5 VERY BRIGHT FIXED FOCAL LENSES (AT LEAST YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE)

There are many times in this blog that we have talked about lighting lenses, that if for this occasion a light lens suits you, that if for this one too, if we recommend a light lens for portraits, etc. When talking about this type of lens, we do not mean that they have a built-in light that prevents flash, but rather that they are lenses with a large aperture. Jokes aside, a bright lens can prevent you from needing the flash at any given time, since as its maximum aperture is greater, it allows more light to enter. These lenses, if you do not know very well what I mean, are those with a maximum aperture equal to or greater than f / 2 (f / 2, f / 1.8, f / 1.4, f / 1 ...).

OPENING

I have said higher and yet I have put lower numbers, that is because the aperture is measured like this, inversely, the larger the aperture the smaller the number f / and vice versa. In many cases, these objectives will get you out of trouble, and not only that, they also allow you to play with a very small depth of field creating a great impact with an apparently insignificant reason. That is why in the title I already tell you that you should have one. Yes, ok, the equipment does not make the photographer, but when it comes to expanding we recommend some accessories more than others. To start growing, a bright lens is a good starting point ; To make a quantum leap in photography, it is essential.

THE BEST?

So today I bring you some examples, does it necessarily mean that they are the best and that it has to be one of these? No. They are, as I just told you, examples. Maybe one fits you, or you may keep looking and find another that convinces you more or that is more suited to your creative needs. What it is about is that when expanding your team, you opt for an objective of this type. You will see that they are all fixed focal, I have chosen these because they have a higher quality, greater sharpness and are more luminous. Although if you want to know more about the advantages of fixed focal length versus zoom lenses, you should read this .

WHY A BRIGHT LENS?

If you are still not clear why buy a bright lens, I will summarize (a lot) the most important reasons:

Low light. It allows you to take better photos in low light conditions.
Shallow depth of field. It allows you a selective focus, that is, you can blur the background a lot to highlight your protagonist. Ideal for portraits.
Fast speeds. Since it is brighter, you can use faster shooting speeds and thus freeze your moments on the move.
Very useful for night photography. You can reduce the exposure times when photographing the stars and manage to avoid the traces due to the movement of the Earth.

And now yes, I present you with five luminous objectives to whet your appetite.

1. CANON EF 50MM F/1.4 USM

I'm going to start with this one because it's Mario's favorite. In fact, he dedicated an entire article to him , one of the ones that has had the most impact on the blog, why is it?

Canon 50mm f/1.4

Now I will tell you about the Canon version and then we will talk about the Nikon version

It is lighter than Canon's 35mm and its maximum aperture is larger, at f / 1.4.
Its maximum sharpness is between f / 2.8 and f / 11.
It has a price that is more than reasonable for what it offers. You can find it on Amazon for about 350 euros approximately.
Ideal for portraits and social photography, although there will be few occasions when a 50 mm disappoints you

Disadvantages:

It has no image stabilizer.
The minimum focus distance is 45 cm (this means that if you get closer to the subject it is impossible to focus).

Photograph taken with a Canon EF 50mm f / 1.4 USM

2. NIKKOR A-S 50MM F/1.4G

Those of Nikon are in luck because this same lens offers greater clarity than the Canon version.
Of course, a little more expensive, you find it for about 450 euros on Amazon .
Motor that allows a quick and quiet focus.
Minimum focus distance is 45 cm.
It weighs 280 g.

Also available for Sony .

Capturado con un Nikkor A-S 50mm f/1.4G

3. SIGMA 50MM F/1.4 DG HSM / A

Sigma 50mm f/1.4

And speaking of 50 mm, that lens so versatile and attractive for resembling the vision of the human eye, I present Sigma's bet. This objective is not to take a "little step", but to take the "big step". The best in terms of quality between 50mm, but of course, that has a price (very high). It is around 800 euros on Amazon (this is the version for Canon). Why that price?

Offers outstanding sharpness even at its maximum aperture of f / 1.4
Hardly vignetted at the edges.
In short ... the image quality is impressive.
Minimum focus distance of 40 cm.
It is compatible with Full-Frame cameras.

Perhaps the drawback (in addition to the price;), but the one who wants something costs something) is the weight, since it weighs almost three times that of Canon or Nikon. Of course, we speak of a 5 star

Disparada con Sigma 50mm f/1.4

4. NIKKOR AF-S DX 35 MM F/1.8

A light objective (200 gr.) At a relatively low cost that you can get for around 200 euros . It is for DX cameras, that is, it does not apply to Full Frame bodies, so it would be equivalent to 50 mm. Well, it does work for Full Frame, but the quality it gives in these cameras is not acceptable for most users. It is ideal for beginners.

Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8

The best :

The focus system is very quiet.
It is used to make macro (although you have to get very close).
Its value for money.
It is very versatile.

The worst :

The focus is very quiet but not exactly the fastest.
At the corners it loses sharpness.

Image taken with a Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f / 1.8

5. FUJIFILM FUJINON XF 35 MM F/1.4 R

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R

This lens is manufactured exclusively for the X series of retro cameras from this brand. Its construction is metallic. Very light, it does not reach 190 grams. and very compact. It has a very good image quality. The autofocus system is quite fast, although it is around 550 euros on Amazon . Disadvantages :

The AF system is somewhat noisy.
Begins to lose sharpness with apertures greater than f / 2.8.
The manual focus ring is a tad tough when it comes to adjustment.

Image taken with Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f / 1.4 Rf14-r lens

Good that? Have I whet your appetite to start thinking about a very bright target? At least if you have come this far it is because I have captured your attention and something, even a little bit, has seemed useful to you. If so, I feel satisfied And if you are looking for a goal but you still have some doubts after reading this article, I recommend that you read this about the goals that Mario recommends most. Thank you for reaching the end and sharing it, if it has been profitable for you. See you soon!