On 6 Aug 2002 18:25:53 -0700, etaman@hotmail.com (E) wrote:

>I am interested in hearing from users of the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 lens.
>There is very little information on the performance of this lens on
>the web. I am looking to buy this mostly for people pics in low light.
>Any comments on lens sharpness, performance at f/1.4, bokeh,
>auto-focusing, build quality, or any other usability issue would be
>very much appreciated.

Well, wander over to "SUBJECTIVE Lens Evaluations
(Mostly Nikkors)", at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/slemn.html, and you will
find it (and a few other outstanding lenses I've
seen that do not fit Nikon bodies...;-). While
I would probably try to avoid using the Canon
AF 24mm f1.4 at the widest two stops, if possible
(you can hand-hold WAs at slower than normal
shutter speeds successfully...), by f2.8 it is
quite good, and better at f2.8 than most other
f2.8 WAs. As for using WAs for people pictures,
I disagree with most - I prefer using WAs for this,
since people do not feel "under the gun" the way
they often do with a tele aimed directly at them);
the DOF is greater for a given stop, making focus
easier (and faster); and compositional changes
can be made faster, and with greater variety than
with teles...