How often are you using your 50mm lens?

I was just watching one of the tip video's here about a fashion photographer who stated that he starts each photo shoot with his 50mm, regardless. He made a good point about how using this lens forces you to really think about what you are shooting. This really got me thinking. Personally my 50mm is one of the least used lenses in my bag. When I go on a shoot I'm always grabbing a zoom or some beefy lens.

I'm going to try just getting out there and using my 50mm this weekend. Actually this might be the only lens I'm going to use.

Such a good point, people get dependent on how much zoom they have and forget to walk. I'm guilty of it too.

Nearly every full length and group portrait, some landscape.

All the time.

Nikon d700. Sigma 1.4 at 1.4. shot at 50mm of course.

Studio Queen wrote: He made a good point about how using this lens forces you to really think about what you are shooting.

In this case the photographer needs to put down the gear, and examine what's going on in their own head. Why do they require the gear to lead them? Wouldn't it be better to work on some self discipline? Thinking is done with the mind not the lens. I think folks who are unlikely to explore various perspectives won't do it whatever lens they are using. While folks who are inclined to explore various perspectives are going to do it whatever lens they are using.

One problem with primes is that if you are trying to fill the frame and crop in the camera a fixed focal length encourages composition by field of view rather than perspective. I think composing by perspective is a much better way to go about it. That's what you would be taught in a non-photographic art class. Variable focal length allows composing by perspective, and then the focal length can be adjusted to crop efficiently in camera. Prime lenses can also be used when composing by perspective, but the photo may require out of camera cropping. I don't have any problem with that, but traditionally small format photographers are taught to crop in the camera.

It's fine to love your 50mm or other prime lenses. I rarely leave home without mine. There are plenty of good, real world reasons to do so, but lets skip the mysticism so often attributed to them.

Great reasons to use a prime over a zoom: they are often faster, they are often smaller, they may have less distortion, they may be cheaper, and traditionally they have been sharper, although that's changing with today's high quality zooms. They aren't going to make you a better photographer. That has to happen in your head.

Another thing is that the 50mm is "normal" for 35mm format. Normal meaning it tends to encourage a composition that would have a perspective that looks very natural to the human eye. If you are using it on APS-C or medium or large format it's not "normal". On APS-C it becomes a slightly telephoto, portrait lens with a field of view like a 75mm on 35mm format.

I always go with the really big lens hood so people will think I'm a pro and have money...

Scotty wrote: Nikon d700. Sigma 1.4 at 1.4. shot at 50mm of course.

So pretty, did you add any addition blur with Photoshop? Or is that straight from the camera?

Foxy Girl wrote:

Scotty wrote: Nikon d700. Sigma 1.4 at 1.4. shot at 50mm of course.

So pretty, did you add any addition blur with Photoshop? Or is that straight from the camera?

I bumped saturation, took down the green saturation in the green sat channel. Sharpened.

No blur was added. Sigma 50 1.4 is a helluva lens.

Its a shame but I don't even own a 50mm lens, its just never got to the top of my wanted list. Although if I'm shooting portraits I always shoot over 50mm unless I'm after a wide angle.

Different things for different people.

I have a 50mm, barely touch it. I would like to use it more often.

I didn't use mine much when I was shooting with my old camera (crop sensor), but after upgrading to a full frame body I love it. It's such a great length for portraits and noticeable sharper than even a good zoom.