Canon 50mm f1.4/Sigma 50mm f1.4 I am caught in between purchasing these 2 lenses -- the Canon is about $350 and the Sigma is $499. However, the reviews on the Sigma are really good and make that lens more attractive than the Canon.If I chose the Canon, could anyone suggest what other accessories I need to purchase (filters, lens hood, etc.)?If I chose the Sigma, what are the necessary accessories?Thanks. Canon 50mm f1.4/Sigma 50mm f1.4 I am caught in between purchasing these 2 lenses -- the Canon is about $350 and the Sigma is $499. However, the reviews on the Sigma are really good and make that... » Read More Canon 50mm f1.4/Sigma 50mm f1.4 I am caught in between purchasing these 2 lenses -- the Canon is about $350 and the Sigma is $499. However, the reviews on the Sigma are really good and make that lens more attractive than the Canon.If I chose the Canon, could anyone suggest what other accessories I need to purchase (filters, lens hood, etc.)?If I chose the Sigma, what are the necessary accessories?Thanks. « Show Less
46359
the sigma 50mm f1.4 and i put a Hoya Super HMC 77mm UV filter on it. i love the lens.
46360
May I ask what lens you went with? I am debating the same issue. Thank you.
46361
Sigma, 1) Like the build and larger glass, 2) Sharp!, 3) Great focus, 4) Delivers like a lens that should cost double than the price.
46362
To clarify - and I know this is an old post - leaving the hood reversed will do nothing to protect the delicate af - it must be left on as if shooting.
46363
thank you for your recommendations. i've bought the hoya shmc filters for my lenses. they're great.do you have the sigma 50mm f1.4 lens? if yes, what are you shooting? do you flickr?thanks again.
757260
Most prices I have seen for the Canon brand is around $650. If you can get it cheaper than this tameron by all means get it. I bought this for my Nikon it's a great lens I only bought it because it was a nice lens at a cheaper cost.
1966948
Sigmas are known for focusing issues - play it safe and go Canon for sure. Plus if you graduate to full frame you'll still be able to use it.
501125
I've got the sigma, it's a great lens and a good focal length. (48mm on crop cams) If you are going to be indoors, the f1.4 is handy. I've got the 50mm f1.8 and the extra 2/3's makes a difference when you're already at slow shutter speeds.
1526809
I am a professional photographer and I considered both before buying the Canon. I plan to use the lens regularly and for a long time and I need my images to be the best they can be. That uptick in quality is worth far more than $800, especially when spread out over years of ownership.
537013
TVM,Thanks for the heads-up on the Sigma. A popular photo mag just this month had a review on a Sigma lens - 18mm/250mm. They gave it a big thumbs up so I'll keep checking up on Sigma for quality and suitability/cost-effectiveness for the T1i. I'll already start some reading up on the 150mm/500mm. BTW - that "500" # sounds juicy. Per Tech's comment (and I educated myself more on what he was talking about) what with a 1.4 or 1.6 mag ratio that 500mm max zoom should be more like in the 700's. I guess that means a quality tripod (read "triple digits") is in the cards too. TVM,Thanks for the heads-up on the Sigma. A popular photo mag just this month had a review on a Sigma lens - 18mm/250mm. They gave it a big thumbs up so I'll keep checking up on Sigma for quality and suitability/cost-effectiveness for the T1i. I'll already start some reading up on the 150mm/500mm. BTW - that "500" # sounds juicy. Per Tech's comment (and I educated myself more on what he was talking about) what with a 1.4 or 1.6 mag ratio that 500mm max zoom should be more like in the 700's. I guess that means a quality tripod (read "triple digits") is in the... » Read More TVM,Thanks for the heads-up on the Sigma. A popular photo mag just this month had a review on a Sigma lens - 18mm/250mm. They gave it a big thumbs up so I'll keep checking up on Sigma for quality and suitability/cost-effectiveness for the T1i. I'll already start some reading up on the 150mm/500mm. BTW - that "500" # sounds juicy. Per Tech's comment (and I educated myself more on what he was talking about) what with a 1.4 or 1.6 mag ratio that 500mm max zoom should be more like in the 700's. I guess that means a quality tripod (read "triple digits") is in the cards too. « Show Less
1346883
I have the 50mm f1.8 and love everything about it. My only problem is the focusing speed. I don't mind spending $340 for the 1.4 but I read alot of people had problem with it and have to send it in for repair. This made me very nervous. Anybody familiar with this problem? One more thing, if you want to choose between the 50mm or 85mm, check the crop on your camera first. Ex. T3i have a 1.6 vs 5D have a 1.0 meaning a 50mm on a T3i is equal to a 80mm on a 5D.
