If you’ve been concerned in a pictures group, you’ll have heard the time period ‘nifty fifty lens’ thrown round. Nifty fifties are a number of the hottest lenses on the market, and for a very good motive: They’re unbelievable lenses and are an ideal possibility for photographers trying to transfer previous a package lens.
But what precisely
is a nifty fifty lens? Why is it known as a ‘nifty fifty’? And what,
particularly, makes a nifty fifty such a sensible choice?
That’s what this text is all
about.
So if you wish to be taught extra about nifty fifty lenses, learn on.
What is a Nifty Fifty Lens?
A Nifty Fifty is a 50mm quick lens with a large aperture of f/1.8. It presents a discipline of view much like the human eye, which ends up in minimal optical distortion. They are sometimes the primary “prime” lens photographers spend money on, as they’re reasonably priced with wonderful picture high quality. These lenses are versatile and can be utilized for every little thing from portraits to avenue pictures and landscapes.
There are all kinds of nifty fifty lenses on the market: the Canon 50mm f/1.8, the Canon 50mm f/1.2, and the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, to call a couple of.
Note that nifty fifties are prime lenses, which suggests they solely supply a single focal size (50mm); there isn’t any means to zoom in or out for a bigger or smaller discipline of view.
Why Is it Called a Nifty Fifty?
The time period nifty fifty began as a time period on the inventory trade to explain the 50 scorching shares. Someone, although, in across the 60s or 70s, began utilizing it to explain a 50mm lens, and it caught.
As you’ll have guessed, the ‘fifty’ comes from the focal size of 50mm.
But the ‘nifty’ comes from the lens’s usefulness; 50mm lenses are helpful to have round in just about any state of affairs. They’re nice for taking pictures in low gentle, for portraits, for avenue pictures, for panorama pictures, and extra.
Related: Selecting the Best EF-S Lens for Canon
In truth, it’s
robust to go fallacious with a nifty fifty lens. That’s why I like to recommend you get a
nifty fifty as quickly as you’re able to increase past your package lens. You can use
a nifty fifty always and also you’ll hardly ever be dissatisfied.
Reasons to Use a Nifty Fifty Lens
What’s so great a few nifty fifty lens?
Quite a couple of
issues, in reality! Starting with:
1. Nifty Fifty Lens Has a Perfect Focal Length
Nifty fifties are 50mm in
size.
And that is good for many pictures – as a result of the 50mm perspective is rather like human sight.
In different phrases, once you look by means of a nifty fifty lens, the scene will look fully regular, identical as if you happen to appeared with the bare eye. There will no telephoto magnification and no wide-angle impact. You’ll see what you often see.
This is usually a reduction for newbie photographers who discover telephoto and wide-angle lenses a bit disorienting.
Plus, means
that you are able to do a number of pictures with the nifty fifty with out actually having
to fret about focal size.
Which brings me to a different nice
factor about nifty fifties:
2. Nifty Fifties are Extremely Versatile
With a nifty fifty, you possibly can
shoot just about something.
You can do avenue
pictures, portrait pictures, panorama pictures, even a little bit of
close-up pictures. Nifty fifty lenses can deal with all of it.
The 50mm focal size is nice for capturing sincere pictures of scenes. It portrays scenes as you, the photographer, see them. And that permits you to seize what you initially envisioned.
Related: How to Clean Camera Lens
I like utilizing
50mm lenses for portrait pictures. I typically use my nifty fifty for
close-up taking pictures. And I additionally use a 50mm lens for avenue pictures all of the
time.
Why?
It’s all within the subsequent part:
3. Nifty Fifties Are Light and Compact
Nifty fifties
are usually amazingly light-weight and small. They add little or no bulk to your
digital camera setup.
That’s why
nifty fifties are nice walkaround lenses. You connect one to your digital camera, put
the digital camera round your neck, and carry all of it day–with out even noticing it’s
there.
You may also retailer them fairly simply in a digital camera bag or backpack.
Related: How to Select a Camera Lens
Note that the
unobtrusiveness of nifty fifty lenses make them preferrred for avenue pictures.
If you’re photographing in public, you don’t wish to draw consideration to
your self, and a nifty fifty will make it possible for folks pay much less consideration to
you.
4. Nifty Fifties Have a Fast Aperture
Here’s one other beauty of
nifty fifty lenses:
They have a large
most aperture, starting from f/1.8 right down to f/1.2 and past. This comes with
a few benefits:
First, the broader the aperture, the extra gentle the lens will let in, thus permitting you to extend your shutter pace and get higher publicity. This is essential in darkish situations when each bit of sunshine counts.
Related article: Top Rated Canon Nifty Fifty Lenses
Second, wider
apertures produce a shallow depth of discipline, which refers back to the quantity of the
photograph that’s in focus. A shallow depth of discipline offers a really inventive look–one
that’s wanted by many photographers (particularly portrait photographers).
So you should utilize the vast aperture on a nifty fifty to get stunning, inventive
photographs!
5. Nifty Fifties are Inexpensive
One final beauty of 50mm
lenses:
They’re low cost.
See additionally: Best “Nifty Fifty” Lens for Fujifilm Cameras
In truth, 50mm
lenses are usually a number of the least expensive package out there. You can seize nifty
fifties for round $100 USD. Less, if you happen to’re keen to purchase used.
So not solely are they unbelievable performers, however they’ll additionally cease you from breaking the financial institution.
Which Nifty Fifty Should You Choose?
There are numerous improbable nifty fifties on the market, and it’s arduous to go fallacious.
However, I do advocate that rookies stick to f/1.8 nifty fifties, assuming you’re trying to keep on a finances. Lenses that characteristic 50mm f/1.8 are inexpensive than their f/1.4 or f/1.2 counterparts, however they’ll nonetheless ship some nice high quality.
Related article: How to Select the Right Travel Lenses for Any Brand
In truth, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 is the most well-liked lens ever created. It actually is phenomenal: about $100 USD, tremendous light-weight, tremendous compact, and produces stunning photographs.
I totally advocate it for any
Canon shooters searching for a nifty fifty possibility.
Sony FE 50mm F1.8
Filter Size: 49mm, Mount: Sony E, Weight: 6.5 oz /185 g, Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.3″ / 69 x 59 mm
Nifty Fifty and APS-C (Crop Sensor) Cameras
It’s essential to notice:
Nifty fifties give viewers a 50mm view on a full-frame digital camera.
But if you happen to’re utilizing an APS-C digital camera – that’s, a digital camera with a smaller sensor – the picture will probably be cropped, successfully magnifying the lens. You’ll find yourself with a focal size of round 75-80mm.
While that is nonetheless an amazing focal size for portraits, you possibly can replicate the 50mm focal size of a nifty fifty with a 35mm lens. The 35mm lens will probably be magnified to 50mm, and also you’ll have your customary focal size.
Fujifilm 35mm F2
Filter Size: 43mm, Mount: Fujifilm X, Weight: 6oz /170g, Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.8″ / 60 x 46 mm
Nifty Fifty Lens | Conclusion
You ought to now
know all about nifty fifty lenses: Why they’re known as nifty fifties, why you
can buy them, and extra.
The subsequent step?
Get a nifty fifty of your personal.
And begin taking some unbelievable
pictures!