Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Review
05/13/2006
There are times when you are shooting in low light conditions (e.g.
indoors) where you do not want to use flash. Other than dealing
with long exposures, which is almost always associated with blurring,
the only other solution would be to use a fast lens. The widest,
fastest lens available and being somewhat affordable is Canon's
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. I initially wanted the EF 24mm f/1.4L USM
but, at three and half times the cost, it was out of my budget
(it's on my wish list though).
A 50mm lens on a Digital Rebel XT for indoor shooting, and low
light conditions outdoors, will have it's limitations. Using a
Digital Rebel XT with it's APS-C size sensor and a 1.6x lens conversion
factor, a 50mm lens is equivalent to an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera.
It may be limited to portrait shots but I'm sure I'll find some
other uses for it. |
| What's in the box |
|
1 - Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens
1 - E-58U Front lens cap
1 - Rear lens cap
1 - Instruction pamphlet (in different languages)
1 - 1 year Warranty/Registration |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Specifications |
| Image size |
 |
Full frame |
| Focal length |
|
50mm |
| 35 mm FOV - Digital Rebel XT |
|
80mm equivalent |
| Construction |
|
7 Elements in 6 Groups |
| Diaphragm |
|
8 blades |
| Maximum aperture |
|
f/1.4 |
| Minimum aperture |
|
f/22 |
| Closest focus |
|
17.7" (0.45m) |
| Max magnification |
|
0.15x |
| Distance information |
|
Yes |
| Image stabilizer |
|
No |
| AF actuator |
|
Micromotor USM with full-time manual focus |
| Filter diameter |
|
58mm |
| Dimensions (diameter x length) |
|
2.9" (73.8mm) x 2.0" (50.5mm) |
| Weight |
|
10.2 oz (290g) |
| |
|
|
| Other Information |
| Angle of view - Full frame |
|
39.6º, 27º, 46.8º (horiz, vert, diag,) |
| Angle of view - Digital Rebel XT |
|
25º, 16.8º, 29.9º (horiz, vert, diag,) |
| Front element extends (focusing) |
|
Yes, +0.3" (7.6mm) at closest focus |
| Front element rotates (focusing) |
|
No |
| |
|
|
| Optional (Canon) Accessories |
| Lens hood |
|
ES-71II |
| Soft lens case |
|
LP1014 |
| A look at Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM |
 |
 |
(l to r) 50,
10-22, 17-85
and 70-300
|
EF left,
FD right |
 |
 |
Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is small, and light, compared to the
other lens in my collection. As with any lens I buy, I immediately
place a UV filter on the front of the lens. I've done it in the
past with the thinking that while it is dust free, a filter on
the lens will keep it that way. It does work for a while but dust
will eventually find it's way on the lens.
The construction of the lens is fairly good but I'm still partial
to my old FD lens, from the mid 70's.
There are some similarities between the old FD 50mm f/1.4 and the
new EF 50mm f/1.4. They are both constructed with 7 elements in
6 groups, the front element extends when focusing
from infinity to near and they are somewhat comparable in size.
Other than that the similarity ends, for example, my old FD uses
52mm filters whereas the EF uses 58mm... bummer. The barrels on
the EF are plastic instead of metal as on the FD, and the FD displays
the entire distance scale.
The focus ring on my Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM has a little slop
to it, in other works, a little wobble. Rotating the focus ring
is fairly smooth but feels a bit scratchy. Probably due to the
plastic construction. |
| Using Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM |
The lens is very light compared to the zoom lenses I already have
and, when mounted on my Digital Rebel XT, it makes the camera appear
very compact.
The micromotor USM does make a little noise when autofocusing compared
to the silent motors on the EF-S 10-22mm USM and EFS17-85mm USM IS
but much less noise than the EF70-300mm USM IS. The focusing isn't
as instant as the EF-S 10-22mm USM and EFS17-85mm USM IS but, then
again, it is very quick when compared to my EF70-300mm USM IS.
Some photographs I've taken with Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM do exhibit
a small degree of barrel distortion but it is only noticeable when
you snap a straight line in Photoshop. I've read reports where vignetting
occurs at the widest aperature, but in my case, vignetting is non-existent
(to my eyes).
Already I'm feeling somewhat confined when using this lens. I've
developed a tendency to zoom in or out on a subject, but with a fixed
lens, you have to reposition yourself by moving towards or away from
the subject. I've used fixed lens in the past but I guess I've been
spoiled by these new crop of zoom lens, especially the ones with
IS (image stabilizer).
There is, however, one thing I really admire about using Canon's
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM and that is it's wide open aperture. It can narrow
the depth of field so dramatically that only the subject remains
in focus. |
| Photographs using Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM |
 |
| Subject: |
|
Walkway |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/640 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/5.6 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
|
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Street |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/640 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/5.0 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
|
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Fire Hydrant |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/800 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/5.6 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
|
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Mall |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/800 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/5.6 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
I was approached by a security guard after taking
this shot saying no pictures are to be taken of the mall (something
to do with 9-11). |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Simba |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/250 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/1.4 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
|
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Leafless Tree |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/500 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/7.1 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
200 |
| Focal Length: |
|
50.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
|
|
| All the photographs above have been taken
in jpeg mode, and reduced 50% in Photoshop with moderate jpeg compression
to conserve disk space and bandwidth. Camera was handheld using autofocus
(unless otherwise noted). No color corrections, level adjustments, sharpening
or croppings were made. |
| Conclusion |
The lens is very small and light compared to the zoom lenses I already
have. And, when mounted on my Digital Rebel XT, it makes the camera
appear very compact. It's large aperature helps considerably when
shooting indoors and low light conditions outdoors. Probably
the only things I liked about this lens (from an amateur point-of-view).
Other than that I found the lens to be very limiting in that it takes
a little time to compose a shot. The 50mm is not going to
be my "walk-around" lens. It's definitely in my bag for
those special moments but, if I needed to carry around just one lens,
its Canon's EF-S 17-85 F4-5.6 IS USM (my
review). At the moment, the 17-85, for me, is the most
useful lens, with the 5x zoom and IS.
:-)
Gary Kawamura |
|
