Has anyone here had experience using this lens? I want a good, fast portrait lens to use at my daughter's wedding in September, but I don't want to spend a fortune on one. For the Canon 40D, do you think this would be a best bet?

Hi Cindy: I am quoting from Popular Photography "what's so normal about a 50mm f/1.4 lens? Almost nothing. There is little this super hero cannot do. Low light - no problem, Portraits? on most DSLRs Oh Yes! Sports, indoor action. Its the bomb. Extreme closeups? with a reverse mounting adapter, its what the doctor ordered." I have one of these lenses for my Canon 40D. . . Love it! I ordered the reverse mounting adapter, and WOW! close-ups are a new area of experimentation. Be warned, with the reverse mounting adapter, aperture settings are out of the question, and you will no doubt need a focusing rail a sturdy tripod, and a shutter release cable to aid in closeups. It will no doubt be the most basic lens you will use in your adventures. Now about getting it cheep! at over $350 on up each street price, do I think this would be a best bet? I do not ever regret buying mine, I use it quite a bit, in fact more than I expected to, and that makes it worth it. I hesitate to say Heck yea go get it, because you need to determine your needs for your particular shooting style, and find a lens to fit the need. Good, Fast, Wedding and this lens, it all fits together.

Thanks Jerry. You confirm what I have been thinking for awhile, but I wanted to get some first hand input before I buy from those who have already had hands on use of this lens. Sounds good to me.

Jerry: what do you mean by "reverse mounting adapter"?
I found an old Nikon 50mm f/1.8 for my D80 and it works really good. I'll try it inside a church, without flash.

I'd be interested in your results, Pierre. The 50m f1.8 is one third the price of the 50mm f1.4. I read that you can turn the 50mm into a macro lens with a lens-reversing ring like the Nikon BR-2A ($30).

Hey Cindy ,
I own that lens and I'm very pleased with it .
Its fast , well build and gives a great bokeh .
Downside is the price compared to the 1.8 and the dof on 1.4 takes some getting used to .
I use it for portraits or for when i want a very shallow background .

examples ;
http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=kodo34-1198170860.jpg

http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=kodo34-1235400896.jpg

Its is possible to use as a macro with extension tubes but it will never hold up against a real dedicated macro lens .

Kristof .

I love the bokeh on those two shots, Kristof. Just wonderful!

Pierre - a lens reversal ring is exactly what it says. It allows the lens to be mounted onto the camera body in reverse. I purchased a Sonia lens reversal ring for a Canon EOS 52mm for around $7 It threads onto the front of the lens, the bayonet ends allow the lens to be mounted in reverse. The front of the lens can now be mounted towards the mirror in the body, allowing for extreme closeups. This poses some new problems, because an aperture setting is not possible, and to aid in focusing in the EXTREME close-up shot a focusing rail helps tremendously. I bought the rail on Ebay for aprox $45. The rail fits onto the top of the tripod, and the camera fits onto the rail. The rail I purchased has 4 way adjustment. A sturdy tripod is a must have and a shutter release cable is extremely helpful in eliminating camera shake. Now go find a bug, or a flower or anything else (I first shot an old wood screw) and you will discover a whole new world of Macro photography, using the standard 50mm lens mounted in reverse on your camera body. I shoot in manual mode and have not had any real problems that could not be overcome with patience and practice. Old 50mm lens with manual settings work best, because the aperture can be somewhat set with manual manipulation and a small piece of duct tape. If for any reason you wish to use other lenses a Kenco stepping ring will allow the Lens reversal ring to fit multiple size lenses. I bought a stepping ring at the local photo shop for aprox $6. Good luck.
Jerry

Jerry: Interesting stuf...
Did you post some photos with it?

Wow, Kristof. Wonderful bokeh on your 2 uploads! :-)

Pierre - No I have not posted any pictures until I have become better acquainted with the operating limits of the reversed lens, and can produce images more pleasing to the eye than a wood screw or coins. There are some very interesting examples on the internet. I Googled reverse mount 50mm and followed the links.

This is possibly a dead thread but I just saw it.

The question was about portraits lens. Now when I say portrait I am thinking head and shoulders. I find the 50mm for head and shoulder shot a little wide and distorts the features (i.e. nose) a little bit. For full length portraits however it should do the trick. Sharp and fast. (Sharper above 2.0). I do the find the build quality a little disappointing for the price.

For a reasonably priced and sharp portrait lens(head and shoulders) I prefer the 100mm 2.8 MACRO (mind you thats on a full frame). This also gives you a nice macro lens if you are into that sort of thing. Great bang for the buck.