5 Reasons you Need a 50mm Prime

[Black Pearl]

That's not even half...

[GrahamS]

What a complete load of bollocks.

hear hear

[AB26]

What a complete load of bollocks.

Sorry Colin, I have to disagree with you.
Your comment stems from a complete lack of understanding the article and why you need the nifty fifty.

A little printers devil sneaked up on the poster of the article as it was supposed to have been posted on the WeighLess site.
A nifty fifty is a must if you need to lose weight. I assume prime lenses are made for skinny people and zooms are made for lazy people.

Next time you should read the article before posting politically incorrect comments.

[Colin Southern]

Sorry Colin, I have to disagree with you.
Your comment stems from a complete lack of understanding the article and why you need the nifty fifty.

A little printers devil sneaked up on the poster of the article as it was supposed to have been posted on the WeighLess site.
A nifty fifty is a must if you need to lose weight. I assume prime lenses are made for skinny people and zooms are made for lazy people.

Next time you should read the article before posting politically incorrect comments.

I'm assuming that you're meaning that a 50mm lens makes you walk around to get the composition you want?

If so, then it still only works for shots that suit 50mm in the first place; changing focal lengths from a given position gives a vastly different perspective between foreground and background objects than "zooming with ones feet". Something people who say "zoom with your feet" seem to always forget to mention.

[flashback]

I'm amused at how serious these discussions can get. And all over an *article* on an online magazine. I suspect if I look hard enough, or wait long enough I'll find an article on 'The 5 Best Shoes for Photographers.' Of course, this would be sistered with an article on 'The Five Best Pants for Photographers.' And the arguments would ensue: 1/2 sizes vs. full sizes, smooth sole vs. lugs; velcro vs. laces, button fly vs. zipper. And don't get me started on vests!

To the point: I have a nifty fifty (well, actually it's a 35mm on my cropped cam). I like it. More importantly, it really works for me. When I'm in the city (the big one, Nuevo York) I walk around with my 35. It is lightweight (but not the reason I bought it), it's fast and great in low light. Roaming the canyons of NYC it's a handy little option. But when I'm in the country I use my kit lens, 18-108. Granted I have a limited kit but at present it works just dandy for me.

Back to the point; if someone buys something because someone else, or some article, told them to do so then I am reminded of the Son of Sam killer, who thought the neighbor's dog was telling him to kill. I am not about saving people from themselves (well actually I do, but that's an entirely different story). If they are moved to do or buy based on what others tell them without regard for what they may actually need, I'm more than happy to hold the door open for them. I'm certainly not going to rail on about how wrong it is/they are. Hells it's good for the local economy.

I also don't take it personal when an article states the things *I* need/should have. I have great resistance to such marketing or (and a phrase I really, really like) click baiting. Live and let live. The same people who rush out to buy what they *think* they need are the same ones emptying their closet every season because the new line is out. I am, and have always been, a huge fan of flannel, denim and work boots. What works for me works for me. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

[ajohnw]

I think Colin doesn't like moving so prefers zooms. Might come down to using big heavy cameras,lenses and tripods. He doesn't seem to be lazy - I think.

The fuss on this thread amuses me. Fact - if some one want a cheap fast portrait lens on circa 1.5 crop it's not a bad option. Better than nothing. Relatively small and light too. Personally on crop I don't think it's as flexible general use lens as it is on full frame.

Perhaps to get a feel before even commenting people should either set their zoom, leave it like that, or better still get a lens and go out and use it. As far as using one goes my problem is cost. On m 4/3 I can get 20,30 or 25mm. 25mm is a bit expensive for fun use. 20mm too wide, not sure about 30. On the other hand shots wont be going to the chemist so 20mm could be cropped.

Some people fit lenses like this and deliberately go out with nothing else. I can't imagine why they would do that. LOL. Oddly enough they also manage to produce some brilliant pictures. Wonder why?

John
-

[AB26]

I'm assuming that you're meaning that a 50mm lens makes you walk around to get the composition you want?

Colin,

Walking around does not burn enough calories. When zooming with your feet you should do it in double time. Always remember that running off a cliff is better than walking off a cliff!

