What Is a Nifty Fifty Lens and Why You Absolutely Need One • PhotoTraces

When you’ve been concerned in a pictures group, you might 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 purpose: They’re unbelievable lenses and are an ideal choice for photographers seeking to transfer previous a package lens.

However 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 study extra about nifty fifty lenses, learn on.

What’s a Nifty Fifty Lens?

A Nifty Fifty is a 50mm quick lens with a large aperture of f/1.8. It provides a area of view just like the human eye, which ends up in minimal optical distortion. They’re usually the primary “prime” lens photographers put money into, as they’re reasonably priced with wonderful picture high quality. These lenses are versatile and can be utilized for every 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 just a few.

Notice that nifty fifties are prime lenses, which suggests they solely supply a single focal size (50mm); there isn’t a capacity to zoom in or out for a bigger or smaller area of view.

Why Is it Known as a Nifty Fifty?

The time period nifty fifty began as a time period on the inventory alternate to explain the 50 sizzling shares. Somebody, although, in across the 60s or 70s, began utilizing it to explain a 50mm lens, and it caught.

As you might have guessed, the ‘fifty’ comes from the focal size of 50mm.

However 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 capturing in low gentle, for portraits, for avenue pictures, for panorama pictures, and extra.

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In reality, it’s
powerful to go unsuitable with a nifty fifty lens. That’s why I like to recommend you get a
nifty fifty as quickly as you’re able to broaden past your package lens. You need to use
a nifty fifty continuously and also you’ll hardly ever be upset.

Young woman shot in California, Big Sur with Nifty Fifty lens — Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens on Sony APS-C digital camera

Causes to Use a Nifty Fifty Lens

What’s so great a couple of nifty fifty lens?

Fairly just a few
issues, in reality! Beginning with:

1. Nifty Fifty Lens Has a Good Focal Size

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, if you look by a nifty fifty lens, the scene will look utterly regular, similar as should you seemed with the bare eye. There’ll no telephoto magnification and no wide-angle impact. You’ll see what you normally 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 Extraordinarily Versatile

With a nifty fifty, you’ll be able to
shoot just about something.

You are able to do avenue
pictures, portrait pictures, panorama pictures, even a little bit of
close-up pictures. Nifty fifty lenses can deal with all of it.

Urban landscape shot in Montreal (Lachine) with nifty fifty lens — City panorama shot with nifty fifty lens

The 50mm focal size is nice for capturing sincere pictures of scenes. It portrays scenes as you, the photographer, see them. And that means that you can seize what you initially envisioned.

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I really like utilizing
50mm lenses for portrait pictures. I typically use my nifty fifty for
close-up capturing. 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 Mild 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 too can retailer them fairly simply in a digital camera bag or backpack.

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Notice that the
unobtrusiveness of nifty fifty lenses make them ideally suited for avenue pictures.
When you’re photographing in public, you don’t need to draw consideration to
your self, and a nifty fifty will make it possible for individuals pay much less consideration to
you.

4. Nifty Fifties Have a Quick Aperture

Right here’s one other beauty of
nifty fifty lenses:

They’ve a large
most aperture, starting from f/1.8 all the way 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. That is key in darkish situations when each bit of sunshine counts.

Associated article: Prime Rated Canon Nifty Fifty Lenses

Second, wider
apertures produce a shallow depth of area, which refers back to the quantity of the
photograph that’s in focus. A shallow depth of area offers a really creative look–one
that’s wanted by many photographers (particularly portrait photographers).
So you should utilize the large aperture on a nifty fifty to get lovely, creative
photographs!

What Is a Nifty Fifty Lens and Why You Absolutely Need One 1 — Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 on Fujifilm APS-C digital camera

5. Nifty Fifties are Cheap

One final beauty of 50mm
lenses:

They’re low cost.

See additionally: Greatest “Nifty Fifty” Lens for Fujifilm Cameras

In reality, 50mm
lenses are usually a number of the most cost-effective package out there. You’ll be able to seize nifty
fifties for round $100 USD. Much less, should you’re keen to purchase used.

So not solely are they unbelievable performers, however they’ll additionally cease you from breaking the financial institution.

Nifty Fifty Lenses are Inexpensive — Summary panorama shot with nifty fifty lens

Which Nifty Fifty Ought to You Select?

There are a selection of incredible nifty fifties on the market, and it’s laborious to go unsuitable.

Nevertheless, I do advocate that novices follow f/1.8 nifty fifties, assuming you’re seeking 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.

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In reality, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 is the most well-liked lens ever created. It truly is phenomenal: about $100 USD, tremendous light-weight, tremendous compact, and produces lovely photos.

I totally advocate it for any
Canon shooters searching for a nifty fifty choice.

Sony FE 50mm F1.8

Filter Dimension: 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 vital to notice:

Nifty fifties give viewers a 50mm view on a full-frame digital camera.

However should you’re utilizing an APS-C digital camera – that’s, a digital camera with a smaller sensor – the picture can be cropped, successfully magnifying the lens. You’ll find yourself with a focal size of round 75-80mm.

Whereas that is nonetheless an amazing focal size for portraits, you’ll be able to replicate the 50mm focal size of a nifty fifty with a 35mm lens. The 35mm lens can be magnified to 50mm, and also you’ll have your commonplace focal size.