FWIW I've had the exact opposite experience with all my Canon bodies and these lenses. My 50/1.4 hunted much worse and the final focus was often not as reliable as I get from my 50/1.8.
My 85/1.8 was better than the 50/1.4, but you could still easily use the 50 in these conditions IMO.
>>Hmm, the 50 f/1.8 is simply pathetic and the 50 f/1.4 in low light is much better, if still slow. In fact in low light the 50 f/1.8 will often give up.
I don't recall noticing much difference in AF performance shooting dark-gym HS b-ball on the 1D when I went from the 50 f/1.8 to the 50 f/1.4 — which was a considerable disappointment at the time. I happily noted a very marked improvement when I went to the 50 f/1.2L.
