07 January 2012

Why I Love My New 50mm Fixed Lens

A few months ago I read this post on Brandi's blog about the new lens she'd received for her birthday.  It was a 50mm f/1.8 fixed lens, and it seemed to produce a rather lovely shallow depth of field.  I'm a sucker for shallow depth of field photos - where one point is picked out in crystal clear focus and everything else fades into a delightful blur - so the lens duly went on my Xmas wish list, and my awesome Mum duly went out and got it for me.  And I am so very happy that she did.

The low aperture is responsible for the super depth of field, but it also means that the lens sucks in all the available light it can.  This means even in low light conditions you can have a fast shutter speed, which makes it great for candid portrait shots as you don't have to get your subject to pose.  The blurry background also leads to happy bokeh accidents, as I'm just starting to discover.


If you want to read more about why the 50mm fixed lens is ace (and how it will make you a better photographer) this article is a good place to start.

10 comments:

  1. oh i love it! such pretty pictures :) i never have gotten around to getting a new lens for my aunt's old manual minolta. i still love the quality of images if takes. i still love film.

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  2. I love our 50mm fixed lens, shallow depth of field is my favourite too. Your photos are gorgeous!

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  3. Beautiful photos! I love this little review as I've been shopping around for a new lens or two. I'll have to add this to my list of considerations! Thanks for that! :)

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  4. Beautiful! I think you have many a happy photo days to come.
    I love a shallow depth of field too.

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  5. I love the second one, the grass? almost looks like it is floating! Beautiful.

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  6. I totally adore my 50mm lens too! For all the same reasons. If it's the Canon lens, be aware that it can seize up easily if banged/dropped. I've lost 2 that way (accidental knocks), but luckily, both have been within the 1 year warranty and have been replaced by Canon :) Enjoy - looks like you are already! Gorgeous pics.

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  7. Awesome pictures. I was looking at DSLRs at the store this evening. Saving my pennies. I will also need to take a class when I get one. I want to take full advantage of everything that it can do:)

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  8. Gorgeous pics! The shallow depth-of-field is one of my utter faves as well. I have an 18-200mm zoom lens and can achieve similar effects, but yours are perhaps even more crystalline clear on the focus point, so I shall look into the lens you recommend. Thanks for the tip & a very happy new year to you, Em!

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  9. Moms are great, aren't they? They always give the best presents. I'm seriously in love with this lens, and the more I use it, the more I love it! How about you?

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Your comments make me happier than you could possibly imagine. Really! Thank you.