The Beauty Of The 50 mm Lens

[Sirius Glass]

heh -- I didn't realize that. It's not ethics. I use primes when I need faster and (usually) less distortion. I don't have any zooms that go to f/2 or wider and the ones I have often want an extra stop down from their wide open before they get as sharp as a 50mm prime at f/2. I also use them because they are smaller and lighter (usually) and for other personal reasons. But I have a crapload if zoom lenses, and they're great when they're great.

The core premise from the thread title -- that 50mm is great -- I guess that's philosophical. Yes, a 50mm prime is awesome, let me count the ways...

I understand and sometimes it is just fun to walk around with a 50mm lens for 35mm or 80mm for 6x6 taking photographs not thinking about changing lenses. That is the point of the thread.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

This is a great way to think about it. And it isn't too far off what works for me.

For 35mm I've always shot Nikon. Digital and before. The 50mm 1.8 is an absolute miracle combination of cheap and super good image quality. The 1.4s are nice, too, though a touch more expensive if still pretty cheap.

I tend to always have a 50mm (1.4 for low light, but i have 1.8s too).

I have a 105dc for long. The 105 is a favorite lens for portraits.

For short I have a 28mm.

So 28 / 50 / 105... half / normal / double.

It's just a good formula. If I'm walkin' around I grab the 28, but have the 50 in my bag. if I'm going to be shooting people I have the 105, but have a 50 in my bag. For just general photography I always have a 50 on. Anything longer or shorter tends to be a specialty thing.

Don't get me wrong, I like 35mm, just like 28 better. I OWN an 85 that's a wonderful lens and I use it a bunch when I don't want to deal with the weight and size of my 105. But as I am thinking about what I do most, half / normal / double really is the core of my kit.

I sdopted half/normal/double for all my different formats and it never let me down; nice way to get away with minimal cost and weight and manufacturers seems to produce the best glass for that combo too.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I sdopted half/normal/double for all my different formats and it never let me down; nice way to get away with minimal cost and weight and manufacturers seems to produce the best glass for that combo too.

I use different progressions:

• 35mm: 20mm or 21mm 24mm 28mm 50mm 150mm 300mm ... [I never went further]
• 120 film 6x6 30mm[Fisheye] 38mm[SWC] 50mm 80mm 150mm 250mm 500mm 1,000mm [500mm + 2XE]
• 4"x5" 90mm 135mm 210mm

It is all about the horizon field of view for me

 

[Evergreen States]

I mostly shoot the 50mm equivalent of whatever format I'm using. It just feels right.

 

[Arthurwg]

Interesting that we're talking about a "normal" lens. Over the years I've avoided them, preferring something Wider for the most part, or something longer when needed. But lately I realize I need a normal lens for the landscapes I'm shooting, mostly because I'm getting too much foreground.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

Wider lenses often benefit from being used at a large height as to avoid foreground obstruction.

I picked up a 58mm f1.4 Nikkor recently that preserves perfect perspective through the viewfinder.

 

[Kilgallb]

I used a 90mm and a 210mm on 4x5 for years. I recently bought a 150mm (normal) and seem to use it the most, or maybe it is just a novelty thing.

I also seem to shoot 35mm with just a normal 50mm.

Maybe my next adventure should be 300mm.

Has anyone here shot 4x5 with 300mm or more? Is it worth a try?

 

[awty]

You need all the lenses, all the cameras and all the films you can carry.

 

[snusmumriken]

I agree about using your legs, but what happens with a 50mm sometimes is when I use my legs to move back to capture a scene, a lot of intervening stuff shows up in the foreground and often ruins the shot

Haha! Beautifully put!

 

[Don_ih]

You need all the lenses, all the cameras and all the films you can carry.

I have more than I can carry, though. Should I get a wheelbarrow, too?

 

[awty]

I have more than I can carry, though. Should I get a wheelbarrow, too?

What a great idea. I need a wheel barrow just for 50mm.

 

[cliveh]

I use only a 50mm, as I think it is the nearest to eye vision.

 

[gone]

I've never got on w/ 50mm lenses, it's really hard for me to compose the space w/ one. W/ an 85-135mm lens it's a lot easier, and I like the compressed space on the shots.

 

[lxdude]

I love how photographic enthusiasts consider the choice of lens focal length to be an issue of Ethics or Philosophy .
(note the sub-forum we are in).

Philosophy I can see. As for Ethics, I remember old guys from my youth who considered using zoom lenses to be cheating. Generally the same guys who considered cropping from full frame to be somehow dishonest.

 

[lxdude]

If I had to have just one lens (as I did for 3 years when I was just starting out), it would be a normal lens. I would not want to be stuck shooting just wide angle or telephoto, even a 35 or 80. The natural rendering of perspective, the fact that I can make it work for most subjects, including portraits, make it more versatile than any other focal length. The lens speed is marvelous- a 35 or 80/85 f/2 is "OOOooo", and a 1.4 in either is "WOW", but those speeds with a 50/55 is "Uh-huh". And that's not even considering cost.
I use a wide angle and telephoto more than my normal (with 135 format), but I'm never without my fast 50.

 

[cliveh]

Philosophy I can see. As for Ethics, I remember old guys from my youth who considered using zoom lenses to be cheating. Generally the same guys who considered cropping from full frame to be somehow dishonest.

It is not cheating, but many who use zoom or telephoto lenses have no regard of perspective. As for cropping, why not compose within the viewfinder of your chosen format?

 

[faberryman]

If you like shooting with a 50mm lens, shoot with a 50mm lens. If you prefer another lens, shoot with another lens. It is not about what lens you shoot with, it is about what images you make. A mediocre image made with a 50mm lens is a mediocre image. And the less said about the cult of the primes the better. So much dogma. Show me your prints.

 

[albada]

use your legs

While whale-watching?

 

[Huss]

While whale-watching?

Just put some flippers on your feet.

 

[Huss]

Zoom with your feet works great until it doesn't.

 

[mtnbkr]

Zoom with your feet works great until it doesn't.

Like wanting that close-up of the tigers at the zoo.

"I'll just hop this barricade so I can rapidfire a few shots for that decisive moment...argh...they're bitey!"

Chris

 

[flavio81]

I own over 50 lenses and none of them is a zoom.

I've owned some great zooms but at the end i preferred to replace them with one or two smaller primes. For me, it's a matter of size, and also of lack of distortion. Zooms often have distortion. (The really good ones don't)

 

[gone]

I favor 85mm-105mm lenses because I like the slight compression it gives to the shots, and I just see and compose better w/ one. A 50mm lens means I can't get in close to certain shots, nor do head shot portraits. So while some may feel that a 50mm lens is a versatile lens, I see them as limited for what I do.

 

[faberryman]

I own over 50 lenses and none of them is a zoom.

It is not true that whoever dies with the most lenses wins.

 

[Don_ih]

It is not true that whoever dies with the most lenses wins.

..... You think 50 lenses is a lot?