Why am I attracted to the 50mm L lens?

[brambor]

I keep contemplating the acquisition of the 50mm L although I am aware that it is huge and is outperformed by the 1.4 or the 1.8 counterparts. One reason is that I have heard similar jeers about the 85mm L and it is one of my favorite lenses.

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I shoot with D30 and 1V. I am contemplating upgrading to 5D. Would the smaller size of the 5D compared to my current bodies make the 50mm L more practical?

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Are the OOF renditions of the 50mm L somewhat unique for walkaround street lens diring nighttime outings and available twilight shootings?

[astcell]

I am with you there. I had the 85/1.8 for one day and sold it to get the 85/1.2 and havenot looked back since. I later traded my 24-70/2.8 for a 35/1.4. I find that these fast L primes beat out anything else out there.

 

I do want the 50/1.0 but for the same money I will get the 200/1.8 first.

[sheldonnalos]

The 50mm f/1.0 L is not as well regarded as it's other L prime brethren. It's definitely capable of giving you super shallow depth of field, but I think the complaint was that the plane of focus didn't have the same sharpness to help the image really pop.

 

The two L primes that have the most "mojo" in that regard are the 35mm f/1.4 L and the 85mm f/1.2 L (which you already have). I think this would make an amazing available light combo with the 5D. You could always throw a 50mm f/1.4 in the mix if you really liked that focal length. The cost difference between the 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/1.0 is almost $2k, which would go a long way towards purchasing a 5D and a 35mm f/1.4 L.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Sheldon

[brambor]

I wasn't aware that the 200 1.8 is in the same price category as the 50L. Isn't the 200 1.8 more expensive?

[jcolwell]

The 50/1.0L and 200/1.8L are pretty close in price: the average prices of recent sales on eBay for [M- to N] condition are $3200(US) for the 50/1.0L (4 sales) and $3875(US) for the 200/1.8L (8 sales), see <a href="http://www.jcolwell.ca">Lens$db</a>.

[working camera]

The 85 1.2 is a classic and stands up against the best.

 

The 50 f1.0 should be regarded as a specialist lens and a compromise in terms of design and performance, particularly wide open. Forget the "L" bit and ask yourself, "do I really need the extra speed". Are you into available dark photography?

 

The regular Canon 50s are not shabby glass and should not be dismissed. Canon and Leica (with thier Nocitulux) have traditionally been and are still the leaders in the field of super fast 50s and no one has ever made a realy good one. If you want the best in this range you have to revert to FD. I always liked the F1N. You could even go back to an S7 and the f0.95. Now that is a really cool set up. Crap image quality but super cool looking.

 

Its a question of known image quality over the image making potential of a super fast lens. The DoF advantage may be seen with your D30, but not so much with IV and a 5D. You've already got the 85 L for shallow DoF. Is the f1.0 really necessary?

 

Is it about the pics or the gear in your bag? That's the question and at the end of the day its your wallet.

 

regards C.

[brambor]

For some strange reason I thought the 50L hovers around $2000. Still a lot of money though...

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[jcolwell]

Rene, maybe you're right that the 2002/1.8L is more costly - it depends on what you are looking for. Two 50/1.0L's in [E to E++] condition have sold for an average of about $1350(US) in the same time as the [M- to N] lenses at $3200. OTOH, the average of 7 sales for the 200/1.8L in [E to E++] is about $3050(US), which is pretty close to the ones in mint condition at $3875.

[oceanphysics]

Midlife crisis? Existential angst? Desire for that lens, unattached to any actual need or intended purpose, is probably a question better addressed by the spirital advisor or mental health professional of your choice.

[PuppyDigs]

It was only a few years ago the EF 50 1.0L USM sold for $2500 new at B&H. Used ones

were often $1000-1500. I'm surprised demand for used ones has exceeded the former

new

price...

