In what situations would you, personally, use a focal length of 50mm?

[Solarflare]

DigitalRev already said it so nicely:

5 Reasons Why You Need a 50mm lens - YouTube

And I consider the "50mm is close to human vision, thus its boring" logic completely hillarious.

As my sig suggests, I most often use a 35mm f/1.8 on my 1.5 crop sensor.

 

[Ernicus]

I love my 50. Use it all the time where my feet can give me the zoom I need. Otherwise, I put on a zoom.

I don't have a huge arsenal, which is why my 50 might be my fave. So my opinion may indeed vary. However, as of now, I love it.

 

[SCraig]

50mm is considered to me a "Normal" lens on a 35mm camera, or a full-frame DSLR. On a crop-sensor camera "Normal" is closer to 35mm.

Personally I seldom use 50mm. The two lenses I use the vast majority of the time are a 17-70mm zoom and a 70-300mm zoom. The rest of the time it's normally a 150-500mm zoom.

How is that 150-500mm?

Heavy! But it sure brings the world a lot closer!

It's relatively slow at f/5 to 6.3 so it's most assuredly not a low-light lens. Focus is relatively quick for a lens that long, and it's pretty sharp at all focal lengths stopped down to about f/8. I use it for birds and wildlife and really like it. My only real complaint is it is rather heavy for all-day carry at a bit over 4 pounds. I tried it a couple of times with a neck strap and that just wasn't going to work. I got a Black Rapid R7 and that solved most of the problem.

If I had to buy it again I would do so without question.

 

[cgipson1]

I find the 50mm useful for portraiture, indoors... especially in tight quarters where my 85mm wont allow me the framing I want.

 

[gsgary]

I love 40mm on my M4, 50mm on my 5d is also great

 

[SoCalTiger]

50mm is my preferred focal length. I use it for almost everything (I mainly photograph people). I also have a 35mm for indoor use but I dont like the perspective as much. The only thing I find the 50mm doesn't work well for are things like architecture or landscape if I need a wider FOV from where I am.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

I find the 50mm focal length to be useless.

And I don't like guacamole.

 

[IByte]

DigitalRev already said it so nicely:

5 Reasons Why You Need a 50mm lens - YouTube

And I consider the "50mm is close to human vision, thus its boring" logic completely hillarious.

As my sig suggests, I most often use a 35mm f/1.8 on my 1.5 crop sensor.

.....the bokeh!!

 

[Patrice]

I often just go for a walk with my D700 and a 50mm prime, this to me is a relatively small and lightweight setup ready to photograph whatever strikes my fancy. I'm one of those guys who once photographed a social event with only a 50 mm prime. My first slr was a 35 mm film camera and my only lens for it was a 50mm. I used that camera as is for nearly a decade. However my weapon of choice at the time was a 6x6 with an 80mm lens.

 

[KmH]

.....the bokeh!!

Even the 50 mm primes that have ****ty, jarring, nervous, 5 sided, CA tinged bokeh??

 

[IByte]

Even the 50 mm primes that have ****ty, jarring, nervous, 5 sided, CA tinged bokeh??

But the 5 Reasons Guy says so lol!!

 

[Solarflare]

DigitalRev has plenty funny videos

5 Reasons You Need a 35mm Lens - YouTube
50 Quick Photography Tips - YouTube

 

[jake337]

When I want to.

 

[Alpha]

I would personally use a 50mm if I felt like it, or if it was the only lens I had. It's not a stupid question, it's just a bit of a naive one.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

I think this thread has less to do on when you would like to use one, and more to do with what subject matter would you be shooting with it?

I use my nifty fifty for everything. Most people use the 50mm as a go to lens for portraits. This is what it's most known use is for. However, I use mine for everything. Auto, people, landscape, cityscape, etc. it all comes down to what you want to be in the frame, in the end. The Fifty is always the lens I start with. If I need more framing, I move to a wider angle lens. If I need less framing, I move to my tele.