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04-20-2014, 12:09 PM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lauke_101 Quote
I use 50 (FA 1.4) on aps-c so much that it's FOV is burnt into my eyes, I can guess my framing quite accurately without looking through the viewfinder. Having recently bought the DA 40, I can imagine that 50 takes some getting used to. A bit wider makes taking quick snaps easier. But for me, the 50 did miracles in cleaning up my composition, as it doesn't allow a whole lot of stuff in the frame.

Aside from that, being able to make tack sharp images from f/2 and upwards is quite nice.
Yup!

I always end up adapting to whatever lens/camera I'm using. On APS-C, my nicest lens starting out was an SMC-M 50mm f/1.7, and shot exclusively with that for a couple months.

With 645, the 75mm lens I had wen I first started was the only one, and about 45mm in 35mm terms, but that, along with the framing, is burnt into my brain, as well as the frame size on that.

I do mostly landscape these days, and I actually really like the 50mm for that. I think wide angles are overrated for landscape, though, anyway. So, things work well for me.

04-20-2014, 12:12 PM   #17
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I use 50/1.4 a lot. And love it. One of most used. But I also use 10-20mm zoom, and 17-50mm/2.8, and, of course 35mm. Did I mention tele?

One photo with my Sigma 50mm/1.4, at f4.

PS. No PP, just resize.

Last edited by JimmyDranox; 04-17-2017 at 10:27 PM.
04-20-2014, 12:14 PM   #18
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@RKKS08... Yep. I'll have to check into a couple of your off the beaten path suggestions.

@fretlessdavis... Good observation on the 50mm for landscapes.

@Several folks contributing... A. If you find the 50-55mm too short, take a few steps forward. B. If you find the 50-55mm too long, stop trying to force it into being a "normal" lens. It's not. I will concede the point to any well-considered, well tested opinion that "Its FOV is just not how I see." You makes your choices, you take the bows or the tomato projectiles.

@To whom it may concern... Note JimmyDranox above. Note how a moderate (probably near-optimum) aperture on a moderately longer than normal focal length can trump the normal 35mm FL, opened up, for pleasing, natural, photographic (not internet fetish driven) bokeh on the APS-C format. Another reason that, used properly, in context, the 50 is not too long. For the same reason, the highly popular 45mm/1.8 (90mm FF-equivalent) Olympus, stopped down just a bit, is often (usually?) a more straightforward, more efficient, more reliable choice for achieving a nice, natural looking bokeh effect on m4/3 than a shorter FL. You could get niggly about perspective in the latter case, I suppose; but that's just something that goes with the territory. Again, the 50 can be as cheap as you want, so why throw it overboard? And again, it's not an all purpose normal. Real photographers know how to use their tools.

Last edited by Kayaker-J; 04-20-2014 at 01:10 PM.
04-20-2014, 12:42 PM   #19
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I do. It is a great focal length for portraits on APS-C and also for floral photos.


Steve

04-20-2014, 02:00 PM   #20
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I too enjoy 50mm on APS-C. In fact I very often use one of my many 50-55-58 as my go-to lens. I have not been using them that much these last few months, but the main reason happens to be a DA70 ltd. :-)

On the contrary, as you can find in the "single in" challenge archive, I have never been able to enjoy 28mm, even though I tried. 35mm is better, mostly because my Takumar 35 f/3.5 is a stellar performer.
04-20-2014, 04:01 PM   #21
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This is why the only Fifties I have are manual lenses that I use for low light or for "artsy bokeh" type shots. On crop sensor, 50mm is not "normal" or "everything" lens. The main advantages of 50mm lenses are that traditionally, they are cheap, bright, and have good IQ. So I would keep one on hand, but I don't use it much. I wouldn't invest a lot in a 50mm lens, unless I had a specific project that needed it.
I find the DA 40mm to have a much more crop-friendly FoV, even though its only f2.8. But its still not quite an "everything" lens.

But doesn't the Sigma make various Foveon cameras with different lenses? And besides, by buying a foveon sensor camera, you are already making many sacrifices (battery life, write speed, file size and format).. why not one more on focal length?

