Can you manage with JUST a 50mm prime?

I have done just that going out with the D700 and AFS 50mm f1.4G. Yes it can be done but WHY? Can you manage without windows in your car? YES but why? Don't make it more difficult for yourself.
 
50mm f1.4 on FF? not for me! My 50mm is low light or crazy DOF lens, also good for staged full length portraits and groups shots (due to good sharpness).

50mm fails at wide landscape / seascape shots - something with foreground and background interest. 50mm is OK for close-ups, but too wide for macro if it could even do it. Can it do wildlife? - Ducks and geese if you are super lucky... Portraits - some... but I'd rather use 85-200mm range there.
 
what do you mean by this?

a 50mm on an MF camera has a wider FOV on a APS-C you get a smaller FOV all of which are the FULL FOV for that type of camera.

There is no full FOV for a specific lens??????????


CT said:
You'd get the full FOV of the lens
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POAH said:
what do you mean by this?

a 50mm on an MF camera has a wider FOV
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Of course it does -a 50mm lens on a MF camera is a wide angle lens, and it's a totally different lens designed for a different format!

on a APS-C you get a smaller FOV all of which are the FULL FOV for that type of camera.
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It may well be the full FOV for that particular crop sensor, but it isn't the full FOV for which the lens was designed. 50mm lenses are considered the 'standard' lens on 35mm cameras for which they were designed - long before digital cameras and crop sensors. A 50mm lens on a crop sensor digital camera is now effectively around 80mm, which introduces big drawbacks when used in confined spaces where the FOV is drastically reduced in comparison to a 35mm camera or a full frame digital one.

All fairly obvious stuff which I find it difficult to believe you don't appreciate anyway. ;)
 
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As I only do togging as a hobby I can just go out with a 50mm and experiment and have a play around. I find it can help a great deal to learn about a lens without swapping and confusing myself. On the other hand if a pro turned up to a job and said "I only bought the one lens to test myself artistically and don't worry I have my feet to zoom" :coat:

I also think that these people that try to relive the old ways are a tiny bit nuts :) Those at the top of the tree in any profession invest in new and improved equipment as it is released and stay there for that reason.

Ready to get flamed by film users but just my opinion.
 
well, at least in fashion and portrait photography loads of super pro togs use only primes and 50mm is the most common.

I would never shoot wedding with primes, that's pretty much suicide I think but well - I think I'll never shoot weddings anyway :lol:
 
the lens may have been designed for the image circle of a 135 frame but the 50mm focal length is not the special lens for that particular size of frame.

to say it gives your the full FOV is incorrect which you appear not to grasp but hey ho

CT said:
Of course it does -a 50mm lens on a MF camera is a wide angle lens, and it's a totally different lens designed for a different format!

It may well be the full FOV for that particular crop sensor, but it isn't the full FOV for which the lens was designed. 50mm lenses are considered the 'standard' lens on 35mm cameras for which they were designed - long before digital cameras and crop sensors. A 50mm lens on a crop sensor digital camera is now effectively around 80mm, which introduces big drawbacks when used in confined spaces where the FOV is drastically reduced in comparison to a 35mm camera or a full frame digital one.

All fairly obvious stuff which I find it difficult to believe you don't appreciate anyway. ;)
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Poah you're going to have to run this by me again with a better argument than you're making at the moment and I'll do my best to grasp it. :D
 
I would answer "Yes"...sure you'll be a bit tight for some shots and a bit wide for others but that camera and that lens would be an awesome combination. My 50mm (albeit only the 1.8) is my lens of choice for out and about street photography and so as not to be lumbering a big old D700 & 24-70mm combo around on my brother's wedding I just took the 50mm and shot a decent day's worth of images here. The 50mm on a FF body is fine but I would say it's too long on a crop sensor.
 
Starastin said:
well, at least in fashion and portrait photography loads of super pro togs use only primes and 50mm is the most common.

I would never shoot wedding with primes, that's pretty much suicide I think but well - I think I'll never shoot weddings anyway :lol:
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Well in the days of film, 35mm and 2 1/4 sq were the most common cameras in use at weddings - most only had the standard prime lens - either 50mm (35mm) or 80mm (2 1/4 sq).

A comparable set up these days would be the 5DII fitted with a 50mm lens.

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