Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L USM

Review Date
January 5, 2010

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Luther , Intermediate

Price Paid
$2800.00 at Ebay

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
The Canon 50 MM 1.0 L is no longer made by Canon. I use it in low light situations. The last time I used it was New Years eve 2008 during the 1st Night festivities in Monterey California. These images were mostly handheld images and a few were made with a monopod.

The pictures for that night are of people and street scenes. Most poeple complain about how difficult the lens is to use, because of its shallowl depth of field and slow AF. I learned through trial and error how to use this lense. First I read about how to use the lense, then went out in the field and took pictures with it. I have decided to keep my 50 mm 1.0 L. It is a perfect example of this rare lense and I have learned to use it. Besides being a perfect eample of this rare lense, it has practiical value for me.

The lense produces a great bokeh. It is not a lense for the casual photographer, who does not want to spend some time learning her tools. You have to spend some time with this lense, if you are going to use it well. I shoot with a first generation Canon 1 Ds and I love the quality of the pictures that I get when I use this lense.

Strengths
Excellent bokeh.

Great for portraiture.

Excellent in low light situations.

Great build quality.

Rare and historically significant.

Weaknesses
High Price. Be prepared to pay $3500 - $4500 or more for a lens in the 8 - 10

High learning curve.

Slow AF.

Heavy: 985 g

Similar Products Used
Canon 85 MM f 1.2 L

Customer Service
I bought this lense in new condition and have no customer service experience with it. Canon no longer manufactures this lense

Review Date
February 12, 2005

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.71 of 5, 14 votes

Reviewed by
apeshift , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
I've been drooling over this lens eversince I read about it. Couple of months back someone from photography forum said he owned the lens, so for some time we switched lenses. He said the lens had some fungus when he bought it, but he had Canon service clean it up and check it.

The lens was a major disappointment. I cannot stress 'major' enough. Pretend MAJOR is written in size 200 bold underlined capital letters on fire.

First you have to understand this lense should only be used from f/1.0 to f/1.2 since at f/1.4 there is another 50mm lense that makes much sharper images at that aperture and much less $. To add, at f/1.2 the use of it is already questionable.

This lens actually IS usable, for low light portraits, it WILL create great images, because softness of the lens has always been flattering to human complexion, especially if the subject is a middle-aged woman. Other than that, I would pretty strongly disadvise you this lens.

However, if you really like to hunt images in pretty much nonexistent light at highest ISO possible, this is the lens to go. I've made pleasing shots with my 10D at ISO 1600, f/1.0 and 1/45s, so, no other Canon compatible lens would be even near of making a handheld shot at that situation. Now the question arises; is it better to have a really soft shot, or no shot at all?

My advice: if you already have all the lens that you need and have the SLR body you want... AND really NEED a faster lense than 50mm 1.4, then get this one, otherwise, forget about it.

BTW. I had no chance to try it out, but everywhere I read the 85 f/1.2 is a whole differend story sharpnesswise.

Strengths
*f/1.0
*build quality
*precise AF
*impressive size, if that counts
*practical hood

Weaknesses
*SOFT!
*very slow AF
*big and heavy (I really didn't mind though)
*manual focus use is beyond me with this lens (electronic by wire and only when shutter button is half depressed)
*oh yeah, PRICE

Similar Products Used
none

Review Date
August 22, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 6 votes

Reviewed by
dony , Professional

Price Paid
$1500.00 at Camera Store in San

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
This is a superb lens. Low light photos (for example side-lit window photos, photos with low ambient light and a few candles, a cabin, wooded stream, etc.)are better quality then any I get with other lens. The mood of the occasion and the participants is easily seen. For weddings, bride and groom, portraits, children and so on, this lens is unequalled. I now shoot only digital. I always use the appropriate tool for the specific task at hand. This lens has a permanent place in my equipment for these uses.

Strengths
Photos are possible that I could not even consider with any other lens. Take hand-held photos by a single candle! Portraits must be seen to be believed. I have had portrait subjects (especially 50-something women) tell me these are the best portraits of them they have ever seen. This you can take to the bank. Concerts and other events pose no problems. Interior church shots without flash but with incredible clarity and a shallow depth of field are easy. CS easily takes care of any low contrast issues. Outdoor shots are clear with great color gradation. Absolutely better than the 1.4 and 1.8 lenses.

Weaknesses
Heavy lens and shallow depth of field. This is not a lens for everyone. It takes practice to understand its strengths and weaknesses (as does every lens and camera I have ever used).

Similar Products Used
At this time, I own and use the following. All lenses are Canon: 50 mm f/1.0 L and f/1.8.; 20 mm f/2.8; 28-70 f/2.8 L; 80-200 f/2.8 L; 300 f/4.0 L and I have used the 1.4 and several others.

Review Date
May 12, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.89 of 5, 9 votes

Reviewed by
pentax-user , Professional

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Other

Summary
Overpriced for what you get. I guess for a 1.0 aperture its fairly sharp, but like another reviewer noted, it's much less sharp stopped down to competing lenses apertures even if it does open up to 1.0. I have almost all of the Pentax 50mm lenses available ranging from the screwmounts to the newest FA lenses... I can tell you that for fifty to a hundred bucks you can get a Pentax lens that will put this expensive Canon out to pasture in terms of sharpness, contrast, and resolution at f1.4. Another reviewer mentioned that it sharpened up when you stopped down, well stopped down to f1.4 the Canon is not as sharp as my Pentax SMC-F 50 1.4, or as sharp as the newer FA 1.4. The newer FA lens is available for 300 bucks brand new... It's tempting to think that this Canon L costing 1,000 dollars should be sharper than a lowly ole Pentax, but it isn't. Overall, this lens is a waste of money when you consider what it does. There are better normal lenses out there period, and for the money it's just not an option, don't buy this lens unless you want an expensive gimmick. Don't get me wrong, the lens isn't bad, but for a thousand bucks, you might as well say f*** it to the f1.0 aperture and get a normal "normal" lens and spend the money elsewhere.

Strengths
f1.0 aperture, gets sharp when stopped relatively far down, but then you wonder why you paid 1000 bucks for it if it isn't sharp at the apertures that make it so expensive...

Weaknesses
Not as sharp as much cheaper or even outdated lenses from competing manufacturers when compared side by side at f1.4.

Similar Products Used
Takumar 50/1.4, Takumar 55/1.8, SMC-M 50/1.7, SMC-A 50/1.4, SMC-A 50/2.0, SMC-F 50/1.4, SMC-FA 50/1.4, SMC FA 50/1.7

Customer Service
Not used.

Review Date
August 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
2.63 of 5, 19 votes

Reviewed by
wo , Intermediate , from hongkong

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Other

Summary
when open at f/1.4 or smaller, it is not as good as both nikon 50/1.2 or 58/1.2; the nikon 58/1.2 is the best buy but it has been discontinued

Strengths
f/1.0

Weaknesses
price, weight, AF speed

Similar Products Used
nikon 50/1.2, 58/1.2