50mm 1.8, 1.4 Or 1.2 Lenses - The Lens a Photographer Should Own
This is because no elements of the scene would be distorted by using of a wider lens.
Photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson would rarely use anything else.
The natural capturing of a scene meant no distraction from the subject being photographed.
For as long as SLRs and rangefinders have been sold the most commonly bought lens was the 50mm.
It was the kit lens of its day which began to be replaced by zoom lenses covering a 28-80mm or similar range in the last 20 years or thereabouts.
Their convenience made them popular with beginners and enthusiasts alike who now had one lens to cover wide angle, standard and portrait focal lengths.
Sadly zoom lenses are more cumbersome, weighty, narrower apertures and poorer quality.
So, why should everyone get a 50mm prime? The answer to this is simple; there is not a better value lens out there.
The benefits of a 50mm prime lens.
- Quality.
Compared to kit or professional zoom lenses, the quality is superior with a standard 50mm lens.
This is because they are without complex zooming mechanisms and the elements can be designed with fewer compromises resulting in lower aberration and higher sharpness and distinction.
- Wide maximum aperture.
Today's kit zooms usually have maximum apertures of around f/3.
5-5.
6 with pro lenses having a max aperture of f/2.
8.
A standard 50mm lens will be either f/1.
8 or f/1.
4 and can even be f/1.
2 or faster.
This is useful in portraits or advertising to draw attention to the subject.
A wider aperture also means you can shoot in low light without having to have a flashgun, push the ISO or have a slower shutter speed.
- Size and weight.
50mm f/1.
4 or f/1.
8 lenses are smaller than an equivalent kit lens.
A Canon 50mm f/1.
8 is only 4cm long and weighs only 130g.
- Versatility.
50mm lenses can work for different subject matter despite the lack of zoom.
It can be used for street shooting, portraits, product photography, museum artifacts, studio work, theatre productions, live music and many others.
- Price.
Due to the way they are made and the requirements behind this they are very affordable.
- Canon 50mm Prime Lenses - Nikon 50mm Prime lenses - Sony 50mm Prime Lenses