[bobatkins]

I found a Konica Hexanaon 57mm f1.2 lens so I bought an Autoreflex T (which came with a 28-8o zoom and a 52/1.8 prime) for under $25.

 

Yeh, it's f1.2 not f1.0 and it's a Konica and won't fit my EOS gear at all - but it was CHEAP, and it's a good lens.

 

The real difference between f1.0 and f1.4 isn't all that big. Yes, there's a subtle softening of background details and you get an extra stop for low light hand held work, but I'm not at all sure it's worth $1500.

[brambor]

Ocean Physics, thank you for your guidance. I am, however, comfortable in making my own decisions. If you haven't noticed I still shoot Canon D30, I shoot film and I haven't made a lens or camera purchase in the about 2 years. I take pictures almost every day, be it for pleasure of for my job in hockey business. I am totally into available light, don't own any flashes and I really know what I want. I am at a stage right now (not midlife crisis) where I don't need just another lens. I'm looking for a lens that would give me a certain feel in available light photography. I've told you more than you deserve to know, however. Next time please refrain from making personal remarks. I did not ask for an opinion on my personal mental state.

[brambor]

Bob, I used to have the Hexanon 1.2 a few years back. Great lens. Maybe that's an additional reason why the 50mm L intrigues me. I sold the Hexanon with my Konica gear a while ago. The 57mm 1.2 was my favorite.

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[oceanphysics]

Rene, if you don't want to know what people think, don't ask! If you are "comfortable making your own decisions," don't ask. If you don't want people examing your "personal mental state," don't ask them to tell you why you are "attracted to" a lens. How the hell should we know? If you know, great! Why ask us?

[brambor]

OP, this is a discussion forum. I asked for A and you responded with B. That's all there is to it. The discussion was pleasant untill yopu barged in. I respect your right to comment and ask for you to respect mine. In the spirit of the discussion I told you that you were off base. Just as I would had we had a conversation face to face. No need to take it any further.

[andrew robertson]

I wasn't aware that anybody owned any particular thread on photo.net.

[working camera]

Rene

 

Pay OP no mind he's obviously just returned from a deep dive.

 

I understand your dilemma, so I must be having mid life crisis too.

 

Ultimately you already know the answer to your own question. I see where you are coming from. An f0:1 / 50 ?real? FL on a compact Dslr for street work! It is a pretty tempting and almost the perfect combo.

 

C.

[apdx]

a bit offtopic, but the canon 50 mm lenses are nowhere close to Leica's.

the only thing that can be really considered for comparison is f/1.4 from Pentax. 85 f/1.2 is worth every penny to me..

[andrew robertson]

Yuri, Canon's 50 f/1.4 rates identically to Leica's on Photodo if you give them any credence.

 

Maybe you meant to say that Canon's lenses are nowhere close to Leica's in PRICE.

[matt_sallis]

Of course if you want a super-fast standard lens that is actually sharp wide open, then you have to consider the legendary Zeiss 55mm f1.2 for Contax.

It can be adapted for use on Canon eos and will produce unequalled results (though you may wish to consult your mortgage advisor before purchase).

 

I use the Zeiss 85mm f1.2, and although the Canon equivalent is an astounding lens, the Zeiss just renders a nicer look with better colour and softer bokeh. Get ready for some fun manually focussing at f1.2 though ;-)

[colin_bailey]

I was at a local store yesterday perusing the used section. They had a 50mm L, for $4400. The salesman said the focusing motor and something else had been replaced by canon. I really quit paying attention after the sticker shock, but it was pretty cool to examine up-close.

[25asa]

If you can wait- there is a rumour of a 50mm f1.2L coming this spring. We'll know for sure in February if this is true. Its supposed to be a benchmark lens and performance killer.

[fourfa]

<i>OP, this is a discussion forum. I asked for A and you responded with B. </i>

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welcome to the internet. the opinions you get are worth what you paid for them (nothing). best to expect a lot of irrelevant left-field answers, then ignore them and move on.