Why I REALLY dislike the 50mm focal length

I’ve mentioned time and time again in various posts and with the people that I know that I dislike the 50mm focal length. It’s a focal length that I have to force myself to use, and I don’t use my Nikkor Z40mm F/1.4 as much as I really should. But why do I dislike this focal length so much? Let’s take a look.

History of the 50mm lens

Before we begin, let us have a quick look at the classic 50mm focal length prime lens. The 50mm lens is often referred to as a “standard” or “normal” lens because its field of view closely approximates that of the human eye. This makes it a versatile tool for various types of photography, including street, portrait, and documentary photography.

Here are some key points in the history of the 50mm lens:

• Early Photography: The 50mm lens became a staple of photography in the 20th century, particularly with the rise of 35mm film cameras like the Leica and the Contax.
• Leica’s Influence: The Leica M3, introduced in 1954, was famously paired with the 50mm f/2 Summicron lens. This combination helped solidify the 50mm as the go-to lens for photojournalists and street photographers.
• SLR Revolution: When Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras became popular, the 50mm f/1.8 (or similar fast-aperture lens) was often sold as the kit lens. This made it a standard for new photographers, and its fast aperture was a major selling point.

• Digital Era: The 50mm lens continues to be popular in the digital age. It’s affordable, sharp, and lightweight, and its field of view is a great starting point for photographers using both full-frame and crop-sensor cameras.

Why I dislike 50mm lenses.

For me, I’ve always struggled with the 50mm for a few reasons. Firstly, I just don’t believe that 50mm is an approximation of the human eye. For me, that should be a focal length where , when you raise the camera to your eye, it takes what you see. 50mm just does not do that for me! 

Secondly (and thirdly), the 50mm focal length is never wide enough (2nd) or long enough (3rd) for general use. If I want a lens that I feel equates to the human eye and is wide enough for general use, I’ll choose the 35mm lens. If I want further reach, I’ll grab the 85mm lens!

The 50mm is just a lens that sits in a spot that, for my usage, I feel just doesn’t fit most of the time. When I’m photographing multiple people and places, I generally will use 35mm . If I’m photographing models or family members, it’s the 85mm. If I’m in a place where I’ve not been before, 50mm is of no use because of these issues, and although of course it’s possible, a 35mm or 85mm make more sense. 

Of course, my favourite walk-about lens is the 40mm focal length (which I talk about here), but that, is a story for another day! 

Why do I own a 50mm lens of I dislike the focal length? 

Lenses are tools. For me in most situations, on my two cameras I’ll have a 35mm on one camera and an 85mm on the other camera. Sometimes though, there are times where the 35mm is too wide, or the 85mm is too long, and in these situations it’s easy to replace them with the 50mm.

Conclusion

The 50mm prime lens, or “nifty-fifty” as it’s often called, is an iconic lens and focal length. As much as I dislike using the focal length, I fully understand why it is an important lens to use in everyone’s photoshoot arsenal. 

Whether or not it is needed alongside a 40mm lens is another thing. For many, both these focal lengths are relatively close and similar, but give the 40mm a chance and you’ll see it’s a very different lens.

Let me know your thoughts on 50mm lenses, it’ll be great to hear what you think.