Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Prime lens. My thoughts after twenty years of professional photography use

[@bryanbaskett4010]

Have to say you have become my "Go to" review guy for camera equipment. I like that you don't sugar coat things, give the pluses and minus and you speak from years of experience. Photography is not cheap for the hobbyist or pro, and getting a really informed, subjective opinion on equipment, particularly lenses, is very helpful in deciding what equipment to buy. So thanks for sharing! Please keep your reviews coming!

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers BB.. I do my best! Worth considering the 50mm 1.8 STM

[@matthewpierce8935]

Smallest channel, but the best of them all. The internet is a strange place. Really enjoy your content. Like your work as well. Thanks for existing.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Matthew! what a great message to receive. Really cheered me up! Appreciate your support man. Hope you have a great weekend. RR

[@MannyScoot]

there are different qualities of the 50mm 1.4 USM and since they produce such a large quantity it's difficult finding an exemplary razor sharp copy that doesn't need micro adjustments........but when you find a perfect copy, you will never sell it !!!!!

[@trifix]

I have researched for weeks about this lens and FINALLY I found a video from someone who's actually using it. All the videos and reviews talk about the CA and the softness but i have seen photos that looks fantastic. So your "review" tells me what I have been thinking all along - it all comes down to wich sample/version you get. Also good the hear about the buildquality and what to look for when getting it second hand. I had my eyes on a second hand unit that has a dent in the front but after your video I'm gonna look elsewhere. Yes the Sigma Art 1.4 is a beast in every way in comparison. Having owned one for 4 years I absolutly LOVE IT. Too bad I had to sell all my gear (financial problems) and can't afford it again as of right now. Used they are still triple the price of a used Canon 1.4.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks for this and sorry to hear of your money troubles. Life can be challenging sometimes. Over the years I have used so many 50mm canon primes I almost lose count. These days I often end up using the 50mm f1.8 STM because it’s so small and light and pretty good optically. Might be worth considering.

[@campbells0ups]

i really enjoy the bold and vivid color rendition from this lens even wide open. it gives deeper and more vibrant colors than other 50's ive seen and the nifty fifty

[@philipprice9182]

Hi Roy I just landed on your channel for the first time but will definitely be back. Wildlife and macro has taken me away from Canon gear but wear and tare has taken its toll on my old body and I'm no longer able to wield the big wildlife lenses and I'd love to have a good reason to buy a used 5Dii, 24-70L and maybe 50mm 1.4. I'll definitely be back.

[@RoyRiley]

@@philipprice9182 thanks Philip. I appreciate your comment. Might be worth looking at the 50mm F1.8 STM which is a very fine lens and might save you a few quid.

[@MKitchen75]

really nice pics.. Im ust bought to my M50 II 24-105 L and 1.4 50mm and I cannot be happier.. picture quality is great for me..

[@Robdickson1962]

You will big the biggest camera channel soon ,

[@RoyRiley]

There is a long way to go Robert! Thanks for the support though. I really appreciate it. RR

[@tompurvis1261]

I have gone through two of these. Crunchy focus that is noisy and jumpy. Just bought the 1.8 STM for use on my 5DM3s, which has nice auto focus. For the money, the Zeiss 50 1.4 planar is the lens for me. Solid lens and great results.

[@palouuk]

I've only ever had 1.8 nifties but thinking of getting something more robust after pulling off the front element whilst trying to remove one of those white lee filter adapter ring lens caps.

[@RoyRiley]

Ouch.. to be honest though the F1.4 50 is not that much more robust.. 50mm is a tricky choice!

[@michaelmcdonald3345]

Enjoy your comments. I've had the 1.4 for 15 years? Since then, I've moved up many levels. Currently shooting with the R6. My go to lens is the RF 24-70 f/2.8. So why do I keep the 1.4 in my bag? Do I need therapy?

[@RoyRiley]

I too wander round with a bag full of random primes clanking together while shooting the vast majority of pictures on a standard zoom… it’s a condition for sure… but when the time is right and you want that wide open magic.. nothing else comes close!

