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06/20/2008 01:12:04 PM · #1 |
Based on this discussion:
//www.flickr.com/groups/canon_50mm/discuss/72157603775874649/
It seems the 50/1.4 has a design flaw. This lens was going to be my next purchase, and now I'm not sure.
Has anyone here had the autofocus stop working after a minor jarring to the front of the lens? Or had the autofocus stop working for any reason at all?
My quest for a 1.4 lens just got more difficult :(
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06/20/2008 02:31:57 PM · #2 |
(tap, tap, tap) ... is this thing on?
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06/20/2008 02:41:48 PM · #3 |
| I used to thave the 50mm f1.4 and it was a cracking lens, I really miss it a lot, unfortunately I sold it with my 5D when I upgraded to the 1Ds mkII due to lack of funds.. I hope to get another one day or the 50mm f1.2L |
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06/20/2008 03:10:02 PM · #4 |
| don't really know about reliability as I've had mine a couple of weeks but it is the sharpest lens by miles I have owned by far .... my advice is buy it and enjoy :) |
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06/20/2008 03:26:58 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by hopper:
Has anyone here had the autofocus stop working after a minor jarring to the front of the lens? Or had the autofocus stop working for any reason at all?
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Yup, I've had this exact problem. I don't know if I jarred the front of the lens but I do know that autofocus died, at least at close-focus, right after I bought it; it would try to focus but just couldn't move the inner barrel to the right spot. And I couldn't even manually focus it close because the focus ring slipped; must have to do with the weird geared-pseudo-USM it has.
Worse, after it spent 6 weeks getting repaired for the autofocus, it came back with the diaphragm stuck open at f/1.4! Since THAT repair it's worked well, but to minimize the chance of jarring it I always make sure I package it focused at infinity (the inner barrel is mostly retracted at this focus point).
It's still a great lens. Good luck!
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06/20/2008 03:36:30 PM · #6 |
$325.00 isn't a lot of money in the photography world, but it still bothers me that there's a good chance the lens is going to need repair. And it's not like there's any other options. The 50/1.8 is excellent and I've always liked it, but I've promised myself I wouldn't buy another lens that sounds like there's a bee in my ear. Sigma has a new 50mm 1.4 coming out, but I'm not a big fan of 3rd party lenses. The 60mm 2.8 macro is only a little more expensive, but that's not going to help my desire for a 1.4 lens. The 85/1.8 is too long.
I'll probably end up taking the risk on the 50/1.4, but with the lens slightly retracted - my plan was to NOT buy a lens hood for when I wanted to go as compact as possible. Seems like the hood is a necessity for autofocus protection :(
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06/20/2008 04:03:41 PM · #7 |
| Once when my gorillapod tipped over and the camera landed face down on the front of the 50mm/1.4 lens (about a one foot drop onto a lightly padded table), the auto focus wouldn't work. The manual focus was also jammed. I gave the lens a couple of gentle whacks on the side with my bare hand, and it has worked fine from then on. The 50mm/1.4 lens is my standard walk-around lens, and I love it. |
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06/20/2008 04:14:10 PM · #8 |
| Never had any issues w/mine and I'm kind of a clutz. I honestly think this is my favorite lens. |
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06/20/2008 04:16:21 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by hopper:
$325.00 isn't a lot of money in the photography world, but it still bothers me that there's a good chance the lens is going to need repair. And it's not like there's any other options. The 50/1.8 is excellent and I've always liked it, but I've promised myself I wouldn't buy another lens that sounds like there's a bee in my ear. Sigma has a new 50mm 1.4 coming out, but I'm not a big fan of 3rd party lenses. The 60mm 2.8 macro is only a little more expensive, but that's not going to help my desire for a 1.4 lens. The 85/1.8 is too long.
I'll probably end up taking the risk on the 50/1.4, but with the lens slightly retracted - my plan was to NOT buy a lens hood for when I wanted to go as compact as possible. Seems like the hood is a necessity for autofocus protection :( |
Have you considered the 28mm f1.8? It's roughly equivalent to a "normal" focal length lens on a APS-C camera.
I love mine. |
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06/20/2008 04:18:11 PM · #10 |
| It is one of my favorite lenses and I have never had any issues with it. |
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06/20/2008 04:31:10 PM · #11 |
| The design of the 50/1.4 does make it a little susceptible to a knock on the front element. You also should be careful when shooting right up against glass. Don't press the lens to the glass and then let it try to AF. The mechanism may incur damage. This goes for any lens where the front element and bezel extends/retracts with focus. |
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06/20/2008 05:11:07 PM · #12 |
yes, i have ... it's a good lens, so i read. I find myself cropping a lot with the 35/2 (which i just sold), so thinking maybe the 50 would be better.
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Have you considered the 28mm f1.8? It's roughly equivalent to a "normal" focal length lens on a APS-C camera. |
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06/20/2008 05:16:20 PM · #13 |
My 50 1.4 is on its way back to Canon as we speak. The autofocus stopped working for no good reason at all. It was being used exclusively in the studio at the time so I can't even blame jarring in the camera bag. I ordered the 17-55 about the time the 50 broke so its been on a shelf since. But now, 18 months later, I have a problem with the 17-55, so both are going back to Canon together. Hope to have them both back in a couple of weeks. Going to try to manage with the 100 2.8 and 70-200 f4 until those come back. Glad I don't have a wedding this weekend!!
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