What is the point of the 50mm "nifty fifty" prime lens?

I had a 1.8 and got the 1.4 a few days not had a great chance to play with it, but I have a feeling I am going to be using it an awful lot due to the sharpness and DoF tt it has.
 
Just got myself the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF-S - ouch! - it's sharp!
 
but I never use filters - so doesn't matter . . . filter size is 58mm though not 77mm!
 
awp said:
Just got myself the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF-S - ouch! - it's sharp!
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Could not agree more, The couple of shots I have taken are sharper than a very sharp thing.
 
well my D 1.4 is 52mm, almost sold it, glad I didn't but might trade up to a G.:)
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awp said:
but I never use filters - so doesn't matter . . . filter size is 58mm though not 77mm!
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woops! Apologies, I read your post as Sigma rather than Nikon for some reason. :bonk: I don't use filters on mine either BTW, was just using the filter measurement as an indication of lens diameter.
 
is there a nikon equivalent to this canon nifty fifty?
 
IanC said:
is there a nikon equivalent to this canon nifty fifty?
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yes the 50mm f.8 but it will not autofocus on the d40.
the 50mm f1.4 af-s will autofocus on the d40 but is a lot more money approx £280 compared to approx £110for the f.8.
 
fabs said:
Apologies, I read your post as Sigma rather than Nikon for some reason
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Do Sigma have a thing about filter size? The 24-70 is a gargantuan 82mm!

Getting back to the 50mm... I never had a 'nifty' in the true sense and went straight for the 1.4, and although it's not used as much as something like my 70-200, it's aperture is something I couldn't be without. Having said that, I find the length a bit short and would like to swap for the 85mm f/1.8

What do I use it for? Same as everyone else... low light, discreetness, cool DoF. :)
 
I have the Canon 50mm f/1.4 which I love.. but now I want the 50mm f/1.2 L :nuts:

That sexy red ring and the extra half-stop is going to cost me around £800.. but I know I'm not going to be able to stop myself.. :'(

A.
 
there is no real point to it other than its cheap since itsw not that sharp wide open, focus is inconsistant and build quality is poor lol

people rave about it because its sharper than the 18-55 kit lens and gives you small DOF. people with decent lenses generally don't


Rooster said:
I got this lens because everyone raved about it and it was cheap. Trouble is, I never use it. I've tried using it as a walkaround lens and, while I appreciate its small size and lightness, I found a fixed focal length annoying to use, having to constantly shuffle about to get the right composition. I soon missed my big, heavy 24-105mm L lens. f/1.8 aperture? I never use it. I've tried taking pictures of stuff for ebay at 1.8 but the depth of field is so extremely shallow that one bit of the item is in focus and the rest hopelessly blurred. I've heard tell that it is often used as a portrait lens but I don't do portrait work. So, while it's a nice sharp lens if you're on a budget, I can't see much point in it if you have L class glass or equivalent. What do you use it for?
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Wigster said:
Photographers are getting lazy, some of the overhyped photographers just used the 50mm and a leica. Take Cartier-Bresson for example, B&W photos!
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photographers are not getting lazy a zoom gives you a lot of options for composition a prime does not.
 
Marac said:
do yourself a favour... sell it, sell it to someone who knows WHY it is on the planet and can maybe enjoy using it. get yourself an 18-300 zoom
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bit of an odd statment. so just because someone does not find a need for small DOF they should get an all in one lens. not everyone shoots with thin DOF. I don't want a 50mm lens should I trade in my 5D2 and 24-70 f2.8 for a point and click :cuckoo:
 
POAH said:
bit of an odd statment. so just because someone does not find a need for small DOF they should get an all in one lens. not everyone shoots with thin DOF. I don't want a 50mm lens should I trade in my 5D2 and 24-70 f2.8 for a point and click :cuckoo:
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I don't think think "Marac" was just on about dof in his post. I agree I love my zoom lenses,but I do think they make you lazy and using a prime lens I find gets you back to basics of composition and makes you think a bit more.
I feel it's a bit like photoshop,some people love to take a great photo and tweak a little bit in photoshop, where as some people take a poor photo and work wonders with photoshop,both are talented,but who is right?
 
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