Camera Lens

If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.

Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.

 
If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.
Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.
I have a 50mm prime, you have to do a lot of dancing around to frame your shots.

I also have a 50-300, and 50 is to far off for indoors under may circumstances so 70-300 would be worse.

 
If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.
Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.
TIHS!!

Losing DOF from a longer lens? Aside from the aperture dropping I have found a zoomed shot increases DOF exponentially.
I dont think you understand what he is talking about...

He suggested a 50mm prime because it is without a doubt, the standard go to lens for ANY photographer. My favorite lens is my 55mm f1.8 lens. You get a great DOF with the large aperature, and is versatile for just about anything.

What you are talking about with getting an increased DOF with a zoom lens is using the zoom function to mimic a macro lens. Most zoom lenses have smaller aperatures. Smaller aperatures = longer exposures = wide DOF. With a larger aperature you get shorter exposures which yield a nice thin crisp DOF.

I agree with the prime lens suggestion. I use that lens waaaay more than either of my zoom lenses. And it was the cheapest.

 
TIHS!!

I dont think you understand what he is talking about...

He suggested a 50mm prime because it is without a doubt, the standard go to lens for ANY photographer. My favorite lens is my 55mm f1.8 lens. You get a great DOF with the large aperature, and is versatile for just about anything.

What you are talking about with getting an increased DOF with a zoom lens is using the zoom function to mimic a macro lens. Most zoom lenses have smaller aperatures. Smaller aperatures = longer exposures = wide DOF. With a larger aperature you get shorter exposures which yield a nice thin crisp DOF.

I agree with the prime lens suggestion. I use that lens waaaay more than either of my zoom lenses. And it was the cheapest.
I actually do know what I'm talking about. The guy posted asking about getting one (1) new lens for his bag. It sounded to me like he wants something versatile. Would a prime 50mm lens be the better buy if he's shooting portraits? Obviously, but I don't think that's what he's looking for.

Bokeh is bokeh by the way.

 
I actually do know what I'm talking about. The guy posted asking about getting one (1) new lens for his bag. It sounded to me like he wants something versatile. Would a prime 50mm lens be the better buy if he's shooting portraits? Obviously, but I don't think that's what he's looking for.
Bokeh is bokeh by the way.
Calm down there broski... I didnt say you dont know what you are talking about, I said that I thought you were misunderstanding something in his post...

IMHO a 50mm prime lens IS more versatile than a super tele-zoom lens. And it is also more important to use a basic lens to learn what you are doing before you go spending a lot of money on glass you dont need...

The 50mm lens can be used for macro shots, portraits, close up, landscapes, still life, etc etc etc.

A zoom lens can be used for zooming in on stuff and limiting your aperature options, oh, and also a pseudo macro (you can get good results, but not the same you can get with a good wide aperature).

 
Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".

I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.

Primes are for studios where you control the focal length or weddings where you have a big say in where to stand and pose and need the speed.

 
Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".
I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.

Primes are for studios where you control the focal length or weddings where you have a big say in where to stand and pose and need the speed.
If you cant figure out how to frame a picture by yourself, you arent going to be doing it right by using a different lens either...

 
If you cant figure out how to frame a picture by yourself, you arent going to be doing it right by using a different lens either...
With a prime you frame with your feet, unless there's shit in your way, then you do not frame at all.

 
Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".
I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.
Look at some of Cartier-Bresson's work some time //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif It pretty much defines "walking-around photography"...all done with a fixed lens on a Leica rangefinder.

When I had the Contax, I had three lenses...a 28mm/2.8, 50/1.4, and a 100/2.8...granted I wasn't shooting sports or birds, but I didn't miss too many shots because I had the wrong lens on.

 
Activity
No one is currently typing a reply...

About this thread

bigaudiofanati2

10+ year member
CarAudio.com Veteran
Thread starter
bigaudiofanati2
Joined
Location
Bridgeton, NJ
Start date
Participants
Who Replied
Replies
16
Views
405
Last reply date
Last reply from
hoss
1778578257023.png

Glen Rodgers

    May 12, 2026
  • 0
  • 0
Screenshot_20260511_212804_Amazon Shopping.jpg

Blackout67

    May 11, 2026
  • 0
  • 0

New threads

Top