| Customer Reviews Collected from usa.canon.com |
Canon - EF50mm F1.4 USM Standard Lens for EOS DSLR Cameras - Black
Average Customer Rating:
3.7
Rating breakdown 112 reviews
5 Stars
46
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
17
1 Star
12
63%of customers recommend this product.
(
65 out of
103)
Customer Reviews for Canon - EF50mm F1.4 USM Standard Lens for EOS DSLR Cameras - Black
Customer Rating
1
Awsome Images, but bad build quality
on December 4, 2008
Posted by: Briago
from Central Florida
I think anywhere you look you will read great things about the images you can get with this lens. I back every one of those comments. This has been by far my favorite lens to carry, and it is the lens I leave mounted to my body.
However, after only a year of moderate to light use, the AF began to fail and now at 1yr 4mo, it is nearly unusable. I use a 400D (XTi) with a small viewfiner, so manual focus isn't much of an option.
Canon is offering to consider extending the warantee which will help me in staying with Canon, however considering the many other complains of the same failure, I am disapointed in Canons build quality regarding the USM motor/gears on this model.
It would be VERY good if Canon would redesign the drive on this lens to be a ring USM, even if the price goes up $50-80.
To be clear, I expect a lens to outlast the body i buy it for. If not three times over.
Pros: Super-sharp images, Fast auto-focus
Cons: Poor build quality
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great bang for the buck
on January 6, 2013
Posted by: Indy Photographer
from Greenwood, IN
I have owned this lens for 5 years and used it to photograph weddings.
Pros: Very near L lens image quality as far as I can discern. I'd say the contrast and colors are a tad flatter than the 50/1.2. Considering the low price and fast aperture, it has to be the best value of any lens in Canon's lineup. It is wide enough for group and individual full length portraits with minimal distortion. The subject's legs don't look stretched like with a wider lens. But, one has to be careful not to use it for very close up portraits because barrel distortion will become evident in the facial features. I use a tripod to get maximum sharpness at 1/50 shutter speed. I can zoom in to see tremendous detail because it is so sharp. If you're nitpicky about sharpness like me, I don't recommend shooting below 1/50 shutter speed even if you use a tripod because of subject motion blur. The bokeh is rather pleasing, like an L lens. And, the lens is rather lightweight, so it's great for walking around as a tourist. Minimum focusing distance is short enough that it can be used as a macro in a pinch.
Cons: AF is slow and gets slower in low light. AF occasionally misses under f/1.8, like 10%, where it is focused on something else besides what was intended. Not super sharp at f/1.4 but acceptably sharp by f/1.6. That isn't much of a drawback considering its low price. There is some purple fringing below f/2.0, and at f/1.4 it has a heavy vignette. The vignette is easily correctable in post if you don't like it.
Overall: I could photograph an entire wedding with this lens considering its versatile focal length, wide aperture, and near L lens image quality. It's the first lens I purchased, and if I had to sell off all my other lenses and keep just one, this would be it.
Pros: Very near L lens image quality as far as I can discern. I'd say the contrast and colors are a tad flatter than the 50/1.2. Considering the low price and fast aperture, it has to be the best value of any lens in Canon's lineup. It is wide enough for group and individual full length portraits with minimal distortion. The subject's legs don't look stretched like with a wider lens. But, one has to be careful not to use it for very close up portraits because barrel distortion will become evident in the facial features. I use a tripod to get maximum sharpness at 1/50 shutter speed. I can zoom in to see tremendous detail because it is so sharp. If you're nitpicky about sharpness like me, I don't recommend shooting below 1/50 shutter speed even if you use a tripod because of subject motion blur. The bokeh is rather pleasing, like an L lens. And, the lens is rather lightweight, so it's great for walking around as a tourist. Minimum focusing distance is short enough that it can be used as a macro in a pinch.
Cons: AF is slow and gets slower in low light. AF occasionally misses under f/1.8, like 10%, where it is focused on something else besides what was intended. Not super sharp at f/1.4 but acceptably sharp by f/1.6. That isn't much of a drawback considering its low price. There is some purple fringing below f/2.0, and at f/1.4 it has a heavy vignette. The vignette is easily correctable in post if you don't like it.
Overall: I could photograph an entire wedding with this lens considering its versatile focal length, wide aperture, and near L lens image quality. It's the first lens I purchased, and if I had to sell off all my other lenses and keep just one, this would be it.
Pros: sharp images, inexpensive - great value, nearly l lens image quality, great in low light, lightweight, nice background blur, near macro short focusing distance
Cons: Slow auto-focus, af occasionally misses under f1.8, heavy vignette at f1.4, purple fringing under f2, slightly soft at f1.4
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Great lens, but AF fails easily
on January 6, 2011
Posted by: ms_shell
from Pennsylvania
I LOVED this lens for the 13 months that the AF worked. But it stoppped working and apparently a lot of people have had issues with this. Recommend using a hood even with storage if you get this lens. I've read elsewhere that light pressure on the front of the lens can make the AF fail.
Pros: Super-sharp images
Cons: Poor build quality
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
2
Just OK
on August 2, 2016
Posted by: Hiker John
from Edwards, CO, United States
I have used the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II and the new STM but didn't care for the cheap plastic feel. Purchased the 50mm f/1.4, more solid feel but really unimpressed. I find images are ok, but a little soft for my liking. Rumors have been circling for a few years that Canon is planning a version 2, sure hope its true. Canon has introduced some truely incredible DSLR's, hopefully they keep up in the lens department.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Good Valued Lens
on March 31, 2010
Posted by: Mike
from Hawaii
I had a couple of these lens...both work well, no auto focus problems, good reliable Lens for me
Pros: Fast auto-focus, Super-sharp images, nice shallow dof when wide open, good value
Cons: not an l lens but it has a metal mount!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
great general/ portrait lens
on August 28, 2014
Posted by: Anonymous
from Cincinnati, OH
This lens is great. It is worth spending the extra money on this lens instead of the cheaper F1.8. I use it as a general carry around lens and portraits.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Fast Lens for a good price
on February 26, 2009
Posted by: aram535
from Centereach, NY
This was my first prime lens and its been a champion. Light, small, fast and accurate. I have had zero issues in the past 2.5 years.
Pros: Super-sharp images, Fast auto-focus
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
A Very Superb Lens
on August 5, 2011
Posted by: Me
from Los Angeles, CA
This lens is AMAZING. This lens is one of the sharpest that I have ever used! I have worked with a 70-200mm IS USM f2.8L, a 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L, an 85mm f1.8 USM, a 24-70mm USM f2.8L, a 24-105 IS USM f4L, 15mm f2.8 fisheye, 10-22mm f3.5- 4.5 USM EF-S, and a 50mm 1.8.This lens is by far one of the sharpest! It is easily "L" image quality if not "L" build quality. It is a solid lens. For the outstanding images it produces, it is very light and maneuverable. It is amazing for portraits and for indoor events as well. The only issue I se with it is that it is slow to focus when indoors. It should also come with the hood but that is just a preference. For it's relatively low price, this lens cannot be beaten. Definitely one of the best purchases I have made!
Pros: Super-sharp images, light
Cons: slow auto focus indoors
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com