Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard AutoFocus Lens - Refurbished

2011-07-30T21:00:00

I bought the 50mm 1.8 many years ago when I was just starting out and it has served me well. But it has it's shortcomings and I had long wanted to replace it with something better. Anyone who has or who is considering getting the 50mm 1.8 should think about spending the extra money to get the 50mm 1.4 instead, you won't be sorry! I do a fair amount of manual focusing making the 50mm 1.8 more difficult to use, given that the focus ring on it was so small. The 50mm 1.4 has a larger focus ring (though could be larger still) which makes manual focusing much easier, not to mention it also has a focus distance scale on it too. The build quality is good but not great, it has your typical mid-priced plastic body, but it doesn't look or feel cheap. It has a little bit of weight to it but isn't heavy, and can easily be carried around all day without wearing you out (unlike, say, a 70-200mm 2.8 lens). Image quality from it is very good. This lens is my most often used lens and I keep it on one body anytime it is in my bag, so I can grab and go quickly. It is also my go to lens for doing HDR panoramas and it has delivered great results. And for those times when I feel like going out and shooting with just one lens, this is most often the lens I choose to do that with.

Matthew C.

2011-06-25T21:00:00

Unbelievable in low light. This lens allows so much light in it's just remarkable. I got the refurb for a steal. Highly recommended!

Jay

2011-03-19T21:00:00

My first Canon was a FT/QL that came with the 50mm lense 1.4 manual focus. The quality was good then and is still good. While out shooting you should never be without this lense.

CHARLES P.

2010-03-04T19:00:00

I picked this up to extend the natural light portrait work I do. Previously I used the 50mm f/1.8 II, which is not terrible in its own right, but I felt I could do a bit better after 4 years. What I got was what I hoped for and wanted, a more rugged, brighter, somewhat faster-focusing lens. I was first surprised by just how bright this lens is by comparison to the f/1.8. I shot a couple frames in the office before leaving work, going only by a safety light, and got a couple semi-interesting shots of a tea kettle in the light - only to realize I shot it at 1/40" on ISO 100! From there it's just been learning appropriate usage for the wider end of the lens. I should also say that images seem to "pop" more; whether this has to do with the better quality lens elements providing better contrast I'm not sure, but I suspect so. Several shots outdoors and in high-contrast situations (i.e., dark subject on snow) have proven to be quite good, not too much CA (at least not more than a few moments' fix in post). The only knock I have on it at this point is that it does still seem to hunt in dimmer available light situations, but I expect that's more my expectation or camera than a problem with the lens. Overall, very happy with the lens, almost wish I had gotten it earlier.

FRANK S.

2010-02-20T19:00:00

its an amazing lens for the price every pro should have 2 of them.

2009-11-02T19:00:00

This lens arrived in just like new condition. I could not tell the difference at all. It has become my favorite lens for Portraits because of the sharp, fast focus and the depth of field. Very good costruction.

LEE W.