I personally am not a fan of the Canon 1.4. I always chose a zoom over it unless I really needed the two stops of light. I really didn't like the images shot under f/2. The AF seemed to search and miss a lot also. I didn't own mine long enough but I have read and witnessed others having issues with the focusing motor after a couple years or lots of use. It definitely won't handle being banged around.


I have seen some really great shots from the Sigma 1.4 and was close to buying it, but I had read so many reviews talking about the focus issue, I held off.


After reading later reviews of the Canon 1.2, people believe there has been a change in it's production in the last year or so and it's focusing issues have been improved (fixed?). People are now raving about it. So I ordered one of those.


That is probably out of the price range you are looking at, so I'd say if you aren't too concerned about build quality and IQ under f/2.8 go with the Canon 1.4. If you are concerned about those things and are willing to deal with some returns or servicing, try the Sigma.


One last note; from all the reviews and reports I've read in my quest for the "perfect" 50mm lens, it seems they all suffer from focusing issues even the the Zeiss manual focus. I'm guessing it is something technically/physically to do with the focal length.