Last week we asked you ‘if you were only allowed a single lens which would it be?‘ There were a large number of responses but probably the most popular lens was the 50mm at f1.4mm. The 50mm range of lens is probably the most affordable and popular prime lenses on the market.
The f1.4 costs £300 (Amazon link), which is out of the affordability range for many amateur photographers. The compromise is the exceptionally affordable 50mm f1.8 which only costs £88 (again from Amazon).
The “nifty fifty” offers a number of benefits, not only is it affordable the fact that it is a prime lens (i.e. no moving parts) means it is highly precise and thus offers superior image quality. Many photographers swear by prime lenses explaining that the massively superior photo quality is worth the lack of zoom.
The f1.8 could possibly be deemed essential given the low price tag. Manufacturers have made the lens affordable by making it with a plastic body and a metal mount but the maximum aperture of f/1.8 gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects.
F1.8 also means it is particularly suited to low light photography on occasions when a flash isn’t appropriate. Professional music photographer Ramsey Cardy recommends the 50mm f1.8 as an essential lens for music photography (read the full article here).
This photo was taken during an intimate gig in near darkness, I had to forgo my 24-70 f2.8 as the 50mm f1.4 was the only lens capable of coping with the unbelievable lack of light.
I won’t even pretend to be an expert though and I am sure many of the Pro’s in the Seven by Five group will be able to offer a much better reason why the 50mm is an essential piece of kit.
I think the top reasons for owning the 50mm f1.8
1. Prime lens offers superior image quality.
2. A wide aperture offers brilliant bokeh effects (great for portrait work).
3. It is exceptionally light and portable.
4. It is exceptionally affordable.
5. Great for low light photography (e.g. music).
If you want to add your photos to the Flickr Pool then tag them 50mm. Click here to see the 50mm already added to the group.
I would venture (and would love to hear opinions) that the Fifty is a good all-purpose lens that can be cajoled into a broad aspect of use. ie: from portrait to object study to non-sweeping landscape at a push (as in this-is-my-back-garden-in-bloom) and even a decent cityscape or architectural shot.
If anyone wants to listen to two very funny guys go on about whatever they like with photography and tech thrown in, this week’s ep of PodGoat touches on just this very topic. Sime raises the point that he spent the £££ he couldn’t afford for the 1.4 because of the build as at that aperture it’s almost too shallow.
http://podgoat.com/2010/03/podcast-05-goats-in-space/
The 50mm F1.4/1.8 is an essential bit of kit, both give cracking bokeh and are fantastic at separating out the focal point of an image. Food photography is an area where these lenses shine as well (just a shame about their small minimum focusing distances).
I use the 1.4 at work all the time and so far it’s been spot on. It did need a lot of microadjustment but that’s just one of those things. They do offer some of the best bang-for-buck of any Canon lens, up there with the 70-200 F4.
I don’t use a 50mm because I have a DX format camera – the Nikon D40. I instead use a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8. With the 1.5x multiplier of the DX format, it’s equivalent to a 52mm lens on a full frame camera. Works for me.
As Khürt L Williams, I have a 1.6x multiplier camera (Canon XSi). I do have a EF 50mm f/1.8 II and I really love it. It’s a really cheap glass and it can fit in any pocket. Right now I wish I could have a EF 35mm f/2 or a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM.
Getting back with the post, I really love that glass. I highly recommend it.
50 is an essential piece of kit
Jane bown of the guardian shot loads of her portraits using a 50
and the lady knows what she is doing
the bokeh and speed are great off my nikon 1.4 but it’s knowing what it’s going to do is the best bit, you know the size of the frame you can almost see the shot before you put it to your eye
50 is my most important piece of kit.
Only allowed one lens? Yep, it’s the fifty. My preference is the older metal Nikkor F1.8 I believe it was made between 1981-1983 or so. The one that focuses down to 0.45. A gem of a lens!!
As I use a Pentax DSLR I picked up an old mint 50mm prime f1.7 and a 35mm prime f2.8 and even though they are manual focus I really wouldn’t be without them. I was given the 35mm by a friend and the 50mm cost me £12.00 from a second hand dealer.
Even with the crop factor a 50mm is ideal as an everyday lens and superb for close up portrait work, I can’t comment on Nikon or Canon but the old Pentax lenses are tack sharp.
Before I got my 70mm Sigma all my portrait work was done with a 50mm and it’s still one of the lenses that never gets taken out of my bag.
Agreed. I wrote about this lens (50mm f1.8) a year ago too and everyone still seems to love it http://www.dzierza.com/2010/03/my-nifty-fifty/
I used it last weekend after a long break and fell in love with it again. Indispensable.
The only lens I like as much as my Canon 50 1.4 is my Panasonic 20mm f1.7 for my Pen.
I wrote back in October 2011 that I was using the 50mm F1.8 AIS. Just purchased the 50mm F1.4 AIS. Going to try it out this weekend. Anxious to see how it compares to the F1.8. I also have the F1.2 I haven’t used in a while. LOVE THOSE FIFTIES!!!!
Pardon me. I meant, I wrote in October 2010…