Last edited by Na Horuk; 04-20-2014 at 04:07 PM.
04-20-2014, 04:35 PM   #22
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One distinction I've noticed a number of correspondents haven't made too clear concerns separating the primarily midrange zoom users from, say, the characteristically wide zoom + primes users, as an example. You'd expect some very different perspectives on the usefulness of the 50-55 prime from these two groups. I wonder if poor Yusuf is thoroughly confused yet? Well, at least a 50mm is cheap to try if one's acute cash flow situation can accommodate the experiment. 😀

04-20-2014, 04:49 PM   #23
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I've been working on using just a prime as I go for walks. I don't have a 28mm that I like. I have the DA 35 f2.4, and I do very much like that lens and the perspective it provides. It is indeed a 'natural' FOV for me. It's also been a very good indoor, lowlight, and street lens for me.
I have the DA 50 f1.8. Very nice lens, but I find it harder to get shots I want. I think, however, that it is a matter of 'seeing' the world w/ that FOV. The lens is nice, so I'm still working at it.
When I more in tourist mode, I use the DA 18-135, and I find that I'm using 18mm most of the time.
04-20-2014, 06:03 PM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by yusuf Quote
I was recently planning to pickup Sigma dp3. However one of the reasons I dropped the idea was focal length 50mm.
On the DP3 matter... I was recently looking for one but scored a used DP2 for a great price so I went for that one. But hey, 50mm is reeeally useful lens. even better for stitching... And from what I´ve read, offers the best performance of all the DP series (followed by DP2 and then DP1 lenses). On an APS-C camera, It gives a Field of View equal (field relevant) to the mytical FA77 limited...
04-20-2014, 06:14 PM   #25
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I do. In fact I use both of my 50's. My 50 normal...F 1.4 and my 50 Macro ....F 2.8. Both Pentax and my 'normal' provides a really nice creamy look.
04-21-2014, 06:13 AM   #26
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I love 50mm (or 55mm) on APS-C. It's my standard focal lenght and what I use well over half the time. Back when I was shooting FF film, I aways found myself drawn to 80mm on my zoom, so 50mm or 55mm primes (of which there are tons of excellent, cheap ones) on APS-C is a natural fit for me.
04-21-2014, 06:40 AM   #27
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I love my DA *55. Feels like the perfect complement to the DA 15 limited. Funny when I go out shooting 16-50, I gravitate to both ends as well. 16mm or 50mm and not much in between. It is actually the 30 to 40mm lenses that feel neither here nor there to me and that I don't like so well.

04-21-2014, 08:31 AM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
The FA 35mm f2 has become my general purpose choice.
I habitually select f/5.6 as a starting aperture for most shots. I like the ability to capture more of my subject in sharp focus than with a wider aperture and I willingly sacrifice some background smoothness. In my bag I try to keep my most often used lenses mounted for each camera and carry whatever other speicalty lenses I think I'll need that outing.
  • K3
    • 1. FA35/2
    • 2. FA50/2.8 Macro (which I use as my 'normal')
  • K-01
    • 1. DA40/2.8 XS
    • 2. FA50/1.4
  • K10D
    • DA40/2.8 Ltd.
I almost always have one or the other 50's or a MF 50 in my walking bag and some other MF lenses, but my most used lens is the FA35/2.
04-22-2014, 02:53 AM   #29
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I use The F35-70 or the F35-105 a lot outdoors, but also the A50/1.7 especially in low light. So yes, I do use 50 on APS-C.
Byt lately I seem to go wider, hence the recent LBA got me the DA14. The classic (K- and M-series) are priced too high to justify them for me.

With wide you have the luxury of not thinking of the composotion that much, easy to crop afterwards.

Seb
04-22-2014, 07:19 AM   #30
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I do use the 50s but almost only outside. Also, I never go out with the 50 without the 35 or 28, which I end up using most of the time. I just find myself using the 50s less and less these days...
What I do love to do with them is to use them with an inverter ring for about 1:1 magnification. Just perfect for a lot of macro uses - especially the M 50 1.7 which just shows its incredible sharpness and rendering in this setting.
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