Is the Canon EF 50mm 1.2 Still Worth it in 2024?
Canon's new mirrorless lenses are highly advanced, correcting distortion and chromatic aberration, and providing exceptional sharpness. However, these RF prime lenses are typically larger, heavier, and more expensive than the older EF primes.
Canon's cinema lenses, starting from the K35 line in 1973, remain popular among filmmakers despite modern alternatives. The new RF mount CN-E primes, released in 2024, still use the same optical formulas as the EF L-Lenses, valued for their unique character.
Lens Character Matters
Filmmakers and photographers are increasingly choosing older lenses for their unique visual characteristics, such as distinctive background blur and skin tone rendering. Despite flaws like inconsistent color and lens flare, these lenses are prized for their unique qualities.
Historically, lenses were simpler, and much of iconic art and film were created using these basic designs. The most common 50mm lens design, double gauss, dates back to 1888, and has a bunch of inherent issues. Modern lenses have been designed to correct these flaws, but both old and new designs have their place. The goal in choosing a lens is to find the right balance of characteristics that suit your work, whether from 1888 or 2024.
