Advice for shooting with a 50mm on my t4i with its crop sensor?

[otabwill]

So I got my first DSLR, the T4i, and I picked the canon 50mm 1.8 lens to go with it. Now, here I've got a decent camera and a decent lens, and I've taken a few pictures that I like, but I often find myself seeing a nice composition with my eyes, but then its too cropped when i look at it through the camera.

Now, I know that its because my 50 is more like an 80 on this camera, but this situation where I'm limited by the crop factor of my camera on this lens keeps coming up, which is a bit frustrating. That said, I know this lens itself is by no means used for every kind of shot, and I think that a good photographer can still get good compositions regardless of the camera or lens.

Considering these things, I've been thinking to myself, how can I make the best use of this cam+lens combination?

 

[FeatherMonkey]

From one noob to another, what you seem to be asking is how do I see the composition for a crop sensor.

In my crude understanding you could achieve an equivalent fov and similar dof by stepping back and changing aperture. Here's a good page full-frame vs crop-sensor comparison depth-of-field perspective - Tangents

As for focal length even at it's equivalent fov I'd say it should be reasonably versatile certainly seems to be a decent working distance for portraits.

I'd say get a better understanding of the exposure triangle and how aperture controls dof and what fov really is. For sure from what I've read 50mm on 35mm/ff is close to the human eye fov. It shouldn't really limit the composition though, you just need to see it before you put the camera to your eye.

Take what I've said as a noob who's constraining himself with a 105mm on a crop and who's got plenty to learn and 1000's more pics to take yet.

Hope it helps my tuppence, till someone more knowledgeable comes along.

 

[jaomul]

Your lens is fixed. You can only change your view by physically moving camera in relation to subject, or better put move yourself closer or farther from subject.

I would recommend you try to get a kit lens to go with your prime. I think it's a mistake to buy your first dslr without one, until you know your style if shooting

 

[Dao]

You are not limited by the crop factor of your camera. Do not worry too much about "crop factor" at all unless you need to switch between different format. What you see via the viewfinder with your system is what you really need to know. You do not really need to care about how it will look in other format such as full frame. Otherwise, you also need to know about how it should look in medium format, full format or cell phone sensor format. If you think why you need to worry about those formats, then it is the same question why you need to worry about crop factor (how it looks in Full frame format).

Anyway, I agree with Jaomul that a standard zoom lens is a great lens to start. If you are not going to get another lens soon, then I will suggest you read more about photography and composition. Try out different aperture settings while keeping the same exposure and see the difference.

 

[spiralout462]

Why not try a 24mm or the 10-18mm if the 50 is too "tight"?

 

[soufiej]

So I got my first DSLR, the T4i, and I picked the canon 50mm 1.8 lens to go with it. Now, here I've got a decent camera and a decent lens, and I've taken a few pictures that I like, but I often find myself seeing a nice composition with my eyes, but then its too cropped when i look at it through the camera.

Now, I know that its because my 50 is more like an 80 on this camera, but this situation where I'm limited by the crop factor of my camera on this lens keeps coming up, which is a bit frustrating. That said, I know this lens itself is by no means used for every kind of shot, and I think that a good photographer can still get good compositions regardless of the camera or lens.

Considering these things, I've been thinking to myself, how can I make the best use of this cam+lens combination?

The 50 mm Canon lens is a proven winner. If you've owned a Canon SLR/DSLR over the last twenty some years and not used their 50 mm lens, IMO, you've missed a lot of very good opportunities.

Which brings me to.

I sold high end audio for several decades and nowdays I hear younger "audiophiles" say - it's always younger audiophiles in these stories because us ol' geezers just mumble to ourself nowdays - they simply wouldn't buy such and such a component if it lacked a remote control. To which I think, ...

"Hmmmm, ... I took the bus to get here?!"

Then I think, ...

"You claim to be interested in the quality of music reproduction but your first priority is that you don't have to move to change the volume?!"

I know, it's old geezer talk, but back in my day we had to walk three miles and back in the snow! JUST! to change the volume.

We lost many a good boy in that campaign. But we emerged victorious with the liberty to not get our butts out of a chair if we don't want to!

(Cue #1: patriotic music.)

It's the same with lenses.

I've put my zoom lenses into the closet lately. I feel they have the right to their privacy and, who am I to object to a couple of lenses getting together? It's not like some guy wanting to marry a turtle.

(Cue #2: picture of Rick Santorum, more patriotic music.)

I have no idea what they're doing in there by themself. It's very quiet when I walk by.

Maybe they're plotting to get even. I don'know. I sleep with the lights on anyway.

Anyway, I walk around with just a prime lens now. People look at me and ask, "Why are just carrying a lens?"

Then I look at them and say, "Because I forgot my pants."

Then they say, "Okaaaaaaaay ... "

I don't understand their point.

The idea of relying on a zoom to obtain a good photo simply ignores the fact photographers didn't have a zoom lens until some marketing guy - it's always a guy in these stories about the olden days - said, "I think we can increase our sales if we make our boxes blue ... Oh, and add a zoom lens."

To which everyone in the room said, "Yeah, I like blue."

Then they fired the marketing guy because no one knew what a zoom lens was.

A dozen years later, some science type guy - it's always a guy in these scientific discussions from the olden days - said, "You know what I just thought of?"

"I think ham and cheese on rye sounds like a good idea."

The story gets complicated from there but suddenly people who didn't even have cameras were buying a zoom lens. 'Cause now the marketing guys that were left realized the science guy was right. And the marketing guys who were left wanted to be right.

After all, they'd been right about blue all along.

Kinda like the people in West Texas who bought an electric washing machine on store credit and then waited twenty years for LBJ to run electric power lines to their part of the world.

