Strange as I get older, I’m leaning more to buying primes. Maybe its the optical equivalent of a pipe and slippers.
Anyway, suppose I should post my initial review of the lens.
I’ve been looking for a lens for some low light work recently, in fact I felt I need one just for the forthcoming Crufts Dog show at the NEC. So looking around at my options I found two focal lengths that might fit the bill. 50mm & 85mm, now these come in a number of different shapes and sizes (and of course prices!). After trialling a number (well 2) of these lenses I chose the 50mm f/1.4. Why? Well initially I was looking at the EF85mm f/1.8. This seems a decent lens, but probably a bit too long for me. After all my EF100 F/2.8 is only a stop or so slower and the focal length isn’t too far away.
So why the f/1.4. A couple of reasons:
f/1.8 version is optically very good but it’s build is well cack. Handling of this lens was a struggle with the bulk of the 5D battery grip.
f/1.2 version I have no doubt is superb, but I haven’t got the money for it.
So time to buy. I attended Focus on Imaging again this year, only to find the big 3 retailers present didn’t bother to actually bring it to the show. The f/1.2 and f/1.8 were available. So Monday, call calumet – no stock. 3rd time lucky, Tecno website. Got it cheaper than anywhere else and got it the next day.
First impressions are the lens is very tricky to get things in focus at f/1.4. Initially thought the lens might be a faulty one. But soon realised the fault was with me. So not really had much chance to use it in anger just yet. But in preparation for this site here’s one I did earlier.
f/1.4
f/2.5
f/4.5
f/7.1
f/13
f/22
Being the forgetful self, I didn’t realise I was shooting at ISO3200, but all shots were taken at 1/200 using the off shoe flash.
Depth of Field is very tight, I’d expect it to be at a distance of 45cm (minimum focusing). Only time will tell if the lens will be more useful than the EF24-105mm f/4 L IS. I did struggle last year to get usable shots at Crufts. That was using ISO3200 and a EF28-105 /f3.5-4.5.