[@robertlawrence7958]

Having been working my way through your back catalogue of videos I started to wonder what it was about these videos of older kit that was so appealing. I came to the conclusion that looking back at gear that we used to use is of far greater benefit than looking at new gear. There are so many KZbin channels around which are constantly looking at the latest gear, often gear which isn't even available. I liken it to my grandchildren who never seem to be content with the 'tech' they have and are always looking to the next update. I feel that modern photographers appear to want the gear to do ALL the work for them. Modern cameras and lenses are all absolutely superb in comparison to what we used to use and this is where the appeal of looking back comes in. Knowing that great images have been made (and no doubt are still being made) with all this older kit really puts into perspective just how fortunate we are these days. Knowing just how incredibly difficult it was to capture decent images of birds in flight for instance means that when I now shoot at twenty frames a second with focusing that not only follows a bird but is actually predicting where it is going, I can actually fully appreciate it instead of whingeing that a few frames out of those twenty may not be sharp! Apologies for what must seem to be a bit of a rant 😬

[@RoyRiley]

No apology required! I agree with what you rant! Sometimes it feels like there is a kind of dumbing down effect happening in the photography world and it’s not all for the best by any means. I look back to a time where everything felt more worthwhile, simpler and in some ways so much better. I guess though that time moves on and we dinosaurs must move with it and make the best of what we have around us. At the end of the day technology has always been moving forwards and it’s what we do with it that matters the most.. glad you are enjoying the videos Robert. All the best. Roy

[@markhayes8077]

Thanks for your videos Roy. I have been watching the ones covering my old equipment which has been sitting unused for the last 10 years. My interest has been sparked again and I am looking to get a Canon mirror less body later this year. You have reminded me just how capable my old stuff is and how the “glass” will adapt to a newer “R” body. Thanks again I have had an enjoyable evening watching several of your videos.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks for this Mark and glad you have enjoyed the videos. Really, it’s all about the photographer and our own unique and personal vision. Good luck with it and thanks again for your support. RR

[@headbang3r519]

Hi Roy. As you must know that I love my EF glass but I recently went for the RF 24-105 F4 but I also decided to get the RF 50mm 1.2 as well from a supplier I know and it is the best lens I have ever used. I got an imported version with warranty so not gray market exactly. Brand new boxed up for under £1,600.00. It is my main lens now. It is just so good. I would definitely recommend!

[@RoyRiley]

That’s really interesting to hear. What is it about the 50 that you really like? I have been eyeballing one myself but just can’t seem to bring myself to spend the money!

[@headbang3r519]

@@RoyRiley I tell you this, you get the RF 50 1.2 and when you see its sharpness and how it renders images, you will feel glad you got it. Personally, what I love about 50mm is that it is true to the eye, it is realistic compared to any other focal length. And now, with this RF 50 1.2, it will be my go-to lens for night photography, cinematic photography and whenever i cannot make my mind up about what focal length i will be mostly shooting with, which is a problem that generally does tend to occur with me then I will always reach out to this lens first! It does not have IS but the IBIS does tend to do a great job, not as great as the IS on the 24-105 F4 because it has 5 stops of IS, which is insane! So, at 1/100 it will give you the equivalent effect of 1/3200. However, it still feels stable enough and it is by far the best lens I have ever used. Better than my EF 24-70, RF 24-RF 70, 28-70 which is have now sold after getting this lens. You have to try it Roy to know what I truly mean to say.

[@meowmix6782]

i would've never realized you only have 6k subscribers, really great videos all around. exceptional video quality, i love your photos from the 2000s that you've shown in your old DSLR reviews. subscribed.

[@RoyRiley]

Thank you! Much appreciated. One day it will hopefully be 60k!

[@DartzIRL]

It was the very first new lens I ever bought. One of only two pieces of equipment I own that ever came with a warranty. Paired with an ancient EOS650, it was the perfect travelling companion. The extra little bit of aperture over the 1.8 was useful in some very specific occasions. When I use it on a dslr I have - it'll be sharper when used in Live View shooting than shooting using the camera's AF sensor. So perhaps calibration is a little bit different between film/digital.

[@kimw994]

I think there's two version of it: the first with less "steps" to focus- the reason to miss a lot of sharp shots.. with my latest (3.?) it focus even more exact - best I had so far ....

[@TheUltimateBlooper]

I'm a weird kinda guy who thinks ahead when buying stuff so that I have an upgrade path. Back when I was a student and got my first job back in 2012 - I bought a 60D body (to keep the batteries for when I upgrade down the line to a FF body) and this here 50mm f/1.4 USM (because I did not want to be stuck with EF-S lenses). It certainly wasn't the best thing since sliced bread on a crop body, but once I upgraded to a 5D3 and later 5D4 - this lens remains one of my favorites! I do baby my gear a bit, so mine's still absolutely fine (though the rubber focus ring looks a bit dirty), but I have been in the open rain with it and it's delivered. It's not the sharpest, it's nothing to write home in terms of fringing, focusing can be a bit crunchy...but the shots come out so buttery and special! And, as Jeffrey Wolk mentioned in the comments here - it can be tack-sharp when stopped-down. No idea how much longer mine will last, but I certainly don't think I'd replace it with a huge ART lens or a nifty-fifty, or anything like that. It's just one of those lenses that does a lot in a small package (assuming you have a FF sensor camera, that is!) and I'd happily buy another in case my copy breaks.

