Your First 50mm Lens

I'd like to know what your first 50mm lens was.

One thing that stuck with me when I started learning about photography was the advice to beginners to go out for a day of shooting with a prime lens. A zoom offers too much freedom to the effect that you don't learn basic skill. My previous SLR came with a zoom, so I never learned to work with a prime lens. A 50mm would probably be my first prime lens. You obviously wouldn't get into anything specialized with your first prime. You might choose it for low light, or for daylight, or general use. I want your opinions and your experience on this.

Mine was a Pentax SMC f/1.7.

Today, I own three. Nikon 50/1.8 all, Seres E, AF-D and G. I tell people I have my GED.

I remember my first prime lens. It was like a whole photography upgrade.

The original prime lens was the 50mm but that was on a 35mm Film camera. That was basically the view you got with your eyes and no camera. Today the 50mm is what you would use on a full frame camera. The 35mm is probably closer to the old time standard view if you have the Crop sensor or DX camera.

My first SLR was the Olympus OM1 and I have a 50mm 1.2. I still have the lens but I have it on a Olympus OM2n. I did see the camera recently when I was re-arraigning my storage loft.

So with a DX sensor, you need a 35mm lens to obtain the same effect you experienced with the 50mm with 35mm? I knew the difference between the sensors, but I didn't make that connection with lenses. Good to know.

So with a D7100, I'll be buying a 35mm lens. I noticed the sane prices are $180, $380, and $500. I'll have to learn a lot about photography to see why $1,800 is justified for that focal length.

And I thought 35mm was a wide-angle lens.

A len's focal length is just part of the equation. The film/sensor size is another. A 100 will be a tele on a 35mm or DSLR, a 'standard' on a medium format, and a wide-angle on a large format.

A 35mm on a crop sensor body will give you the same FOV as a 50mm on a full-frame, but DOF and bokeh will be different.

Lunatic said:

So with a DX sensor, you need a 35mm lens to obtain the same effect you experienced with the 50mm with 35mm? I knew the difference between the sensors, but I didn't make that connection with lenses. Good to know.

So with a D7100, I'll be buying a 35mm lens. I noticed the sane prices are $180, $380, and $500. I'll have to learn a lot about photography to see why $1,800 is justified for that focal length.

And I thought 35mm was a wide-angle lens.

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I have a 18-140 as my walk around lens for my D7000 and even at 18mm it is not that wide. For wide angle I have a 11-16 Tokina.

Lunatic said:

I'd like to know what your first 50mm lens was.

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That would be the lens on my Argus C3.

Bob, are you like 100 years old? Was your first car a Ford T?

My first SLR was a Soviet-made Zenit camera with Helios 50 mm lens. Or was it 58 mm? I called it a 'brick'.

Nikon 50mm 1.8 AIS on a Nikon FM. Manual lens on a fully manual body.

I still want an FM10. I just feel like I need a connection to the past. Maybe because I never did it the right way, by buying my own Nikon when I was 20 years old. I wish I had cared more and focused on something important. Even if I only had 1 or 2 lenses. An FM10 is only $400, and I can get a 50mm f/1.8 for $150 and shoot a roll. The reason I haven't is that film is not practical for today's 'normal' photography, and I would still need a DSLR.

Lunatic said:

I still want an FM10...........

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No you don't. Get yourself a classic, like an F3 or FM2. The FM10 is NOT an automatic camera, it is strictly manual. So if you want manual, get an oldie that will last for another 100 years, and save your money to boot.

Where is the best place to buy an FM2? I don't imagine they are still available new anywhere, like old stock?

Felisek said:

Bob, are you like 100 years old? Was your first car a Ford T?

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I'm old, but not that old. My first car was a 1969 Falcon, a hand-me-down from my parents.

This picture was taken just before we finally hauled it to the junkyard. MY wife said, “You wouldn't cry that much over me!” I guess there are some things that women just don't get.

How on earth did this become another 'field of view' discussion? LOL

I had a 50mm 1.2 or 1.4 on my Minolta XG-1 in the 80s.
Bought my 50mm 1.8G new in January 2013 I believe.

Lunatic said:

Where is the best place to buy an FM2? I don't imagine they are still available new anywhere, like old stock?

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On occasion, new/old stock cameras come up for sale on ebay. Sometimes, a mom & pop camera store will have one. Keep an eye on the used gear listings at KEH, Adorama & B&H.

Lunatic said:

I still want an FM10. I just feel like I need a connection to the past. Maybe because I never did it the right way, by buying my own Nikon when I was 20 years old. I wish I had cared more and focused on something important. Even if I only had 1 or 2 lenses. An FM10 is only $400, and I can get a 50mm f/1.8 for $150 and shoot a roll. The reason I haven't is that film is not practical for today's 'normal' photography, and I would still need a DSLR.

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480sparky said:

No you don't. Get yourself a classic, like an F3 or FM2. The FM10 is NOT an automatic camera, it is strictly manual. So if you want manual, get an oldie that will last for another 100 years, and save your money to boot.

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The FM10 isn't even really a Nikon. It's a Cosina, rebadged to impersonate a Nikon.

Can you recommend FM2 or FM2N?

Lunatic said:

Can you recommend FM2 or FM2N?

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I own two FM2n's. I'm thinking about selling one of them.

Bob Blaylock said:

The FM10 isn't even really a Nikon. It's a Cosina, rebadged to impersonate a Nikon.

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Plus, it's mostly plastic.