A ("normal") 50mm f1.4?? (Or f1.7, f1.8, f1.9, f2.0...)
I find a 50 ideal for those scenes that are "busy"; scenes that have a lot
in them (like city street scenes), where you might not want to use a WA lens
because the shot would then become cluttered.
IMO it's good for landscapes in that particular condensing way, but then
it's also excellent for expanded close-ups where you want close detail of a
subject (say, like a tree, or a store front, or a car,) but also want to get
the whole width of the subject in. And it does not distort perspective, like
the way many WA and telefoto lenses do.
Last Sunday I had to shoot quilted artwork on the walls of a church, as a
favor for a friend. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect lens than a
50/1.4 to do it!
It's also great for dim light scenes, both interior and exterior, where you
might want to keep the lighting soft and natural and not flattened out with
flash. (And nighttime street scenes are fantastic!)
It's not a telephoto and it's barely a WA, so it has neither's faults. A 50
is in between, and as such is extremely versatile. (And it can teach one a
great deal about composing.) So much so, that years ago many famous (and
non-famous) photographers thought nothing of going on a shoot with their SLR
equipped with ONLY a 50mm lens.
Also, with a good make 2x tele-converter, your 50/1.4 becomes a rather good
100/2.8. (And for not very much more money either.)
But, on the other hand, I must add that I myself like the 'prime' (means:
non-zoom)lenses for shorter ranges, and so intend to eventually also equip
myself with a 24mm or 28mm prime WA. (I already have a 2x TC, and a 50-175
tele zoom for the long end.)
And you yourself might not like to go this way; it's eventually a more
expensive system, and not one always as easy to use as, say, a 28-80mm zoom,
where you can get a lot of different focal lengths in play very quickly.
Just bear in mind that the zooms (generally speaking) are usually not quite
as sharp as the primes, and most do not come in versions faster than f3.5
unless you want to spend good $$ here also.
(And many of the now 'standard' size zooms, (in the 28-70 or 28-80
category,) have terrible ratings. Especially the Pentax's, sorry to say...)
But there are good 3rd party standard range zooms available too. Just check
the ratings before you buy...
I'm not trying to convince you of anything here. You have to figure out
yourself which way you want to go in photography. But IMO a good 50mm is a
good way to begin. (And keep in mind that if you ever do buy a lens you
don't like, in today's camera market (especially on e-bay) you can usually
get most of your money back on the re-sale of a good lens.)
Hope this helps...
Skip
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelvin Ang" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 6:28 PM
Subject: What do you shoot with 50mm? (was: FA 50mm f/1.4)
> Hello Skip,
>
> What do you usually use a 50mm for? It seems too long
> for a nice landscape and too short for a portrait. I
> would love to get the lens (been rated too well to
> ignore it) but I really don't know how useful it can
> be. It would be nice if other readers could contribute
> what they would use a 50mm for, too.
>
> Kelvin
>
> --- dosk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Yes. Although the DOF, [the part of the picture
> > available just in front of,
> > or just behind, the focused upon subject] is greatly
> > limited as far as what
> > one can include in a close-up f1.4 shot.
> > But this is true with every fast, wide open lens...
> > And at least the FA 50/1.4 focuses sharp as a tack
> > [at every aperture, tho
> > some better than others, naturally] on whatever
> > subject matter is included.
> > And can do so w/o flash, and in very dim light!
> > I have it, and it always goes wherever my SLR
> > goes...
> > A must for outdoor night scenes, and interiors in
> > available light!
> > A fantastic lens!
> > Skip
>
>
>
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