Guide to Nifty-Fifty: Why Should Use | Which Lens to Buy

If you are a photography enthusiast, you have probably heard about the "Nifty-Fifty" lens. Its popularity stems from its versatility, affordability, and exceptional image quality.

This blog will explore why you should consider using a Nifty-Fifty lens and recommend which lens to buy based on your needs and budget. Let's begin:

What Is a Nifty-Fifty Lens?

A Nifty-Fifty lens is a type of prime lens with a fixed focal length of 50mm and a wide aperture of f/1.8 or wider.

The term "Nifty-Fifty" is a colloquial name given to this lens because of its compact size, lightweight construction, and relatively low cost.

The wide aperture allows for a shallow depth of field and better low-light performance, making it a popular choice for both beginners and professionals.

Photo by Harold Mendoza on unsplash

Outstanding Advantages of a Nifty-Fifty Lens

1. Portable Light and Small Size

The Nifty-Fifty lens is small and portable, making it easy to carry around and use in various situations without adding too much weight or bulk to your camera gear.

It is an excellent choice for photographers who want to travel light or work in situations where carrying bulky gear is not practical.

Its lightweight nature makes it easier to hold steady, especially when moving quickly between shots. This ensures that photographers can capture the perfect shot without being weighed down by heavy equipment.

2. Budget-Friendly Price

The Nifty-Fifty is often significantly cheaper than other lenses with similar optical quality. This makes it an excellent option for photographers just starting or wanting to expand their lens collection without breaking the bank.

Photo by Fethi Bouhaouchine on unsplash

3. The Most Versatile Lens With Excellent Focal Length

The 50mm focal length produces a similar field of view to the human eye, making it an ideal choice for various photography genres, including portraits, street photography, landscapes, and more.

This versatility allows photographers to use the lens in various situations without switching lenses constantly, reducing the need for multiple lenses and simplifying the shooting process.

4. Shallow Depth of Field (Awesome Portrait Lens)

With a wide aperture of f/1.8 or wider, the lens can produce a very narrow plane of focus. This effect is especially noticeable when shooting portraits, as it can help to isolate your subject from the background and create a beautiful, creamy bokeh.

Photo by Fethi Bouhaouchine unsplash 

5. Fast Aperture for Low Light Performance

The Nifty-Fifty lens is known for its fast aperture, which allows it to perform exceptionally well in low-light conditions. Its wide aperture lets the lens gather more light, making it an ideal choice for indoor, nighttime, or low-light photography.

6. Sharp Image Quality

With its high-quality optics and advanced coatings, the lens can minimize lens aberrations and distortions, producing crisp and clear images with excellent contrast and color accuracy.

What Can You Use a Nifty-Fifty Lens For?

1. Portrait

The Nifty-Fifty lens is a superb option for portrait photography because it produces a shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh effect, thanks to its wide aperture. Moreover, this lens can keep the subject's face focused while maintaining a soft and unobtrusive background, making it an ideal lens for portrait photography.

Photo by Jen We on unsplash

2. Landscape

The lens's 50mm focal length is wide enough to capture a broad view of the scenery, while its sharp image quality and excellent contrast can produce detailed and vibrant landscape images. Additionally, the lens's wide maximum aperture allows for faster shutter speeds, which can be useful for capturing dynamic landscapes with moving elements such as waterfalls or clouds.

3. Macro Photos

You can achieve macro-like results with this lens by detaching the lens from the camera and holding it in a reverse position against the camera body. This technique allows the lens to magnify the subject, producing extreme close-up shots with a shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh.

Photo by Scott Gummerson on unsplash

4. Action Photos

Its fast shutter speed is particularly useful for capturing fast-moving subjects in action photography, such as sports or wildlife. The lens's fast autofocus system can also help capture the subject accurately and quickly.

Top Nifty-Fifty Lenses to Choose

Best Nifty-Fifty Canon Lenses

1. Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Image credit: amazon.com

This is a versatile prime lens with a bright f/1.2 aperture and a focal length that excels in low-light conditions and shallow depth of field. Its optical design includes one UD and one aspherical element for greater clarity.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 15 Elements in 9 Groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Angle of View: 46°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.4m
• Maximum Magnification: 0.19x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 3.54 x 3.5 x 4.25 inches
• Weight: 950g

Pros

• Rounded 10-blade diaphragm for beautiful bokeh quality
• Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor for fast and silent autofocus
• Full-time manual focus override for added control

Cons

• Large and heavy build
• Expensive price point

2. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Image credit: amazon.com

This budget-friendly nifty-fifty lens is designed for Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras, offering good image quality and a compact and lightweight design.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 6 Elements in 5 Groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Angle of View: 46°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3m
• Maximum Magnification: 0.25x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches
• Weight: 160g

Pros

• Lightweight
• Affordable pricing

Cons

• Its plastic build isn't the best.

Best Nifty-Fifty Sony Lenses

1. Sony FE 50mm F1.2 G Master

Image credit: amazon.com

This portable, lightweight prime lens has a bright f/1.2 aperture and advanced optics. It has a sophisticated focusing system for stills and video and a durable physical design for working in harsh environments.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 14 Elements in 10 Groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Angle of View: 47°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.4m
• Maximum Magnification: 0.17x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 8.39 x 5 x 5.51 inches
• Weight: 778g

Pros

• Accurate autofocus
• Superb build quality

Cons

• It is bulky and heavy.

2. Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens

Image credit: amazon.com

This lens features an f/1.4 maximum aperture and advanced optics for sharp and clear image quality. It’s also durable and weather-resistant, making it suitable for use in various shooting conditions.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 12 Elements in 9 Groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Angle of View: 32°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45m
• Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 3.3 x 4.3 x 4.2 inches
• Weight: 778g

Pros

• Lightning-fast and accurate autofocus system
• High-quality build and design
• Excellent sharpness and image quality with impressive detail and color rendition.

Cons

• Autofocus is a little noisy.

Best Nifty-Fifty Nikon Lenses

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens

Image credit: amazon.com

This is a classic and essential normal-length prime lens with a bright maximum aperture and lightweight design, making it versatile for various subjects.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Angle of View: 47°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45m
• Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 2.09 x 2.83 x 2.83 inches
• Weight: 185g

Pros

• Affordable price point
• Silent operation for discreet shooting
• Multi-layer coating for reduced glare and improved image quality
• Quick and seamless switching between automatic and manual focus using the lens focusing ring.

Cons

• Fixed focal length lens, which is not zoomable
• Lacks image stabilization technology

Best Third Party Nifty-Fifty Lenses

1. Sigma 50MM F/1.4 Dg Hsm | Art

Image credit: amazon.com

This is a high-performance prime lens with advanced optics, including three Special Low Dispersion glass elements and one molded glass aspherical element, which minimize aberrations and ensure sharp and clear images.

Specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Lens Construction: 13 elements in 8 groups
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Angle of View: 46.8°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.4m
• Maximum Magnification: 5.6x
• Autofocus: Yes
• Dimensions: 3.94 x 3.35 x 3.35 inches
• Weight: 815g

Pros

• Hypersonic AF motor for fast and precise autofocus performance.
• Exceptional image quality.
• Incredible focal point sharpness

Cons

• Larger than other lenses

Conclusion

So there you have it, our guide to the nifty-fifty lens. We hope this has helped you understand why this lens is a must-have in your kit and which one to choose based on your needs and budget. So go ahead and give it a try, and we're sure you won't be disappointed with the results.

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