50mm f/1.8 Lens War Thread

From what I have read and seen in this thread about the "nifty fifty" I became so fascinated that I decided to purchase one. I did so tonight hoping it will be here in order to get a little familiar with it as I intend to shoot my granddaughter's open house on the 17th of the month. It will be held inside at a hall and I am unsure of the lighting situation. I will have it mounted on my 30d as my primary lens. Any advice from all you big shooters as to how to shoot this event. (settings)


bluesguy

Little thread bump... One of my recent 50mm shots.

Why would anyone buy a 50mm f/1.8 instead of an 85mm f/1.8? Surely not the cost.:rolleyes:

Something very special about the 50mm range. If you have been around photography very long the 50mm was always the starter lens with 35mm cameras.

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Originally Posted by Old Timer

Something very special about the 50mm range. If you have been around photography very long the 50mm was always the starter lens with 35mm cameras.

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The 50mm was the starter lens with 35mm film cameras for two reasons. With today's market dominated by smaller-than-35mm APS-C sensors, only one of them is still true:

1. It is easy to manufacture a Planar design 50mm f1.8 lens for a current DSLR with excellent image quality at low cost. This is still true
2. The view (range?) given by a 50mm lens is "normal" i.e. neither wide-angle nor telephoto. It most closely resembles human perception of a scene. This is no longer true

The 50mm on an APS-C sensor becomes a weak telephoto (equivalent of a 75mm). Many people find this very useful, but the "normal" focal length for APS-C is 35mm

Why not the price? The 85 is two or three times more expensive though still in the low range for a prime. And perhaps one would want the wider view of a 50, even if it isn't as wide as it is on a 35.

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Originally Posted by Franglais

The 50mm was the starter lens with 35mm film cameras for two reasons. With today's market dominated by smaller-than-35mm APS-C sensors, only one of them is still true:

1. It is easy to manufacture a Planar design 50mm f1.8 lens for a current DSLR with excellent image quality at low cost. This is still true
2. The view (range?) given by a 50mm lens is "normal" i.e. neither wide-angle nor telephoto. It most closely resembles human perception of a scene. This is no longer true

The 50mm on an APS-C sensor becomes a weak telephoto (equivalent of a 75mm). Many people find this very useful, but the "normal" focal length for APS-C is 35mm

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So then is 'normal' the field of view (smaller on a APS sensor) or the perspective (which I would think would be a function of lens)? - TF

Its narrower on an aps sensor. Will not have the width of 'normal' human peripheral vision.
For the aps sensor, you need a 35 to approximate what that 'normal' is.

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Originally Posted by OldClicker

So then is 'normal' the field of view (smaller on a APS sensor) or the perspective (which I would think would be a function of lens)? - TF

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That's a good question. We went through this a couple of months ago but we didn't express it that way. Does this sound right?

- A "normal" lens has an angle of view of about 45 degrees. The perspective in this view looks natural to a human eye.

- A "wide-angle" lens has an angle of view greater than about 60 degrees. The perspective of subjects at the edge of the field looks distorted, especially if you point the lens up or down.

- A "telephoto" lens has an angle of view less than about 30 degrees. The perspective looks compressed.

The lens doesn't introduce any distortion or compression. It just records what's there. We don't notice the effects of perspective because our eyes always see the subject through a "normal" view.

The angle of view determinants the wide/Normal/telephoto lens spec.

There is also the coverage of the lens, this is why the cost of wide angle lenses is generally more than the Normal to mid range telephotos as generally the lenses give a image circle close to their focal length so it takes more glass, design time, and manufacturing time to get the coverage needed.

I shot a cat with one - someone was smoking a cigarette in the background and it made a cool smokiness behind it! i was on the staircase and the cat was right there staring, wouldn't move lol...
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...92244_9764.jpg

I make sure I never leave home without it. Still one of my most used lenses, especially in low light
: )

the nifty fifty. both shots with the 1.8 lens.

Here's one just goofing off. Found this bottle in the drawer of the house we're moving into and thought it would make a good test subject using my new Cybersync remotes.

Shot at f/1.8, 1/10th, 400ISO, with 550EX remotely triggered and bounced through a white umbrella above camera @ 1/4 or 1/8 power (can't remember). Background is our dining room wall.

The nifty 50 is a little lens that just keeps giving and giving. Great shots you guys.

I baked a Black Forest Cake. Guess what lens was ready to photograph it? Well, the 50mm f/1.8 of course :D .

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...1/_LND0021.jpg

Damn! Guess what I'm hungry for now!
I guess your shot works then, eh?

hehehe....me too! Thank goodness I have some chocolate chip cookies in the cupboard. : )
Great shots everyone!

BUMP..... Nifty- Fifty _ _ _ has been declared. Let's do it.... GREAT THREAD !!

Rick

I haven't been given a 50 (I'm saving for a 35 or 28 for reasons mentioned above), but I was able to borrow one for the San Francisco Red Dress Run. Straight out of the camera, cropped one, and resized them.

Great additions Motor Toad! :thumbsup:
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These were both shot with the Nifty Fifty...I love this lense...all over again. :) It's been a year since it was last put to use.

# 1 -- Car show 1929 Nash "S" doors @ F/5
# 2 -- Saratoga creek bridge @ F/2.5 - check out the unusual and unexpected lense flare.

Rick

Been wondering what happened to this thread so glad its alive again.
Great reds on the red dress parade.
Love the door handles on the car.