[@RoyRiley]

Smart comment and great perspective!

[@skakdosmer]

When I had bought my first camera in 1996 (a Canon Eos 500n), I read a photography book that highly recommended a 50 mm, and preferably a 1.4. This was of course long before the Internet, so I looked at lens brochures for Canon, Sigma and Tamron - the ones my dealer had. But at the time only Canon had 50 mm primes for my camera: the 1.8, 1.4 and 1.0. The 1.0 was outrageously expensive, of course, but the 1.4 too was quite pricey: It was about twice the price of what it is today and more than I had paid for the camera, two zoom lenses and a bag. So I very quickly decided that the 1.8 would be just fine for me! But I never liked it. It's the original from 1987, and wide open it's quite soft. From what I've read it's no worse than the mark II, but I don't see the point of owning a fast lens if you can't get a sharp image, unless you stop it down preferably to F4. Actually it only gets really sharp from F5.6. I never tried the F1.4, but I've looked at online sample images, and it seems to be about the same. I checked DXOmark to see how the different lenses performed on a 50mp Canon 5DsR, and the F1.8 mark II resolves 21 mp, the F1.4 resolves 22 mp, so not that much better. But the F1.8 STM resolves 29 mp! So I bought that one. And I wouldn't trade it for any other Canon 50 mm lens. It has good centre sharpness wide open, it focuses closer and is just a great little lens. My avatar was taken with it (on a 70D).

[@kinmanleung5883]

I like how you talk…. sincere n professional ！

[@RoyRiley]

Thank you very much!

[@RoyRiley]

Would love to hear others experience with this lens. Love it or hate it?

[@L.Spencer]

Just got this lens and tried to take pictures of flowers, very close, at 1.4. It had a hard time focusing, and I'm not happy with the results. That's why I'm here. I was wondering if there's a minimum distance to get a better focus, but maybe it's better to not go down to 1.4. The one I got is used, it is noisy and slow, so that's good to know. I was wondering if it was not working right. Thanks so much for your video!

[@RoyRiley]

The closer you get, the more critical everything becomes. Stop the aperture downs but.. F5.6 - F11. Back off slightly. Remember this is not a macro lens. You can get an extension tube that will get you closer but things become even more critical. A tripod can be useful for critical focus and the often longer shutter speeds that result in stopping down to said aperture. Shooting up close is not as easy as people often think! (Or iPhones have allowed people to shoot without much thought)

[@nativestrong7253]

Using the wrong focal length for a close up of a flower

[@L.Spencer]

@@nativestrong7253 I am realizing that I don't know anything about macro photography, but I try to get away with it with a regular lens. I think it's because on my film camera the sigma lens had a macro feature so I used to use it to take close-ups, but it's not working with the DSLR and lenses I have now. Thanks for the two helpful comments!

[@villageblunder4787]

All true. MIne's been to the menders twice. Twice my fault, but the others just bounced. I like it for parties where you take so many shots that you don't care most are out of focus. One or two may be really sharp and that's enough. Don't think I've found mine to be hazy wide open just reliably unreliable.

[@RoyRiley]

reliably unreliable.. perfect

[@johngraver2828]

Hi Roy, great video as usual. I have owned 3 Canon EF 50mm f1.4 lenses over the years, 1 was sharp wide open the other 2 were 'blunt' ! The sharp copy fell apart in a most spectacular way, at an awards evening of the local athletic club . . . . . the two young lads who were posing with their cups dropped to the floor and picked up all of the pieces for me . . . . .sold on ebay for a few pounds as spares. The other 2 were both traded as they were inconsistant, I pointed this out to the salespersons in the shops where I did the trade-ins and the reaction of both occassions was a shrug of the shoulders ! I hope the new owner of each lens was able to get a tune out of them better than I did. Had Canon not known the RF mount was coming it may have bee revised by now. I now have 2 EF 35mm f/2.0 IS lenses which I tend to use for pretty much every photo that I make, I do have a couple of other lenses but they live in the bottom of the wardrobe in a comfy Domke bag . . . semi retirement . .. . .

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks John! Glad my experience is not totally unique.. I must look into the 35mm you mention. Always keen to try out new lens options. Thanks for sharing your experience. All the best. RR

[@TheUltimateBlooper]

@@RoyRiley +1 on the 35mm F/2 IS USM. It's a fantastic piece of glass (though vignettes heavily wide open) and the IS is so good that I was able to pull 1.6s exposures hand-held at ISO 100 when I wanted to shoot some long-exposure glowing water fountains in Trafalgar Square. I call it my "night vision lens" :)

[@912582]

The dilhema is clearly understood by me. So many pitfalls if you're not careful but when it works the sharpness is there behind a slight mist and it looks very nice. My 16-35 f2.8 is much better in so many respects as is the 85mm 1.8, but this 1.4 does easily beat the 1.8 50's. Sigma is much better but definately not nicer. It doesn't get much use but it's light and small so always there delivering. I've almost summarised what you say be that is 100% correct!

