>>3044631>or they are worse at most f-stops than their cheaper alternatives.Here are some totally garbage unscientific lense tests I did this afternoon with my collection of FDn 50's.
Focusing distance is about 56cm, which is less than ideal for the normal lenses, one would assume.
Focused in the centre with magnified live view, remote release and electronic first curtain, so camera shake is a non issue.
Processed from RAWs with all sharpening and NR and anything at all turned off.
What we learn is that the 50/3.5 Macro is sharper over the entire field wide open than the 50L or 50/1.4 at any aperture.
If you care about sharpness, you should always shoot with a macro lense.
Between the 1.4 and the 1.2, the L lense is clearly sharper and contrastier in the centre for both wide open and (to a lesser extent) stopped down. Towards the edge, the L is contrastier and I think sharper wide open. Stopped down, the L is still contrastier, but softer and has more chromatic abberation.
Again, the Macro shits on both of them from a great height. It doesn't really vignette that heavily (or at all, stopped down), the light changed a little when I put it on is all.