Fifty” are called lenses with a fixed (fixed) focal length of 50 mm. What are they remarkable for? Why can they be found in the photo bag for both the pros and the amateur photographer? Let's find out!
1. High aperture. Low light shooting
Modern 50mm lenses have aperture from F1.8 to F1.2. High aperture allows more light to pass through the lens. When shooting with such optics in low light conditions (for example, at dusk or indoors) you do not need to raise the light sensitivity high, therefore, there will be much less noise in the photo.NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 1000, F1.4, 1/160 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
2. High image quality
Lenses with a constant focal length give a clear, detailed picture, well correct chromatic aberration (colored contours around objects).NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 64, F1.4, 1/640 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
However, when shooting at an open aperture, we get a shallow depth of field, and it’s easy to miss the focus with focus. Often, novice photographers cannot focus exactly, the result is blurry shots. It is important to understand how the autofocus system in the camera works , and learn how to choose focus points. And to insure yourself against errors, you can cover the diaphragm, say, to F2.8.
NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Settings: ISO 100, F10, 1/80 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
3. Station wagon in full frame, portrait portrait on crop
The 50 mm lens has a “normal”, universal viewing angle when used on full-frame cameras (?45 °). This allows you to include in the frame all the necessary objects and avoid the perspective distortions inherent in wide-angle optics.NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 64, F1.4, 1/125 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 400, F1.4, 1/320 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 360, F7.1, 1/125 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
Lens with a focal length of 35 mm will give a viewing angle of "fifty dollars" on the crop. Therefore, if you have a crop camera and you want to have not a portrait portrait in your arsenal, but a universal fast lens, you should take a closer look at the 35 mm fixes. By the way, special models are produced for crop (for example, Nikon AF-S 35mm f / 1.8G DX Nikkor).
Portrait panorama assembled from three vertical frames
NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 160, F1.4, 1/250 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
4. Lightweight and compact
Almost all lenses with a focal length of 50 mm are light and compact. The Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor weighs just 185 grams. Zoom lenses are significantly more weighty. I often put a fifty dollars in my jacket pocket - that’s how it is always at hand.
Nikon Df with Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.8G Special Edition Nikkor
5. Beautiful bokeh
Due to the high aperture and a suitable focal length, "fifty dollars" allow you to strongly and beautifully blur the background. With the help of blur, you can emphasize the main object, highlighting it with sharpness, and hide distracting details in the background. Assessment of the beauty of bokeh is always subjective. My favorites for bokeh among the "fifty dollars" are the Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.4G Nikkor and the Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor. They give a very spectacular, but unobtrusive blurring of the background.NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Settings: ISO 64, F1.4, 1/400 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
6. "Fifty" makes you think about building a frame
To compose a frame with a zoom lens, just twist the ring by adjusting the viewing angle. This simplifies the work of the photographer, but at the same time we stop thinking about the layout. Fix lenses discipline, because the composition of the frame is built at the time of shooting: you need to highlight the main thing and cut off the excess.NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Installations: ISO 800, F1.4, 1/100 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
You can only zoom in and out with a fix by changing the distance between you and the subject.
7. Availability
"Fifty" has a relatively simple optical design. This makes them not only compact, but also inexpensive. Such lenses become doubly beneficial, taking into account their capabilities and impeccable image quality.
Nikon D610 is an affordable and well-balanced full-frame DSLR. Together with the Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.8G Nikkor, it is one of the most affordable full-frame kits on the market.
Which fifty dollars to choose for Nikon DSLRs?
Nikon system is very rich in "fifty dollars", they are easily confused untrained photographer. Therefore, we have compiled a short list of current models. Nikon MF 50mm f / 1.2 Nikkor is an ultra-fast lens with no autofocus. This model will be appreciated by experienced photographers who prefer a leisurely shooting style and know how to work with manual focus. He showed himself perfectly when shooting video, where beautiful blurring of the background and high aperture are more important than autofocus. Among the features of the lens is the original bokeh. On a fully open diaphragm, it is soft and pleasant, and if you slightly cover the diaphragm, polygons appear in the blur zone instead of the usual circles.
Nikon MF 50mm f / 1.2 Nikkor
Nikon AF-S 58mm f / 1.4G Nikkor
Nikon 50mm f / 1.4D AF Nikkor
Nikon 50mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor
Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.4G Nikkor
Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.8G Nikkor
Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.8G Special Edition Nikkor
Nikon AF-S 35mm f / 1.8G DX Nikkor
Conclusion
The Fifty is often advised as the first additional lens to universal zoom. Such a lens is useful in creative work, portrait shooting, as well as when shooting in low light conditions. Fixes have higher image quality, and all restrictions can be dealt with. We will wait for your shots made at fifty dollars in the comments to the article! Creative success, dear readers!NIKON D810 / 50.0 mm f / 1.4 Settings: ISO 100, F8, 1/400 s, 50.0 mm equiv.
