Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.
The Canon 50mm 1.4 has a lot in common with the 50mm 1.8 – it is small, light and offers outstanding image quality for a very reasonable price.
So, what distinguishes these two lenses?
While they look almost identical on paper, there are several important and perhaps less important factors that you should consider before deciding on one over the other.
Canon 50mm 1.4 Review vs Canon 50mm 1.8
To say that one lens is better than the other is flawed thinking. As always, it is really up to the individual to decide which lens is best suited to them.
Many people will try to tell you that you should opt for the 50mm 1.8 because it costs less and basically does the same job. Others will tell you to forget about the 50mm 1.4 because it won’t last the distance and that you are only setting yourself for an inevitable upgrade in the future anyway.
So with that in mind, I want to give you some hard truths to help you in your buying decision.
If you are just starting out in photography – then buy the 1.8 version – simply because 50mm is a workable starting focal length and the low cost of the lens means you aren’t risking much if you decide that you don’t like it.
Speaking of 50mm, did you know that it is the focal length which most closely resembles the field of view of the human eye?
While the 1.4 is more adaptable and will give you better results more of the time, the slightly slower version is still a high quality lens and will definitely wow beginners who have been used to the very soft and slow 18-55mm kit lens for example (why they don’t offer prime lenses as bundles with DSLR bodies is beyond me, but perhaps then it would ruin their charm and they would have never been as good as they have become).
If you are ready to graduate to the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens then you will surely appreciate the fact that it will probably last longer than the 1.8, and that is one major victory to be had without even looking at the optics or performance.
I have collated the main differences into the table below to make it easier to read.
| Canon 50mm 1.4 |
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| Canon 50mm 1.8 |
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- Canon 50mm 1.4
Even though I am probably splitting hairs here, the fact of the matter is that the f1.4 exposes a third of a stop brighter than most other Canon lenses. It is brighter in the viewfinder in general teams and really is a whole stop “faster” than the f1.8 at maximum aperture.
If you’re willing to sacrifice some clarity, that extra stop can make a huge difference when you are looking to shoot moving subjects, particularly in low light.
For example – imagine that you are at a concert somewhere and while you wish to get a photograph of your favorite band – the venue is dimly lit. The 50mm 1.4 has a faster shutter speed for less motion blur because of the wider maximum aperture and the bokeh will be much more pleasing and less distracting to boot. There is also more light gathered for better color reproduction (not that the 1.4 really needed it!).
It is the scenario mentioned above (and many others no doubt) which proves that the 1.4 will be more versatile and more able to handle itself under pressure. This will be a minor quibble to some, and a big deal to others.
| Where should you buy and how much should you pay? |
I would not pay anymore than $400 for this lens - check out the low price here. As always though the price will fluctuate wildly from one retailer to the next. One place that is pretty consistent is Amazon and right now they are very reasonably priced – the best online in most cases.
With that in mind, please help support the maintenance of this site by using the links mentioned above to make any purchases you might be thinking of making. I get a small commission from your purchase but it doesn’t cost you anymore to buy the lens. Any purchase is greatly appreciated, thankyou.
Conclusion
The Canon 50mm 1.4 is a must have addition to any kit bag in my opinion. Whether you want to get your feet wet with the 1.8 is entirely up to you and hopefully I have given you enough information to make the right decision in this review.
Make no bones about it, the 1.4 is a serious lens that is up there with the big boys in terms of image quality and performance. For a measly $350 or so you can have the perfect starter lens that will never go out of fashion or be made obsolete by something else.
Matthew Davidson from Cambridge MA sums up this lens pretty well – it will open up your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and you won’t want to put it down:
The Canon 50mm 1.4 gobbles light. It opens up a world of indoor photography that is not possible with a 4.0 lens. The 50mm focal length combined with available light produces natural-looking results. It is exactly what your eye sees. Shadows and highlights are intact. It is a revelation if you’re used to the harsh drop shadows and evenly-lit faces produced by flashes. This is a jarring step up in quality from snapshot to “wow”….
…As a father, my only regret is I wish I had this lens earlier. From one parent to another, I’ll tell you the price of the lens is irrelevant, as the pictures it produces are priceless.
photo credit smoorenburg
Related posts:
- Canon 50mm 1.8 II Lens Review – A Must Own Canon Prime Lens
- Canon 85mm 1.8 – Superbly Sharp With Beautiful Bokeh Make This The Perfect Portrait Lens
- Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens – Is It Right For You Or Worth The Money?
- Canon EF 24-70mm – An Even Better Lens Than Its Highly Acclaimed Predecessor
- Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8 USM – Making High Quality Macro Photography Fun
Filed under: Canon DSLR Lenses
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