The Deadly Vibes @ Underworld shot with a 50mm f1.8

These days, pretty much every DSLR sold comes with an option of a kit lens, usually a zoom of some kind. For the photographer buying their first DSLR who just wants to take snapshots of the family this probably makes sense as it gives them a range of photographic options. For the enthusiast or the photography student, a much better option would be a 50mm prime lens (meaning fixed focal length). Also known as a standard or normal lens, for years the 50mm was the lens of choice for renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson. For any camera companies reading this, how about offering a 50mm prime kit lens?

These lenses have a number of advantages including

• Price – they are fairly cheap, starting at around $100.

• Versatility – With an aperture of f1.8 or f1.4, they are handy for low light portraits, macro and candid street photography.

• Quality – having been a staple of 35mm photography for decades, it has been refined over and over again to bring tack sharpness to your photos.

• Size – Compared to a zoom lens, the 50mm is tiny. They are light and compact, easily fitting into a bag or pocket.

Additionally, the 50mm lens has a field of view that is the closest to the human eye. This often gives a more natural feel to photos taken at this focal length. With an APS-C type DSLR and it’s “crop factor” the 50mm lens produces an angle of view similar to a 75-80mm lens on a full frame camera. This is a great focal length for portrait photography.

Here are some links to the entry level 50mm lenses for the major manufacturers.

Canon.
Nikon.
Pentax.
Sony.

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