Choosing my 50mm f/1.4

[idanidan123]

I see there's a 50mm f/1.4 FD lens and a USM lens, What's the difference between them?
Thanks in advance!

[Waddizzle]

"A lot of top retailers use ebay so it isn't as bad as one would lead you to believe.  Adorama, KEH, Roberts, and more use ebay."

A lot of top retailiers do use eBay. 

Unfortunately, there are a few retailers who are less than the best.  You also have to pay attention to who the retailer is going to be.  It is better than what it used to be when it first started up, much better, in fact.  Much of the same can also be said about Amazon. 

I just prefer to deal with the retailers directly, instead of going through a middle man, like eBay.  You tend to get more detailed information about a given product by going directly to the retailer, instead of what you can get on eBay or Amazon.

[ebiggs1]

"I just prefer to deal with the retailers directly, ..."

That is fine and your choice but is no confirmation ebay is all bad.  Likewise a bad deal from Amazon does not condemn all of it either.

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"I just prefer to deal with the retailers directly, ..."

That is fine and your choice but is no confirmation ebay is all bad.  Likewise a bad deal from Amazon does not condemn all of it either.

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Never said all of either was bad, just the opposite, in fact.  Both sites are for window shoppers, which means not for me.

Food for thought.  How many lenses or cameras have you purchased through eBay or Amazon? 

[ebiggs1]

I confess I use ebay sparingly and Amazon almost never.

But statements like, "I suggest you do a search on these forums for "eBay".  Witness how many people bought something that didn't work.", seem to indicate a negative attitude towards ebay.  Plus other posts from the past.

What I have bought through ebay has been fine.  No problems and no issues.  Mostly parts, and I also confess I usually know what I am wanting.

Most companies are not as good as the happiest customer and likewise most companies aren't as bad as the disgruntled one.  Of course I know there are exceptions but don't you really think so in a general sense?    

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

I confess I use ebay sparingly and Amazon almost never.

But statements like, "I suggest you do a search on these forums for "eBay".  Witness how many people bought something that didn't work.", seem to indicate a negative attitude towards ebay.  Plus other posts from the past.

What I have bought through ebay has been fine.  No problems and no issues.  Mostly parts, and I also confess I usually know what I am wanting.

Most companies are not as good as the happiest customer and likewise most companies aren't as bad as the disgruntled one.  Of course I know there are exceptions but don't you really think so in a general sense?    

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I have always openly admitted my negative opinoin for both of them, AND the fact that I would never buy anything more costly than a paperback. My negative opinion is rooted in their earliest days. 

If one is not thoroughly familiar with what you're purchasing, and who you're purchasing it from, then I would not advise, or encourage, any one to use those sites.  I have watched, first hand, just how bad they were, and how they have dramatically improved over the years.  They're great for small stuff, but highly inadvisable for big ticket items.

[ebiggs1]

"...but highly inadvisable for big ticket items."

In your opinion.  Many, many folks have nothing but success and praise for both.

[amfoto1]

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@idanidan123 wrote:
I have the 70D, if that makes any difference.

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Yes, it makes a difference.

50/1.4 "FD" is an older, manual focus lens designed for the cameras prior to the EOS (before 1990). It will not directly fit onto a modern EOS. There are adapters, but they either need to use corrective optics that will ruin image quality or the lens won't be able to focus all the way to infinity. There is a rather expensive replacement bayonet that will work, too. But even modified with it the lens will still be only manual focus and manual apertuter control.

The EF 50/1.4 USM is a modern, autofocus lens that's fully compatible with your camera and would probably be a better choice. On your camera, with it's "APS-C crop" sensor, a 50mm lens will act as a short telephoto and is excellent for portraiture, among other things.

The EF 50/1.4 USM is a rather early design among Canon lenses. It's focus mechanism is a little finnicky. If you buy this lens I highly recommend you also get the matching lens hood for it. That does a good job protecting the lens both when in use and when the hood is reversed for storage. When you put the lens away, set it to infinity to fully retract the inner barrel. These fairly simple precautions seem to work pretty well. I've been using an EF 50/1.4 for over ten years without any problems.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2) some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & EXPOSUREMANAGER 

[ScottyP]

Craigslist seems like a better way to go. You can inspect the lens before you buy. I have sold a camera and a lens on CL and both those buyers got a perfect item at a great price. 

[ebiggs1]

Whatever works!  

[TCampbell · Accepted solution]

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@idanidan123 wrote:
I have the 70D, if that makes any difference.

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Just to be clear... 

You need to use Canon "EOS" lenses.  The EOS line is split into a few categories... the major categories are EOS "EF" lenses and EOS "EF-S" lenses.  Your camera can use either the EF or EF-S lenses (full-frame bodies can only use "EF" lenses, but your camera body has an APS-C size sensor which means it can also use "EF-S" lenses).    

Canon also makes a few speciality lenses which include their tilt-shift lenses designated EOS "TS-E" and there a speciality macro-photo lens called the EOS "MP-E".  Your camera can use those lenses as well.

HOWEVER... Canon started producing some EOS "mirrorless" camera bodies called the EOS "M" series and they make a special line of lenses just for those cameras called the EOS "EF-M".  Your camera is NOT compatible with the EF-M (mirrorless camera) lenses.

Lastly... there are third party lens makers such as Sigma, Tamron, Tokin, and others.  As long as those lenses are designed for Canon EOS mount, then you can use them.  Just be careful because those 3rd parties make lenses for lots of camera brands and only the lenses with Canon EOS mount will (hopefully) work.  Every so often there are compatibility issues with the electronics because the lens makers have to try to reverse engineer the connection.  Typically this happens if the 3rd party lens is very old and your camera is very new -- so your camera has features that didn't exist back when the used 3rd party lens was originally designed.