To be serious: I do have a 35mm f1.8 Nikkor for my DX camera. Sometimes it does come in pretty handy and it is a lot cheaper than a fast zoom, I should use it more often. My 18-135 is used more than 90% of the time. Zoom lenses make life just so much easier for most of us. It is almost like cell-phones: can’t understand how we ever got by without them.

Hope you do not think I was serious in #43.

[ajohnw]

I think Colin doesn't like moving so prefers zooms. Might come down to using big heavy cameras,lenses and tripods. He doesn't seem to be lazy - I think.

The fuss on this thread amuses me. Fact - if some one want a cheap fast portrait lens on circa 1.5 crop it's not a bad option. Better than nothing. Relatively small and light too. Personally on crop I don't think it's as flexible general use lens as it is on full frame.

Perhaps to get a feel before even commenting people should either set their zoom, leave it like that, or better still get a lens and go out and use it. As far as using one goes my problem is cost. On m 4/3 I can get 20,30 or 25mm. 25mm is a bit expensive for fun use. 20mm too wide, not sure about 30. On the other hand shots wont be going to the chemist so 20mm could be cropped.

Some people fit lenses like this and deliberately go out with nothing else. I can't imagine why they would do that. LOL. Oddly enough they also manage to produce some brilliant pictures. Wonder why?

John
-

Here is some one who does experiment like that. I hoped he had split off E-PL1 and E-P3 shots but unfortunately he hasn't.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ecajoe/sets/

He's a very capable photographer even with PS. There are some really good shots in that lot.

John
-

[ajohnw]

I think Colin doesn't like moving so prefers zooms. Might come down to using big heavy cameras,lenses and tripods. He doesn't seem to be lazy - I think.

The fuss on this thread amuses me. Fact - if some one want a cheap fast portrait lens on circa 1.5 crop it's not a bad option. Better than nothing. Relatively small and light too. Personally on crop I don't think it's as flexible general use lens as it is on full frame.

Perhaps to get a feel before even commenting people should either set their zoom, leave it like that, or better still get a lens and go out and use it. As far as using one goes my problem is cost. On m 4/3 I can get 20,30 or 25mm. 25mm is a bit expensive for fun use. 20mm too wide, not sure about 30. On the other hand shots wont be going to the chemist so 20mm could be cropped.

Some people fit lenses like this and deliberately go out with nothing else. I can't imagine why they would do that. LOL. Oddly enough they also manage to produce some brilliant pictures. Wonder why?

John
-

Here is some one who does experiment like that. I hoped he had split off E-PL1 and E-P3 shots but unfortunately he hasn't.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ecajoe/sets/

He's a very capable photographer even with PS. There are some really good shots in that lot.

John
-

[Shadowman]

Here is some one who does experiment like that. I hoped he had split off E-PL1 and E-P3 shots but unfortunately he hasn't.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ecajoe/sets/

He's a very capable photographer even with PS. There are some really good shots in that lot.

John
-

Nice link.

[Colin Southern]

Zoom lenses make life just so much easier for most of us.

The point I was trying to make is that changing the focal length does more than just changing the apparent shooting position, thus "zooming with feet" just doesn't work a lot of the time (one selects a focal length to get the desired field of view with respect to the perspective of the elements within the scene; "zooming with one's feet" may change the field of view, but it also changes the perspective -- something that's often very undesirable).

[chauncey]

The point I was trying to make is that changing the focal length does more than just changing the apparent shooting position, thus "zooming with feet" just doesn't work a lot of the time (one selects a focal length to get the desired field of view with respect to the perspective of the elements within the scene; "zooming with one's feet" may change the field of view

I seem to remember Donald taking me to school concerning that very thing...CanoNikkor Lens Snobbery Page 2 Will be eternally grateful.

[William W]

... "zooming with one's feet" may change the field of view, but it also changes the perspective -- something that's often very undesirable).

Even in banter I don't like the expression 'zooming with your feet'.

WW

[Colin Southern]

Even in banter I don't like the expression 'zooming with your feet'.

WW

I agree 100%.

Zooming changes the focal length which is NOT the same thing as changing the shooting position.