Sharp, sharp, sharp...Very well built, compact,

Noisy AF and not USM but rather an ancient Canon EOS lens motor. Because of this primitive motor, simultaneous manual/auto focus isn't available with this lens (But with this price, contrast and sharp... don't bother)

I love this lens. I was very very blessed to find this lens in excellent state of conservation here in Brazil. It was very difficult to find it in the used market. It has a metal lens mount ring and a DOF scale unlike the 50/1.8 mk II that they make now. Amazing sharp and contrast. It is incredibly lightweight. It takes vastly better pictures than a mid-range mid-priced zoom. It has a non-rotating front element and a bayonet type lens hood mount. Very easy to work with PL circular filters. If You find it, buy it!

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Minolta MF 50mmm f/2.0 and f/1.7. Canon 28-80mm f/3.5-4.6, Canon 28-70mm f-2.8 L.

Light weight, price, fast lens, size, clarity.

non-usm lens motor
no full time manual focusing

I've used this lens for quite some time now. IF you're lucky to get one of the older MK 1 models, you should not give up the chance. This lens has great clarity and the wide 1.8 is excellent. I use it for night shots all the time. Low price doesn't mean bad quality.

Similar Products Used:

None

Very sharp, large aperture, lightweight

slightly noisy

This is the first lens I bought. Followed by an Elan 50. I am still learning but my brother who is a professional believes this lens is closer to his 50/1.4 than the 50/1.8 2 (which fell apart on him)

Customer Service

had new mptor installed
with good service from Canon

Similar Products Used:

24mm/f2.8 135/2.8

very sharp.
contrasty.
cheap.
front element doesn't rotate.
size
light weight

Not USM (but af speed is acceptable)
a little noisy

This is the only AF-prime lense I have with my EOS-A2E(EOS-5QD). I bought this one, costing $80 in Korea. Low price doesn't mean low quality. It's an excellent lense. Dig up this one at the second-hand store. You'll not regret.

Similar Products Used:

EF24-85mm F3.5-4.5 USM
Nikkor MF50mm F1.4
Pentax SMC-M 50mm F1.4

Stunning image quality, represents far better value for money than the 50mm f1.4 USM. Elements are fantastic, no visible distortions or aberrations.

Focus ring is small and can get "sticky" if gripped too tightly. Watch out for the front plastic ring [the bit with the print on it], it can get broken or cracked, just use super glue to bond it but be very carefull not to glue everything!!

I am a 50mm user, I leared photography using one, and even though I have to use the larger white L lenses for work this is the finest lens canon has ever made, the MK2 version is rubbish total rubbish, there is no comparison between the two. If you use your camera with flash for indoor use then this represents the finest combination I have ever seen. Professional and Amateur alike will benefit from this lens. Everyone should have one of these in their bags, it is the lens I use the most and I have taken award winning pictures with it.
For all practical purposes it is light and could get damaged if not cared for. For Imaging purposes, it is unsurpassable by anything else I have seen by any other manufacturer [The 50mmf1.4 Pentax is stunning also]. I give this lens 5 Stars without any reservation, quite simply because its the best lens ever made, even if you wrer to go back in time and to have paid full price for it new.
Like the others said; If you see one for sale now, buy it without reservation.

Customer Service

Ultra fast and Ultra efficient canon CPS delivered my lens back to me with in 10 days, and restored it to Out of box condition, for about $50. They also replaced the Aperture components and filter thread.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 50mm f1.8 MK2, Canon 50mm f1.4 USM, Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.4, many other L type lenses and super telephotos.

- large aperture
- cheap
- lightweight
- sharpness

- slow and loud focusing

Awesome lens. The large aperture allows photos to be taken in extremely low light conditions. Great for those occasions when using a flash is not possible or not permitted. (I get this lens just to postpone getting a flash. Just until I save up enough $$$.)

I'd recommend this lens to every photographer. However, if you have the money, the 50/1.4 is a much superior choice. But in terms of value, this lens can't be beat.

Customer Service

- None needed yet

Similar Products Used:

- Canon 28-105 USM

•sharp, sharp, sharp
•very good performance wide open
•solidly built
•did I say sharp?

•Canon quit making it!
•AF speed
•a little noisy

This lens is an outstanding value on the used market. It's absurd that Canon replaced it with the cheaply built Mark II model. A must have lens for those low light situations when flash photography is not possible.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

pentax 50/f1.8

Sharp
No vignettering
Good colors
Solid build

Slow AF

A very good lens for its price. Still I was slightly disappointed by the AF: it can take up to 2-3 second to focus, exactly the time needed to miss a shoot in people photography.
Notice however that the AF is precise even in bad lighting conditions.
This lens is sharp and give good color reproduction and I did not have any problem with flair.
In short it is a good lens for its price in spite of the slow AF.

Customer Service

Good (very responsive in their web site)

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 45mm/2.8 and 80mm/2.8 (middle format)
Canon 28-90mm/ 4.0-5.6