Equipment Recommendation: 50mm lens!

This week we have decided to tell you about the amazing ability and range of the 50mm lens!

The 50mm lens is called a “normal” lens because of the way it renders perspective that closely matches that of the human eye. Therefore, these images made with a 50mm lens have a natural look and create a clear and crisp picture. The 50mm lens is also referred to as standard, because when this lens is used it can make the viewer of your photos feel like they were actually there in the moment you capture.

The 50mm lens is a must in a photographers array of lenses creating such a genuine perspective that really takes your photography to the next level. Because it delivers this natural, unforced perspective, it is used a lot in headshots and portraits, especially for weddings when that special moment needs to be captured as honestly as possible. Its high speed makes it very vital when shooting with available light.

With this great speed of the 50 mm lens, it gives your camera the ability to gather light quickly. The lowest aperture of the 50mm is usually f/1.8 compared to f/3.5 that is the typical maximum for the kit lens. This is a huge difference in creating fast shutter speeds, which creates an amazing depth of field. This extra speed gives one the ability to shoot candid pictures in dim lighting without using on-camera flash as your light source and can truly gather any light offered to create an attractively lit photo. This lighting can be anything from the natural light of the sun to a single candle lit in a room. That is why a 50mm lens can be used to shoot in low-light. Even if it isn’t your primary lens, your 50mm should be your backup as it can do almost anything you need to create amazing pictures.

With a 50mm, your pictures will look more professional using available-light techniques. This gives you the ability to create those beautiful portraits with backgrounds slightly out of focus behind the subject. This look is artistically pleasing to the eye and really brings that pop to your focus in the picture. This lens truly is amazing when it comes to taking photos of people, especially candids because of its speed to capture a moment in time.Because this lens doesn’t have such an extreme zoom, it has a greater compactness and lighter weight than the other lens.  A 50mm prime lens is smaller and usually lighter than the other lenses. Therefore, it does not add too much weight to your bag when traveling and is easy to take along with you wherever you go.

When using a typical kit zoom lens, you, as the photographer, will stand in one place and compose your work from usually a stationary distance from your subject. When using a 50mm lens you will learn that to get the most amazing pictures you must either get closer to your subject or move your subject closer to you. By having this interactive way of shooting, it is up to you to eliminate distracting background, or include more detail and gives you the control to capture the best angle and photo possible.