50mm F1.4 Canon v Sigma

I have the Nikon version of the siggy 1.4. Lovely lens and very sharp centrally when used wide open. The Nikon version needs to be stopped down a little to get same result (but is a bit sharper in the corners)

I wanted a lens that is sharp on wide apertures so siggy it was.
 
fine for me.
 
Can't help there, the "Dark Side" doesn't use photocopiers much:)
 
sidxms said:
Cheers there,

I'm wanting to know if the Canon is much worse or not as it is cheaper and lighter which does matter atm

sid
Click to expand...

I owned the Canon 50mm 1.4 before I switched to the dark side. And I have to say that my version was incredibly sharp. The bokeh was nice. It was a superb lens even when mounted on my old 450d. I don't think you'd be disappointed with either. You'll just pay more for the Sigma.
 
I have the Canon version. Very Very happy with it. You wont be disappointed.
Super sharp, quick to focus, lovely bokeh. I hardly use anything else for walkabout.
Great for low ambient light......am I going on a bit....oh yeah, super portrait lens....
 
I prefer the Sigma but I have found the AF more reliable if you avoid the outermost AF points. I also find it perfect on my 5D but had some minor issues at longer subject distances on my 50D.

Phil
 
I'm interested in the Sigma too; have read quite a few negative things about the Canon version's dodgy old micromotor USM failing all over the place.

EDIT: Am I right in thinking coz the Sigma is a 'DG' lens it can be used on full frame as well as crop-sensor cameras???
 
I have the Canon version, likes been said it's very sharp.

4298218930_a85ebebf5e.jpg


My only gripe was with focusing in low light, and when I mean low light I mean ISO 3200 at f1.4 40th(ish) and it was hard work!

But as long as you don't push it to hard that way it's great.
 
Gaz81 said:
I have the Canon version, likes been said it's very sharp.
Click to expand...

I could see why it is sharp on your 5D mk1 FF. 40D and 7D have far higher pixel density. On 40D that lens white open is very soft wide open at best. 85mm f/1.8 completely destroys it. And 50mm breaks very easily, like a fragile toy. Ebay is full of scrapped copies, unlike any other lens.
 
I think I was one of the lucky ones with the Sigma too ... It's very sharp. I has a picture I took of my TV remote to demonstrate the shallow DOF at 1/4 ... Yhe forst comment I got was " Nice I can see the skin from your fingers on the buttons"
 
Hmm choices choices then. Does anyone have both to compare sizes.

The lens will go on a EOS3 and 1dmarkII so size isn't too much of a concern but I'm wary of the 77mm filter thread which exposes a large front element

sid
 
Keep the hood in the "in use" position and treat it (space-wise) like a zoom in your bag. I do find it a big fatty compared to my diminutive Pentax FA ƒ/1.4 50mm with 49mm filter ring.
 
Gaz81 said:
I have the Canon version, likes been said it's very sharp.

My only gripe was with focusing in low light, and when I mean low light I mean ISO 3200 at f1.4 40th(ish) and it was hard work!

But as long as you don't push it to hard that way it's great.
Click to expand...

That's much more to do with your camera than the lens!
 
This issue has come up before. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 lens is designed to give the very best image quality at F1.4 on a full frame camera. In particular, it's designed to reduce vignetting (shadowing at the corners of the image, for those not familiar with the jargon) to an absolute minimum. This is why it's much bigger, heavier and more expensive than the Canon.

The Canon gives its best performance at much smaller apertures - around F7 or F8, if my memory serves me correctly.
 
i use the siggy on nikon , great lens but at 1.4 its a bit soft/ to soft for me. F2 it starts to become realy sharp.

as far as i know most lenses r soft at 1.4

f5.6 and upwards its the sharpest lens i have.
 
r1andy said:
i use the siggy on nikon , great lens but at 1.4 its a bit soft/ to soft for me. F2 it starts to become realy sharp.

as far as i know most lenses r soft at 1.4

f5.6 and upwards its the sharpest lens i have.
Click to expand...

Well that defeats the point of a wide aperture lens then, Alex says its supposed to be sharp.

Have we got any test shots to compare?

sid
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top