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Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

garyvoth.com

131–140 of 167 posts

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#131
Most 50's, at least down to f1.4 were designed or based on designs from the 1960's. They have really awful optical qualities by modern lens standards.

Of course a good photographer will tell you great photographs have little to do with the camera/lens and everything to do with lighting, framing, subject etc but still...

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#132
I'm a touch strapped for cash so I can't afford to get a 25mm prime for my MFT. But I have a 20mm "pancake" prime that works in really tight situations where I don't really need people to realise there's a camera pointed at them.

I have an older Canon AE-1 that I picked up a 50mm however and it's my favourite "go outside and shoot" lenses. Beyond the benefits that the article is citing, it's missing one of the greatest advantages of these lower focal length lenses is being able to have the lens not extend too far from your body. It's a bit dramatic - but you're kind of part of the action instead of a million miles away.

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#133
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other side, the neutral way, the 50 renders szenes is the appeal and the challenge for the photographer. A wide-angle or strong tele lens add a lot to the picture themselves, by their extreme angles of view. The 50 does nothing like that, puts all the burdon on to the photographer. Yet, a lot of the most iconic pictures have been taken by a 50.

I'm not sure I'd call using a 50 a burden on the photographer, I think they're probably a lot more intuitive for most photographers. A 50 was the first lens I bought during school, and it was widely regarded as the preferred lens for photography classes from beginner to advanced. I love the 50, I just personally don't have much use for one currently.

I haven't said burden, but a challenge. Because the lense won't create fancy effects on its own. It is purely the task of the photographer to make something out of it. That was in answer to the post which preferred wider and longer lenses because of their effects. Yes, a 50 should be intuitive to use.

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#134

The Nifty Fifty is a forgotten lens? Since when? It's a classic, super cheap and usually very fast prime that's a recommended starter prime on every photography website I've ever visited.

> It's a classic, super cheap

Tell that to Fujifilm's X-Mount 33mm (APS-C so 50mm equiv.) haha -- but man its fantastic glass even if it is $1400 AUD

Though they have their 35mm WR lens thats a third the price, which is super cheap for the glass quality in my opinion. And you can always slap some older 35mm glass on it with adapters, if you don't mind giving up autofocus.

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If pointing someone to a single "normal" lens as a prime, I'd point them to a 40mm, not a 50. The article does have a section on exactly the issue (FOV) you note - it identifies that the 50mm lens is not the same with modern cameras (which have smaller sensors than 35mm film cameras), and recommends a 35mm lens for these cameras. Personally, I have a 35mm prime lens and quite like it, and I think it did help me imp…

> it identifies that the 50mm lens is not the same with modern cameras (which have smaller sensors than 35mm film cameras), and recommends a 35mm lens for these cameras That's a different thing, which is about the "crop factor". Modern APS-C digital cameras have smaller sesnors, with a 1.5 crop factor and will need a 35mm lens to get 50mm angle of view. This is not needed for modern full-frame digital cameras, which…

Everything you've said is spot on (and I prefer 40mm equiv. as my run-around lens), but 35mm gives you a 52.5mm equivalent. The Fuji X-Mount 33mm is exactly 50mm and subjectively feels very similar to my film 50mm glass of various mounts in terms of field of view.

But it's also incredibly expensive. Fantastic glass though, I've rented it a couple times for some shoots

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#136
post #134

The Nifty Fifty is a forgotten lens? Since when? It's a classic, super cheap and usually very fast prime that's a recommended starter prime on every photography website I've ever visited.

> It's a classic, super cheap Tell that to Fujifilm's X-Mount 33mm (APS-C so 50mm equiv.) haha -- but man its fantastic glass even if it is $1400 AUD Though they have their 35mm WR lens thats a third the price, which is super cheap for the glass quality in my opinion. And you can always slap some older 35mm glass on it with adapters, if you don't mind giving up autofocus.

There is also a 33mm/f1.4 from Viltrox that has autofocus. I haven't used it (my Fuji 35/1.4 has to do) but I own their 56mm/f1.4 and I'm very happy with that particular lens.

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#137
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 50mm is easy to manual focus It's not. Especially at f/1.4.

Have you ever used a manual focus lens on a mirrorless camera with focus-peaking[1] on? It's so easy to focus, it feels like cheating. It makes a 50mm usable wide open. (This is assuming your subject is relatively static or at least cooperative. Small children and animals really benefit from autofocus or a smaller aperture.) 1. For those unfamiliar with the term, focus peaking is a feature of most mirrorless cameras…

Be careful with focus peaking. On many cameras, when using focus peaking in live view, the lens is set to a different aperture during the display (e.g. in very bright light it will stop down) and only when you take the shot does it go to your desired aperture.

When you stop down, more of the frame is in focus - and focus peaking will tell you something is in focus, when it will not be in focus at your desired aperture.

One way to check if your camera behaves this way is to make the aperture smaller and smaller - does the live display darken significantly? If not, then your camera is not adjusting the aperture until you take the shot.

Of course, if using a fully manual lens, this is not an issue.

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#138
I think a prime is essential and I love that this thread has all the crop factor information already but I think finding the right prime for you is very important. You might want something higher if your shooting style is being more detached from what you’re sitting. I shoot with a 22 because I like being very close to the people I’m shooting but like a wider shot. Some people switch lenses and Whole cameras during a shoot. Experiment with what works with your style

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#139
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Sigma 30mm 1.4 in Fuji X-Mount ( https://www.sigmaphoto.com/30mm-f1-4-dc-dn-c ), which is ~45mm full-frame equivalent (FFE), and it's one of the most cost-effective lenses in existence, given its quality relative to its price. The downside around the "perfect framing" is that focal length will change perspective: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion_(photog... (take a head a shoulders portrai…

> Almost all professional photographers who need to get the shot have moved to zooms for good reason. Nitpick: I imagine you mean telephotos, not zooms.

What ? Why ?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephoto_lens

Re: Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

#140
post #129

> Many of the world’s most evocative and best-known images were made under natural light with fast lenses and film. Creating such images is nearly impossible with “slow” zoom lenses, which are harder to focus and inadequate for use indoors without flash. When I started doing photography 40 years ago, 400 ISO was considered crazy fast. I used Velvia 50 ASA most of the time for its amazing colors and depth. Nowadays wi…

> 10 000 or even 12 000 (16 000?) ASA

I'm happy up to iso 32k/50k with my m10 monochrom

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