I recently treated myself to a camera upgrade, dropping silly money on a new Canon 5D.
It’s given me a renewed love for some of my old lenses, primarily the Canon 50mm f1.4 and Tamron 17-35mm f2.8.
Because the 5D has a full frame sensor it means all my lenses are now a little wider than on my Canon Rebel XT (350D). So the 50mm is now wide enough to take reasonably close portraits and the 17-35mm is super wide.
These are some recent shots taken with the 50mm lens with little or no photoshopping.
The other lovely thing with the 50mm lens coupled with the 5D is that i can shoot in really low light since the lens has a f1.4 aperture and the 5D does well at high ISO values. Each of these were taken in quite dim light and i like the muted, not quite sharp nature of them. It reminds me of film more than any other digital i’ve used.
You’re so good at portraits Daniel!
… i am sooooo jealous of you right now 🙂
iain.
*sigh* I love the effect those lenses have, The first lens I’m going to get when I finally get my hands on a dslr is canon’s 50mm f1.8, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than the f1.4 lol…
love the 2nd and last shot… very intimate 🙂
I should say that while my set up is now quite a pricey one, my old combo of the 350D and the 50mm 1.8 is very good too.
While i’m enjoying my new gear i think that in the end it makes a minute difference to the quality of the shots. But it’s given me some inspiration to get snapping.
Does the 1.4 version have better manual confusing controls and is it easier to focus because it lets in more light?
Oh dear me, I made a really silly typo. I meant to say focusing controls not confusing controls.
Confusing/Focusing – i can see the muddle.
I don’t think the focusing is any easier. And at 1.4 the area that’s in focus is so tiny it’d be very tough getting it right on manual.
onward and upwards requires cash, DB. will be so worth it at SXSW.
Love the depth of field of the f1.4 canon. Awesome shots Dan!
Full frame goodness right there.. I went silly today and picked up the 50mm f/1.2L, shooting tomorrow night with it for the first time..eeep..
New things are SO wonderful! I can appreciate your excitement! Take my portrait some time? Hehe 😀
Matt how much did the f/1.2 set you back?
Was $2400, better than what Canon advertises..
absolutely, without any shred of doubt, YOU are my very favorite photographer. Just thought I’d mention it.
Having just had my D60 nicked in Cuba by a couple of violent hoodlums, I did consider getting the 5D. But it would have shaved a whole bunch of countries off of my world trip. The 30D will have to do for now.
ps: very jealous
pps: Matt if you want a silly lens, check ebay #250090750502
very silly money indeed.
i am expecting mine in a few days.
Makes me want to trade in the D200 with the 50mm 1.8 for a 5 D… Nah it’s the man behind the lens that creates this great work, well done mate!!
I have had my 5d for almost 2 years now, working with the 24-105L as my only lens. Before digital I shot with a Canon EOS 1 and various lenses, both prime and zoom, then with Contax rangefinders with a bunch of CZ primes. Now I am on the cusp of buying the economical Canon 50mm 1.4, mainly to reduce the camera footprint for candid street work. It looks to be a good lens. Not perfect by any means, but suitable at f2 and f5.6 for street, and not as intrusive as the 50mm 1.2L or Sigma’s latest 1.4 offering which are fat and heavy. The more I see images like those above taken with this lens, the more I know I’m making the right decision.