It has been some time since I wrote on photography. Not for that sake though, here’s a list of reasons I bought a fixed focal length lens, also called prime lens, also called the Nifty Fifty:
Small and Lightweight
This lens is right for everyday use; you can carry it everywhere. It is hardly around 140 grams; probably as light as my cell phone. In fact, you can put it on your camera and forget it. That’s now become one of my favorite lenses.
Versatile
I read a lot of reviews before I purchased the lens. But, after using it for some time, I realize how I missed buying it for all this while. It takes portraits and landscapes alike. In fact, I’ve tried a few macro photos as well. And the result has been satisfactory.
Just the right field of view
I know this one’s subjective. But, if you are more into portraits, this one gives you just the right bracket of focal length. While the focal length stays at 50mm on a full-frame (Yes, the same lens works on a full-frame, at least the one I bought – Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM), the focal length changes to [roughly] 78mm on an APS-C camera. I find the focal length just right for me, for it lets in just enough view for me to capture.
Fast: Good for Night Photography
It is a wide aperture lens. So, wide open at f/1.8, it can take a picture even in low-light conditions. That makes it a go-to lens for me. I can use it for presentations, portraits, landscapes, and street photography. That brings me to my next point.
Sleek: Good for Street Photography
Some of us are camera shy, let us just accept that. Even further, in some cases, for example, traveling, you would wish to capture the day-routines of people around you, without disturbing either the routine or the people. This lens makes it possible for you to do that. Of course, provided you have the required subject in focus.
Price
This is, by far, one of the cheapest of non-kit lenses available in the market. I remember, Canon used to have the older 50mm f/1.8 II, which was expensive, and the first generation 50mm f/1.8, which used to have a plastic mount. This one has a sturdy built, comes with a metal mount, and has auto-focus with a stepped-motor construction for smooth and easy focus, and I bought it for less than 8,000 INR in 2017.
In the featured image you can see how I could get a really shallow is the depth of field with this lens.
So, what are your reasons to buy a Nifty Fifty?
The Wordsmith 