"...the 50 1.0 L needed precise focus calibration and optical axis centering from Canon to achieve optimal performance. "

Released in September, 1989 @ 358,700 yen (w/case and hood)

Detailed specs here on the Canon online museum page - click here

About the sharpness of the 50/1.0 @ f/1.0, I'll let the photos speak for themselves. I suspect that many of the online comments on this subject, like, alas, most online comments, are repetitions of what someone else read of what someone else read of what their cousin's friend's niece's ... well, you get the point.

Of those few comments from people who actually used (or owned, even more rare) the 50/1.0 @ f/1.0, I suspect that either their examples were not properly calibrated (especially critical for this esoteric and complex design) or they just weren't used to how thin/shallow the depth of field is, at f/1.0

I am very pleasantly surprised at how close this lens will focus.

WanderingPurist