Why is that? The reasons are many:

1. First off, a 50mm f1.8 lens is probably the cheapest, sharpest lens you can buy. How about just $99.95 for a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens (Nikon priced similarly) or $329.95 for the faster 50mm versions like the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D AF Lens. Pentax and Sony have 50mm f1.4 versions available while Olympus has near-equivalent 25mm or 50mm lenses. Any of these choices may well end up being the sharpest lens in your bag. The optical designs used in 50mm lenses were perfected about a bazillion years ago so you know they‘re sharp.
2. The fast aperture creates new opportunities for shooting in low light. When your all-in-one super zoom is just too slow, pull out the 50mm and start capturing the moment. Those rainy day portraits by window light are now a reality.

3. Read the 50mm lens user ratings and reviews at Amazon.com

   Speaking of portraits, it’s a very nice (if not perfect) focal length for portraits on APS-C sized cameras, equating to about an 80mm on Canon cameras with a 1.6x crop factor. You’re just far enough away from the subject for a nice perspective but close enough for an intimate portrait.

4. With the lens wide open you can truly experience shallow depth of field, making eyes pop in a photograph where other features fade softly away. These lenses also focus fairly close, around 18 inches, usually.
5. If you’ve never had a single focal length lens then the 50mm offers a change in perspective. Using a single focal length lens forces you to physically move in closer or farther away from your subject for framing, rather than just planting your feet and twisting a zoom ring. If you’re trying to get out of a creative rut (this past Tuesday’s topic), then simplifying your equipment sometimes helps to see your subject in a new way, refining your vision.
6. Lastly, it’s a great insurance policy. Every photographer should have a backup lens of some sort. If you drop your primary zoom lens do you have a backup or are you completely done taking photographs for the day (or vacation)? What qualities would be nice in a backup lens? Well, it should be small and take up little room in the bag, be relatively inexpensive, sharp, a useful focal length…there you go. Even if you don’t use the lens for reasons 1 through 5, it’s still a great insurance policy.

That’s why I always carry a 50mm lens. Whether it becomes your favorite lens ever or merely serves as a backup plan, the 50mm lens proves a worthy addition to most every camera bag, regardless of what you shoot.

Want to hear what other photographers have to say about their 50mm lens? You’ll find a wealth of 50mm lens user ratings and reviews at Amazon.com.