True stories both!

Any which who, you find things are "cropped" when you look through the viewfinder?

Have you considered the idea that maybe you're really a landscape photographer trapped in a portrait photographer's body?

Have you considered the fact your viewfinder doesn't show you the entire scene you're about to photograph? Usually they don't. Maybe your's does.

?

Probably not though.

Have you considered most people take a picture and then go home and crop it in their computer? You? You're half way there before you even take the shot!

"We don'need no stinkin' computer!"

Have you considered why ham and cheese goes with rye?

Have you considered, mayo or mustard?

Does a pickle choose to be dill?

Have you considered you have an interchangeable lens camera? The 50 mm on your camera isn't like a 50 mm on a film camera.

You've heard of "film"? A lot of us old geezer's used it because the stone tablets were getting heavy.

(Cue #3: rim shot.)

That's what I've heard at least; 50 is not the new 35. 60 is the new 40. But you'll still get your first letter from AARP at 50.

Scares the boogers right out of you!

None the however, 50 mm ?

It's like way less now than what it was then. So, like, maybe you need a lens that's more like's what it should be, but isn't. Then you'll have two lenses.

How two lenses got in my pajamas, I'll never know.

Siriusly, though, I was listening to a show on satellite radio the other day.

I suppose my only real question, cause I haven't had an unreal question yet, is, so what do you do? Do you just give up and go home? I mean, what? you've got like six photos on your camera so far? OK, that was another "real" question. I'm reaching my limit for this post.

This one doesn't count 'cause I already asked it. So, what do you do when you look in the viewfinder?

I find a composition I like. We have a little bit to eat and something to drink, maybe a movie if things are going well ...

And I'm pretty certain I haven't taken all the good photos away from everyone else.

Matter of fact, looking at my photos, I haven't taken hardly any good photos from anyone!
There's lots more for you to have.

So, why haven't you taken them? They're basically free.



Thank you, I'll be here all week.

 

[Braineack]

So I got my first DSLR, the T4i, and I picked the canon 50mm 1.8 lens to go with it. Now, here I've got a decent camera and a decent lens, and I've taken a few pictures that I like, but I often find myself seeing a nice composition with my eyes, but then its too cropped when i look at it through the camera.

Considering these things, I've been thinking to myself, how can I make the best use of this cam+lens combination?

use the 18-55 and shoot at a focal length that has a Field of View more to your liking.

 

[DanOstergren27 3]

Sounds like you need a lens with a wider focal length. Try a 35mm lens, or maybe even something wider. Sorry for not getting all elaborate or full of technical info, but a simple problem calls for a simple solution. If you see and compose your vision in wide perspectives, you need a lens that will do the same.

 

[fjrabon]

I've always thought 50mm in aps-c is an awkward focal length. Too narrow to be good for getting the environment, to wide for a great portrait FOV.

I have a 50mm f/1.4 D. Great lens, ultra sharp, near perfect optics. For my money the best pure technical image quality Nikon has ever made. I almost never use it on my crop sensor cameras. I always want it to either be wider or longer. When I had an 18-105 as my first walk around lens, I combed through my exif data and realized that I basically never shot focal lengths between 40mm and 55mm. I'd see a ton of usage between 18 and 35 and a ton of usage from 60-105 but basically nothing in between.

 

[petrochemist118 142]

Have you considered the fact your viewfinder doesn't show you the entire scene you're about to photograph? Usually they don't. Maybe your's does.

I did have a budget DSLR that didn't quite show 100% of the scene - haven't used it for a while - none of my latest 4 bodies are so stupid!

 

[beagle100]

So I got my first DSLR, the T4i, and I picked the canon 50mm 1.8 lens to go with it. Now, here I've got a decent camera and a decent lens, and I've taken a few pictures that I like, but I often find myself seeing a nice composition with my eyes, but then its too cropped when i look at it through the camera.

Now, I know that its because my 50 is more like an 80 on this camera, but this situation where I'm limited by the crop factor of my camera on this lens keeps coming up, which is a bit frustrating. That said, I know this lens itself is by no means used for every kind of shot, and I think that a good photographer can still get good compositions regardless of the camera or lens.

Considering these things, I've been thinking to myself, how can I make the best use of this cam+lens combination?

I agree with some of the other comments, the "crop factor" should not be limiting. If you need a wider focal length for composition purposes get a wider lens

 

[wfooshee]

You'll find many situations where 50mm isn't wide enough on a full-frame. The crop factor isn't your limitation, as other have said. It's your single, one-and-only choice of focal length, and a slightly long one at that.

Now, if you were to start a studio head-shot portrait business with that setup, it might be all you ever need!

 

[weepete]

Zoom with your feet. Seriously, one of the best things I did was take my 50mm out for s couple of days as my only lens and I walked a lot. But it gave me a good feel for the lens and how to work with it.

It sounds to me like the OP will see something and want to capture that. As other posters have suggested a zoom lens is easier to work with in dynamic situations

 

[soufiej]

[QUOTE="petrochemist, post: 3478321, member: 163157"

I did have a budget DSLR that didn't quite show 100% of the scene - haven't used it for a while - none of my latest 4 bodies are so stupid![/QUOTE]


There is no place in photography for such blatant anthropomorphism.

Now, if you are, in fact, discussing metempsychosis, I would remind you, there is no substantive evidence to support such occurrences ... you know, occur.

 

[Gary A.]

Fill the frame ... Just fill the frame and keep looking through the viewfinder. When you get higher on the learning curve you'll start seeing the world in 50mm APS-C. There are no shortcuts. Congrats on the dSLR.