Reasons to buy a 50mm lens?

[deggimatt]

What are the main reasons to own a 50mm lens? ex:

EF 50MM F/1.8 II​

 

[rexbobcat]

On a full frame camera 50mm is approximately what the human eye sees.

It's fast.

It's telephoto enough to be used for portraits.

It's cheap.

In its price range, it's better than any other lens out there.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Another reason is any less (full frame or not) and portraiture is not desirable

 

[Tony S]

... because you can??

 

[Dao]

What are the main reasons to own a 50mm lens? ex:

EF 50MM F/1.8 II​

Because you need to shoot a photo with a focal length of 50mm.

 

[IByte]

What are the main reasons to own a 50mm lens? ex:

EF 50MM F/1.8 II​

I can give you, I mean show you 5 reasons to own a 50mm 1.8/1.4 lens 8)

 

[snowbear]

And having a fast 50mm will allow you to hang out with all the really cool photographers!!

 

[c.cloudwalker]

And having a fast 50mm will allow you to hang out with all the really cool photographers!!

You mean the real cool internetz fauxtographers... :lmao:


To the OP = I still don't get the nifty-fifty thing. When I was growing up as a photog nobody used the 50mm, it was considered the most boring lens out there.

To be honest, I don't remember why but the fact that it's close to the human eye in some respect may be it. I already see that way, why would I want to see the same darn way with my camera? Now, I always kept a 50 in my bag but only because it was a cheap lens (came with the body!) and it might come in handy if I killed all the other ones...

 

[bhop]

If I only used a crop sensor body camera, I wouldn't bother, but on full frame (or film) 50mm is one of my favorites.

 

[Big Mike]

What are the main reasons to own a 50mm lens? ex:

EF 50MM F/1.8 II​

The typical scenario is that someone only has zoom lenses (particularly cheaper zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of F3.5 to F5.6). The 50mm F1.8II is the least expensive option to get you a lens with a large maximum aperture.

Also, because of the simple design on a 50mm lens, you can get pretty good optical quality for a lower price. The potential image quality on a 50mm F1.8II, is probably better than anything you can get in a zoom lens, until you get up around the $500-$600 range.

On the other hand, the 50mm F1.8II is otherwise a rather cheap lens. The construction is mainly plastic, the focus isn't known for being accurate and it probably wouldn't stand up to a fall that a better lens might. Also, it just feels like a toy, compared to a better lens.

 

[rexbobcat]

And having a fast 50mm will allow you to hang out with all the really cool photographers!!

You mean the real cool internetz fauxtographers... :lmao:


To the OP = I still don't get the nifty-fifty thing. When I was growing up as a photog nobody used the 50mm, it was considered the most boring lens out there.

To be honest, I don't remember why but the fact that it's close to the human eye in some respect may be it. I already see that way, why would I want to see the same darn way with my camera? Now, I always kept a 50 in my bag but only because it was a cheap lens (came with the body!) and it might come in handy if I killed all the other ones...

I thought 50mm is what came standard with most cameras back at a time? Maybe that's why it used to be boring. Kind of like how nobody considers kit lenses to be worth much.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I thought 50mm is what came standard with most cameras back at a time?

Exactly.

And they were boring. And you couldn't sell them.

And that is why it is funny that they are so big today.

 

[bhop]

So boring...

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=50mm&ss=2&s=int

 

[Trever1t]

What are the main reasons to own a 50mm lens? ex:

EF 50MM F/1.8 II​

Because you don't already have one!

 

[Overread]

Big Mike has really summed up most of the points - the 50mm f1.8 is an often popular lens recommended to people starting photography because its a very cheap lens, but with very good optics for its price - in fact in its price range its probably about the best optics you can get.

The result being that its a good lens to introduce people to better optics as opposed to just the cheaper 70-300mm; kit lenses and 18-200mm type lenses that beginners often favour for their versatility and price. The 50mm gives them an affordable taste of what better optics can be and as a result either ends up as their best lens; or as a stepping stone in experience toward higher value lenses and better optics (if they choose to head that way).