50mm lenses are fast lenses with a fast maximum aperture. The most basic 50mm lenses are typically F1. 8 – a very wide aperture. This means they are great for low-light photography (e.g. low-light portraiture or indoor shooting) as they allow more light into the camera’s sensor.
What is 50mm focal length best for?
Many of you will be familiar with the term “nifty fifty”, as for decades the 50mm has been a popular go-to prime lens. A “kit lens” for a number of film camera packages, the remarkably versatile 50mm focal length can be great for portrait, documentary and even landscape photography .
Is a 50mm lens good for portraits?
For portrait photography, 50mm lenses are great for full-length and waist-level portraits , both on location and in the studio. This is thanks to the wide field of view compared to an 85mm or 135mm lens, and you don’t need to be too far away from the model to achieve these crops.
What kind of picture should I use with a 50mm lens?
Shooting at lower f stops (wider aperture) means you can achieve faster shutter speeds. This means a nifty fifty is an ideal lens for photographing fast-moving subjects. Now, a fixed wider focal length might not be ideal subjects like sport or wildlife, but a 50mm lens is great for photographing kids or even pets .
Why is a 50mm lens normal?
The 25mm cinema lens standard became a 50-mm normal lens for photography, because it was a reliable lens for completely and sharply filling the frame of a 35-mm photographic negative .
Do I need both 35mm and 50mm?
What’s more, if you’ll be working in tight spaces, or conversely, want the ability to capture more of the scene in a single shot and have more of the background in focus, the 35mm is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want greater reach regarding focal length, a 50mm lens will serve you better.
Is 50mm lens good for landscape?
50mm landscape photography: final words
But the 50mm prime lens is a great option for landscape photography, especially if you’re a beginner; it will make you think differently about your photos, it will free you from the constraints of a heavy setup, and it will easily provide you with clear, sharp images.
How far should a 50mm lens be from a subject?
You can shoot with a 50mm lens up to 3-5 feet or 0.91-1.5m away from the subject to produce a flattering perspective. A 50mm lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m or 1.45 feet, and you can step back further depending on the desired effect.
Is 85mm or 50mm better for portraits?
The 85mm focal length is perfect for portraits thanks to the levels of compression they provide, and because they do not distort facial features. ... If you are a portrait photographer who likes to focus more on 3/4 shots and much tighter headshots, we would absolutely recommend an 85mm prime over 50mm primes.
Can you zoom with a 50mm lens?
‘. With 50mm prime lenses, instead of zooming with your hand, you will zoom with your feet . You’ll get closer to your subject to isolate it from a distracting background, which will mostly be abstract shapes (especially if you have the f/1.4 version).
How do you use a 50mm lens for portraits?
Since the 50mm 1.8 lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, it’s possible to create perfectly blurred results while keeping your subject in focus. Simply hold any object in front of your lens so that it partly covers it, and voilà! Your simple portrait will instantly look more interesting.
Can you do macro photography with a 50mm lens?
50mm lenses work best in capturing typical macro shots . However, these types of macro lenses have their drawbacks. 50mm lenses make subjects appear half “life-size” since they usually feature a 1:2 ratio, and require shooting at a much closer distance. But a 50mm lens is a must if you want a general walk-around lens.
Which lens is better 35mm or 50mm?
Which prime lens is better 35mm or 50mm? The 35mm lens focal length is more versatile when shooting indoors for its wide field of view and capturing more scenery when traveling than the 50mm lens which is more zoomed-in making it difficult to use indoors but ideal for traditional, headshots and portraits.
Is a 50mm lens a wide angle?
Technically it is any lens that has a wider field of view than what the human eye sees. Back in the days of film a 50mm lens was considered “normal” because it is closest to what you see with your eye normally. ... So anything wider than 50mm (full frame) or 35mm (APS-C) is considered a wide angle lens.
