This Post is Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM Review – Click below If you’re looking for:

My Overall Rating : ★★★★½

Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

The EF 50mm F1.4 USM is Canon’s mid-level offering in a range stuffed full of 50mm primes, covering all budgets from the ultra-cheap 50mm F1.8 mkII through to the stratospherically-priced 50mm F1.2 L USM. Although it was introduced in June 1993, fully seven years after the birth of the EOS system, it can actually trace its roots back much earlier, being based on the classic manual focus FD 50mm F1.4 design of 1971. As such, it’s designed as a ’standard’ lens for the 35mm full-frame format, with an angle of view offering none of the ‘perspective distortion’ associated with wideangle or telephoto lenses. More recently, with the popularization of APS-C as the dominant DSLR sensor size, it’s taken on a new role, and behaves like a short ‘portrait’ telephoto on this format.

The lens uses a conventional optical design for its class, with 7 elements in 6 groups, two of which are made from high-refraction glass. Focusing is achieved by an ultrasonic motor system, with full-time manual override; however unlike Canon’s other mid-range primes, this is of the micro-USM (as opposed to ring) type. Canon claims the lens produces a ‘beautiful, natural blur of the background’, an important attribute for a fast lens capable of a high degree of subject isolation. The company is also keen to point out that the lens’s colour balance is virtually identical to the ISO recommended reference values.

The Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM has always occupied a slightly precarious position in the Canon line-up, with the F1.8 lens offering remarkable value for money below it in the range. It now faces fresh pressure from Sigma’s 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM with its brand-new, bang up-to-date optical design (albeit currently at a far higher price). So is this lens an obsolete throwback to the silver halide era, or worthy of serious consideration in the high resolution digital age?

Let’s take a look at all of the Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM features/specification:

  • 50mm standard lens with f/1.4 maximum aperture for Canon SLR cameras
  • 2 high-refraction lens elements and Gaussian optics help eliminate astigmatism
  • Delivers crisp images with little flare at the maximum aperture
  • Extra-small Micro USM focus adjustment and full-time manual focusing
  • Measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 2 inches long; 1-year warranty

If you want to buy Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM, you can get it cheap online through Amazon.com here. They offer special discount price and reliable shipping service.

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it:

“…This 50mm is amazing. I truly love it. I debated a long time between the 1.8 and the 1.4. In the end, I figured I’d never replace it again so get the 1.4. I love it – the images it makes are staggering. Still – it’s pricy compared to the 1.8 – but not to L series lenses. I think it’s worth it. I read online it had barrel distortion wide open – and it does if you really study the image – but that’s perfectly OK with me for the 1.4 shallow depth of field. Normal people will never see that at all. One drawback you may not think of is that beautiful wide open 1.4 aperture is not available to you if there is much light. It’s so fast it’s easy to overexpose – even with 1/4000th of a second shutter. It takes awesome portraits – awesome landscapes. This is a must have lens in every EOS owner’s bag. Don’t get the 1.8 and wish you got this one. Get this one and start taking great photos…”

If you want more info on this Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM, I suggest you take a look at the Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM reviews on Amazon here. A lot of consumer positive response to this Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM here.

Here is why Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM is worth buying:

Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras : Pro

  • Light as a feather, but still, not ridiculous as the 50mm f/1.8.
  • Build quality is decent. I’ve been several times testing a 50 f/1.8 and not only I found it super soft, but I was also really disappointed with the awful build quality (but still decent for 80$…), it is almost impossible to manual focus with the f/1.8 version.
  • Image quality is good, even though it could be better for a 350$ lens.
  • Autofocus is fine, I do have been able to focus in difficult lighting conditions. At least it’s better than say, a EF-S 17-85mm.

Canon EF 50mm f 1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras : Con

  • I would like it to be sharper. That’s actually why I finally switched to the 85mm f/1.2 II which is a LOT sharper but also a LOT heavier.
  • No weather sealing.

Conclusion

Overall, I’m very happy with this lens. The IQ, on the whole, is great. Sharpness is excellent and I’m loving the images I’m getting with this lens and the 5d2. Highly recommended.

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