[@SterlingSigurdsen]

Really great review. I'm actually switching back to film and re-adding this lens to my kit along with the 85 and 70-200

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Sterling! Good luck on your journey back to film. All the best. RR

[@capture_the_stoke9646]

The 50mm is the lens I cannot seam to settle on, I’ve gone ef 50 1.8, ef 50mm 1.4, compared them all and settled on the rf 50 1.8 for now. I use it like it then it sits on the shelf for a while then I try it out again.. I reach for the wide angle then jump to compression of 85 or 70-200 mostly that gap in between is tricky for me to fill

[@wanderingchopstick]

Which f stop is it most crisp at? I just bought one and excited to learn all about it

[@RoyRiley]

Try it out at each aperture. Take a shot at each aperture and then inspect for yourself.

[@VicenteSchmitt]

That sums it up very well.. nowadays I'd go for the 1.8 for value or the sigma 1.4 for the middle ground before the expensive L's. I have one but haven't used much lately as the internal focusing guide (made of plastic) started playing again and sometime locks on either end of the range. Got the newer 1.8 stm, even smaller, lighter and makes less noise.

[@RoyRiley]

I agree that the STM lens is a good choice these days. There is something about the 1.4 aperture that really adds some spicy mustard though! I have the sigma art 50 and love it but holy smoke it is a lump.

[@neild108]

Much appreciate the straightforward and also nicely nuanced review. Yes, I love zooms and also love to have a lightweight 50mm on hand when I want a nice, wide aperture. I have the STM nifty-fifty, but am not really satisfied. The quality isn't there. After hearing of the pros and cons of Canon's 50mm 1.4 I am leaning toward a compromise solution: the Tamron 45mm f/1.8. It's weight (540g) is in between the Sigma 1.4 (815g) and the Canon 1.4 (290g). I like that it has quite a close focusing distance (.29 metres or 11 inches)--a bit closer even than the RF nifty fifty, and VC, and decent sharpness at f/1.8, certainly as good as the Canon f/1.4 at 1.8, and almost as good as the Sigma.

[@RoyRiley]

Interesting thoughts. I have no experience if the Tamron lens so can’t really comment. My gut reaction though should be to stick with the STM 50 and save your money. I have that lens too and find it Fine for most purposes and it’s so small and light. Save your money and spend it on wine, women and song!

[@neild108]

@@RoyRiley It is definitely lovely to have such a light and yet pretty good quality lens--and one with good AF and good centre sharpness. However, I shoot a lot of astro and also flowers. For astro, I need good corner to corner sharpness at f/1.8. For flowers, I need good sharpness at the closest focusing distance. The Tamron looks to be quite significantly better than the nifty Canon STM. But now the wine, women and song--there you give me pause!!

[@RoyRiley]

@@neild108 Haha! Good luck whichever way you go! RR

[@Morgan_In_Motion]

Hey Roy, great channel I've seen a couple of your videos in the past. But never subscribed?! I did today, thanks for the content! I had one of these lenses for a short period. Love hate is definitely the right way to put it lol. Mine was so inconsistent with sharpness, it's like some photos af locked on perfect and things looked the way I imagined and other times it's like the AF motor decided to back off a few steps right before I clicked the shutter. Fringing was bad too. But it's funny I miss that thing now cause when it did behave it was such a fun lens. Part of me wants to buy a brand new one to see how it compares vs another used one.

[@RoyRiley]

Hi Ray! Appreciate your thoughts on this and thanks for the subscription. I feel your pain with this lens! It’s a tricky beast..Might be worth looking at the 50mm STM. Not bad for the price..

[@Morgan_In_Motion]

@@RoyRiley I've got one and love it. Probably the reason the 1.4 made me so upset when it misbehaved since the STM just works. Crazy value in that thing considering the price lol

[@RoyRiley]

@@Morgan_In_Motion pound for pound its probably the best EF 50 but for some reason the 50 1.4 still holds a sweet spot in my mind. Bizarre! I have the sigma art 50 too which is brilliantly sharp but it’s a big and heavy beast. R

[@Morgan_In_Motion]

@@RoyRiley I gotta get my hands on another canon 1.4 and try again. I love the 50mm focal range and I think I know where you're coming from with the charm of that lens. I rented a sigma 1.4 art once. They are sweet! But yeah they are hefty things in comparison lol

[@bpexodus]

Hi. What is the name of the microphone that you're using?

