My photography peers thought I was mad. I thought I was mad, taking just a 50mm lens and one camera to the south island of New Zealand for a week. The rules were simple. Attempt to make compelling photographs with a 50mm lens using any creative methods I could conjure up. Panos, single frames, cropping in post, long exposures and filters were used, but only one lens. My itinerary included Queenstown and the surrounding grand mountain-scapes followed by Milford Sound with its utter incredible, king of the world, spectacular life changing scenery. Could a 50mm lens, with its boring and uninspiring focal length live up to the big time landscapes of New Zealand?
7 reasons why a 50mm lens needs to be part of your kit
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The 50mm lens, often called the “nifty fifty”, is a popular lens. The f/1.8 version for Nikon, Canon and many other brands is very inexpensive and has been a staple of photographers for decades. Personally, I think it should be the first lens a new camera owner buys after they get frustrated with their kit lens.
In this video from Shutterbug Mag, photographer Jordan Matter offers up seven reasons why he feels a 50mm lens is not only vital but may be the only lens you need.
Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 is a $170 bokeh beast
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In his recent video, Kai Wong showed you five 50mm lenses you can buy for less than $100. This time, he shows you a Chinese “bokeh master” – Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 manual focus lens for APS-C bodies. It’s a bit more expensive ($170), so it didn’t get onto the previous list. But judging from Kai’s review – it’s a keeper. Don’t let the price fool you.
These are the two lenses every portrait photographer should own
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No matter what genre of photography you’re into, I’m sure you have your favorite lens(es). Manny Ortiz does mainly portrait and has two lenses he’d recommend to any portrait photographer out there. The 50mm and the 85mm are his lenses of choice, and he explains why he thinks every portrait photographer should own them. Let’s see if you agree.
5 best 50mm lenses for under $100
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A 50mm lens is probably the first lens most of us bought after we got the camera. They are generally affordable, especially if you go for a f/1.8. But if you’re on a really tight budget, or just want to satisfy your gear acquisition syndrome without guilt: Kai Wong has a video for you.
In this video, he suggests five great 50mm lenses that cost well under $100. So if you’re looking for your first or for another 50mm lens, check out Kai’s suggestions.
This is why I now only use one lens
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After many years of experience using different lenses, I now have resorted to only using a single prime lens. I started with a 50mm then added an 85mm, 35mm, 100mm and 28mm to my collection, and I’ve played around with zoom lenses. But now I exclusively use a 50mm lens. No more zooms and no more choices. But why would I volunteer to limit myself?
50mm, 35mm or 28mm – which is the best street photography lens?
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What is the best lens for street photography? There are many articles and discussions on this topic, and every photographer has their own suggestion and a personal favorite. In the new Kai Wong’s video (a.k.a. Digital rev Kai) , you can see all three of these lenses compared in the streets of Hong Kong. So, what’s the judgement?
Sony expand their full frame macro range with a new 50mm f/2.8
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Sony have today announced the release of the full frame Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens. This announcement doubles the number of lenses in their full frame macro range to two. It also gives those looking a “standard” lens an option other than the FE 50mm f/1.8, and the ability to focus much closer for 1:1 magnification.
It features many of the same design and features of its longer sibling, the FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens. Of course, this one has no image stabilisation. It does, however include dust and moisture resistant, focus-range limiter, focus-mode switches and a focus-hold button.
Sony finally unleash full frame 50mm f/1.4 lens and 70-200mm f/2.8 pricing
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It’s been a long time coming for Sony shooters, but they now have an official fast standard lens available with the newly announced Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA. No longer do you need to mess around with metabones adapters and put up with limited autofocus capabilities, at least, not if you want a 50mm f/1.4.
Similar in construction to the FE 35mm f/1.4, the 50mm is weather sealed, and uses Sony’s Super Sonic Wave Motor for fast and near-silent autofocus. The aperture ring can also be “declicked”, if desired for video shooters.
The new Zeiss Milvus lenses target high-resolution Canon and Nikon DSLRs
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Zeiss has launched its new line of full frame primes for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, called Milvus, with no less than six new lenses being announced today.
Using an adapter, the Milvus lenses can also be used with Sony’s α7 mirrorless system.
The lenses’ high contrast rendition, uniform color characteristics and low level of stray light are said to make them ideal for HDR videos and resolutions of 6K and above.
Ranging in focal length from 21mm to 100mm, including two macro lenses, all the Milvus lenses are manually focused.
