Why Every Photographer Should Have a Nifty-Fifty 50mm f/1.8 Lens

Author: Tosh Lubek Published: 20th November 2024

Introduction

If there’s one lens nearly every photographer should own, it’s the 50mm f/1.8 – better known as the “nifty fifty.” This affordable lens provides impressive quality and versatility, making it a staple for photographers of all levels. With the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 at about $200, the nifty fifty offers exceptional value. And for those with tighter budgets, there are alternatives like the Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.8 at around $70 or vintage options for as low as $35–$50.

Despite its popularity, this lens doesn’t always get the spotlight in articles or reviews. Part of this is because its affordability makes it seem “entry-level,” and more expensive, high-tech lenses capture more attention. Yet for many photographers, especially those working on a budget, the nifty fifty is essential, delivering quality and flexibility that far exceed its price. Let’s see why it deserves a place in your kit, what it’s great for, and where it might fall short.

Last update on 2024-03-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Why the 50mm f/1.8 is Often Recommended

The 50mm f/1.8 is widely recommended for good reason. Its affordability makes it accessible, and its quality and versatility make it a top choice for photographers of all levels. Here why:

Natural Field of View: With its 50mm focal length, this lens offers a field of view close to what the human eye sees, making it ideal for realistic, immersive photos with a natural perspective. Its versatility allows it to capture everything from portraits to street photography and even video.

Wide Aperture: One of its greatest assets is the wide f/1.8 aperture, which not only allows more light in but also enables a shallow depth of field. This effect, called bokeh, gives portraits and close-up shots a professional look by blurring the background and making the subject stand out.

Compact and Lightweight: The nifty fifty’s small size and lightweight design make it easy to carry, perfect for travel, street photography, or any situation where you want to be mobile. It’s less obtrusive than larger lenses, making it great for candid shots.

Close focusing: Although not a macro lens, the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM has a respectable minimum focusing distance of 30cm (11.8 inches) and a maximum magnification of 0.25. This will reveal plenty of detail, but by adding cheap extension tubes it’s easy enough to get better than 1:1 magnification.

Why the 50mm f/1.8 Doesn’t Get More Attention

Given its popularity, why doesn’t the nifty-fifty get more coverage?

Perceived as a Beginner Lens: Its affordability and simplicity make it a popular entry-level choice. As photographers gain experience, they might switch to faster and pricier 50mm lenses with apertures like f/1.4 or f/1.2. These high-end lenses create even creamier bokeh and even better light-gathering performance that’s more appealing to professionals.

Zoom Kit Lenses: an Attractive Alternative: For beginners, zoom kit lenses might feel more versatile due to their ability to adjust focal lengths, which a 50mm prime lens can’t do. A zoom kit lens allows a beginner to compose their shot without physically moving. To be fair, there can be instances when zooming in is an option when you can’t get close enough with a fixed focal length lens.

More Lucrative Gear for Reviews: Professional reviewers might concentrate high-end lenses not only because they are more exciting for their audiences, but because they are more lucrative through affiliate links. As a result, the more basic 50mm f/1.8 can be overshadowed by pricier lenses with high-tech features.

What the 50mm f/1.8 Lens is Great For

Though simple, the 50mm f/1.8 excels in a variety of scenarios, making it a valuable addition to your kit. Here are situations where you’ll find the nifty-fifty a perfect fit.

Portraits and People Photography: Its natural perspective and f/1.8 aperture make it ideal for portrait photography. The wide aperture creates a soft background that helps to separate it from your subject. It’s a professional touch for portraits.

Food, Flat Lay, and Product Photography: The nifty fifty also works wonders for close-ups. Its sharpness and great field of view make it perfect for food, flat lays, and product photography. It’s minimum focusing distance of about one foot allows you to shoot near macro shots. I’ve used it successfully in these areas, achieving detailed, high-quality shots.

General Filmmaking: For videographers, the 50mm f/1.8 is compact and affordable, making it ideal for handheld shooting or use with gimbals. It’s great for interviews and talking-head videos, offering a natural-looking frame and a beautiful depth of field, all at a budget-friendly price.

Low-Light Situations: The f/1.8 aperture enables you to shoot in low-light environments without needing a flash or higher ISO. This capability makes it suitable for indoor photography or shooting in the golden hour, where f/4 or higher lenses might struggle.

Street and Travel Photography: The 50mm’s compactness makes it a favorite for street and travel photography. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and doesn’t draw much attention, allowing for candid shots. The 50mm focal length also lets you capture both people and places with a natural look.

The nifty fifty truly shines when you need great performance on a budget, handling everything from portraits to street photography with ease.

When the 50mm f/1.8 Might Not Be the Best Choice

Despite its strengths, the 50mm f/1.8 has its limitations.

Wide-Angle Shots and Tight Spaces: In confined spaces, the fixed 50mm focal length can feel restrictive, especially if you’re trying to capture a wide scene. For landscapes or tight interiors, a wider lens may be necessary.

Sports and Wildlife: The 50mm f/1.8 lacks the reach for distant subjects, making it less suitable for sports or wildlife photography, where a longer lens would perform better.

YouTube Videos: Most YouTubers find 50mm too long for vlogging, as it requires the camera to be farther away. For “piece-to-camera” videos, this can feel awkward unless you have a lot of space.

Extreme Low-Light and Bokeh: While excellent for general low light, professionals often choose f/1.4 or f/1.2 lenses for extreme low-light situations or for producing creamier bokeh. These lenses have a slight edge in challenging conditions, though they’re also much pricier.

Lack of stabilization: The nifty-fifty is a close cousin of the RF 35mm f/1.8 macro lens but does not have the built-in stabilization. So, if like me, you have shaky hands, you might want to use it at higher shutter speeds, on a tripod, or a camera body with in-body-image stabilization.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your 50mm f/1.8

Make the most of your nifty fifty with these tips:

• “Zoom” with Your Feet: We all love a zoom lens because it can help make your framing easy, but you can normally get the same effect by moving closer or farther from your subject. So, zoom with your feet, or as I’ve also heard it called, use sneaker zoom.
• Embrace Shallow Depth of Field: Use f/1.8 to achieve a beautiful background blur, particularly in portraits and product photography. Although stopping down to f/2 or f2.8 might make your subject a little sharper.
• Low-Light Capability: Take advantage of those wide apertures that make the nifty-fifty its low-light abilities. You’ll be able to shoot indoors or in dim environments without necessarily reaching for the flash.
• Environmental Portraits: The 50mm focal length gives you a wider field of view than an 85mm portrait lens, that allows you to include more of the surroundings in your portrait shots to tell a story.
• Macro with Extension Tubes: Use extension tubes to get close-up shots without a dedicated macro lens.
• Handheld Video: Its lightweight design makes it ideal for handheld or gimbal use.

Conclusion

The 50mm f/1.8 might not get the same hype as high-end lenses, but it’s a powerful tool for any photographer’s kit bag. Affordable, sharp, and highly versatile, this lens excels in portrait, close-up, low-light, and travel photography. It may have limitations, but its strengths far outweigh them, especially for photographers on a budget.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to upgrade from a kit lens or a seasoned photographer seeking a reliable, lightweight option, the 50mm f/1.8 is a solid investment. While it may lack the prestige of more expensive lenses, its simplicity, quality, and performance make it a worthy companion for virtually any shoot.

Last update on 2024-03-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API