Others say...

"The Great Compromise"
I already own the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens but wanted something that is sturdier and QUIETER. The EF 50mm f/1.4 fit the bill for me because the f1.2L is not in my budget and the f/1.4 can certainly hold its own in most situations. I rarely shoot wide open with this lens but would not hesitate to set it in really low light situations. I have a couple mid-range L zooms but the 50mm f/1.4 stays on my body most of the time now. I think I would prefer this on a full frame body so I can better handle tight situations indoors. I also advise either screwing on a nice multi-coated UV filter for protection or not using one at all. I get really bad flare shooting into strong light. I have to do more test shots to get a better grasp on these situations. I have also encountered some problems focusing in low light but that could also be user error or my outdated 20D camera body.

In retrospect, I would've purchased the f/1.4 over the f/1.8 II with the knowledge I have now. It focuses accurately for me and f/1.4 really comes in handy when the situation arises.

"Too Good!"
I was on the fence for months, deciding between this f/1.4 lens and the Canon f/1.8. I ultimately decided I'd go with this one, both for the reputation of the superior build quality and the focus gauge.

Currently, it's my favorite lens in my kit as it takes the most wonderful pictures even in low light. Unfortunately though, it's not ideal for most situations with the 1.6x crop sensor bodies. Most of the time when I've gone out with just this lens on my camera, I find myself backed up into a wall just to get medium shot of someone or something across the room. I am now inspired to pick up a full-frame sensor body just to take advantage of the awesomeness that is this lens.

Yes, I think there just might be a 5D Mark II in my future (can you IMAGINE using this lens for HD VIDEO? Oh man)...

If you're looking for a great comparably priced portrait lens on a crop sensor body, check out the Sigma 30mm 1.4... I've used it and it's also a very good, very sharp, very fast lens... and wide enough to get great portrait framing from a few feet away.

"Familiar Ground"
After many years working with film and a 50mm lens, this marks a return to old habits of picture framing, and generally it has been a pleasant one. Very good to great sharpness of focus, and the typical excellent light and color qualities Canon brings to its lenses. But the feel for manual focus leaves something to be desired. The focus ring feels loose not firm, being able to be moved from side to side, and it has a gritty feel to its manual focusing, not smooth as virtually every other Canon lense I've owned has been. The result is where I would want it, but the feel of the lens leaves me uneasy. A look at someone else's copy of this lens showed these less than wonderful qualities to be even more pronounced in his. The kicker is that to get excellent build quality, you evidently have to spend five times as much for the f1.2 version.

"be careful who u buy this from........."
I bought this lens for my son from Amazon and he loves it and everything went fine and according to schedule. I notice that it is also sold by Adorama..... be carefull with them, they offer no way (that I know) to track pacages, do not respond well to email contacts and DO NOT meet their shipping schedule. I am still waiting for items I ordered and PAID expedited shipping for,,,,,,,,,,,,never again Adorama....

"Fabulous lens...."
No need to say all the great things others have said about this lens. I'll just say its now my main lens and I'm still in shock over how nice it works in low light. Worth every penny!