[@RoyRiley]

Sennheiser G3

[@chuckschillingvideos]

I just don't think it's enough of a step up from the F1.8 to justify the extra expense. In my opinion, a serious photographer would be better off saving for the f1.2 or, if you have the shekels, the f1.0. And, of course, the options from Sigma and Tamron are worth being part of this discussion as well.

[@harrison00xXx]

Well, i had the 50mm 1.4 for a while got it 2nd hand some months ago. still have it but the autofocus died in the cold not long ago. I will try to fix it, but i got anyways a RF 50mm 1.8 STM as replacement I really loved the autofocus when it was working properly, much better than the 50mm 2.8 macro lens i got, but the 1.8 STM on RF mount is still on another level and precision. I wish i could combine the silky smooth characteristics of the EF 1.4 with the „modern“ tech of the RF variants and probably a real and very fast USM please

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks for this. Very interesting because I am yet to try the RF 50mm f1.8. Thanks for your thoughts. What camera body are you using?

[@harrison00xXx]

​@@RoyRiley Hey, sry for the late answer. These days i still had my EOS RP, 26MP full frame. Now the APS-C R7. The "love" for 50mm lenses is gone since im on APS-C, the 50mm-58mm range is now portrait dedicated only with the 1,6x crop. I had another EF 50 1.4 in between which i got for free and repaired with spare parts, but only could test it on APS-C (EOS R7). Im also not impressed by this version, bad horrific CA and so, but the main issue is still the same... just CA, without or just a bit less, the EF 50 1.4 USM would be still at least in the vitrine to look at. At least my experience is now: I would not buy a EF 50 1.4 again... at least not as long the deal is very good (

[@harrison00xXx]

@@RoyRiley You should really try some day real vintage glass, not the 1990s EF 50 1.4 thats far from vintage anyways. The Takumars are great lenses, i was very impressed, and it doesnt matter much if you have the highly wanted 8 element version or a much cheaper radioactive 7 element version, they are more or less identical, only minor differences (7 element version tends to be better wide open if you get a good model, 8 element version is better at F2+ and more consistent over the whole aperture area) For me it was the price, build quality and image quality i did not expect from lenses dated anywhere between 1968-1980 combined, where as you have to miss on one or even multiple of those things on modern lenses. Helios 44-2 and SMC Takumar 50 1.4 are just AWESOME lenses and sometimes you get them with a analoge camera for like 30-100$, sometimes even cheaper. But most tend to overprice a lot because of the hype on those lenses since some years, especially if their copy is optically and mechanically in perfect shape. yes, manual focus can be a pain but its worth it. You say the EF 50 1.4 is small and light? Helios 44-2 and SMC Takumar 50mm are both lighter, more robust and are not worse, if then better than the EF 50 1.4 optically.

[@john_murch]

I never understood why Canon didn't update this lens like so many other classics; 35, 85, all the zooms. I waited for years and years and then they just gave up on the EF lens line-up and went to RF. Every camera brand needs a really good 50mm F1.4, it's a standard...

[@RoyRiley]

I agree John! I ended up with the Sigma Art 50.. just made a video about that lens on my channel if you have an interest. All the best. R

[@jacuswoczega9180]

Word "version " in technician language has different meaning than "copy" "item" or "one piece". 50/1.4 has officially labelled versions (mk1 mk2 etc ? I don't know) ?

[@RoyRiley]

@@jacuswoczega9180 me neither! But probably. Certainly possibly.

[@colinhendry3]

Hi, have you owned/used the Canon EF50mm 1.2L and if so, what’s your thoughts? Thanks 😊

[@RoyRiley]

Expensive, heavy, big and sharp. Worth trying I guess because those that like them really like them.

[@draskogagula2073]

Nice hifi speakers i see.. Great video .

[@njcwilliams1875]

This is on my camera body 90% of the time, a great all round lens.

[@RoyRiley]

Glad you are enjoying the 1.4 man.. it’s an interesting lens because it does have a rather bad reputation. Not as cheap as the 1.8 or as premium and snobby as the 1.2 yet in its own way and when used intelligently pisses all over both of them ( excuse my language)

[@Guoenyi]

I think this thing's most amazing features are small, cheap and gets the job done. You want the best of the best you go get RF 50mm or Sigma 50mm art. The options are there. For me having light gear is priority. I wanna focus on my shoot not dragging weighty gears when I do my walk n' shoot.

[@RoyRiley]

Agreed! My 50mm Art is a weighty lump.. Very sharp but very hefty!

[@Guoenyi]

@@RoyRiley Also the good thing about this is the older optical design allowed for very easy self servicing. Some one like me with shaky hands and screwdriver can take it down to bits for service and repair. Yeah the design maybe not very durable but you can swap the parts out and it will work like new again just by yourself.

