Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

As a pure 'available light' photographer I was looking for a bright lens that can be used even at full aperture and also offers a good price/quality ratio. The Canon 50mm. f1.4 fully meets those criteria. At full aperture already drawing very sharply, ideally stopped at 1 to 2 stops. Then you still have a comfortable f2.8 aperture, something that few zoom lenses can match. A fixed focal length lens takes some getting used to for many people, because you have to get closer to or further away from your subject to determine your framing. But what you get in return, a bright and virtually distortion-free lens, pays off. With this lens, you no longer need a flash, even when shooting indoors. Result: atmospheric shots, never annoying red eyes and no more penetrating and often disturbing 'bolts of lightning'.

Very fast lens with wonderful bokeh. Especially from 1.8 super sharp. No negative points to be discovered after a whole series of test shots. Very fast autofocus. On 1.4 with the full-frame 5DMkII some vignetting, but this can be eliminated with the raw software from canon (DPP). However, you have to be careful with the fairly short depth of field at large apertures (at 1.4 approx. 1 cm at a distance of 50 cm; at 2.8 approx. 2 cm at a distance of 50 cm). As usual a perfect service from digicamshop. Ordered in the evening, received the lens and matching lens hood well packaged at 11 a.m. the next day. Also the telephone guidance regarding the depth of field was adequate and professional. A big thumbs up!!!

After long hesitation and reading numerous reviews, I decided to take the plunge. This despite my somewhat reserved attitude due to a fairly (compared to my other lenses) low price. Quality doesn't always have to be expensive in this case! One hell of a lens and this certainly in combination with my 50D, whether or not with my speedlite EX430II for portraits, because that's what this one is for. Depth of field is simply blissful. Stands his ground in the 'half' darkness, is quite fast and quiet and the low weight is just wonderful !!!! And as I am now used to from Digicamshop; order before 23:00 and the following afternoon at the front door. Hats off to the service and delivery.