Comments on: the appeal of the 50mm camera lens http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/ professional photo techniques for all photographers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:56:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: The Baldchemist http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-6375 The Baldchemist Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:33:59 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-6375 I'm not sure about close up portraits. A 70 gives much better proportions. The short lens tends to emphasise the close details, that is my bloody big nose etc. Though I must agree the 50 is the business everytime. Nice article. See if you can write one of your own though. It will give you more credence. Take care. The Baldchemist. I’m not sure about close up portraits. A 70 gives much better proportions. The short lens tends to emphasise the close details, that is my bloody big nose etc. Though I must agree the 50 is the business everytime.
Nice article. See if you can write one of your own though. It will give you more credence. Take care. The Baldchemist.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-1772 Bruce Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:17:25 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-1772 I recently purchased the Canon 50mm f/1.8 while upgrading from my 400D to the 40D. I was worried that the lens didn't have IS, a feature I had become reliant on with my S3IS and my 17-85mm IS USM lens - but I was not disappointed, the lens is incredibly light which is nicely offset by the heavier 40D body. Can't wait to get some portrait shots with the 50mm f/1.8! I recently purchased the Canon 50mm f/1.8 while upgrading from my 400D to the 40D. I was worried that the lens didn’t have IS, a feature I had become reliant on with my S3IS and my 17-85mm IS USM lens - but I was not disappointed, the lens is incredibly light which is nicely offset by the heavier 40D body.

Can’t wait to get some portrait shots with the 50mm f/1.8!

]]> By: steve gibson http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-1755 steve gibson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:19:35 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-1755 The Nikon 50mm 1.4 is indeed a great lens, and I love the surreal dreamy narrow DOF that it can create, and it's super fast, the only drawback is that it was made in the days before digital and suffers from reflections from the CCD so you really have to watch for bright subject appearing upside down on the opposite side of the frame (on the D200 at least). Generally it causes problems at night - the lack of ED rear element it's is a shame really, but i'm sure it will long out live the camera! The Nikon 50mm 1.4 is indeed a great lens, and I love the surreal dreamy narrow DOF that it can create, and it’s super fast, the only drawback is that it was made in the days before digital and suffers from reflections from the CCD so you really have to watch for bright subject appearing upside down on the opposite side of the frame (on the D200 at least). Generally it causes problems at night - the lack of ED rear element it’s is a shame really, but i’m sure it will long out live the camera!

]]> By: Rodney Fisk http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-888 Rodney Fisk Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:28:55 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-888 We all agree that the 50mm is a fantastic lens. Flickr has several great pools for 50mm lens users. Search for 50mm and bokeh and you'll come up with plenty of groups. My Nikkor 50mm arrived on July 2nd of this year and has been an absolute joy to use. Strong bokeh adds a real artistic and professional touch to many photographs. Good post! We all agree that the 50mm is a fantastic lens. Flickr has several great pools for 50mm lens users. Search for 50mm and bokeh and you’ll come up with plenty of groups. My Nikkor 50mm arrived on July 2nd of this year and has been an absolute joy to use.

Strong bokeh adds a real artistic and professional touch to many photographs. Good post!

]]> By: Antonio Marques http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-828 Antonio Marques Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:05:10 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-828 Nice timing. Just ordered a 50 f1.4. Let's see how I get along with it. Nice timing. Just ordered a 50 f1.4. Let’s see how I get along with it.

]]> By: Jim Talkington http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-815 Jim Talkington Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:05:27 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-815 The f1.2 sounds like fun but I can see that you wouldn't use it all the time. I'd still like to have one, though! Wolfgang, I totally agree. I picked up a used Sigma 28mm f1.8 a couple years ago from KEH Camera. It's not really sharp wide open (it's good by f4) but it's an option, something fun to play with. And I tested the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but was disappointed with the focusing accuracy. The f1.2 sounds like fun but I can see that you wouldn’t use it all the time. I’d still like to have one, though!

Wolfgang, I totally agree. I picked up a used Sigma 28mm f1.8 a couple years ago from KEH Camera. It’s not really sharp wide open (it’s good by f4) but it’s an option, something fun to play with. And I tested the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but was disappointed with the focusing accuracy.

]]> By: Wolfgang http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-814 Wolfgang Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:50:17 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-814 I do like my 50mm prime, but having a APS-C camera (a Canon 40D) what I really would like to have is a cheap (in my case Canon EF-S) 31mm f1.8 lens. With 31mm it would be a real substitute for the 50mm lens I had (and still have) for my non-digital museum-grade camera. I do like my 50mm prime, but having a APS-C camera (a Canon 40D) what I really would like to have is a cheap (in my case Canon EF-S) 31mm f1.8 lens.
With 31mm it would be a real substitute for the 50mm lens I had (and still have) for my non-digital museum-grade camera.

]]> By: Link Roundup « PixelCore http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-802 Link Roundup « PixelCore Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:56:00 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-802 [...] the appeal of the 50mm camera lens ProPhotoLife The 50mm prime lens is the king of all lenses… it’s just a fact. Check out some of Jim’s thoughts on why these lenses are so useful to have. [...] [...] the appeal of the 50mm camera lens ProPhotoLife The 50mm prime lens is the king of all lenses… it’s just a fact. Check out some of Jim’s thoughts on why these lenses are so useful to have. [...]

]]> By: Link Roundup 07-05-2008 http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-800 Link Roundup 07-05-2008 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:20:38 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-800 [...] the appeal of the 50mm camera lens ProPhotoLife The 50mm prime lens is the king of all lenses… it’s just a fact. Check out some of Jim’s thoughts on why these lenses are so useful to have. [...] [...] the appeal of the 50mm camera lens ProPhotoLife The 50mm prime lens is the king of all lenses… it’s just a fact. Check out some of Jim’s thoughts on why these lenses are so useful to have. [...]

]]> By: Me http://www.prophotolife.com/2008/07/03/the-nearly-universal-camera-lens-recommendation-for-all-dslr-photographers-the-fast-50mm/comment-page-1/#comment-799 Me Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:20:14 +0000 http://prophotolife.com/?p=156#comment-799 I have a strange relationship with my 50mm (Pentax f1.2 that's as old as I am). I love the idea of it, and wouldn't give it up, but I don't use it nearly as often as I should. Part of it is that most work stuff is flash photography, which neutralizes the speed advatage (and a large percentage of that is shot with work Nikons, rather than my personal camera). Also when I don't use flash it's often shooting speakers or performers at graduations where I need a longer lens and zoom. Then for fun I'd rather be puttering around in the flowers with a macro lens, rather than chasing my daughter for portrait shots (which frustrates my wife). I have all of one great shot with the 50 mm in the 8 months since my daughter was born. I have a strange relationship with my 50mm (Pentax f1.2 that’s as old as I am).

I love the idea of it, and wouldn’t give it up, but I don’t use it nearly as often as I should. Part of it is that most work stuff is flash photography, which neutralizes the speed advatage (and a large percentage of that is shot with work Nikons, rather than my personal camera). Also when I don’t use flash it’s often shooting speakers or performers at graduations where I need a longer lens and zoom.

Then for fun I’d rather be puttering around in the flowers with a macro lens, rather than chasing my daughter for portrait shots (which frustrates my wife). I have all of one great shot with the 50 mm in the 8 months since my daughter was born.

]]>