Customer Reviews
A WINNER! 
2008-05-22
If you are in the market for a lens that takes AMAZING low light shots, this is your lens hands down. I have yet to get a bad shot with this camera. As an assistant, I took better reception pictures than the primary photographer who was using a flash and all purpose lens. You will need to make sure that you use the white balance setting either in the camera or in Lightroom because out of the camera the color tends to be even more yellow from the tungsten lighting than with other lenses. The price is great and you will be very satisfied with the results!
Excellent lens, extremely sharp, great value 2008-05-22
My first lens for the 40D. It took me a few days to get used to this lens and once I fully figured out how to use it with my DSLR I was completely blown away with the image quality. It's great in low light as well.
I highly recommend it.
Great Pictures 
2008-05-22
This lens is made with quality, and produces great pictures with my Canon 40D. Great Portrait photographs, with a professional look. I would definitely recommend this lens to anyone looking to not spend a ton of money on a lens. You cannot beat Canon lenses.
Value for money 2008-05-21
The 50mm 1.4 is a good value for the money. It shoots in less light than the 50mm 1.8 and is better all around. The focus is a bit more accurate and consistent, the contrast and color are more reliable as well. That should be no surprise though, you're paying for an improvement over the 50mm 1.8. It still leaves something to be desired if you have L quality taste, but if you're coming from the 50mm 1.8 you'll find this a fantastic lens. I get 30 percent or so more keepers with this than the 50mm 1.8 due to more consistency in focus and cleaner more consistent color. If you own the 1.8 you should appreciate this as an upgrade, but if you own L glass you will probably find yourself wishing for something even better eventually. The AF is not really fast enough for great action performance in low light like the 85mm 1.8, but some will still shoot with it with a few less keepers and reach. The design is relative to it's price so I can't fault it for some of the extras that come with more expensive lenses. Still a useful lens until Canon upgrades the USM and FTM focus to the real deal in a value package. This lens is Canons only lens to supply FTM (full time manual focus) with a conventional focusing motor. Those that followed went to ring USM and perform slightly better for it. The 50mm 1.2L is Canon's next step above the 50mm 1.4 and is several times more expensive, so the 50mm 1.4 will hold it's own unless Canon does decide to give us an updated Mark II version or a 3rd party steps ahead of Canon to fill that gap.
Beautiful shots 2008-05-19
I'm not a professional by any means, but I do love photography. I bought this lens after lots of consideration because of its qualities as a good macro lens and potential portrait lens.
This lens is so much more. Because of the relatively short distance necessary to create close shots, there is a sense of intimacy created in my photographs that has surprised me far beyond my original expectations.
Portraits do have the tendency to be fairly "in your face", depending on the lighting, and again, depending on the lighting, the skin of your subject's may be a little too "hi-def", but I just attribute this to the macro-quality of the lens. Overall I have been really pleased.
The lens does tend to hunt a bit depending on the light, from my experience, but re-positioning of your own body fixes that.
I have this lens on my Canon K2-- a 35mm camera, and used in combination with different types of films, the results can be spectacular.
Great buy!
Excellent lens 2008-07-25
Excellent lens. In my Canon 5D I use it as a standard lens and in my 30D I use it as a short telephoto lens, perfect to take pictures of my baby. Don't forget to get the lens hood. Not only protects the lens but improves contrast and color saturation.
Buy the best tool for the job that you can 2008-06-26
After researching this lense, I quickly decided to acquire it.
I must say I have a regret..........
That I did not grab it a LONG time ago!!
I've had the 50 for a couple months now,and it has not parted ways from my cam body at all..and after a rather large event this past weekend, where I was shooting w two cams, one w the 50 sans flash, & one w a 28-135 tele w' flash....I ended up ditching most of the flashed pics,but am busily cranking out large prints of 3/4 of the pics acquired with the 50....
..............
Something to think about while reading thru info/reviews..... I come across statements sprinkled thru-out various forums about people raving about their kit lense is good enough and look at the pictures they got with them,... and why anyone would ever spring for expensive glass is beyond their comprehension....
A little comparison.
Carpenter Joe builds houses w a $10 wood-handled hammer,a 12 inch ruler, and a shovel.
Carpenter Jim builds houses w a $50 composite hammer, a measuring tape and a power auger
Carpenter John builds houses w a $200 air powered hammer,a laser level, and a backhoe.
Their houses all get built,,,but I'll leave you to decide who's house is finished first, with straighter floors,ectect...
Tools may not make you a better carpenter ( or photographer ) but they sure can help!!!
....And really,,anyone who has ever built something with a hammer that sends shock waves thru their hand w' each blow, and the head falls off after every 20 nails..vs the person using a airgun...one of those folks is going to enjoy their work a WHOLE lot more,,and that always helps improve workmanship and quality,,would'nt you think ?
Cheers
~Julius Kuziemski
I love this lens 2008-06-16
After using the f1.4 for several months and then holding a friend's f1.8, I am so glad I chose this lens over the f1.8. The USM is so quick and quiet, the bokeh is gorgeous... I have gotten several wonderful prints with this lens. If you can afford this lens over the 50mm f1.8 I would strongly recommend you make the investment.
great lens, great price 2008-06-16
i was preparing to buy the L series lens for 3-5 times as much when a friend who owns both advised me to get this one. i have been using it every day and it has become my standard lens. the autofocus can be slow, and you need to make sure, at the f/1.4 setting, that you have your focus correct, because the depth of field is so thin, but with a little practice this creates the most amazing images. i have done portraits with it and my sitters all cannot believe how great the final product is. i strongly recommend this product.
Sharp as a tack 2008-06-15
I love this lens. It wasn't sharp as a tack when I first got it though. I had to have Canon calibrate it and there was something they needed to fix.
But now it's great!
Even before they fixed it I like it a lot.
Almost painterly in low light. Primes kind of rule!
