other posters. Your lens is likely not the problem.

You might well consider better AF for that future 85L, given the narrow DOF when shot wide open and close ...

Aug 22, 2007 at 02:46 PM

Andi Dietrich
Offline
[X]

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 50mm 1.8 Vs 50mm 1.4

Try to focus with the * button (cf 4-1 on a 5d)

Aug 22, 2007 at 06:07 PM


FM Forums \| Canon Forum \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.