What to do with a 50mm?

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pizzahut88

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I have a problem.
I've always used wide lenses, like 28, 35, 15, 21, etc.
The 40mm is really my limit.

Now, I've just gotten myself a 50mm . . .
Would love to see some your (forum members) best shots done with the 50mm.
Seeing is learning.

Cheers,
Manfred
 
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For the last year or so I have used a 50mm lens almost exclusively (I have occasionally used a 28mm). I would suggest forcing yourself going out shooting with your camera and 50mm lens only. It is quite educational not having to think about which would be the best lens to use but making the best use of what you have. I am quite biased though, if I could only have one lens it would be a 50mm. My gallery has a few examples but I'm sure you will find many better examples with a flickr search.
Good luck,
Nick
 
I took my first film photo class this summer... I've been shooting with my Zorki 4k w/ 50mm f2 Jupiter 8 lens for the whole summer.

I have to say there have been a lot of times when I wanted a wide angle lens so bad, but other times I knew i had just the perfect lens.

It has really been challenging for me I would say. Having to force myself to think as to what will look good on a 50. Overall though, I can gladly say Ive taken some really nice shots with my Jupiter 8.

Now if I could only find the resoruces to scan my negatives/prints! yaarg.
 
If I could only have one lens I think it would be 50mm too. I have shot a majority of my photos with a 50mm of some sort and they never do me wrong. Love that focal length that I now have....6 50mm lenses.....

Since no one else is posting images, here:

all taken with 50mm lenses of some form or another:
(warning: huge shameless plug of my photos)

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For many years during my impecunious younger days, I had only a collapsible 50mm Summicron. Here's my suggestion: put the wealth of other lenses in a drawer and pretend you don't have them. Photograph only with the 50mm. Do it for a realistically long period, perhaps 6 months or more. See what you see and learn!
 
I shoot mainly with 50mm lenses. They give me the perspective that I view as being documentary style. Below are several (nearly identical) images taken by 50mm lenses:

Raid


Summitar @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288243


Summicron Rigid (First) @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288200

Summicron Collapsible @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288220

Compare to the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm/2.0: @ 4.0
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288225


or to the old Elmar 50/3.5fist frame of roll) @ 4.0
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288156


Canon lenses are great too.

Canon 50mm/1.2 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288268


Canon 50mm/1.5 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288258

Canon 50mm/1.8 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288230


Also, the Nikon 50/2 is a good lens. Here. @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288252

FSU lenses are embarassingly good.

J-8 50mm/2.0 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288213

Industrar 50/3.5 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288163

Jupiter 3 50mm/1.5 @ 4.0:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288274
 
Impressive.

Impressive.

sirius said:
Check out Bud Green's photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bud_green/

I believe he works exclusively with a 50 and after seeing what he does with it, anyone could be converted.

cheers
Click to expand...

He is just doing it so naturally.
The images are just so creamy yet detailed.
That balance of focused and oof composition.

I am going to study how he does it.
Thx! Just what I needed.
 
I am going to try the same.

I am going to try the same.

LazyHammock said:
For the last year or so I have used a 50mm lens almost exclusively (I have occasionally used a 28mm). I would suggest forcing yourself going out shooting with your camera and 50mm lens only. It is quite educational not having to think about which would be the best lens to use but making the best use of what you have. I am quite biased though, if I could only have one lens it would be a 50mm. My gallery has a few examples but I'm sure you will find many better examples with a flickr search.
Good luck,
Nick
Click to expand...

You know what . . . I am going to do the 50 for a while, so I can get the hang of it.
I really weak with that.

I've looked thru your gallery, you have some nice vista there. 🙂
 
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing.

Avotius said:
............oh what the hell....here:
Click to expand...

Were you in Tibet or somewhere nearby?
Those color shots are really nice.
That saturation of blue & red.
And that blue is just in that perfect hue.

What 50 and film were you using?


Also I notice you have managed to get the shot of house, its owner who refused to sell and got totally digged around. Land devlopement in China is absolutely crazy.
Whatever happened to planning permission and ubran land grants?
 
What's your take on the Zeiss 50/2?

What's your take on the Zeiss 50/2?

raid said:
I shoot mainly with 50mm lenses. They give me the perspective that I view as being documentary style. Below are several (nearly identical) images taken by 50mm lenses:

Raid
Click to expand...

Hi Raid,

I have been looking at the Zeiss 50 / 2
And could not decide to get it or not.
Then at the end I got the Heliar Classic 50/2.
On my list were also the Nokton 50mm F1.5
What do you think of Zeiss and Nokton?


Manfred
 
pizzahut88 said:
Hi Raid,

I have been looking at the Zeiss 50 / 2
And could not decide to get it or not.
Then at the end I got the Heliar Classic 50/2.
On my list were also the Nokton 50mm F1.5
What do you think of Zeiss and Nokton?


Manfred
Click to expand...

Hi Manfred,

The Zeiss Jena 50/2 in LTM is extremely rare. I guess, you mean the new Zeiss lens. Mine is from war time or earlier maybe. It is readily available in Contax mount though.

The Heliar has a strong following, but I have never tried it myself. I have been concentrating on lenses from 1960's and earlier. I have the original Voightlaender Nokton. The newer design most likely is optically sharper with higher contrast. People love it here.

Greetings,

Raid
 
I used an M6TTL and 50mm Summicron exclusively for about 2 years. Best and most consistent period of photography I've had thus far. Simple.

I'm selling most of my gear now and going back to just a rangefinder and a 50. Love that combo.

I may keep a 40/35 and a 90 in the mix for rare occasions, but that's it.
 
I don't know if I can add anything to improve this thread...but I will say this...
I truly believe that one should only be allowed the use of a 50mm lens for a time before venturing to other lenses...
Learn the 50, love the 50, the 50 is your friend...
If you can't get the shot with the 50 you're in the wrong spot...move around and find the shot...it's there and the 50 will get it.
Great examples up above you guys...you prove my point...
Go out and shoot...take only the 50mm!!!
 
pizzahut88 said:
Then at the end I got the Heliar Classic 50/2.
On my list were also the Nokton 50mm F1.5
What do you think of Zeiss and Nokton?
Click to expand...
I've got the Heliar too. I think the bokeh is really smooth with this lens. Perhaps that's its strongest quality. Wide open fairly soft, and improves a bit stopped down. I like this lens, but suspect there will be more 50's in my future. I just seem to be more pulled to that perspective.

It's hard to not pass up the Nokton 50/1.5. With it being such a bargin, I'll probably go for that eventually, but for now just went with the Bessa side grip for my R3A. I've seen a lot of pictures taken with the Nokton 50 and found them rather impressive.

I also find the Zeiss 50/2 tantalizing. I like that it's got a closer min focus (I believe 0.7 meters.) The Heliar, not so close. Something like 1 meter if I remember correctly. The Nokton, 0.9 meters.

I also wonder about the Zeiss 50/1.5, but I'd have to save up for a while for that one. I'm also a bit put-off by all the focus shift complications that originally arose with that lens. Though, I must admit I've seen some pretty interesting shots with that one too.

We'll see....
 
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