Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 USM Lens Review and Sample Photos with Model, Annie Montgomery

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post, you help support Myles Katherine Photography. I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for your support!)

I’ve reviewed quite a few Canon lenses at this point but I definitely can’t forget about this one! The Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 USM lens is probably one of the most underrated Canon lenses, in my opinion. It was my first fixed lens that I purchased to use alongside my Canon 5D Mark II (I’ve since upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark IV), and it was honestly the starting point for my entire photography career. The images I created with this lens caught the eyes of some of my very first clients. It’s an incredible lens for the price and has a magic to it that I haven’t been able to find with any other lenses in this price point. I eventually upgraded to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L lens (you can read more about this lens on my blog here!) and sold this one, but then I recently found it in a thrift store for an incredible price and bought it again! I was always upset with myself for selling it because the images I created with it were so special and memorable. I’m honestly so glad that it’s back in my collection. I typically give it to my second shooter at weddings while I use the 50 mm f/1.2 L, just because that one does do a bit better in low light. But there are so many positive things about the 50 mm f/1.4 USM lens and so I believe it deserves a full blog post showcasing it’s amazing capabilities!

3 OF MY FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE CANON 50MM F/1.4 LENS

  1. IT’S SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT

    Once you get into the L series lenses, they start to get bulky and heavy. The 50mm f/1.2 L lens is much larger and heavier than the f/1.4. If you go for the f/1.8 lens which is even cheaper then this lens, the lens is even smaller. However, I didn’t find the f/1.8 lens as special as this one. While I prefer zoom lenses in general, especially when I’m shooting a wedding, I love a fixed lens because of how much less annoying they are to walk around with. They’re great for traveling and are much easier to manage when carrying it in a camera bag. I travel a LOT and I have reached a point in my life where I just don’t bring my giant zoom lenses with me anymore. They make my backpack way too heavy. So these days I’ll stick a fixed lens on my camera and call it a day. I don’t find them as efficient and they do require more patience because you constantly have to step backwards or forwards to capture the exact distance you want from your subject or landscape.

  2. THE BOKEH IS STUNNING

    While the bokeh that this lens can produce isn’t technically amazing, there is something special about it, in my opinion. The key characteristic of ideal bokeh is that the circles that the lens produces at it’s widest aperture are perfectly circular. These circles are a little oblong, but I find it gives the images more of a surreal quality, which I prefer. It reminds me of an art lens, like the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Swirly Bokeh Lens or the Petzval lenses (you can find them on Lomography or eBay for more affordable used ones).

  3. IT’S AFFORDABLE!

    I recommend this lens constantly because it’s an amazing mid-range lens that can truly elevate your work. Personally, I love shooting with this lens wide open, or close to it. In bright lighting situations, you’ll want to lower your exposure to make up for all of the light the lens is bringing in. If your photos are too bright or blown out, that’s how you know the exposure needs to come down. This lens costs about $450 new, which is pretty amazing for the images it can produce. Of course, it matters what camera you’re shooting with too, but for the images shared in this post, I used a Canon 5D Mark II, which was a super professional camera when it first was released, but now can be found for as cheap as $300 through KEH Camera for one in excellent condition. It’s a great starting point if you’re just starting your photography business and aren’t quite ready to spend thousands of dollars on lenses and equipment.

CANON 50 MM F/1.2 L LENS (LEFT) VS. CANON 50MM F/1.4 USM LENS

3 CONS OF THE CANON 50MM F/1.4 USM LENS

  1. IT HAS A STRONG VIGNETTE TO THE IMAGES

    This isn’t necessary a negative to me, but a lot of people might find this frustrating. My favorite camera in the world is the Holga GCFN, which is known for it’s intense vignette, so I’m used to it and I find that it fits my personal style perfectly. I like to shoot darker imagery and I love a spooky elements to my photos. If you’re looking for a perfect wedding lens for high quality portraits or you prefer brighter imagery when editing, you’d probably prefer the 50mm f/1.2 L lens. If you aren’t sure what I mean by vignette, it means that the edges of the photo are dark and shadowy, almost like you’re shooting through a pinhole camera. You can see a circular ghosting around the corners of the photo. Again, doesn’t bother me but I totally understand if it bothers you!

