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

[NickEgglington]

My 50mm is pretty much my go to lens when I am shooting people and groups. I also find it awesome to use when shooting gigs on and off the stage. While it doesn't have the flexibility of a zoom it makes up for it in speed and use in low light.

 

[snowbear]

At this time, I only have three lenses. I use my 50mm anytime the 24mm is too wide and the 105mm is too long, regardless of the scene.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I use 50mm when in a tight studio or just in general LoL

 

[3bayjunkie]

How is that 150-500mm?

The canon 100-400 is sharper and more worth your money.

 

[IByte]

Hey, hey there's always room for your nifty fifty. It's your little buddy. You may not hang all the time, but you want to he's there!

 

[ahcigar1]

My 50mm I generally use for pano's and when doing basic stuff like photographing family. It is my go to lens for when I don't want to lug around my much heavier 70-200. It is a great all around lens that allows you to shoot just about anything.

 

[Mike_E]

When I want wide angle on my RB67.

 

[skieur]

True, but as a prime lens I would never buy a 50mm

Look at it this way. A 50mm lens is a cheap way of shooting in low light without a superhigh ISO with the related noise, and without a tripod. For this reason alone, it is worth its value for some shooters.

skieur

 

[BXPhoto]

On my FF its used a ton. On my crops its used a ton. It really depends on the situation and space provided. Also the DOF look I want to achieve. Ive shot entire events with just a 50mm on my 5d2 so its definitely usable.

 

[rexbobcat]

True, but as a prime lens I would never buy a 50mm

Look at it this way. A 50mm lens is a cheap way of shooting in low light without a superhigh ISO with the related noise, and without a tripod. For this reason alone, it is worth its value for some shooters.

skieur

True, but not to me. lol XD

I don't like normal focal lengths. I have a 24mm, a 70-200, and an 85mm so I usually either move closer or farther away. I own an SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 but I don't use it much, mostly because it's MF and I don't trust my eyes, but also because I find the angle of view to be "meh."

I'm completely in love with the 85mm though. It does have more compress the background more, but it just has a really cinematic quality that I can't really explain - I just like it. lol

 

[amolitor]

I really like my ancient 50/2.0 on my modern crop sensor, too. Almost normal, but a little tighter, a little closer and more intimate.

Also, a damn nice lens.

 

[jesse101]

I like my 50mm 1.8 outdoors, use my 28-75mm 2.8 indoors, so i have more freedom of movement. 50mm is def worth owning.

 

[Buckster]

I like the 50mm for birds. Terrific clarity for getting all the nice little feather details.

 

[Garbz]

When photographing the Small Magellanic Cloud. https://secure.flickr.com/photos/10090242@N03/7830647182/in/photostream Sometimes telescopes are too over the top

 

[Tbini87]

We use our 50mm on FF for portraits and in social settings (back yard bbq, christmas morning, etc). We use it for family and group shots at weddings.