[@RoyRiley]

@@Guoenyi I have done a few repairs to these lenses myself. One hit and one miss if I remember correctly. It’s not always quite as easy as some might lead you to believe

[@Guoenyi]

@@RoyRiley From my exp the two weak parts are FMF clutch in the gear group and the focusing barrel. Those are easy to repair or replace. Shutter is a bit harder but it isn't weak. The rest that can do wrong is probably just going to be water damage to the board which is also easy replacement.

[@freeman10000]

I have also noticed that slight "mistyness" when using the 50mm f1.4 wide open. I think in certain applications it is quite an attractive optical flaw. When the lens is operating at f8~f11 it is pretty much abberation free. Optically the nifty fifty (50mm f1.8) is very similar but of course the f1.8 is more plasticky and sounds like a power drill when focussing.

[@RoyRiley]

Haha! That’s a good description of the nifty! The STM version is much better and probably the best choice these days

[@mtljmbTUBE]

Good reviews man

[@RoyRiley]

Glad you like them!

[@sunlbx]

I find this lens not good enough for shooting test charts wide open. Real actual motifs, though, even wide open, come out fine. The autofocus never misses. There is some minor focus shift. At close range, I need +1 microadjustment on my Canon 5dsr to shoot wide open and be spot on, but -6 to hit the spot at f2.8-4 At normal distances it's not an issue, and when shooting macro you focus manually anyway. I've heard that later batches are better than earlier batches. I used to personally own one with serial number starting with 5, it was rather disappointing. now i have the one with s/n starting with 7 - it's like a whole different lens both in autofocus consistency and sharpness across the field

[@graffitimanbg]

Hey, Roy! Well done for putting out these old lenses reviews. With the mirrorless era upon us, these will be a great second hand budget option for a lot of new photographers. I personally have the 50, 1.4 for about 14 years now - mine's been sharp, but I rarely go under f2, which I think is the sweet spot of this lens. Btw, what do you think is a better alternative to this lens (obviously comparing apples to apples)? If there's something missing from your review was this (IMHO). Keep up the good work, mate.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks RD. STM 50 is well worth a look. As is the sigma Art lens. All slightly different beasts.

[@markb4881]

Great honest review. I'm thinking of getting this lens to use on my 5dmkii and would it focus better on a mirrorless R6? I have the rf 50 1.8 and really like that. It seems very sharp

[@RoyRiley]

To be honest I have not tried this lens on my R5 but the R cameras do seem to bring out the best in the older EF lenses. Certainly in terms of AF accuracy. I guess it all depends on what you want / need. Also worth considering, the EF 50mm STM is a cracking lens for the 5d range for the price.

[@markb4881]

@@RoyRiley thanks for the reply. I have the stm version was looking for a more magical bokeh look. Have you done any videos with the R5? I would be very interested in seeing your results. Thanks

[@RoyRiley]

@@markb4881 no R5 videos as yet. They will be coming but I wanted to shoot with it for a good while before passing on my thoughts. So far it’s a mixed bag!

[@markb4881]

@@RoyRiley that's interesting. I shall look forward to it

[@hcinaz7915]

Great video as always. What are your thoughts on the original 50mm, f1.8 non-USM released in 1987? It’s a bit noisy when focusing but it’s sharp wide open when I pair it with my 1ds mark iii. Was considering on getting the f1.4 but really have no complaints on the image quality I’m getting with the f1.8.

[@RoyRiley]

Thank you! I have the original 1.8 and it’s still good today. Only get the 1.4 if you really want or need to use the 1.4 factor would be my opinion. If in doubt.. stick with what you have!

[@amagg26]

For what it’s worth, you can take a chance on the 1.4 and go through 4-5 of them and still have less invested than the 1.2L (which is just as optically sketchy). I’ve had both and my copy of the 1.4 was far better 😬

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Andrew. Agreed! The 1.2l seems to be a lens that really divides opinion. Interesting that you prefer the 1.4. All the best. Roy

[@straightedge_eli2062]

I think I heard what I needed to hear when you mention that the lens had fallen apart and then you bought another one.. For me....By you purchasing another lens of the exact size, brand, and price says that it's absolutely necessary to have this lens📸📸📸💯📸🤟✌️

[@RoyRiley]

Also consider the sigma art 50 or the canon stm 50.

[@dankspangle]

I'm on my third one... boink the end and it breaks... love the pics I get out of it though.

[@RoyRiley]

Yep! Seems to be about right!

