mwoods222 Loc: Newburg N.Y,

Hi Mike did u look at my webpage "woodywud.smugmug.com" " Also do u know about the website "marine traffic" this tracks ships all over the world and u can track them up the Hudson so u know just when they will be in your backyard and u can use thst 17-300mm lens to get right on them
Red is tankers green are bulk carriers and the rest are tugboats
u will figure where I am

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I *like* the 50mm 1.8 lens.
It's fast enough for indoor shots. You're not holding still and waiting for the click.
It's short- not much taller than a body cap. So use it like one- leave it on. Short enough you won't really bang it on things.
And I like the ratio. A 50mm on a film "FX" is a "normal" lens. As in, it shoots the normal field of view you're looking at. But you need to print at 8x10 to actually see it. At 4x6, or even 5x7 print the subjects look kinda small, and you have to bring the picture up close to see it. My old fave lens was the 70-210- the 70 gave me the "normal" I wanted. Printing those 4x6 and 5x7 prints meant I (and others!) could look at the photo in the hand and the subject itself- and it looked about the same.
SO: I have the olde rabbit eared 50mm AI lens on my APS camera. Nice pancake, useful body cap, great pictures, works like a 75mm FX, and no lag. Focus-shoot, focus-shoot.
BUT: What and why are you shooting? Flying birds a block away- notso good. Group shots in the office- notso good. Most every other "snap" shooting shots- pretty good.
I also have- and use- and like- the two standard kit zoom lenses. I worry about leaving them on, tho. Nefarious folk (and children) look at them as a too tempting handle. And I have to keep a protective hand on them in semi crowded social situations. The 50? No worries.

stogieboy Loc: Marlboro, NY

I did see your site, it looks like most of those are taken from around MSMC. But, you may be a bit further north from there. I had never seen that Marine Traffic site, that is really cool. I'll keep watching to see which ships come by me.

User ID

Do be careful.
Don't wanna find yourself in Guantanamo.


`

toxdoc42

If anyone is interested in my experience. I shot film Nikons for 50+ years. I worked news during college and earned enough to pay my tuition and more. My equipment was an F2 with an assortment of lenses from 28 mm, 50 mm to 135 and one zoom whose range I can't even remember. I switched to digital 18 months aho. My 50 mm 1.8 prime is my "go to lenses" for most routine shooting on my D3400. It gets me great results in family shots, particularly when the grand kids are around. Funny thing is that the other lens i use the most is a 50-200 mm DX. Vacation travel is a little different, then I do use the 18-55 which came in the original kit. I almost never even take out the 75-300 that came in the kit.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Good for her, i like this approach, i think we can learn something from your sister.

gingerj102

Thanks for the info, I just got a 50mm for my Nikon 7200.. I've been going back and forth as to why it would be a good addition to my lens colllection...your description is exactly what I needed. Thanks again

gingerj102

Thanks I'm trying to respond to your explanation, but not sure if I'm doing it right...I'm new to Ugly Hedgehog...hope this works...great info on 50mm lens

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

If you use the “Quote Reply” option, as I have done, it keeps the post you are addressing.
Welcome!

issa2006.

I do mostly newspaper events and have found I use my 50mm1.8 almost never.I would have to back out the door to get shots indoors. My favorite lens is Nikon 18-140 3.5. I use it for everything. Recently bought Sigma 17-70 and sigma 17-50 2.8 fixed aperture which is good in low light situations.

wetreed

I agree the 18-140 is the most underrated lens ever. It was the only AF Lens I had until I recently got a Tamron 18-140. I plan to use the 18-140 often

Streets Loc: Euless, TX.

My Sony 18-135 is absolutely the best all around lens I've ever used. I have two 50mm primes; Takumar SMC, and Sony f3.5 macro, and neither one can outperform the zoom at 50mm. The primes do have an edge in light gathering, but that's all. The Takumar at f1.4 to f1.8 is my portrait lens.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Portrait, some landscape, street photography and indoor photography.... most 50mm's are fast so they are good for low light, but what I personally love about 50's and other fast lenses is the background blur that you are able to create. Your 50mm will give you much more control over background blur than your large zooms do, as you learn to isolate your subject from its background using blur you will hopefully come to appreciate the artistic value of your new lens.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I hear great things about that Sigma 17-50.
It has OS (stabilization) whereas my more expensive Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 does not.

BTW, they are called constant aperture lenses, not fixed aperture lenses.
A fixed aperture lens has only one aperture, like a mirror lens or the Portragon.
With constant (maximum) aperture zoom lenses, the maximum aperture does not change.
Variable aperture zoom lenses' maximum aperture change as the focal changes.

Welcome to the 'Hog!