50mm lens as the main carry around lens?

ongakublue · Aug 23, 2015

Hi again,

I had it in my head, before I started looking into old slr cameras and also rangefinders that 35mm lenses were the standard. I have read in so many places that 35 is so good for street photography and indeed as a carry-around lens but in fact, as far as I can see, the vast majority of primes sold with slr cameras are 50 or a little higher. I am not going to ask that question about the best lens for street photography but do you feel 50mm is the most useful lens to have when out and about? That it covers most situations? Or do you prefer to have a zoom lens as a carry around lens. I think most people have one lens they use most. I am starting to think from use that my Minolta 35-70 is worth the bulk and slower aperture (and a little less sharpness) than the 50mm prime 'kit lens' that comes with the bodies I bought. It is about personal preference I guess but I am interested to know your favourites.

sagai · Aug 23, 2015

We cannot tell which is the best one for you
50mm does fit for me in most cases, a 35mm also good to be around.

Sirius Glass · Aug 23, 2015

Often before I bought 28mm to 200mm, 28mm to 300mm and 20mm to 35mm zoom lenses I would carry only the 50mm lens and left the 21m, 28mm, and longer lenses home. Now when I shoot MF I use the normal 80mm [equivalent to the 50mm lens in 35mm] as my main lenses.

ongakublue · Aug 23, 2015

sagai said:
We cannot tell which is the best one for you
50mm does fit for me in most cases, a 35mm also good to be around.

Yeah I am not asking for advice at all. I am just curious to know what people use

Bill Burk · Aug 23, 2015

Hi ongakublue,

My personal preference is for f/2 or brighter prime lenses. So for 35mm camera I won't carry a zoom, but will carry a 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/2

A 35mm slight wide is tremendously useful for landscape and street photography. Bright f/2 is useful in low-light situations especially for SLR focusing. Slight telephoto makes memorable portraits (and I would take f/2.8 if I had to).

Last week I brought three lenses but used the 50mm for "practically everything".

MartinCrabtree · Aug 23, 2015

Most of the time a Nikkor 50 f1.4 AiS is fitted to my F5.

f/16 · Aug 23, 2015

If you don't need the fast max aperture, I find a small zoom such as a 35-70 f/3.5-4.5 far more versatile.

BradS · Aug 23, 2015

The theoretical "normal" focal length for the 35mm format is something like 43mm so neither the 35mm nor 50mm focal lengths are optimal in that sense. The fact that something near 50mm is the de facto standard focal length for the format probably has more to do with economic considerations of realizing a particular optical design withing some given physical constraints than with what is theoretically optimal...but, this is mostly just speculation on my part.

I personally find the 50mm to be rather boring and mundane but brain dead simple to use. I still use it a lot but, I really prefer to use the 28mm or 105mm...but these focal lengths require more effort from the guy pushing the buttons. I find that the shorter focal length requires far more effort and thought on my part but, when I do invest the effort, it does produce more interesting and engaging photos.

LarryP · Aug 23, 2015

I've tended to use the 50mm f1.7 as my walk around but am now using a 28mm f3.5 a lot :eek: . Since your fairly new to film the zoom makes sense, if you find yourself using one end or the middle most you'll find which if any prime would work best for you.

Dali · Aug 23, 2015

As multi purpose lens, it would choose 35mm instead of 50mm. In fact 50mm (58mm actually) is the longest f.l. I use.

frank · Aug 23, 2015

one lens: 40mm
Two lenses: 28 and 50
Three lenses: 20, 28, and 50

Peltigera · Aug 23, 2015

I mostly use fixed lens cameras and most of those seem to have 45 mm lenses. For my film SLRs I generally use a 55 mm lens.

gzinsel · Aug 23, 2015

for me, well over 3/4 to 7/8 of my photography is with a f/3.5 100mm. i also have a f/1.8 50mm. I rarely use it. buts its a good lens. just covers too much. 35mm . . . . forget about it!!!!!!

John Bragg · Aug 23, 2015

I seem to have come full circle and back to 50mm. I like 28mm as well for street shots and interiors of old churches and such, but the 50 is most often used. It is ok for portraits, especially couples, but I also have an af Nikkor 85mm f1.8 that is brilliant for single person head and shoulder shots.

MattKing · Aug 23, 2015

frank said:
one lens: 40mm
Two lenses: 28 and 50
Three lenses: 20, 28, and 50

For me, it depends on which camera I'm using, because I have different lenses for different camera mounts.

But generally:

one lens: 35mm
Two lenses: 35mm and 85mm (both f/2)
Three lenses: 24mm, 35mm, and 85mm
Four lenses: 24mm, 35mm, 50mm macro and 85mm

frank · Aug 23, 2015

Focal length choice is pretty subjective. There's no wrong answer to, "What's your favourite colour?"

Alan Gales · Aug 23, 2015

I have a love/hate relationship with zoom lenses. A zoom is my lens of choice when shooting sports. Any other time I like primes.

For a walk around lens it's hard to beat a 35mm or 50mm. For environmental portraits I prefer the 50mm but for street shooting where the scene is equal or more important than the people I like the wider 35mm.

Alan Gales · Aug 23, 2015

frank said:
There's no wrong answer to, "What's your favourite colour?"

Frank, You better not tell this guy that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqsLPW7Xi-w

Ko.Fe. · Aug 23, 2015

50 is classic. Not as easy as 28, 35, but more versatile, IMO.

ic-racer · Aug 23, 2015

50mm is my main lens...on my 6008i. Otherwise I have boxes of 50mm lenses for 35mm cameras that I don't use.

Xmas · Aug 23, 2015

I use a vernier calliper and kitchen scales to decide what to sell or keep.
Carrying them all day hard.
But I use a 35mm at 5 to 6 foot.

Gerald C Koch · Aug 24, 2015

IIRC one of the reasons so many 35mm cameras come with a 45 to 55 mm lens is that it is easiest to design this focal length in wide apertures around f/1.8. Aberrations are less for this focal length with this formal.

narsuitus · Aug 24, 2015

ongakublue said:
... do you feel 50mm is the most useful lens to have when out and about?

When I am shooting a 35mm camera, rarely is the 50mm my most useful lens.

Instead, the 35mm is my personal favorite. In fact, my other personal favorite carry lenses are built around the 35mm.

one lens: 35mm f/1.4
Two lenses: 35mm and 85mm f/1.8
Three lenses: 35mm, 85mm, and 180mm f/2.8
Four lenses: 24mm f/2, 35mm, 85mm, and 180mm

Nikon F2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

R.Gould · Aug 24, 2015

all but 2 of the cameras I use for 35mm are fixed 45 or 50mm lenses, so that is my main lens,
Richard

film_man · Aug 24, 2015

I really like 50mm. It is my main go to lens. I also have a 40mm which works very well and can effectively look like both a 35mm and a 50mm lens depending how you use it. I also do like a 35mm lens but if I had to have just one 50 it would be.

50mm lens as the main carry around lens?

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