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Review by jt354 on 16 September 2010

Individual review
Build Quality	2
Reliability	3
Sharpness	3
Bokeh	5
Other Image Quality	4
AF Accuracy	4
AF Speed	4
AF (difficult conditions)	4
Value for money	5

Pros:  cheap, wide aperture, lightweight
Cons:  sharpness wide open, af motor

The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a lens sorely in need of a Mk. II upgrade (which will hopefully be an actual improvement, unlike the 50mm f/1.8). The main issues with this lens are the construction/AF, and wide open sharpness. Build quality is OK, but the focus ring is sub-par for a wide aperture prime and the lens utilizes the completely pointless micro-motor USM. This system does not afford full time manual focus override, is prone to breakage, is not internal, is slower than ring USM, etc. It's no better and possibly worse than a screw drive. Image quality is pretty good. The lens is soft wide open but improves to acceptable at f/1.8 and excellent at f/2.8. Bokeh is pleasing, the minimum focus distance is much closer than the 85mm f/1.8, for example, and color reproduction is good. Contrast is low wide open, improving dramatically stopped-down. I've been postponing my purchase of this lens in hopes for a Mk. II, once I (inevitably) buy it, Canon will (also inevitably) immediately release said update.

Review by I Simonius on 3 June 2009

Individual review
Build Quality	3
Reliability	5
Sharpness	4
Bokeh	4
Other Image Quality	4
AF Accuracy	4
AF Speed	4
AF (difficult conditions)	4
Value for money	5

Pros:  Cheap.
Cons:  Not sharp at all wide open

This is an underestimated Focal length. I stopped using while I bought all the other flashy lenses but came back to it and often find I am surprised by how much I still enjoy the AOV (angle of view) . It is said to be the closest to normal way of looking at things.

It is pretty soft wide open but slowly improves as you stop down. Once stopped down to 5.6 it is a very sharp lens indeed, few lenses have more resolving power at middle f-stops.

very slightly better than the 1.8 version and MUCH cheaper than the 1.2 version

Review by Jason C on 3 August 2008

Individual review
Build Quality	4
Reliability	4
Sharpness	3
Bokeh	4
Other Image Quality	4
AF Accuracy	5
AF Speed	5
AF (difficult conditions)	4
Value for money	5

Pros:  Sharp @ f1.4 and only gets better, contrast, AF accuaracy
Cons:  What cons?

This is an upgrade from the excellent value Canon 50mm 1.8 mk.II, and its one great piece of glass. Quiet, fast and accurate AF, with wonderful contrast and color. My copy is sharp at f/1.4, very sharp at f/2 and pin-point sharp at f/2.8. It is my opinion that this lens is a great value for the money. If you only plan to own one prime in your kit, this should be that lens.

Review by Amanda on 16 May 2008

Individual review
Build Quality	3
Reliability	4
Sharpness	4
Bokeh	5
Other Image Quality	4
AF Accuracy	4
AF Speed	4
AF (difficult conditions)	4
Value for money	5

Pros:  great IQ, compact, fast
Cons:  can't take a beating

On a 1.3, this focal length seems to work well and this often becomes my walkaround lens. It is a bit soft wide open, but in general is a sharp lens with good IQ. For a lens in this price range, it's a good investment.

Review by tim on 12 May 2008

Individual review
Build Quality	3
Reliability	3
Sharpness	3
Bokeh	3
Other Image Quality	4
AF Accuracy	4
AF Speed	4
AF (difficult conditions)	3
Value for money	3

Pros:  Reasonably sharp, good flare control, good color
Cons:  Doesn't work well after being dropped!

This is a good lens, I tend to use it mainly when zooms will flare. Focus accuracy is ok, wide open image sharpness is only average at F1.4, but by F2.0 it gets better. I've never been massively impressed with the lens on the 20D/30D, but on the 40D is better. On the 5D it's a much more useful focal length.