50 mm Lenses (Page 2): My wife has used the one I bought her as a short portrait lens (grandkids) and we’ve both used it for street shooting in twilight or other low light outside.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

My wife has used the one I bought her as a short portrait lens (grandkids) and we’ve both used it for street shooting in twilight or other low light outside. I’ve always liked an 85 length in 35mm, and the 1.8 has very nice *bokeh.

(*or what we used to call “out of focus circles of light” before they became fashionable)

Andy

therwol Loc: USA

mwoods222 wrote:

so on a whim I purchased 50 mm lens which I got today with the excitement of something I thought I needed.

What gave you that idea? I suppose that if you do need to shoot a picture at that focal length, you may see an increase in sharpness (probably less than would matter, depending on what you shoot) and less distortion. How much does that matter in the pictures you take, and do you like changing lenses?

50mm will give you the FX equivalent of 75mm. Personally, I don't find that to be very versatile. The pictures I shoot tend to use a much wider or much longer focal length.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I always put a normal prime lens in my photo backpack. Sharp as a tack and great for lower light situations. Many start with a 35mm (I like the Tamron 35mm f/1.8) or 50mm because it has a perspective similar to human vision. Using a prime rather than a zoom forces one to move around to pick the best composition where we can be more lazy with a zoom. I kind of like the challenge and I think it helps with creativity. With that said, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 gets OK reviews where the 50mm f/1.4 gets very good reviews.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Strodav wrote:

I always put a normal prime lens in my photo backp... (show quote)

The OP said he was shooting DX. If he wanted to shoot with a fast 35mm “equivalent” he’s going to need a 23 mm fast prime. I’m not familiar with any, but they may exist. The 50 he bought is a 75mm equivalent.

Andy

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I started my Grand Daughter out about a year ago and let her have one of my older cameras and kit lens.
She wanted to know what lens I would recommend a few weeks and I told her for beginner and what she wanted to shoot her baby who was about six months old at the time that the nifty fifty I thought would fit her needs for time being as she was short on money. A few days I got a message from her thanking me for the advice as it was what her needs and pocket book and has become her favorite. I have one and use it often as well as my Canon 100mm macro, two of my favorite lens to have access too. Probable my most used lens for walk around is my 28 135 or 70 200 f4. It just depends on the need and preference for the occasion. I like primes for low light and bokeh.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

rmalarz wrote:

I have several 50mm lenses. It's the only lens I h... (show quote)

You mean there are no ships coming up the Salt River?

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Architect1776 wrote:

You mean there are no ships coming up the Salt River?

I thought the Salt River emptied into the Salton Sea?

Andy

toxdoc42

I use the 50 mm 1.8 a great deal. It is wonderful for portraits and small groups. In use It a lot when intake photos of my grand daughter as well.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

AndyH wrote:

I thought the Salt River emptied into the Salton Sea?

Andy

Actually the Gila, the Colorado and the Gulf of California.
PS, my dad remembered swamps along the river in Tempe/Mesa and "Salmon" (Now called Colorado pikeminnow) in the river.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Architect1776 wrote:

Actually the Gila, the Colorado and the Gulf of California.
PS, my dad remembered swamps along the river in Tempe/Mesa and "Salmon" (Now called Colorado pikeminnow) in the river.

I think my humor may have been too salty there... 😉

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

AndyH wrote:

The OP said he was shooting DX. If he wanted to shoot with a fast 35mm “equivalent” he’s going to need a 23 mm fast prime. I’m not familiar with any, but they may exist. The 50 he bought is a 75mm equivalent.

Andy

The final question the op asked is "Can anyone tell me why I need the 50mm in my bag." My response was why I use one thinking that some of my reasons might translate to the op. You are 100% correct a 50mm is effectively at 75mm on a DX body and is outside the "normal" range for a DX sensor (BTW, I use both a D7200 and D500). I have read that normal prime focal length can be estimated by the diagonal of the sensor size. For an FX sensor it's about 43mm but there is a range which is why 35mm to 50mm are called normal. For a DX sensor its about 28mm, but again, there is a range. I almost always take a Tamron 35mm f/1.8 with me that is close enough to normal for me, which is what I said in my response.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Thanks for clearing that up. I also like a normal of 35mm on full frame much of the time, but haven’t found a fast prime in the low 20s in DX format. I think the 50mm Nikon primes in DX versions make outstanding low light and portrait lenses.

Andy

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Perhaps the focal length isn't really the issue. Could it be maximum aperture, depth of field, and optical characteristics?

I have zooms that cover that range, but also primes of various types with different maximum apertures and they all deliver different results. Some are vintage, some modern, but they are not identical in the results that they deliver.

therwol Loc: USA

AndyH wrote:

Thanks for clearing that up. I also like a normal of 35mm on full frame much of the time, but haven’t found a fast prime in the low 20s in DX format. I think the 50mm Nikon primes in DX versions make outstanding low light and portrait lenses.

Andy

Nikon doesn't make any 50mm lens in a DX version, but the FX versions are reasonably compact and light and function well on DX cameras. They do make 35 mm lenses in DX and FX versions (huge difference in price).

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

1) speed (low light) - it’s at least 1-2 stops faster than either of your zooms (2) IQ - it’s sharper and has lower distortion than your wide variable FL zoom (3) at an equivalent FOV of 75mm, it’s a good portrait lens with shallow DOF when wide open (or nearly so). Zooms are convenient, but for speed, IQ, smooth bokeh, and smaller size & lower weight, a prime is the answer.