The current Canon 50mm f1.4 lens dates back to 2003.
For a long time in the Canon system one of the most widely requested lenses to be updated was the 50mm F1.8, and after year and years of praying, Canon finally gave us the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00X8MRBCW’ text=’50mm F1.8 STM’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’28586261-c53c-11e7-a5cc-3f625f338c02′]. A modern nifty fifty for today’s DSLRs. But that left another lens in Canon’s lineup long overdue for an update as well, the 50mm F1.4 – and if the reports we are hearing are accurate, we may be getting at least one in the not so distant future.
The current [amazon_textlink asin=’B00009XVCZ’ text=’Canon 50mm F1.4′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2e351631-c53c-11e7-8ba3-d3c7baa56730′] sits between the 50mm F1.8 STM and the 50mm F1.2L in Canon’s 50mm lineup, and the lens itself dates back to 2003. Canon Watch is reporting that it has received intel on Canon developing not one, but two 50mm F1.4 lenses, one of which is expected to be the 50mm F1.4L IS. A lens that would no doubt start the mouths watering for portrait photographers wanting to upgrade from the 50mm F1.8 STM but who don’t have the need or budget for the [amazon_textlink asin=’B000I1YIDQ’ text=’50mm F1.2L’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’34b2289f-c53c-11e7-888e-5fca95b69d78′].
The other 50mm lens mentioned in the report is still a mystery. It could – and again, this is speculation – be simply a non-L 50mm F1.4 without image stabilization. That would give Canon four 50mm lenses in their lineup, which is a nice spread for sure, however, I wonder if that sort of variety is really needed given the current state of the market. But considering that Canon has an 85mm f1.4 L now, we could possibly expect something like that instead.
The report goes on to say that an announcement of BOTH lenses is expected to be made at some point in the first half of 2018. This all needs to be taken with a really big grain of salt though as given the age of the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00009XVCZ’ text=’Canon 50mm F1.4′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’44a9fcaa-c53c-11e7-9bfe-bb7ac30dcf48′], as mentioned, it is often the target of reports that turn out to be no more than wishful thinking by an individual who can tell a good story.
So, don’t go offloading your kit or anything rash like that. However, keep this in mind, if you’ve been thinking about picking up a 50mm f1.4. It might be worth it to you to keep an eye on Canon Watch to see how this report develops.