I bought a camera with a kit lens, and I figured I'd learn the camera's ins and outs before I began investing in lenses. I still think there's wisdom in that decision, mainly because I've discovered what I like to shoot. Having said that, though, I have bought three new lenses, one of them the "middle" EF f/1.4 50mm, thinking that I'd probably beat up the less expensive one and break the bank with the L lens. I received the f/1.4 50mm today and shot with it all afternoon, and my opinion is that it's spectacular. I can do everything from very creative work with closely controlled depth of field to beautiful action-stopping photos with the lens stopped down. It's tack, tack, tack sharp, fast, and the color and contrast are so excellent and true that I've taken several like shots just to make sure the beauty of them wasn't some sort of freak accident. I can't speak for the outrageoulsy expensive f/1.2L or for the heapo cheapo f/1.8, but this middle-of-the-roader is absolutely wonderful, and it just might become my very favorite lens of all. I own two L's, but I like this one just as well. I like the focal range because what I see in the view finder is nearly identical in size to what I see with my naked eye, so composition becomes a different and fun challenge. Run don't walk to the "add to basket" button. You won't be sorry.

Set the lens at f/1.4 and you will be rewarded with precise isolation of the subject matter at portrait distances bathed in a buttery bokeh. You won't get that with the more expensive Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a great choice in low light situations. From f/2.8, the images are sharp edge to edge. No present Canon mount zoom will match the 50mm's resolution at this focal length.

Non L lenses do not come with the lens hood. I purchased a Canon OEM hood online for $25 USD.

So far, this lens is on my EOS 5D more than the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. That would speak volumes for the 50mm.

This is without a doubt the lens I grab first when heading out to a portrait shoot.

This lens has been reviewed accurately a few thousand times online so I won't give the lengthy version. But the highlights:

This lens is extremely sharp for portraits but gives an incredible background blur for a fabulous professional look.

Many people compare it to the f/1.8 at under $100 and wonder why you would spend over 3 times as much for this one but the reason is simple. This lens is built like a tank. The f/1.8 takes very good pictures and if $350 isn't in your budget, it's a good alternative. But if you can afford the price difference, go for the f/1.4. It performs beautifully, even in very low light, and will last forever.

I use this lens on a 20D and a 40D body to take professional portraits, and I love the results. You won't regret adding this lens to your collection.

Canon's 50mm f1.4 is a great lens for the price. I'd recommend stopping down to about f1.8 or 2.0 to gain sharpness, but that still allows for fast shutter speeds even in low light. It can be a little hard to focus at its widest apertures, but that is to be expected with any lens with such a shallow depth of field. There aren't many surprises with this lens. The simplicity of a prime lens is nice, and I tend to keep this on my camera for much of the photojournalistic work I do.

The first time I used this lens was on a wedding shoot. I read some in-the-mouth advice somewhere that said every photographer needs a 50mm prime lens to be happy. So I thought to myself "I'm every photographer!" And plopped down the $300+ for this.

I was beginning to regret the decision until I used this puppy.

Pictures so crisp and clear and beautiful came out of my camera that day. Pictures that need no sharpening, no photoshopping, no curves adjustments or contrast adjustments. Just honest to goodness dead sexy clar pictures.

I was so happy with the pictures that I composed a poem about this lens on the spot! It goes:

Oh I think that I shall never see
a lens so ripe with clarity
Then the 50mm which sits abreast
Upon my camera's lovely chest.

I now don't mind 'walking around' more, or ditching a zoom lens. This lens is Empyrean.