The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM and the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Canon 50mm f1.4 USM with a length of 51mm, is 39mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 also has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM's 74mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 50mm f1.4 USM weighs 290g, which means it is 355g (55%) lighter than the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 which has a weight of 645g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 50mm f1.4 USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM and the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Focal Range
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
80mm.
On the other hand, the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 72mm.