Do I need my nifty fifty?

hyakuhei

hyakuhei

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Hi Guys,

I'm trying to work out if I need my Nifty Fifty, I shoot on a D300 and also own the beautiful 17-55 F/2.8.

I do go out with the nifty sometimes because I enjoy using primes, zooming with your feet but tbh I rarely find a situation where my 17-55 wouldn't do the job just as well - the Nikon nifty fifty seems to have a poor minimum focus distance too.

I've been toying with the idea of part ex'ing the nifty for something else, perhaps the 35 F/1.8 which has a similar FOV to a 50 on a film camera, or going the other way and perhaps saving for a 105 DC

I'm just thinking out loud here, and this isn't one of those tell me I should do/buy/swap this thing I'm already going to do threads.

What are peoples opinions?
 
Since getting the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 I've not used my nifty fifty, I'm selling it soon because its never on the camera. No point in keeping a lens you never use IMO.
 
hyakuhei said:
Hi Guys,

I'm trying to work out if I need my Nifty Fifty, I shoot on a D300 and also own the beautiful 17-55 F/2.8.

I do go out with the nifty sometimes because I enjoy using primes, zooming with your feet but tbh I rarely find a situation where my 17-55 wouldn't do the job just as well - the Nikon nifty fifty seems to have a poor minimum focus distance too.

I've been toying with the idea of part ex'ing the nifty for something else, perhaps the 35 F/1.8 which has a similar FOV to a 50 on a film camera, or going the other way and perhaps saving for a 105 DC

I'm just thinking out loud here, and this isn't one of those tell me I should do/buy/swap this thing I'm already going to do threads.

What are peoples opinions?
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CSB said:
Since getting the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 I've not used my nifty fifty, I'm selling it soon because its never on the camera. No point in keeping a lens you never use IMO.
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No you don't. Give it to me:D



but seriously, it truly depends on how you use it etc. I am gonna buy a (canon) nifty soon (but have used one in the past quite a bit!) and it does produce rather nice shallow DoF's etc, but personally I didn't find that useful as I tend to use large DoF's in my 'tography. Also on a crop sensor its a rather odd size for me (around 80mm equivalent on 135 film), and I am used to using 35/50mm glass for that kinda stuff!

but yet I still want one!:cuckoo::lol:
 
is it a f1.8 fifty? if so then its possibly not like with like inasmuch as the nicer 50 are probably closer to standard you have with your 17-55?

i used a 50 initially but then tried wider and ended up with a 35 f2, love it and far more useable IMHO than a 50 on crop.

I use the 35 90% of the time but then i only use 2 lenses! perhaps with a nice 24-70 id end up using it less
 
I love mine, though it is the f1.4, but it depends on what type of togging you do.

It's invaluable for low light at weddings, in fact indoors I tend to have two bodies with the 50 and an f2 100mm so I can catch as much as possible without upping the ISO or using flash

but if you're always outside, then sell it, unless you like upsetting people and do street togging :lol:
 
I have:
35mm f/2
50mm f/1.8
50mm f/1.2 (manual focus, so unless I need the benefits of it I use the f/1.8 on the D300).

And use them on a D300 or FM2n.
For general walkabout use, I do find myself using the 35mm on the D300. I sometimes use it on the FM2n when I want to go a bit wider.

I'd keep it AND get the 35mm f/2, but if it's just one you can get and you find the 50mm too restrictive, then the 35mm is the obvious choice.
 
Fifty fifty is cheap and does f/1.8. It has no other virtues ;)
 
Blapto said:
Apart from the image quality, it's light, and you can put in a pocket.
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You could be talking about the 18-55 kit lens there! I swapped my furry-50 for one. The new version is actually very sharp, has IS, is just as small and light as the nifty, focuses very close, and has a vastly more useful range of focal lengths.

But if you really want 95% of your picture frame out of focus at f/1.8, then the nifty-50 is a cheap way of doing it ;)

Only joking, but it's another way of looking at it.
 
If you find the 17-55mm does the job you need it to, I can't see the logic in getting the 35mm instead. If however you need a primne for low-light situations, then yes by all means consider it. :)

I would look at other areas to invest, i.e. the longer focal length prime you mention.
 
I hardly ever used my 50 f/1.8, couldn't find a use for it. So I sold it. Don't miss it at all.
 
HoppyUK said:
You could be talking about the 18-55 kit lens there! I swapped my furry-50 for one. The new version is actually very sharp, has IS, is just as small and light as the nifty, focuses very close, and has a vastly more useful range of focal lengths.

But if you really want 95% of your picture frame out of focus at f/1.8, then the nifty-50 is a cheap way of doing it ;)

Only joking, but it's another way of looking at it.
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True....the 18-55 is actually very good
 
on aps-c the 50mm is not that useful as on full frame of film, 35mm is a good idea it is the actual standard lens for you
 
huanjia said:
on aps-c the 50mm is not that useful as on full frame of film, 35mm is a good idea it is the actual standard lens for you
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agreed! but theres one little problem.... the cost!:D:lol::lol:
 
if you dont need it, as got the focal range covered with another lens that has a good aperture ... then if its the F1.8.... its not that much to replace if you sell it now and feel the need for a 50 again.

Phil
 
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