[@harryedwards9391]

Hi Roy I’ve been looking for a new hobby as I don’t enjoy the tv anymore , I can’t bare cooking programs , game shows and all of the garbage commercials that try and make out that they’re doing you a favour eg funeral care , life insurance etc I’m a total beginner and I’ve been looking at cameras and photography on utube . It looks challenging to me and something that requires patience and learning I’ve just purchased a canon eos 6 d and a canon 24 ……..105 zoom lens , they will be here in a couple of days . My plan is to watch and learn from you Guys Before Utube I wouldn’t have contemplated it . I’m a Plasterer and listening to you explain your trade rings true with my work , I have 38 years experience in my field . My job is built around knowing the materials that I use and how to wangle myself out of unforeseen circumstances that occur and test my problem solving experience I’ve learnt to plaster in many different ways , hot weather cold weather , poor backgrounds lots of different sinarios I can see similarities in your work , your experience makes it possible for you to effect the outcome and get the Best out of a non perfect tool or situation that you find yourself having to wing and experience your way out to achieve an acceptable final product I look forward to listening to you and other peoples ideas and hopefully Mastering the new pre loved tools that I have purchased If I don’t fall in love with the Art I’m confident that I can collect most of my cash back I also have a couple of telescopes and may eventually try some astrophotography I look forward to watching lots more of your fantastic clips with the hope of gaining the knowledge and the help that I require Thanks Roy nice work

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks for this Gary. Really good to hear your feedback and thoughts. Also interesting to hear how you have arrived here not the world of photography. Plastering is one of those skills that I have always been fascinated by. An art form all by itself and watching a decent plasterer at work is an amazing thing.. good choice of camera and lens and as you say - you will most likely get most of your money back if it’s not for you. For me photography has been an amazing passport to experience life. Whether it’s paid work or just for fun. I agree about TV. Pile of crap! Thanks for taking the time to watch some of my videos and I really hope they help you in your journey. All the very best and keep in touch and let me know how you get on with your new gear. RR

[@harryedwards9391]

Hi Roy , thanks for your nice reply Everybody needs a challenge or Hobby especially latter on in life Keep up the channel it’s very interesting !!!!

[@jeffrey17363]

Hi Roy, great videos, I have been shooting professionally for the last 20 years. I have watched many lens and camera reviews on KZbin. Too many are heavily slanted towards video. While I do some professional video, still photography is my bread-and-butter. I particularly enjoy hearing from someone who is a seasoned professional photographer. Many reviewers today rely on resolution charts and controlled shooting situations to define the usefulness of a lens. What a lens can produce in the field is far more critical. I have not had the assignment to go out and shoot resolution charts for a client yet. I purchased the EF 50mm 1.4 in 2012 after dropping my nifty 50 on a concrete floor while packing up at the end of a shoot. My copy has been used for event photography but is the primary lens I have been using for art reproduction. At f/ 5.6, where I do most art reproduction, the lens is flawless. After years of use, I did send it back to Canon to get the autofocus to work more smoothly.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Jeffrey! appreciate you comments. Glad to hear your making the 50mm 1.4 work for you. Hope your keeping sane amongst the chaos of our crazy world. RR

[@Black_Jesus3005]

As a noob, I’m wondering if I wasted my money. Bought one 2nd hand for about the same as the newer 1.8 version. Oh well haha

[@RoyRiley]

No panic! try it for a while, see how you get on.. you can always trade it if not right for you

[@loiclaynell]

nice video thanks

[@RoyRiley]

Most welcome. Thank you! RR

[@ZombieRofl]

Pretty mind boggling that Canon also released a 1.0 version back in the early 90’s if I am not mistaken. All I can say is that there’s sharper options out there 😂 The 1.8 version that I’ve own got me some amazing results. Specially for the money it’s a no brainer if you ask me.

[@RoyRiley]

Never laid hands on that 1.0. Would love to try one. Yup the 1.8 lenses pack big bang for the bucks that is for sure

[@davidprice2525]

Got one of these in Bangkok many years ago more or less on a whim Hugo l just started using it and loving the wide open look. Need to work on focus technique wide open but that’s me not the lens. Really enjoying your videos, your review of the EF85 f1.8 probably saved me £750, was set to buy 85 f1.4 L. You did however talk me into a used EOS 5D if. 😀

[@RoyRiley]

Haha! Spend the saved money on wine, women and song! Live large my friend. RR

[@stephenjones6902]

Great info

[@Fifthimagez]

Great video this was very helpful keep them coming Just like you I’m looking for something that won’t break the bank and that can get the job done i’m shooting on the canon EOSR with EF glass all my lenses was purchased brand-new and this is one for me to finish off my lens kit.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Chris! Might be worth thinking about a 50mm F1.8 STM?? they are available in EF or RF mount

[@Fifthimagez]

@@RoyRiley thanks so much for the feedback I surely appreciate it my EF lens kit consist of 50mm 1.8 / 85mm 1.8/ 35mm f/2 / 135f/2 I’m looking into a 24-70 Which would you choose sigma or Tamron ?

