So… I’ve been wanting to get myself some 50mm lenses for a wee while now… But like the iPad (which I am still trying to convince myself that would be a necessity in order to justify getting one) I just couldn’t justify investing the £100 (min) to get one when I have a perfectly functioning 18-80mm that can technically do the same thing and more…

So… WHY get 50mm lenses??? I mean… is superfluous and all that… right?!?! RIGHT??? RIIIIIGHT???

Wrong!

And for the 1st time in ages I am actually HAPPY for being proved wrong and actually really need to thanks the Lovely people at John Lewis for sending me what is now one of my favourite toys EVER: a Canon 50mm, f/1.8 II.

Yes… I’ve been playing with it for about a month now and I now realise that a 50mm lens is a must have in the kit of anyone that wants to actually be serious about photography…

And forget the fact that 50mm lenses mimic the field of the human eye (did you know that that is why is also called “normal lenses”??) which means that what you see in your viewfinder is pretty close to what you would be able to capture with your own eyes… Forget the tact that they are way faster then the usual 28-80mm “consumer lens” that most retailers will try to push you when buying your kit, or forget the fact that they are smaller and cheaper than the bigger ones everyone loves to get (me included)…

The fact is that they are INCREDIBLY more fun to play with… It just feels a lot more creative to do things the way the pros used to do it in the old times… back to the roots and all that…

Yes… you don’t have the facility of having a zoom… but that’s why you have a camera with interchangeable lenses anyways right?! And maybe is a little harder to stabilise the camera to avoid shaky/blurry photos, but that is solved with a tripod or using a suport to steady up your arms… simplez…

 So I spent a whole weekend snapping pictures around the rent’s place in Darbyshire (you can see my favorite photos of the set here) and my verdict is definitely: HOW THE HELL did I survive without one for so long? (okay… maybe that is exaggerating a little, but once you get one you are hooked… seriously…)

I’ve been told the 50mm is great to do street photos… And I have seen that they are perfect for low light photos which is also a HUGE plus as I simply hate taking flash photos…

So… if you are stil considering what to give yourself (or the photog in your life) what Xmas pressie to get (and still don’t have a 50mm lens, that is surely the one gift to consider getting.

AH!!!! Keep an eye open at urbanvox[dot]net for more tips, tutorials and Photography challenges coming up and there are a couple of contests coming up too… so stay tuned!!!

Life is so repetitive… But it is our duty to make it FUN!

Enjoy!