Why nifty fifty?

[djacobox372]

If you have used this lens and not seen the difference in quality between it and your kit lens... you need to get your eyes checked.

 

[Joves]

If you have used this lens and not seen the difference in quality between it and your kit lens... you need to get your eyes checked.

I agree.

 

[JerryPH]

In general, it takes better quality optics to make a lens go a constant F/2.8 than a variable aperture, and it takes a better quality optics to go 1.8 over 2.8 and finally it takes superior optics to get 1.4 over a 1.8.

The numerically lower the lens can attain, the better the quality of the lens it will have to be to do that aperture.

When you get a lens that does F/1.4 (for example), and you have another lens that does F/1.8... the F/1.4 lens will give you sharper and more contrasty results at F/1.8 than the lens that starts at F/1.8 aperture at the same apertures... and the differences don't start to come closer together until around F/11 or so (depending on the lens).

 

[spiralcity]

Why not use one of the old MF 35mm lenses, there are plenty to be found. You dont have to wait for a new AF 35mm.


@ Moglex,
SOME INFO FROM MY BLOG

50mm lenses are not normal lenses for all cameras. The larger the negative, the longer the focal length needed to create an image covering the normal field of view. This applies to digital cameras also. Some digital cameras will have a crop factor such as 1.5. Multiply the crop factor by your lens size to determine the proper focal length. Other digital cameras are full frame so the general film rule applies.

With a 35mm film camera a 50mm lens is considered normal.

Other normal lenses for different film sizes follow,

FILM CAMERAS

35mm = 50mm (normal)

21/4 x 21/4 = 75mm (normal)

4 x 5 = 150 (normal)

8 x 10 = 300mm (normal)

DIGITAL CROP FACTOR

1.5 crop = 35mm (normal) this equals 52.5mm equivalent to film.

1.4 crop = 35mm (normal) 49mm equivalent to film.

And so forth.

This is all approximation. Any lens between 40mm and 60mm could be considered a normal lens for a 35mm film camera. Same is said for the larger film sizes.

We can look at this from a different perspective. Lets try measuring the diagonal dimensions of a picture frame. The diagonal measurement of a 35mm frame is about 50mm long. There for the normal lens size for this film is about 50mm or there about. Same is to be said for other film sizes.

 

[Moglex]

@ Moglex,
SOME INFO FROM MY BLOG

...
21/4 x 21/4 = 75mm (normal)
...

LOL!

I'm not sure why you've targeted me with this information as I specifically said in my initial post on this thread that th 50 applied to 35mm full frame And later reiterated my agreement that the 'standard' lens would be different for different formats.

You might care to note that although 75mm is the 6x6 equivalent of a 35mm FF most 6x6 cameras (specifically the iconic Hasselblad and Rolleflex) used 80mm as their standard.

Over the years I've used many film formats (not 10 x 8, though) so these equivalents are somewhat second nature.

 

[Sachphotography]

Because you cannot rhyme nifty with anything else!!!! NIFTY FIFTY!!!!

 

[Moglex]

Because you cannot rhyme nifty with anything else!!!! NIFTY FIFTY!!!!

Good point.

So for taking portraits of you friends you need a matey eighty.

For wide angle soft porn a naughty forty.

And for the harder stuff a dirty thirty.



(We apologise for the poor quality of the above humour - normal service, etc.)

 

[TheOtherBob]

Because you cannot rhyme nifty with anything else!!!! NIFTY FIFTY!!!!

Sure, but you're neglecting the wonders of the Purdy-Live Thirty-Five.

Sturdy dive?

Dirty hive?

Flirty jive?

Ok, I got nothin'.

 

[JerryPH]

I'll tell you what... a couple days ago I picked up my Sigma 50mm F/1.4, and though its not as "thrifty" as the base F/1.8 models, this thing kicks BUTT in all areas.

I'm still hoping for a nice day so that I can use it outside a little (and fill the test shot requests from Montana), and really put it through the paces... but from all the indoor shots I have taken, I am very impressed, very happy and very satisfied.

The 50's are nifty, but the 1.4's all are not thrifty, just way more spiffy!

 

[spiralcity]

@ Moglex,
SOME INFO FROM MY BLOG

...
21/4 x 21/4 = 75mm (normal)
...

LOL!

I'm not sure why you've targeted me with this information as I specifically said in my initial post on this thread that th 50 applied to 35mm full frame And later reiterated my agreement that the 'standard' lens would be different for different formats.

You might care to note that although 75mm is the 6x6 equivalent of a 35mm FF most 6x6 cameras (specifically the iconic Hasselblad and Rolleflex) used 80mm as their standard.

Over the years I've used many film formats (not 10 x 8, though) so these equivalents are somewhat second nature.

Sorry Mog,
My mistake. It wasnt meant as a neg toward you or anything.

And yes your point about 75mm was noted in my response and on my blog. Everything is an approximation.