  2. THE IMAGES MIGHT SEEM A BIT SOFT

    I wouldn’t describe this lens as the sharpest in the world, especially when comparing it to the 50 mm f/1.2 L lens. My 1.2 lens is incredibly sharp, especially when I’m shooting with the newer mirrorless cameras. I have a Canon EOS R that does amazing with the 1.2 lens, and I’m going to be upgrading to the Canon R6 Mark III soon and I know that’s going to be incredible too! I’m definitely looking for the sharpest images possible when I’m shooting for a client. However, creatively I actually prefer softer images. I’m also used to shooting with a lot of crappy film cameras, so I’m used to my images not being perfectly sharp. I just think it adds more character. I’m not a technically minded person so I’m not always looking to create the best image. I’m looking to create the most unique image.

  3. IT ISN’T COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEWER CANON MIRRORLESS CAMERAS WITHOUT AN ADAPTER

    This lens is a bit outdated as Canon moves towards only producing mirrorless cameras. The RF lenses are the newer line of lenses by Canon, so if you decide to get a Canon 5D Mark II, III or IV, then the RF lenses are not compatible at all. Meaning, no matter what you can’t use the RF lenses with an EF camera. However! It does work the other way around. You CAN use the EF lenses with an RF camera. So the 50 mm f/1.4 lens that I’m talking about isn’t entirely useless. You just have to buy an EF to RF adapter. But just know that this lens is the older EF style of lenses by Canon. And just to let you know, the adapter does make the lens stick out a bit more so it makes your camera set-up a bit bulkier.

SO, WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS LENS?

100%. I recommend this lens constantly to anyone who asks me where they should start if they don’t have a huge budget. I’d probably go for a Canon 6D Mark II and this lens if you’re looking for an affordable but professional starter set-up. This set-up carried me for quite a few years and helped me to grow my photography business. I actually used the Canon 6D, not the 6D Mark II, but I recommend the 6D Mark II because it’s a bit more modern. If you’re looking for more of a budget option and really want to start low, the Canon 5D Mark II and III are incredibly affordable, but just know you’re likely buying a used one, since they are pretty outdated. They were top of the line when they first came out though, so if you’re able to find one in excellent+ condition, you’re really getting an incredible deal and could definitely be considered a professional photographer with the images you could produce.

I’m so glad this lens is back in my possession and I honestly can’t wait to take it out on another fun fashion shoot. It’s a great lens if you’re looking to be creative, have fun, and create unique images. I was lucky enough to work with model Annie Montgomery for these photos and I’m just so obsessed with everything we created together. We took these photos in Forest Park in Portland, Oregon, which is one of the most magical places in the city. If you’re visiting Portland, I highly recommend walking the trail from Lower Macleay park to Pittock Mansion.

If you’re looking for a zoom lens, I highly recommend the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II L lens ( I have a full blog post about this lens here). I’ve been using this lens for years and it has truly carried my photography business. It’s perfect for weddings and low light scenarios that require fast shooting. It’s great for portraits but also for landscapes, nature and travel. If I had to choose between a fixed lens or a zoom lens, I’d always go for a zoom, but ideally I have a fixed lens and a zoom lens with me at all times. You’re usually compromising a wide aperture for the zoom focal length, so when it comes specifically to portraits, a 50 mm lens like the 50 mm f/1.4 is my go-to. Nothing beats the magic of an f/1.2 or f/1.4 lens shot wide open.

So, in conclusion, I love this lens and I think you will too! If you’ve used this lens before, I’d love to know what you think about it! Maybe I’m weird for loving it’s quirkiness but I just find it creates the most beautiful, surreal photos. Let me know your thoughts!

If you’re in the beginning stages of choosing a camera, make sure to check out my blog posts, The 15 Best Digital Cameras for Beginner Photographers Under $1500 or The Top 10 Most Desired Digital Cameras of 2026.

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON 50MM F/1.4 USM LENS

AMAZON

B&H PHOTO

KEH CAMERA (USED)


WHERE TO BUY THE CANON 50MM F/1.2 L LENS

AMAZON

B&H PHOTO

KEH CAMERA (USED)

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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Kodak Portra 400 Film Review | Is it Worth the Price?

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post, you help support Myles Katherine Photography. I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for your support!)

