@@johndillman8231 ive never been anti commercial, i just like what i like. I like skillshare, i get several offers for sponsorships every day. Even my liking of canon older cameras still benefits the companies like MPB who also sponsor youtubers as well. I honestly dont see how this is at odds with anything else that I do. I really dont have never believed in no one should make money and all business is bad. I also have nothing against mirrorless and own some too, have done since about 2015. Hope that helps John!
50mm is one of my favourite lengths. Even after 50 years of shooting, I often go out with just a single, fast 50mm lens. It makes one slow down, think about composition and move around. Always refreshing. Thanks for this great video.
I agree 100% - I used to take Canon DSLR's out with Nikon & Pentax lenses from the 1950's - 1970's, all fast prime. Slowing down and thinking about the shot as I was learning gave such impressive results even if the shots were not perfect (manual focus lens force you to do this). My favorite was the 50mm Pentax Super Takumar f/1.2. I no longer can use that lens though as I found out how radioactive it was eventually :( (I bought a Geiger counter and yeah it blew up and is not safe around SLR sensors it will fry them eventually ugh). Fast primes like these are affordable and make you think seriously about composition.
The radiation they give off is stopped by skin even, so the shutter and mirror would prevent damage. I wouldn't do astro long exposures or leave it on a mirrorless for sure. It's not dangerous to use and the Swiss estimated that a professional photographer would get the radiation dose over a year from the lens equal to one round trip flight to America, or so.@@davey3765
When I got my Z mount Nikkor 50 I forced myself to use it more than the 24-70 zoom everyone uses. It's because I grew up with 50mm and needed to reconnect, so the experience has been a really good refresher over the past year. Your explanation is really good, so will pass the link to a lot of the people who attend our photo walks, the ones who ask "How did you get that" when seeing my work, and I cannot explain the process as well as you. I think a lot of younger people have only seen the wide angle shots from mobiles, so are surprised when they see something different!
It is so informative to have not only the technical hints but also the thought processes and compositional exercises to help become a more informed and creative observer. Thank you.
Both this and your 85mm video were quite thought provoking for me. I’d certainly love to see you extend this concept into a larger series if you have thoughts on other key focal lengths
I struggle with 50mm so these tips are all so useful. That idea of shooting something ordinary is something I’ve actually been doing myself recently but you pushed it further than I have. Thanks, Martin.
I struggle as well, but now I got a new vision. For the most part I carry my 35mm on a full frame camera and to get some 50mm shoots I use crop mode, however, that makes me feel like all is jamned into small space and I crave more. Maybe the fact that I got my wings by shooting on a 126mm film camera shaped my eye to see a more inclusive picture frame. I confess to walking back every time I switch to 50mm.
Seems like it was only 30 years ago (it was) that I was working at a teen summer camp and showing campers how versatile the 50mm was/is. We had photography available as an extra activity some evenings and were able to let the campers shoot with a K1000 with a 50mm lens. I had some photos that I took beforehand to show them what was possible. Too often people feel limited by the little 50mm, but it can do a lot.
Great video as always! I’ve been watching your content since quite some time and it’s amazing to see your evolution. You are a great teacher, absolutely no “bs” or fake in your way of presenting and it feels like you are a friend as opposed to these so called masters of photography that you see online, but I do think you are a master portrait photographer. Love the new setup you have (mic/background). Keep pushing content, never give up. I know your channel will grow to a point you would have never guessed, it’s only a matter of time. There’s nothing fake about you and that will take you very far. Btw, I now own a Canon 5D and a 6D because of you and now on the hunt for a Nikon D700 in good shape 😅
Im going to save this comment, that really means a lot, if you could see how hard all this is youd cry for me haha. Im really enjoying it as well though. I just want to let you know i appreciate this comment so much, it really means a lot.
I came aross your channel about a week ago, your presentation and information is fantastic. I often watch beginner videos as I feel it's always good to refresh the fundamentals and get another view. Your 85mm was a gamechanger and so was this, thankyou 🤟
The eye-level tip is gold. I'm a 6'6" Londoner and I live in China, shooting people who are not 6'6". This really helps. I'm off to Vietnam next week for a holiday/shooting trip, and I'm going to only take my 5D1 and thrifty Fifty. Thanks Martin, cheers
I like a 50mm lens . In my 60s now . Way back in the day most film cameras came with a 50mm in the box . So my photography grew using the 50mm along with my 135 f2.8 . Oh yes and m42 screw mount lenses . Praktika Pentax and Zenit . I got some great results with them . Making the best of what I had . How times have changed in a few short decades .
I really appreciate this video, I've been taking exclusively my 50 for shoots and trying to get better at composing with it, very timely advice. Always appreciate your insight on composition, gives me a lot to think about
50mm and 85mm are my comfort zones. For practically everything, not just portrait. It's not about bokeh, but tighter framing. When I'm composing, I try to avoid unwanted elements. With 50mm or longer, that's more easily achiveable. Which, I think, is a bit difficult with wide angle lenses.
Very well explained - the advantages of the 50mm lens! There are good reasons why the brilliant street photographer Cartier-Bresson chose the 50mm Summicron as his standard lens and only occasionally used the 35mm and 90mm. Many people think that 50mm is boring, but as you rightly explained: it forces you to move, to view the subject from different angles, to vary the distance and thus the perspective, and to consciously focus on composition. In street photography, a small, lightweight 50mm lens also makes you less conspicuous than a zoom lens. Additionally, it has a wider aperture, and you’re faster because you don’t have to decide on the right focal length. However, in nature and landscape photography, I wouldn’t want to do without a wide-angle and a telephoto lens - they simply offer far more possibilities than the 50mm, although, of course, you can still take masterful nature and landscape shots with it.
I grew up with a 50, so it feels wonderfully natural for me but I do understand why people might struggle with it - especially if you're coming from super-wide angles on a phone, I imagine it could feel quite restrictive.
Great tips. Another example of how to document subjects in surroundings is to shoot art hanging on a wall. You'll consider both lighting and various placements in the frame.
I’m pretty much totally blind in my left eye, so I had a lot of frustration with phone cameras especially capturing a much wider angle than what I could see, or what I was aiming for. When I look through a 50mm lens, however, the composition is pretty much exactly what I see in the real world. I find I’m much happier shooting with a 50mm lens than anything else. Having said that, there are some awesome tips in here that I’ll definitely be using. Funnily enough, at 5’3” I end up shooting at most people’s eye level anyway!
I'm more of a 35mm guy, but I found these tips useful. The ideal "normal" focal length for full-frame is 42.5mm. 50mm and 35mm bracket 42.5mm exactly, which is why they are so popular. I've got a nice 50mm f/1.4 that I ought to use more. Your video makes me want to dust it off and take it out. Thanks.
I'm gobsmacked, I think that's the technical term. This video deserves to be mounted in a 12 x 24 foot gold-plated frame in a museum room where there was formerly a less deserving Rembrandt. I'm joshing, but not really. Oh my, so much golden instruction. Thank you. You've explained why the portrait that I liked best in 60 years of photography was taken with a humble Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Why did I follow the urge to be more flexible; I love the 24-105 but am so inspired by your photos that I may blow the budget, again, for a Canon EF 50/1.2.
Hahaha thank you so much and I nearly didn’t post this as I wasn’t sure it was good enough. The 50 1.2 is wonderful. It’s not a sharp lens at all but when the light is right it is magical
Fantastic teaching points as always. It's difficult to articulate, but the difference between generic theoretical advice (all over TH-cam) and practical "I've done this a lot and figured out how to teach it" advice is substantial, and you do the latter. As a question for you: Do you ever find that in taking non-model portraits, people are offput by how they look at 85mm? It's usually much further away than the mirror-view people are used to. It struck me the other day when I had a rare portrait taken at 85mm and I recall thinking "My face looks wider than I remember". I wonder if a very mild amount of distortion would be considered flattering to the infrequently-photographed.
Martin, that video is exactly what I need. Many years ago I had only two lenses for my film camera: 50mm and 135mm. Now i feel that i am using zom lenses too much - which is probably a good thing for landscape and cityscape, but not for portraits. Will try to implement your tips with 50mm lens
Thank you for this one Martin. 50mm has always been auch an awkward focal length for me.. For just the reasons you mentuined at the beginning of the video. Your tips and suggestions are valuable and I'm excited to dig out a couple od the ole' primes.. Thanks again!
Super talk! Thank you. Sometimes I wonder if 'normal' is a misnomer for the 50mm. To me it's a narrow wide-angle lens . Normal, as in magnification compared to our eyes, is around 60-65mm. And we can verify this by looking through a standard zoom lens whilst keeping the free eye open, watching the two images merge at around that distance as we zoom in from wide to long. That is recognised by Sinar when they supply a 210mm as standard to their 4x5 F2 kit, a 63mm equivalent in the 135 format, although the coverage of such a lens is much wider. So I guess the 50 was chosen for it's versatility. Supplying a 65mm as a normal lens would be too limiting.
Thank you Martin, this is an excellent tutorial for finessing my skill set with a 50mm. My natural vision sees at 28mm with 35mm being my sweet spot. 50mm has taken me sometime to navigate. I appreciate this video because you stressed "subject and one or two" contextual elements for meaning and balance to the frame. 👍🏽
Each of Your videos is like a good lesson in primary school. In simple words you are describe very important and very deep concepts. Waiting for a new video and may be the stream with bated breath. Thank You
I forget the name, but a famous photojournalist said the only two lenses you need are a 17-40 and a 50mm. That's all I used for years, but my 70-200 is coming in handy, but I'm covering more action. But my favorite shots of people are with my Sigma Art 50mm 1.4. The 24-70mm 2,8 is amazing, but the 50 just gives the image a certain look, even at 3.5.
It depends much in the style. I recall Sam Abell said he only needed a 28mm and a 90 mm lens. Personally it seems I prefer 24 mm and 200 mm, I like landscapes so I like the lines of perspective to fly outwards or to isolate elements like isometric drawings.
This is a very useful video! Thanks! I'd love to see a similar video on the 35mm too.
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I agree with you. I'm kind of a 50mm zealot, actually. I own (and have owned) many 50mm lenses and I feel quite confortable with them, to the extreme that I find 35mm way too wide or 85mm too tight (but, of course, every focal length makes sense when it does). Moreover, I think that carrying a single prime lens (usually a 50mm one, in my case) forces you to think much more carefully about what you're capturing and it makes you a better photographer. It's an exercise that I always recommend to those who are beginning to take pictures. Anyway, your work is fantastic and I've just suscribed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and regards from Spain.
My 50mm is easily my favorite lens; when I'm going out with only one lens, the 50mm is almost always what I go with. When I first started out as a college art student, the 50mm was the only lens I had for my F5, forcing me to be creative and to learn to use it in a lot of different ways; I think that's why I still choose it -- it's what I'm comfortable with and what I know works for me.
Martin your no bull approach to explaining things is really appreciated and makes sense to me, you have earned yourself another subscriber. I have not even finished watching and wated to leave a commnet. The tips are spot on! I wonder why do we require that subtle framing for our eyes to appreciate the scene more? Is it because of all the paintings/photos on walls we are looking at from early age? Is it because we look for a structure inside the already square photo, or is it something else? I see that the 50 is perfect for that in-between-35mm-and-85mm-look, perhaps travel photography with that slightly more expensive lens look (i.e. shallower dof, while 35mm is getting chased down by the mobile phones nowadays)
I started my photography journey with the nifty fifty. After many years I went to the 40mm though, just for a slight change, as I don't like the 35mm. Very good video btw!
Informative video! I’ve never really knew how to use a 50mm. I do a lot of street and I find it too narrow to tell the stories I want to in candid images on the fly. For headshots I use an 85. For general purpose studio I use a constant aperture zoom. I’ll play more with my 50mm now after this vid. Rotate instead of moving back - great insight.
Those weaknesses you mention at the beginning are to me its strengths. The 50 gives a hint of the environment but doesn’t push it into the viewer’s face. It retains intimacy with the subject. The 85 with shallow depth of field sometimes you don’t even know where the subject is. I find it even more versatile for video where it so often seems to be the correct focal length.
Immediate environment context (50mm) vs bringing in the background larger of what otherwise would be further away (85mm), but standing more back to do that, are two different ways to go indeed. On the other hand 50mm definitely retains the intimacy with the subject, especially having to take it at your subjects eye level as seen in the indoor shot here so well. Sure enough 85mm has that wide open narrow DOF effect more than 50mm, so you need to close the aperture a little in such cases and video better at the more dynamic 50mm than 85mm, but videography is very documentary in nature.
HAHA! It's as if you plucked your opening statement directly from my mind. I'm one of those people who started with a 50 on the recommendation of many, and ended up not really liking it all that much. As you stated, it almost never feels narrow enough, and never wide enough for most of what I do. I'm more inclined to recommend a 35 than a 50 myself, as I just find it to be more versatile and suited to a wider variety of situations. This video hasn't changed my mind, but you have convinced me to give it another go.
Great video! Definitely going to try some of these techniques. I really can’t do anything with a 50. Like you said, it’s not long and it’s not wide and I struggle with that. I do have a number of very nice 50’s (like a Sigma Art and a vintage Nikon F1.2 ai), so I would love to be able to get great results out of them.
I really like your videos. So much great information. I really dislike your videos because I have to watch them 2-3 times to get all the info out because I find your voice so soothing that I keep falling asleep.😂 *Spelling
One of my favourite lenses is the Pentax 55mm 1.8 (m42). It is like all lenses. When you get it right, you feel it. I am an avid 35mm shooter, however, for portraits, the 50-75mm are just magical. You can be close enough to your subject for that connection and far enough to give space that is needed for that energy to spark. Again, it is always subjective to each photographer and scenario. But, when you get that 50mm right … hence why they call it the standard. Cheers ❤
Martin - I enjoyed this video. I think it is thought provoking but more importantly very on point. I shoot with any number of focal lengths from 20mm to 200mm for various work that I do, but it portrait, fashion, or even event work. I have found that for a long time I would 'shy away' from the 50mm feeling that it was too 'plain' - preferring 35mm or longer lengths like 85mm or 105mm and there is no doubt that all of these have a look. That said, recently I have re-discovered the 50mm focal length and have come to see that it is an extremely versatile focal length that is often not used in a way that plays to its strengths. I think this video exposes this truth well and gives concrete suggestions on how to come to love this classic focal length again. Well done! -PD
My photography has flourished through the use of a 50mm lens, not knowing all you just said, so I think I will put these things to use and try them out and push myself some more with one camera one lens to get some more creativity out of myself.
Take a wide angle lens and do whatever you have to do to achieve a 1 to 2 image size on your sensor. Note the depth of field at whatever aperture you normally Shoot at. Now take your normal lens and do the same thing to achieve that 1 to 2 image size on the sensor. Note the depth of field. What did you have to do to get the same size on the sensor? The distance had to change. What are the three things which control DOF? Distance, aperture and focal length but do they really? When different focal lengths are manipulated by distance to achieve the same size images on the sensor, these rules go sideways.
@crawford323 If I understand correctly I'll agree and disagree. I can get close to the same shots.With both my minolta beer can as well as my 50mm. However, if I were to take a picture of a tiny spider, the fifty millimeter is way better for me Because I can quickly acquire what I am focusing and looking at while The larger lens is an absolute nightmare to focus on a small target like that.
You are right, I hate the 50mm focal, it`s neither wide enough or tight enough... not good for shooting groups of people or portraits... I have my Canon EF 50mm f1.2 for sale and I bought a 35mm f1.8 and I am so happy... For portraits though I love my new 70-200 f2.8
I love 35mm, too. I have an f/1.4, for low light situations, AND an f/1.8, for general walk-around use. My go-to for (non-environmental) portraits is an 85mm f/1.8. If you can't get enough bokeh out of an 85mm f/1.8, you're doing it wrong. 🤣
I learned to use a 50 while on the fire department and shooting "scene" pictures. They had to be 50mm to get the 1:1 ratio to be admissable as evidence. Talk about shooting a "dark" subject. I learned to see things through the lens that I never would have seen without it.
I got to grips with 50mm because my first real SLR-an old thread mount Pentax I found at a yard sale for $15-had only this lens and I couldn't afford different ones, being a teenager at the time. I still have that camera.
I sold my Fifty and bought the Sigma 65/2 - that fits better to me. Light weight primes I am using currently: Viltrox 20/2.8 Sony 35/1.8 Sigma 65/2 and Samyang 100/T2.2
Excellent video as usual Martin. I always thought of 35mm as PJ lens because it includes the background whereas the fifty is more about the person so I always carried my 35 and my 85 lenses but left the fifty at home. I found it either too long or not wide enough. But last year I bought some older vintage 50’s and started using them again. I used to shoot weddings but now I’m transitioning to still life and product photography so it will be well used for it’s normal perspective. Thanks for sharing your insights. Regards, Gerry.
I really love the 50mm focal length, for portraits or walk around/creative types of images. I love the look that it creates. If not 50mm, then 40mm, and that's it for me!
ALSO LOVING THE 50MM LENS! It does take a little creativity in composition, but once you master it, it will make you a better photographer and encourage you to stay away from the zoom kit lenses! Thanks for the video...
What a great vid! I started wirh 50mm when I was young, thinking of bad luck, because I only could afford one lens. But I took some interesting pics then. Decades later, there was my first digital cam with a little zoom lens. After i bought the telephotolense, i was so keen of, I -again- got a 50mm. And, guess what became my always Carried along-lense! You make so fine videos, thank you
Hi! Please explain "I get on eye level" around the 4:20 mark. It seems the lens is at nose level or below ... or is that how you cropped the portraits? Thank you for the content.
yeah about there, eye, nose whatever, its like 1-2 inch difference dont worry just be around there.im not that precise with it, more just trying to be at that rough height.
I started photography wit ha 50mm and trained my eye to work within it. On a full frame it can be a very capable street lens. And with a fast version of that prime cant be a fearsome companion. The advice about walking backwards - limit yourself to a step or two no more when taking shots of people.
@@NormanZealandMalana Yes, it's a brilliant workhorse of a lens. Just like the 70-200 type of zooms are. But, honestly, they are all "not wide enough and not long enough", because the perfect lens doesn't exist 🙂 And I can say that zoom are not for me. Because they are lacking the oomph. Zooms always have their sweet spots and their weak spots. And I always gravitate towards the sweet spots, away from the weak spots to get nicer pictures. So, I end up using zooms like primes, while dragging along all the unnecessary and expensive extra weight. Why pay more and have less, if I can pay less for more. Zooms make sense when shooting for a client and when getting that shot is more important than getting the best version of that shot. For me it's like zooms for work, primes for pleasure. My little 50/1.8 is pure gold in terms of oomph/$€£.
@@0ecka Yes. There is no perfect solution. In many jobs, versatility and speed are what get the shots. Primes are great, but they lack versatility. In busy events, where subject range can change a lot, they can feel very limiting.
If you shoot a scene on 35mm with a 50mm lens and print on 8 x 10 paper, and then hold an empty 8 x 10 frame at 16" viewing distance in front of the scene, it will duplicate the print held at that same distance. By geometry, for same perspective: (lens focal length)/(object size on film) = (viewing distance of final image)/(object size on final image).
I love the 50mm focal length. It is fantastic for portrait shots. The background is not an issue with me in having the elements in the background. I'm not crazy about of the 35mm length for portraits due to capturing more of the background versus capturing more of the person.
Ironically, the 50mm is my favourite focal length, but on APS-C sensor. So in actuality a 75mm equivalent. It's not really ideal in every situation, but you can make it work! Both on street, and portrait. That being said, I rarely use my actual 50mm equivalent on APS-C. As I'd rather grab my 35mm or 75mm (equivalent) instead!
50mm is my tokuiwaza: preferred technique. There is a reason they were the standard lens for so long. Yes, they were simple to build, but if it sucked, another close range would be used (45mm, 58mm). In my experience walking around shooting, it’s the most versatile. 35 is often too wide; you just can’t get closer. 58mm is too tight; you just can’t take a big enough step back. Being close to natural vision, with a little less practice than other focal lengths, is just easier to “see” in 50mm.
I shot with the MC Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 for over 10 years. One of the greatest lenses ever made. It was stolen and I have bought another to use as a portrait lens (87mm equiv) + adapter on my Sony ASP-C and it is as fantastic as it always was. If there has ever been a better 50mm lens, I would love to know. MC Rokkor also made a 58mm f/1.2 which can be had for less than $300 if you search.
50mm is natural, feels like you could've been there, it doesn't have the wow factor of warping reality away from how we see, but it beings a subtlety when used well. For portraits, especially close it brings more intimacy over the more typical distance you'd see someone but optically "cropped" to fill the frame up.
I have a quick question how much do you think the price of the a7 iv will drop after the a7 V comes out next year? im looking at the used market right now, so i was just wondering.
One of my best recent photos was with a 50mm purely by accident. I was doing night shots, and the 28-70mm f/2.8 I usually use was misbehaving, so in frustration I break out the 50mm f/1.8D that is usually just along for the ride. I get home to to check the results, and I'm like, "holy crap, I took *that*?" It's been one of my most popular images on reddit and elsewhere. Even the folks on /r/Nikon sorta like it. At least in comparison to other photos I've posted there.
Amazing video! Question. I use apsc. 23mm and 56 sigma. Is there a difference with ff equivalent 35 and 85. And what would you recomend to do with them?
You may see some difference in DOF, but field of view should match, pretty well. I would treat them like their FF equivalents. 85mm gives a nice perspective compression that pulls the background "closer" to the subject, which can be a nice effect.
The first 500 people to use my link skl.sh/martincastein09241 will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare premium!
@@johndillman8231 ive never been anti commercial, i just like what i like. I like skillshare, i get several offers for sponsorships every day. Even my liking of canon older cameras still benefits the companies like MPB who also sponsor youtubers as well. I honestly dont see how this is at odds with anything else that I do. I really dont have never believed in no one should make money and all business is bad. I also have nothing against mirrorless and own some too, have done since about 2015. Hope that helps John!
50mm is one of my favourite lengths. Even after 50 years of shooting, I often go out with just a single, fast 50mm lens. It makes one slow down, think about composition and move around. Always refreshing. Thanks for this great video.
50 years, one for each mm of focal length
We have a few years between us.. I started this hobby in 1977 with a 50mm f/1.8, and now 50mm f/1.2 :)
I agree 100% - I used to take Canon DSLR's out with Nikon & Pentax lenses from the 1950's - 1970's, all fast prime. Slowing down and thinking about the shot as I was learning gave such impressive results even if the shots were not perfect (manual focus lens force you to do this). My favorite was the 50mm Pentax Super Takumar f/1.2. I no longer can use that lens though as I found out how radioactive it was eventually :( (I bought a Geiger counter and yeah it blew up and is not safe around SLR sensors it will fry them eventually ugh). Fast primes like these are affordable and make you think seriously about composition.
I walk about with my 85, it's a wonderful constraint.
The radiation they give off is stopped by skin even, so the shutter and mirror would prevent damage. I wouldn't do astro long exposures or leave it on a mirrorless for sure. It's not dangerous to use and the Swiss estimated that a professional photographer would get the radiation dose over a year from the lens equal to one round trip flight to America, or so.@@davey3765
Love the 50mm.
If i go out with only 1 lens , its the 50.
If 2 lens , 35 & 85.
If 3 lens , 24 , 50 & 85.
When I got my Z mount Nikkor 50 I forced myself to use it more than the 24-70 zoom everyone uses. It's because I grew up with 50mm and needed to reconnect, so the experience has been a really good refresher over the past year. Your explanation is really good, so will pass the link to a lot of the people who attend our photo walks, the ones who ask "How did you get that" when seeing my work, and I cannot explain the process as well as you. I think a lot of younger people have only seen the wide angle shots from mobiles, so are surprised when they see something different!
It is so informative to have not only the technical hints but also the thought processes and compositional exercises to help become a more informed and creative observer. Thank you.
Thank you, it takes absoluetly ages to make videos like this so I am glad someone found it useful.
Agreed! This is really helpful for me
Both this and your 85mm video were quite thought provoking for me. I’d certainly love to see you extend this concept into a larger series if you have thoughts on other key focal lengths
"Try to find something boring, and make it interesting"... very good advice, loving your videos Martin, keep up the great work :)
Thanks, will do!
I struggle with 50mm so these tips are all so useful. That idea of shooting something ordinary is something I’ve actually been doing myself recently but you pushed it further than I have. Thanks, Martin.
I struggle as well, but now I got a new vision. For the most part I carry my 35mm on a full frame camera and to get some 50mm shoots I use crop mode, however, that makes me feel like all is jamned into small space and I crave more. Maybe the fact that I got my wings by shooting on a 126mm film camera shaped my eye to see a more inclusive picture frame. I confess to walking back every time I switch to 50mm.
Seems like it was only 30 years ago (it was) that I was working at a teen summer camp and showing campers how versatile the 50mm was/is. We had photography available as an extra activity some evenings and were able to let the campers shoot with a K1000 with a 50mm lens. I had some photos that I took beforehand to show them what was possible. Too often people feel limited by the little 50mm, but it can do a lot.
Great video as always! I’ve been watching your content since quite some time and it’s amazing to see your evolution. You are a great teacher, absolutely no “bs” or fake in your way of presenting and it feels like you are a friend as opposed to these so called masters of photography that you see online, but I do think you are a master portrait photographer. Love the new setup you have (mic/background). Keep pushing content, never give up. I know your channel will grow to a point you would have never guessed, it’s only a matter of time. There’s nothing fake about you and that will take you very far. Btw, I now own a Canon 5D and a 6D because of you and now on the hunt for a Nikon D700 in good shape 😅
Im going to save this comment, that really means a lot, if you could see how hard all this is youd cry for me haha. Im really enjoying it as well though. I just want to let you know i appreciate this comment so much, it really means a lot.
I came aross your channel about a week ago, your presentation and information is fantastic. I often watch beginner videos as I feel it's always good to refresh the fundamentals and get another view. Your 85mm was a gamechanger and so was this, thankyou 🤟
So pleased great to hear that and thank you!
The eye-level tip is gold. I'm a 6'6" Londoner and I live in China, shooting people who are not 6'6". This really helps. I'm off to Vietnam next week for a holiday/shooting trip, and I'm going to only take my 5D1 and thrifty Fifty. Thanks Martin, cheers
I am 5'7" and plan to photoshoot a beautiful model who is 5'10" with 50mm. A little bit of a challenge)
I like a 50mm lens .
In my 60s now . Way back in the day most film cameras came with a 50mm in the box .
So my photography grew using the 50mm along with my 135 f2.8 .
Oh yes and m42 screw mount lenses . Praktika Pentax and Zenit .
I got some great results with them .
Making the best of what I had . How times have changed in a few short decades .
I really appreciate this video, I've been taking exclusively my 50 for shoots and trying to get better at composing with it, very timely advice. Always appreciate your insight on composition, gives me a lot to think about
50mm and 85mm are my comfort zones. For practically everything, not just portrait. It's not about bokeh, but tighter framing. When I'm composing, I try to avoid unwanted elements. With 50mm or longer, that's more easily achiveable. Which, I think, is a bit difficult with wide angle lenses.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Very well explained - the advantages of the 50mm lens! There are good reasons why the brilliant street photographer Cartier-Bresson chose the 50mm Summicron as his standard lens and only occasionally used the 35mm and 90mm. Many people think that 50mm is boring, but as you rightly explained: it forces you to move, to view the subject from different angles, to vary the distance and thus the perspective, and to consciously focus on composition.
In street photography, a small, lightweight 50mm lens also makes you less conspicuous than a zoom lens. Additionally, it has a wider aperture, and you’re faster because you don’t have to decide on the right focal length.
However, in nature and landscape photography, I wouldn’t want to do without a wide-angle and a telephoto lens - they simply offer far more possibilities than the 50mm, although, of course, you can still take masterful nature and landscape shots with it.
Martin you are really finding your TH-cam niche with these videos. Great information, well presented. 👏
I grew up with a 50, so it feels wonderfully natural for me but I do understand why people might struggle with it - especially if you're coming from super-wide angles on a phone, I imagine it could feel quite restrictive.
Great tips. Another example of how to document subjects in surroundings is to shoot art hanging on a wall. You'll consider both lighting and various placements in the frame.
Love this series! Would like to hear your take on 35mm and 28mm!
I’m pretty much totally blind in my left eye, so I had a lot of frustration with phone cameras especially capturing a much wider angle than what I could see, or what I was aiming for. When I look through a 50mm lens, however, the composition is pretty much exactly what I see in the real world. I find I’m much happier shooting with a 50mm lens than anything else.
Having said that, there are some awesome tips in here that I’ll definitely be using. Funnily enough, at 5’3” I end up shooting at most people’s eye level anyway!
I have had good luck with my 50mm for sections of a forest floor. Thanks for these tips!
I'm more of a 35mm guy, but I found these tips useful. The ideal "normal" focal length for full-frame is 42.5mm. 50mm and 35mm bracket 42.5mm exactly, which is why they are so popular. I've got a nice 50mm f/1.4 that I ought to use more. Your video makes me want to dust it off and take it out. Thanks.
Thanks for these tips ! I never saw the Fifty like this before.
I'm gobsmacked, I think that's the technical term. This video deserves to be mounted in a 12 x 24 foot gold-plated frame in a museum room where there was formerly a less deserving Rembrandt. I'm joshing, but not really. Oh my, so much golden instruction. Thank you. You've explained why the portrait that I liked best in 60 years of photography was taken with a humble Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Why did I follow the urge to be more flexible; I love the 24-105 but am so inspired by your photos that I may blow the budget, again, for a Canon EF 50/1.2.
Hahaha thank you so much and I nearly didn’t post this as I wasn’t sure it was good enough. The 50 1.2 is wonderful. It’s not a sharp lens at all but when the light is right it is magical
Fantastic teaching points as always. It's difficult to articulate, but the difference between generic theoretical advice (all over TH-cam) and practical "I've done this a lot and figured out how to teach it" advice is substantial, and you do the latter.
As a question for you: Do you ever find that in taking non-model portraits, people are offput by how they look at 85mm? It's usually much further away than the mirror-view people are used to. It struck me the other day when I had a rare portrait taken at 85mm and I recall thinking "My face looks wider than I remember". I wonder if a very mild amount of distortion would be considered flattering to the infrequently-photographed.
Martin, that video is exactly what I need. Many years ago I had only two lenses for my film camera: 50mm and 135mm. Now i feel that i am using zom lenses too much - which is probably a good thing for landscape and cityscape, but not for portraits. Will try to implement your tips with 50mm lens
You are fantastic photographer and a brilliant educator. If I lived in the UK, it would be a treat to be your assistant and learn from you.
4:26 lol butter wouldn't melt. Great video! thanks for the tips Martin!
Fantastic exploration and explanation of the 50mm focal length. Subbed.
Thank you for this one Martin. 50mm has always been auch an awkward focal length for me.. For just the reasons you mentuined at the beginning of the video. Your tips and suggestions are valuable and I'm excited to dig out a couple od the ole' primes.. Thanks again!
Super talk! Thank you.
Sometimes I wonder if 'normal' is a misnomer for the 50mm.
To me it's a narrow wide-angle lens .
Normal, as in magnification compared to our eyes, is around 60-65mm.
And we can verify this by looking through a standard zoom lens whilst keeping the free eye open,
watching the two images merge at around that distance as we zoom in from wide to long.
That is recognised by Sinar when they supply a 210mm as standard to their 4x5 F2 kit,
a 63mm equivalent in the 135 format, although the coverage of such a lens is much wider.
So I guess the 50 was chosen for it's versatility. Supplying a 65mm as a normal lens
would be too limiting.
Thank you Martin, this is an excellent tutorial for finessing my skill set with a 50mm. My natural vision sees at 28mm with 35mm being my sweet spot. 50mm has taken me sometime to navigate. I appreciate this video because you stressed "subject and one or two" contextual elements for meaning and balance to the frame. 👍🏽
easily one of the best photography channels on youtube.
Wow thank you!
Each of Your videos is like a good lesson in primary school. In simple words you are describe very important and very deep concepts. Waiting for a new video and may be the stream with bated breath. Thank You
So nice of you
I forget the name, but a famous photojournalist said the only two lenses you need are a 17-40 and a 50mm. That's all I used for years, but my 70-200 is coming in handy, but I'm covering more action. But my favorite shots of people are with my Sigma Art 50mm 1.4. The 24-70mm 2,8 is amazing, but the 50 just gives the image a certain look, even at 3.5.
It depends much in the style. I recall Sam Abell said he only needed a 28mm and a 90 mm lens. Personally it seems I prefer 24 mm and 200 mm, I like landscapes so I like the lines of perspective to fly outwards or to isolate elements like isometric drawings.
This is a very useful video! Thanks! I'd love to see a similar video on the 35mm too.
I agree with you. I'm kind of a 50mm zealot, actually. I own (and have owned) many 50mm lenses and I feel quite confortable with them, to the extreme that I find 35mm way too wide or 85mm too tight (but, of course, every focal length makes sense when it does). Moreover, I think that carrying a single prime lens (usually a 50mm one, in my case) forces you to think much more carefully about what you're capturing and it makes you a better photographer. It's an exercise that I always recommend to those who are beginning to take pictures. Anyway, your work is fantastic and I've just suscribed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and regards from Spain.
My 50mm is easily my favorite lens; when I'm going out with only one lens, the 50mm is almost always what I go with. When I first started out as a college art student, the 50mm was the only lens I had for my F5, forcing me to be creative and to learn to use it in a lot of different ways; I think that's why I still choose it -- it's what I'm comfortable with and what I know works for me.
Love this serie by you 😍👏👏👏 Can you also do a "missunderstanding 35mm"? 😁 Greets from Germany 👋
thinking about it!
I second the motion.
Great video, excellent tutorial (and brilliant photos of yours!). Thanks 🙂
Martin your no bull approach to explaining things is really appreciated and makes sense to me, you have earned yourself another subscriber. I have not even finished watching and wated to leave a commnet. The tips are spot on! I wonder why do we require that subtle framing for our eyes to appreciate the scene more? Is it because of all the paintings/photos on walls we are looking at from early age? Is it because we look for a structure inside the already square photo, or is it something else? I see that the 50 is perfect for that in-between-35mm-and-85mm-look, perhaps travel photography with that slightly more expensive lens look (i.e. shallower dof, while 35mm is getting chased down by the mobile phones nowadays)
I started my photography journey with the nifty fifty. After many years I went to the 40mm though, just for a slight change, as I don't like the 35mm.
Very good video btw!
i dont care whatever lens or camera you use, your works are just mesmerizing. unlike most of youtube photographers out there
Thank you so much!
Informative video! I’ve never really knew how to use a 50mm. I do a lot of street and I find it too narrow to tell the stories I want to in candid images on the fly. For headshots I use an 85. For general purpose studio I use a constant aperture zoom. I’ll play more with my 50mm now after this vid. Rotate instead of moving back - great insight.
Exactly- a wall, a chair, surrounding leaves, a doorway... A small animal like a squirrel needs a longer lens but a human is big.
4:28 is that just feathered light from the side? Looks amazing.
I think that was window light on a studio backdrop if I remember correctly
Those weaknesses you mention at the beginning are to me its strengths. The 50 gives a hint of the environment but doesn’t push it into the viewer’s face. It retains intimacy with the subject. The 85 with shallow depth of field sometimes you don’t even know where the subject is. I find it even more versatile for video where it so often seems to be the correct focal length.
I agree
Immediate environment context (50mm) vs bringing in the background larger of what otherwise would be further away (85mm), but standing more back to do that, are two different ways to go indeed. On the other hand 50mm definitely retains the intimacy with the subject, especially having to take it at your subjects eye level as seen in the indoor shot here so well. Sure enough 85mm has that wide open narrow DOF effect more than 50mm, so you need to close the aperture a little in such cases and video better at the more dynamic 50mm than 85mm, but videography is very documentary in nature.
HAHA! It's as if you plucked your opening statement directly from my mind.
I'm one of those people who started with a 50 on the recommendation of many, and ended up not really liking it all that much.
As you stated, it almost never feels narrow enough, and never wide enough for most of what I do.
I'm more inclined to recommend a 35 than a 50 myself, as I just find it to be more versatile and suited to a wider variety of situations.
This video hasn't changed my mind, but you have convinced me to give it another go.
Great video! Definitely going to try some of these techniques. I really can’t do anything with a 50. Like you said, it’s not long and it’s not wide and I struggle with that. I do have a number of very nice 50’s (like a Sigma Art and a vintage Nikon F1.2 ai), so I would love to be able to get great results out of them.
Great video Marting with excellent advice and tips.
Thanks Andrew, glad it was useful!
I really like your videos. So much great information.
I really dislike your videos because I have to watch them 2-3 times to get all the info out because I find your voice so soothing that I keep falling asleep.😂
*Spelling
One of my favourite lenses is the Pentax 55mm 1.8 (m42). It is like all lenses. When you get it right, you feel it. I am an avid 35mm shooter, however, for portraits, the 50-75mm are just magical. You can be close enough to your subject for that connection and far enough to give space that is needed for that energy to spark. Again, it is always subjective to each photographer and scenario. But, when you get that 50mm right … hence why they call it the standard. Cheers ❤
Martin - I enjoyed this video. I think it is thought provoking but more importantly very on point. I shoot with any number of focal lengths from 20mm to 200mm for various work that I do, but it portrait, fashion, or even event work. I have found that for a long time I would 'shy away' from the 50mm feeling that it was too 'plain' - preferring 35mm or longer lengths like 85mm or 105mm and there is no doubt that all of these have a look. That said, recently I have re-discovered the 50mm focal length and have come to see that it is an extremely versatile focal length that is often not used in a way that plays to its strengths. I think this video exposes this truth well and gives concrete suggestions on how to come to love this classic focal length again. Well done!
-PD
My photography has flourished through the use of a 50mm lens, not knowing all you just said, so I think I will put these things to use and try them out and push myself some more with one camera one lens to get some more creativity out of myself.
Very well explained and truly informative. Thank you for posting this.
50mm is also good for macro where larger lenses may have a hard time auto focusing or getting clean shots of small things such as insects or plants
Take a wide angle lens and do whatever you have to do to achieve a 1 to 2 image size on your sensor. Note the depth of field at whatever aperture you normally
Shoot at. Now take your normal lens and do the same thing to achieve that 1 to 2 image size on the sensor. Note the depth of field. What did you have to do to get the same size on the sensor? The distance had to change. What are the three things which control DOF? Distance, aperture and focal length but do they really? When different focal lengths are manipulated by distance to achieve the same size images on the sensor, these rules go sideways.
@crawford323 If I understand correctly I'll agree and disagree. I can get close to the same shots.With both my minolta beer can as well as my 50mm. However, if I were to take a picture of a tiny spider, the fifty millimeter is way better for me Because I can quickly acquire what I am focusing and looking at while The larger lens is an absolute nightmare to focus on a small target like that.
@@OnTheDLum Sure use the best tool for the job and the one you are comfortable with.
You are right, I hate the 50mm focal, it`s neither wide enough or tight enough... not good for shooting groups of people or portraits...
I have my Canon EF 50mm f1.2 for sale and I bought a 35mm f1.8 and I am so happy...
For portraits though I love my new 70-200 f2.8
I love 35mm, too. I have an f/1.4, for low light situations, AND an f/1.8, for general walk-around use. My go-to for (non-environmental) portraits is an 85mm f/1.8. If you can't get enough bokeh out of an 85mm f/1.8, you're doing it wrong. 🤣
Just got a 50m for my canon.
Will be using tomorrow.
I learned to use a 50 while on the fire department and shooting "scene" pictures. They had to be 50mm to get the 1:1 ratio to be admissable as evidence. Talk about shooting a "dark" subject.
I learned to see things through the lens that I never would have seen without it.
I got to grips with 50mm because my first real SLR-an old thread mount Pentax I found at a yard sale for $15-had only this lens and I couldn't afford different ones, being a teenager at the time. I still have that camera.
I sold my Fifty and bought the Sigma 65/2 - that fits better to me.
Light weight primes I am using currently:
Viltrox 20/2.8
Sony 35/1.8
Sigma 65/2
and Samyang 100/T2.2
Once again, Martin, excellent information and motivation 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
35mm next ?
I love my canon 50 1.2 Really great video Martin!
Great tips as always. Also have this 50mm 1.2 L from canon. It’s old but has this special something I haven’t seen in others 50’s.
Excellent video as usual Martin. I always thought of 35mm as PJ lens because it includes the background whereas the fifty is more about the person so I always carried my 35 and my 85 lenses but left the fifty at home. I found it either too long or not wide enough. But last year I bought some older vintage 50’s and started using them again. I used to shoot weddings but now I’m transitioning to still life and product photography so it will be well used for it’s normal perspective. Thanks for sharing your insights. Regards, Gerry.
Wow. So helpful. I can't wait to spend time with my 50mm again and try those ideas. Thanks!
The "Why 85mm is misunderstood" video also made me think about 85mm like I had never done before. Thanks
glad that was useful for you, its nice to get that feedback!
I really love the 50mm focal length, for portraits or walk around/creative types of images. I love the look that it creates. If not 50mm, then 40mm, and that's it for me!
Love using my Sigma 30mm on my little 200d
ALSO LOVING THE 50MM LENS! It does take a little creativity in composition, but once you master it, it will
make you a better photographer and encourage you to stay away from the zoom kit lenses! Thanks for the video...
This is really invaluable information! Thank you, so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing Martin.
What a great vid! I started wirh 50mm when I was young, thinking of bad luck, because I only could afford one lens. But I took some interesting pics then. Decades later, there was my first digital cam with a little zoom lens. After i bought the telephotolense, i was so keen of, I -again- got a 50mm. And, guess what became my always Carried along-lense!
You make so fine videos, thank you
Hi! Please explain "I get on eye level" around the 4:20 mark. It seems the lens is at nose level or below ... or is that how you cropped the portraits? Thank you for the content.
yeah about there, eye, nose whatever, its like 1-2 inch difference dont worry just be around there.im not that precise with it, more just trying to be at that rough height.
thanks, cool video. pity there were no visual examples in the second half to show one or the other of the mentioned suggestions
I started photography wit ha 50mm and trained my eye to work within it. On a full frame it can be a very capable street lens. And with a fast version of that prime cant be a fearsome companion. The advice about walking backwards - limit yourself to a step or two no more when taking shots of people.
Incredibly informative video! Well done.
So helpful! Grateful for this channel.
Tried an 50mm equivalent, for about a year. Not for me. I always felt it wasn't wide enough, or long enough. Just not for me.
I tried the 24-70/2.8 and it was the same )) not wide enough, not long enough, plus, not fast enough 😊 I think that 50mm beats it.
@@0ecka I have a 24-70, because for jobs, it's just perfect, but my favorite, is my 80-200.
@@NormanZealandMalana Yes, it's a brilliant workhorse of a lens. Just like the 70-200 type of zooms are. But, honestly, they are all "not wide enough and not long enough", because the perfect lens doesn't exist 🙂 And I can say that zoom are not for me. Because they are lacking the oomph. Zooms always have their sweet spots and their weak spots. And I always gravitate towards the sweet spots, away from the weak spots to get nicer pictures. So, I end up using zooms like primes, while dragging along all the unnecessary and expensive extra weight. Why pay more and have less, if I can pay less for more. Zooms make sense when shooting for a client and when getting that shot is more important than getting the best version of that shot. For me it's like zooms for work, primes for pleasure. My little 50/1.8 is pure gold in terms of oomph/$€£.
@@0ecka Yes. There is no perfect solution. In many jobs, versatility and speed are what get the shots. Primes are great, but they lack versatility. In busy events, where subject range can change a lot, they can feel very limiting.
If you shoot a scene on 35mm with a 50mm lens and print on 8 x 10 paper, and then hold an empty 8 x 10 frame at 16" viewing distance in front of the scene, it will duplicate the print held at that same distance. By geometry, for same perspective: (lens focal length)/(object size on film) = (viewing distance of final image)/(object size on final image).
I love the 50mm focal length. It is fantastic for portrait shots. The background is not an issue with me in having the elements in the background. I'm not crazy about of the 35mm length for portraits due to capturing more of the background versus capturing more of the person.
Cartier-Bresson used his 50mm extensively.
Nifty 50... one of my favourite lens for sure
Very helpful video thank you! and awesome shots, subscribed
Fantastic advice!
Ok, i have a full frame 50 on an ASPC camera, do the same rules apply?
have a watch of my 85mm lens video for that, i have a section on using 50mm on a crop in that video.
@MartinCastein thanks!! I assume it's more than just taking a few steps back. I Just found your channel and I will check it out!!
A good 1.4 or better lens is ideal as you need to have a wide open aperture
Ironically, the 50mm is my favourite focal length, but on APS-C sensor. So in actuality a 75mm equivalent.
It's not really ideal in every situation, but you can make it work! Both on street, and portrait.
That being said, I rarely use my actual 50mm equivalent on APS-C. As I'd rather grab my 35mm or 75mm (equivalent) instead!
50mm is my tokuiwaza: preferred technique.
There is a reason they were the standard lens for so long. Yes, they were simple to build, but if it sucked, another close range would be used (45mm, 58mm).
In my experience walking around shooting, it’s the most versatile. 35 is often too wide; you just can’t get closer. 58mm is too tight; you just can’t take a big enough step back.
Being close to natural vision, with a little less practice than other focal lengths, is just easier to “see” in 50mm.
Sir, your photos are ABSOLUTELY outstanding!!!
Thank you!!
I shot with the MC Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 for over 10 years. One of the greatest lenses ever made. It was stolen and I have bought another to use as a portrait lens (87mm equiv) + adapter on my Sony ASP-C and it is as fantastic as it always was. If there has ever been a better 50mm lens, I would love to know. MC Rokkor also made a 58mm f/1.2 which can be had for less than $300 if you search.
Great information
50mm is natural, feels like you could've been there, it doesn't have the wow factor of warping reality away from how we see, but it beings a subtlety when used well.
For portraits, especially close it brings more intimacy over the more typical distance you'd see someone but optically "cropped" to fill the frame up.
Is Martin talking about 50 mm on a crop sensor or a full frame?
Full frame I talk about about 50mm on a crop sensor towards the end of my 85mm video
@@MartinCastein85mm focal length lens .
Great advice and spectacular photos Martin!
Hi, what is more important, a good camera sensor with good low light performance or adding flash to you kit makes more sense
I have a quick question how much do you think the price of the a7 iv will drop after the a7 V comes out next year? im looking at the used market right now, so i was just wondering.
get the A7 iv NOW you wont regret it…
@@luiscyphrus5334 I'm broke
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One of my best recent photos was with a 50mm purely by accident. I was doing night shots, and the 28-70mm f/2.8 I usually use was misbehaving, so in frustration I break out the 50mm f/1.8D that is usually just along for the ride. I get home to to check the results, and I'm like, "holy crap, I took *that*?" It's been one of my most popular images on reddit and elsewhere. Even the folks on /r/Nikon sorta like it. At least in comparison to other photos I've posted there.
Amazing video! Question. I use apsc. 23mm and 56 sigma. Is there a difference with ff equivalent 35 and 85. And what would you recomend to do with them?
You may see some difference in DOF, but field of view should match, pretty well. I would treat them like their FF equivalents. 85mm gives a nice perspective compression that pulls the background "closer" to the subject, which can be a nice effect.
@@careylymanjones thank you very much!