Nifty Fifty...What's that then???

Mark Morb

Mark Morb

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Newbie alert I'm afraid.

I've only had my DSLR (K10D) for about a month and feel I'm making good progress so far, including familiarising myself with the lingo in the tog world (see I'm using "Tog" already ;))

However, I keep seeing the term "Nifty Fifty" used...can anyone offer a quick explanation??
 
50mm fixed focal length, around £50, F stop 1.8 which is great for low light conditions, i got one at christmas, great lens
 
Quickie... (sorry to highjack!) Does anyone know if there is a Sony A/Sigma (A Mount) version of this? Will save my tired eyes from searching the net if anyone knows?!

Ta!

Stacey
 
Mark Morb said:
Newbie alert I'm afraid.

I've only had my DSLR (K10D) for about a month and feel I'm making good progress so far, including familiarising myself with the lingo in the tog world (see I'm using "Tog" already ;))

However, I keep seeing the term "Nifty Fifty" used...can anyone offer a quick explanation??
Click to expand...
This
 
A 'nifty fifty' is togspeak for 'purchase me immediately for I am a very useful lens' :)
 
yourapocalypse said:
A 'nifty fifty' is togspeak for 'purchase me immediately for I am a very useful lens' :)
Click to expand...


Except in my world where it's togs-speak for

"A completely useless waste of (admittedly) not much money on a pointless piece of kit"

:D:D:D

DD
 
Thanks for the replies and links :thumbs:

I like the way that within a few short posts I had "purchase me immediately for I am a very useful lens" to "A completely useless waste of (admittedly) not much money on a pointless piece of kit"

:lol:

I guess I need to read up and decide whether it's my thing or not.

I've only had the camera a month and I'm already thinking of what my first lens purchase should be (although the kit lens with the K10D is proving to be very good indeed)

and regarding the "Canoncentric" & "Nikoncentric" views of the DSLR world, I'm already getting used to that and translating into Pentax speak as I go ;)
 
Hi Mark Morb

You really need to get your head around what sort of tog you are and what you wish to photograph, don't get me wrong - nifty-fifties can be very useful lenses - but only in certain applications

I'm a studio portrait man shooting mostly at f8-f11, and needing to change focal length quickly from 18-70mm - so a fixed focal length is no use to me, nor is the f1.8 or f1.4 fast aspect of them

As a landscape tog, I usually use my 12-24mm, or my 70-200mm, I rarely shoot anything around the 50mm mark

I do have a fast lens for interior work, and it is an f1.8, but it's a 20mm lens

You're best off now asking those who think they are fab what they photograph with them, and if that's what you wish to do too - then buy one

HTH

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
You're best off now asking those who think they are fab what they photograph with them, and if that's what you wish to do too - then buy one
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I love mine (Nikkor 50mm f:1.4) and use it primarily for natural light portraiture. It's pin sharp and has lovely bokeh when opened right up. The shallow depth of field you can get is really nice too, but as Dave says, it's only worth it if you'll use it.
 
I'm definitely an out and about photographer. At this stage portraits hold little or no interest to me.
Landscapes, Architecture, Urban, Countryside, etc. are where my interests lay, so there are probably other lenses that I would find more useful before I need a 50 (now that I know what they are!)

..another thing I noticed was that in the link posted earlier for a 50 lens for the Pentax it is £160!! Not exactly cheep and cheerful

:)
 
Mark Morb said:
I'm definitely an out and about photographer. At this stage portraits hold little or no interest to me.
Landscapes, Architecture, Urban, Countryside, etc. are where my interests lay, so there are probably other lenses that I would find more useful before I need a 50 (now that I know what they are!)

..another thing I noticed was that in the link posted earlier for a 50 lens for the Pentax it is £160!! Not exactly cheep and cheerful

:)
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Mark - in spite of you not buying a Nikon like myself and others here (the sensible ones not the Canon users :lol:)

You have bought a good camera - cheep & cheerful glass is a waste of money, you really should ALWAYS buy the best you can afford, as otherwise you're wasting the resolution your camera has to offer - I'm not saying spend a fortune all the time, but if your budget for something is £xxx, and there's a lens available at that price, don't buy cheaper just because there is one - read reviews and spend wisely

:thumbs:

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
cheep & cheerful glass is a waste of money, you really should ALWAYS buy the best you can afford, as otherwise you're wasting the resolution your camera has to offer - I'm not saying spend a fortune all the time, but if your budget for something is £xxx, and there's a lens available at that price, don't buy cheaper just because there is one - read reviews and spend wisely
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While I agree with the sentiment that you should always buy the best lenses you can, don't immediately think that because 50mm f:1.8's tend to be cheap i.e. below £80 that they are not good lenses. 50mm's were the standard lens in the days of 35mm and because of this were produced in such high numbers that the economies of scale meant that they could be produced very cheaply. Certainly the Nikkor f:1.8 is rated so highly that many consider it sharper the the £200+ f:1.4.
 
I wasn't on about own brands, which do tend to be better

Anyone remember Makinon lenses? Chinon's own brand?

I bet you can pick those up for a fiver, so £80 is lots

That kind of cheap crap - anyway, I did say research too :lol:
 
davidbridges said:
50mm fixed focal length, around £50, F stop 1.8 which is great for low light conditions, i got one at christmas, great lens
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Is the £50 price imported from Hong Kong? I have been looking for one for that sort of price with no luck :(

Rob
 
Nikon 50mm AF-D F1.8 lens Is this compatible with my D80 ?.

Thanks
 
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