[@Fifthimagez]

@@RoyRiley thanks so much for the feedback I surely appreciate it my EF lens kit consist of 50mm 1.8 / 85mm 1.8/ 35mm f/2 / 135f/2 Sad to say I don’t own any zoom looking into a 24-70 not sure which way to go Sigma /Canon/Tamron

[@RoyRiley]

@@Fifthimagez honestly I don’t know about the sigma or Tamron zooms so cannot comment. I have used the canon 24-70 2.8 and it’s great but expensive and heavy with no IS but is super sharp. I hear good things about the canon 24-70 F4 and I did a video on the 24-105 F4 which might be worth watching.

[@agubser07]

All the downsides of this lens that you mention are why I never upgraded to it over my f/1.8 (inconsistent copies, soft when wide open, lots of aberrations, dodgy AF over time). If I don't switch to Sony mirrorless, I'll save up for the Sigma 1.4. I'm curious why you say "they occupy different places."

[@RoyRiley]

Ultimately all of these things come down to personal preference. My general way of working is to shoot with zooms but to have a 50 in a pocket or pouch or somewhere to hand for if the opportunity to use it presents itself. In this scenario a 50mm 1.8 is often perfect because they are so small and light. A bigger 50mm would be a pain. Other times I will be doing a shoot where a 50mm prime will be the main lens I wish or need to use. For this I will choose a larger aperture lens like for example the Sigma 50mm art 1.4. In an ideal world of course we would all have assistants and carry all the best primes and zooms all the time but that’s not how things happen in my world! The canon 50mm 1.4 does occupy a space between the two and as I say in the video is a bit of a compromise! Hope this all makes sense. R

[@Bowiehair]

Fell apart? Elaborate please

[@RoyRiley]

With extensive professional use I find these lenses tend to slowly fall apart. Not sure how else to elaborate without writing a book about it!

[@tebogdanescu1353]

When you say to people you are a photographer and they eventually ask if if you are professional, your reply should be: look at my face.

[@RoyRiley]

Haha! Subscribe if you have not already.. you will be my 7000th if your quick!

[@DanoFPV]

Amazing lens, but my complaint is how utterly LOUD it is autofocusing.

[@RoyRiley]

@@DanoFPV yes but this thing is OLD.. I tend to think the OLD should at least be aloud to be a little bit LOUD and the young can focus on being a bit more quite

[@ArcanePath360]

£250? They are over £300 everywhere I looked new.

[@RoyRiley]

Apologies. Prices seem to be a bit higher than when I last bought one. My mistake. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. Best wishes.RR

[@ArcanePath360]

@@RoyRiley Lol, no need to apologise, inflation is pretty insane right now. I'm seeing stuff I wanted to buy a few months ago for around £300 be on average £50 more now. When you look at last year's prices and further back it's even more depressing. A lot of lenses cost more second hand now than what they cost new 5 years ago. In fact, lenses might be a good investment in these times of high inflation

[@RoyRiley]

@@ArcanePath360 Its the truth! - I am always amazed at how well good quality lenses hold their value.. never a bad way to spend money

[@thephantomfantasia]

I have just put a deposit down for this lens i had my camera stolen in amsterdam body at the time was apsc starter body eos 4000D lenses in that bag was the 50mm stm 1.8 the 18-55 mm which came with my camera body and the old 55-250 you will know the one the one with the silver on the back of the lens with numbers I just replaced my body 3 days ago and got the sister of the eos 4000 called the 2000D i cant be bothered to pay for 50mm 1.8 again because its expensive brand new the 1.4 usm which I deposited for today is in good nick 2nd hand looks brand new still the previous owner has left a filter with it so nice i am getting a filter included £199 the previous owner wants for it my mum talked to the shop owner today and not pay the full amount the shop owner said its been sitting there ages and i will see what the previous owner says to see if he or she will accept £150

[@PiLipOppa]

@1:03 cringy music. 🤦🏻

[@RoyRiley]

Im a photographer not a f&@ing DJ! Stop moaning and get yourself over to Spotify! Only joking! Sorry the music is not to your taste. I will try harder next time. Best wishes. Roy

[@PiLipOppa]

😂 😂 😂 😍

[@geoffreypiltz271]

This might not be a Canon made lens. It might, like the consumer kit zooms, be made by a third party.

[@RoyRiley]

I guess that could be the case.. nothing would surprise me anymore

[@konradhenrykowicz1859]

My two specimens were both positively dull wide open, showed to be very, very mechanically weak and ended up destroyed by very moderate knocks. I finally bought 50/1.8 ver. I ( metal bayonett) and then 50/1.0 STM. Definitely THE WORST Canon product I have ever had. It seemed to be not canon at all

[@rml3wood]

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