ViewFinder Photography Forum

General discussion - our photography living room. Talk about aesthetics, philosophy, share your photos - get inspired by your peers! Moderated by another view and walterick.
ViewFinder Forum Guidelines >>
Introduce Yourself! >>
PhotographREVIEW.com Gatherings and Photo Field Trips >>
Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. #1
    Member JoshD's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    260

    50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I have gotten some great shots with my 50mm f/1.8 of indoor low light concerts and family type photos. I took it biking with me today for the heck of it, and clearly it was the wrong lens to bring for shooting landscape scenery, but oh well, had fun anyway.

    What kind of photos do you use yours for?

  2. #2
    LRPS Alison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    2,773

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Portraits and low light situations :thumbsup:

  3. #3
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Mineral Point, WI, USA
    Posts
    7,561

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Macros. Reversed on a 100mm macro lens.

    I also use it as general walk around lens when I want to go light. That could be for anything.
    Mike

    My website
    Twitter
    Blog


    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  4. #4
    Member tayl0124's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
    Posts
    327

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    What exactly went wrong with your shots???
    -Shawn
    www.tpsphotos.com

    Canon EOS 6d w/Battery Grip
    Canon EOS 620
    Canon EOS Rebel G
    Canon EOS Rebel XS
    Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
    Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
    Canon EF-S 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS
    Canon EF 25-80mm f4-5.6 III
    Canon EF 70-210mm f4
    Canon 35-70 f3.5-4.5
    Canon Lens EF 50mm f1.8
    Promaster FTD 6500M
    Canon Speedlite 420ex
    Yongnuo Speedlite YN560-II

  5. #5
    Be serious Franglais's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Paris, France
    Posts
    3,367

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    This is on APS-C obviously. I use the 50mm for

    - concerts and live events (though the 85mm f1.8 is more useful for really getting into the action)
    - family pictures across the dinner table without flash

    For "one prime lens walk-about normal lens" I use the 35mm f1.8. At the moment I'm doing a lot of photos of buildings and having to take a few steps back compared with the view I usually choose on a 18-55 is a good exercise. Plus PJ wants more examples of images done with the 35mm f1.8 and most of the stuff I've done with it I can't publish
    Charles

    Nikon D800, D7200, Sony RX100m3
    Not buying any more gear this year. I hope

  6. #6
    Hardcore...Nikon Speed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Newport, NC
    Posts
    4,318

    Talking Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Close up portraits - great bokeh, low light and no flash situations, and astrophotography. I do use it some for landscape photography, though a wider lens is usually a better choice in most situations. Then again, I've used my 80-200mm f2.8 for landscape photography as well. Depends on your subject.
    Nikon Samurai # 1


    http://mccabephotography.tripod.com

    http://precisionshotsphoto.tripod.com

    "Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry." - Thomas Jefferson

  7. #7
    Ex-Modster Old Timer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    KY, USA
    Posts
    16,848

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Mostly low light portraiture. I'll stick it on if I know I'm going to be in a situation where flash isn't going to be appropriate. For example in restaurant or in an art gallery.
    Don't forget about the Gallery. Are your photos there??


    Nikon Samurai #13

    "A photographer is known by what he shows not by what he throws. The best photographers have the biggest trash cans." Quote from Nikon School sometime in the early 1970's.

  8. #8
    Sports photo junkie jorgemonkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    1,689

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I use mine for portraits, low light stuff, walk around vacation stuff, product shooting, and I'm sure a lot more than that!
    Nikon Samurai #21



    Cameras:
    D700
    D300
    D200
    D2H

    Lenses:
    Nikon 35mm F1.8, 35 F2, 50mm F1.8, 70-200 F2.8 VR
    Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro
    Tokina 12-24 F4
    SB900 & SB800 flashes

  9. #9
    Senior Member jetrim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale
    Posts
    3,229

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I find it great for bug photography as well as product, and some studio work (3/4 & full length shots).

  10. #10
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    1,580

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I use mine for a variety of things, though in particular --- low light, provided the subject isn't moving much (my 50mm is MF-only).

    Also sometimes for macros, outdoors, and the occasional portraits.

  11. #11
    GB1
    GB1 is offline
    Moderator GB1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    San Diego CA
    Posts
    9,960

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Nothing. I've forgotten the last time I've used it.
    Photography Software and Post Processing Forum Moderator. Visit here!

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Feel free to edit and repost my photos as part of your critique.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    My Site

  12. #12
    Princess of the OT adina's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    rockin' it in the D
    Posts
    3,853

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    haven't used mine in a while either...but when i did, i used it for just about everything.
    I sleep, but I don't rest.

  13. #13
    trigger happy geriatric.
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alnwick, Northumberland UK
    Posts
    313

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    Well, this one is with my 50mm manual focus f1.8
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 50mm prime.  What do you use it for?-crab-apple.jpg  

  14. #14
    Toon Army Foot Soldier straightarm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Exiled from the Toon.
    Posts
    192

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I hardly ever use mine. Probably last used 5 years ago! My 24-70 is used much more instead.
    Simon, bombadier 1st class

  15. #15
    Member realart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, CA USA
    Posts
    57

    Re: 50mm prime. What do you use it for?

    I do like mine (Nikkor 50mm 1.8) for low light or for shallow depth of field. But also because it is just a very sharp lens with wonderful image quality. If I want the sharpest image and the situation warrants it, I like using it. .

    Sometimes I will take it out alone just as a "discipline". You know, no zoom, force myself to manuever into a good composition. It reminds me of my old days doing photography when prime lenses were much more prevelant than zooms.

  16. #16
    Be serious Franglais's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Paris, France
    Posts
    3,367

    Me too

    Quote Originally Posted by realart
    I do like mine (Nikkor 50mm 1.8) ...

    Sometimes I will take it out alone just as a "discipline". You know, no zoom, force myself to manuever into a good composition. It reminds me of my old days doing photography when prime lenses were much more prevelant than zooms.
    A prime lens is an excellent exercise for composition. I just spent two weeks with just the 35mm f1.8 on the camera (the APS-C equivalent of a 50mm).

    I kept on saying to myself "There is a picture here but how can I make it fit?", then spending some time looking at the subject and moving around till it looked right.
    Charles

    Nikon D800, D7200, Sony RX100m3
    Not buying any more gear this year. I hope

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •