Best Digital SLR Cameras

The CANON EF 50MM f/1.4 USM is a standard lens featuring superb quality and portability. Two high-refraction lens elements and new Gaussian optics eliminate astigmatism and suppress astigmatic difference. Crisp images with little flare are obtained even at the maximum aperture. Max. Diameter & Length – 73.8mm x 50.5mm

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Worth every penny! Could be the only lens you need…
I have a 30D and my wife wanted a DSLR for her anniversary. I have a collection of nice Canon lenses, including this one. When she got her Rebel, this was the lens she ended up stealing from me. She uses it 99% of the time. On the Rebel, it makes for a fairly small package and exceptional pictures. The focus speed is fast, and the image quality is comparable to L-series zoom lenses.

The only real downside is having to use your feet to zoom in closer to an object.

4 Stars Sharp but Fragile
I bought mine in 2005 to use with my Canon EOS Digital Rebel 300D and it quickly became my daily lens. Even though I had the kit zoom lens I used this lens for more than 80% of the pictures I was taking with the camera, and I ended up selling the kit lens to my sister when she bought a Canon body. It’s sharp from around f/2.2 or so, and opens up to f/1.4 for low light usage. It’s hard to handle the depth of field wide open, but if the choice is that or no picture at all, I’ll take the chance. The focus motor is fast and reasonably quiet.

My one problem with this lens is the construction. The focus barrel is external and subject to shock, and the motor is delicate. For me this combination meant an expensive trip to the depot, and the repair cost a quarter of what I spent on the lens in the first place. I use a hood now, but I could have bought five of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens for what I’ve spent on this lens so far. Even with the plastic mount on the thrifty fifty, I don’t think I’d have knocked five of them out of commission yet.

That said, I have used the thrifty fifty and between its noisier motor and lack of full-time manual focus I find it a less desirable lens than this one, and if I had to make the decision again I’d probably still buy this one. I’d just make sure to get (and use) the hood to protect that fragile focus mechanism.

5 Stars Fabulous 50
Pros: IQ!, Aperture!, Bokeh!, FTMF!

Cons: USM not ring-type ultrasonic, not fantastically sharp at 1.4

Review: I really like this lens. Unless you can bill clients to purchase the 50mm 1.2 II this is the 50mm to have. My use has been on a 1.6x crop body, I really like the results, I have found the bokeh excellent, and sharpness is fabulous when stopped down slightly. Great for mild zoomed shots or portraits. The view angle is a little tight for a walk-around lens. Also, the ultrasonic motor is not as smooth or quiet as a ring type USM, but it is still very good. A must have Lens. A great compliment to the 28mm 1.8. High quality optics, big apertures with reasonable cost.

5 Stars Great lens…for indoor shooting.
I just bought this “baby” on Friday,next day I was shooting indoor swimming event.

What I could see in the viewfinder I could not believe myself…

I was shooting w/ISO 800 using 1/500s and 1/640s speed and shoots are great. I could not believe my own eyes. Shoots turned out superb.

I would recommend this lens to everyone,very well money spent.

It is very good in tied spots and very fast.I love it.

5 Stars Amazing
This lens is great! I’m amazed at the pictures we’ve taken with this lens. Great for low light situations. It’s definitely worth every penny.

It is a fixed lens. You’ve got to move instead of zooming in or out but the quality far outweighs having to move around a bit. I’m sure we’ll be buying more lens with the same/similar specs in the near future.

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