The beloved Kodak 400 Film - is it worth it? There are so many different film stocks out there but this is probably the one you’ve heard the most about. It’s coveted amongst film photographers and is one of the first color film stocks I ever heard about when starting my photography career. I’ve been using this film for YEARS and have spent far too much money loading my fridge with boxes of it. But I’ve also tried out tons of other film stocks at this point, so I feel I can give a true and honest opinion. In the grand scheme of it all, if someone were to ask me if they should try out Kodak Portra 400, my answer will always be yes, but here are three reasons why:

  1. The Color & Skin Tones are Highly Accurate

    Particularly for beginner photographers, I like to recommend this film because it takes out some of the guesswork and post-editing that you might have to do with other film stocks. This film is very forgiving and just naturally looks beautiful. The colors aren’t overly saturated but it still has a gorgeous vibrance that mimics reality. If I could exclusively shoot with Kodak Portra 400, I would. Unfortunately, it’s just a bit too expensive to shoot with consistently. But if you’re just starting out with photography, especially if you’re learning how to shoot 120 film with a Holga or Diana F+, this is the first film I’d recommend. I do find Kodak Portra film to have the prettiest skin tones of all of the film stocks out there. When I’m shooting a wedding and I’m digging through my fridge for film to load my cameras with, if I have a Kodak Portra in there, I’m going for that first. It automatically adds professionality to my photographs and I can always count on it to accurately capture my clients.

  2. It’s Super Sharp

    I have to say, out of all of the film stocks I’ve ever tried, I do find Kodak (especially Kodak Portra) to be the sharpest of all of them. The grain is extremely fine for a 400 speed film. If you follow my work, you know I love to shoot with the Holga 120 toy camera pretty consistently, and Kodak Portra always surprises me with the crispness I can get out of my images. While Kodak Portra also comes in ISO 160 and ISO 800, I find the 400 ISO Portra to perfectly balance sharpness with low-light versatility. If I know it’s going to be a dark and overcast day or I’m going to be in shadows or inside while shooting, sometimes I’ll go for Kodak Portra 800. However, the 800 ISO version is even more expensive, so I find Portra 400 to really balance all my needs when shooting.

  3. It’s Reliable and Versatile

    I always know what I’m going to get with Kodak Portra 400. Sometimes, I’ll shoot with a roll that’s been in my fridge for years and it still looks like a brand new roll, with beautiful natural saturation and low grain. Sometimes I’ll only shoot half a roll at a wedding or event and end up shooting the rest of the roll at the beach or while traveling and Portra never falters. It’s also incredible for landscapes and nature. With a lot of film stocks, I’m unhappy with the way it captures greens, especially with grass or mountains, but Portra is always on point. Like I said, I’d shoot Portra every day if I could! Kodak Portra comes in both 35 mm and 120 formats, so just make sure you’re getting the right one for your camera.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So… is Kodak Portra 400 worth the price? Yes, in so many ways. And while it would be nice to have an endless stock of Kodak Portra on hand, it’s also fun to try out other films to keep things interesting. Overall though, this film probably takes the #1 spot in my book, of all of the films out there. I realize this is a pretty strong stance to take, but there aren’t really any other films out there that are as natural, consistent, versatile, sharp and balanced as Kodak Portra 400. Just try it out for yourself and see what you think! When I’m on a budget though, Lomography Color Negative 400 is usually my backup. While it’s a bit more saturated, the bright colors bring a fun positivity to my images. Kodak Gold 200 is next on my list. It has that sharpness that I love about Kodak films but it does have a bit of a gold tint to it, which is great for shooting at the beach, but not always what you might want with your photos. It’s extremely affordable though, which surprises me, honestly. I feel like Kodak could charge more for Kodak Gold 200, so make sure to grab some of it here before they change their minds!

I’ve included a ton of sample photos below using Kodak Portra 400 with my Contax 645 (a fancy camera) and my Holga (a not-so-fancy camera). While I love using Kodak Portra with my Holga, it’s also absolutely outstanding with my Contax 645. There’s really no other combo that I love more. My Contax 645 is incredibly sharp, and when pairing it with Kodak Portra 400, it’s really just a film photographer’s dream.

WHERE TO BUY KODAK PORTRA 400 35 MM FILM

Amazon

B&H Photo

KODAK PORTRA 400 120 FILM

B&H Photo

Amazon

WHERE TO BUY A HOLGA 120 GCFN

Amazon

B&H Photo

Read more about the Holga 120 Camera on my blog here!

WHERE TO BUY A CONTAX 645

KEH Camera (if you’re lucky, they’ll have one in stock!)

Check eBay Listings

Read more about the Contax 645 on my blog here!