1298396
The key thing to consider are the intital costs of the lenses. Secondly then know that the sigma CANNOT be used with a full frame camera (ex. 5D, etc) while the canon CAN be used. So if you are thinking about upgrading to a full frame camera, then get the canon. But if are going to stay with APC type sensor, then the sigma is much cheaper.
134989
I am very happy with this lens. I have not tried the Sigma. I have the tamron 28-75 and the 70-200 VC both outstanding lenses - fast and sharp. Tamron is slightly more expensive and reviews always slightly higher. Sorry I could not give you more info about the Sigma
387099
If you can afford the Canon. Get the Canon. It's a damn good lens. But if you're not trying to put down a lot of money and still want top notch quality, the Sigma is just that good. Sigma's on that level, but the Canon is hard to beat. My option was the Sony Carl Zeiss 85mm. My advice, see if you can test them both out and go from there.
156326
Can't believe nobody took this on yet. I don't have all of these lenses below, but This list should get you started. FA 50mm 1.4 All purpose, fast, handy lens of good quality and respectable optical performance without paying too much: FA Limited 77mm f/1.8 Possibly a bit longer in the focal length than you would want permanently attached, but this is regarded as one of the best in-production lenses for the platform. FA* (Star) 85mm f/1.4 Impossible to find for a reasonable price anywhere, but this is also widely regarded as one of the best lenses ever made for the platform. FA Limited 43mm f/1.9 Hard to find for a reasonable price, a lot of folks swear by these lenses in the same vein as the 77mm. Not-so-much-sleeper primes include the FA 40mm and 70mm limited pancake lenses. They stop down to f/2.8 and have fast a/f and good image quality. If I were on a budget, it'd be between the 40mm and the 50mm. The 77mm is an eventual acquisition you pick up after some time.
1922083
The 50 is probably more often referred to as a "standard" lens and works great. The 35 is slightly wider and often used for portraits of more than just one person (when you need to fit more people in the frame). Keep in mind that if you have a camera with an ASP-C sensor (or a "crop sensor"-- this is the Rebel line of Canon canons as well as the 7D, etc), the 50mm is closer to a (1.6 x 50 =) 80mm due to the smaller sensor and a 35 looks closer to a (35 x 1.6=) 56mm lens. What I would suggest before dropping a lot of money on the 35L or 50L is to see what range you use more or what looks better on your camera. Most Canon cameras come with an 18-55 or 24-105 lens. Zoom that lens to the 35mm mark and use that for a day and see how it works. Then do the same thing with the lens at the 50mm mark. If you find that 50 is too narrow or 35 is too wide, there is no sense in dropping $1000+ on a focal length you aren't likely to use.
1262995
The nifty fifty (50mm f1.8) will do the same at 100 bucks :) However, you will constrained to shoot with it in tighter/smaller spaces due to longer focal length.
846335
Check eBay for a used Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime. Should be about $100. Other Minolta lenses are also available at a very reasonable cost compared to Sony branded lenses. Possibly domething in the range of a 70-200mm zoom would be a great addition to the kit lens that comes with the camera.
24767
The 50-500 is a great lens...... but it is heavy!! I can't hand hold it to shoot birds. I now use the canon 100-400 for birding which is awesome. If you are gonna use a tripod, the sigma is great choice.
182303
My recommendation would be the 50mm 1.8. Good standard focal length (although closer to 75mm with the smaller sensor). It is under $100.00 new. Short depth of field, great for portraits. Every Canon owner should have this lens. No zoom mind you, so it requires a little more work to get the shot you want. This lens is good, fast, and cheap.
1329011
The newer version with the C is the contemporary line of lens, sigma also came out with a art line. Basically it's much better then all of sigma previous lenses and some of the art line can even beat Canon's L glass at a fraction of cost. Quality control is also better so less bad apples make it pass inspection. Just read the reviews, you can't go wrong with a lens from the contemporary or art line.