If you’ve been involved in a photography community, you may have heard the term ‘nifty fifty lens’ thrown around. Nifty fifties are some of the most popular lenses out there, and for a good reason: They’re incredible lenses and are a perfect option for photographers looking to move past a kit lens.
But what exactly
is a nifty fifty lens? Why is it called a ‘nifty fifty’? And what,
specifically, makes a nifty fifty such a good choice?
That’s what this article is all
about.
So if you want to learn more about nifty fifty lenses, read on.
What is a Nifty Fifty Lens?
A Nifty Fifty is a 50mm fast lens with a wide aperture of f/1.8. It offers a field of view similar to the human eye, which results in minimal optical distortion. They are often the first “prime” lens photographers invest in, as they are affordable with excellent image quality. These lenses are versatile and can be used for everything from portraits to street photography and landscapes.
There are all sorts of nifty fifty lenses out there: the Canon 50mm f/1.8, the Canon 50mm f/1.2, and the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, to name a few.
Note that nifty fifties are prime lenses, which means they only offer a single focal length (50mm); there is no ability to zoom in or out for a larger or smaller field of view.
Why Is it Called a Nifty Fifty?
The term nifty fifty started as a term on the stock exchange to describe the 50 hot stocks. Someone, though, in around the 60s or 70s, started using it to describe a 50mm lens, and it stuck.
As you may have guessed, the ‘fifty’ comes from the focal length of 50mm.
But the ‘nifty’ comes from the lens’s usefulness; 50mm lenses are handy to have around in pretty much any situation. They’re great for shooting in low light, for portraits, for street photography, for landscape photography, and more.
Related: Selecting the Best EF-S Lens for Canon
In fact, it’s
tough to go wrong with a nifty fifty lens. That’s why I recommend you get a
nifty fifty as soon as you’re ready to expand beyond your kit lens. You can use
a nifty fifty constantly and you’ll rarely be disappointed.
Reasons to Use a Nifty Fifty Lens
What’s so wonderful about a nifty fifty lens?
Quite a few
things, in fact! Starting with:
1. Nifty Fifty Lens Has a Perfect Focal Length
Nifty fifties are 50mm in
length.
And this is perfect for most photography – because the 50mm perspective is just like human sight.
In other words, when you look through a nifty fifty lens, the scene will look completely normal, same as if you looked with the naked eye. There will no telephoto magnification and no wide-angle effect. You’ll see what you usually see.
This can be a relief for beginner photographers who find telephoto and wide-angle lenses a bit disorienting.
Plus, means
that you can do lots of photography with the nifty fifty without really having
to worry about focal length.
Which brings me to another great
thing about nifty fifties:
2. Nifty Fifties are Extremely Versatile
With a nifty fifty, you can
shoot pretty much anything.
You can do street
photography, portrait photography, landscape photography, even a bit of
close-up photography. Nifty fifty lenses can handle it all.
The 50mm focal length is great for capturing honest shots of scenes. It portrays scenes as you, the photographer, see them. And that allows you to capture what you initially envisioned.
Related: How to Clean Camera Lens
I love using
50mm lenses for portrait photography. I sometimes use my nifty fifty for
close-up shooting. And I also use a 50mm lens for street photography all the
time.
Why?
It’s all in the next section:
3. Nifty Fifties Are Light and Compact
Nifty fifties
tend to be amazingly lightweight and small. They add very little bulk to your
camera setup.
That’s why
nifty fifties are great walkaround lenses. You attach one to your camera, put
the camera around your neck, and carry it all day–without even noticing it’s
there.
You can also store them pretty easily in a camera bag or backpack.
Related: How to Select a Camera Lens
Note that the
unobtrusiveness of nifty fifty lenses make them ideal for street photography.
If you’re photographing in public, you don’t want to draw attention to
yourself, and a nifty fifty will make sure that people pay less attention to
you.
4. Nifty Fifties Have a Fast Aperture
Here’s another great thing about
nifty fifty lenses:
They have a wide
maximum aperture, ranging from f/1.8 down to f/1.2 and beyond. This comes with
a couple of advantages:
First, the wider the aperture, the more light the lens will let in, thus allowing you to increase your shutter speed and get better exposure. This is key in dark conditions when every bit of light counts.
Related article: Top Rated Canon Nifty Fifty Lenses
Second, wider
apertures produce a shallow depth of field, which refers to the amount of the
photo that’s in focus. A shallow depth of field gives a very artistic look–one
that’s sought after by many photographers (especially portrait photographers).
So you can use the wide aperture on a nifty fifty to get beautiful, artistic
photos!
5. Nifty Fifties are Inexpensive
One last great thing about 50mm
lenses:
They’re cheap.
See also: Best “Nifty Fifty” Lens for Fujifilm Cameras
In fact, 50mm
lenses tend to be some of the cheapest kit available. You can grab nifty
fifties for around $100 USD. Less, if you’re willing to buy used.
So not only are they incredible performers, but they’ll also stop you from breaking the bank.
Which Nifty Fifty Should You Choose?
There are a number of fantastic nifty fifties out there, and it’s hard to go wrong.
However, I do recommend that beginners stick with f/1.8 nifty fifties, assuming you’re looking to stay on a budget. Lenses that feature 50mm f/1.8 are less expensive than their f/1.4 or f/1.2 counterparts, but they’ll still deliver some great quality.
Related article: How to Select the Right Travel Lenses for Any Brand
In fact, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 is the most popular lens ever created. It really is phenomenal: about $100 USD, super lightweight, super compact, and produces beautiful images.
I thoroughly recommend it for any
Canon shooters looking for a nifty fifty option.
Sony FE 50mm F1.8
Filter Size: 49mm, Mount: Sony E, Weight: 6.5 oz /185 g, Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.3″ / 69 x 59 mm
Nifty Fifty and APS-C (Crop Sensor) Cameras
It’s important to note:
Nifty fifties give viewers a 50mm view on a full-frame camera.
But if you’re using an APS-C camera – that is, a camera with a smaller sensor – the image will be cropped, effectively magnifying the lens. You’ll end up with a focal length of around 75-80mm.
While this is still a great focal length for portraits, you can replicate the 50mm focal length of a nifty fifty with a 35mm lens. The 35mm lens will be magnified to 50mm, and you’ll have your standard focal length.
Fujifilm 35mm F2
Filter Size: 43mm, Mount: Fujifilm X, Weight: 6oz /170g, Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.8″ / 60 x 46 mm
Nifty Fifty Lens | Conclusion
You should now
know all about nifty fifty lenses: Why they’re called nifty fifties, why you
should buy them, and more.
The next step?
Get a nifty fifty of your own.
And start taking some incredible
shots!
