The 50mm lens isn’t boring, it just takes some skill to use!

[@KevinG-159]

"We've never taken a photo before KZbinrs came on board to tell us what cameras are good and bad." SPOT ON! Nailed it! Thank you! This video sums it up perfectly. The 50 is onboard and used a lot...

[@jacobh5817]

My first own camera back in 1974 was an OM-1 with a 50/1.8 Zuiko lens. For 6 years I didn’t have any other lens, but boy how you learn to shoot with a 50. Today, I still have that camera and lens here and the 50 (nowadays a 50 Lux) is still my single favorite lens. It should be anyones ‘deserted island’ lens. You’re so right to make this point again…

[@CalumetVideo]

Back when I was a newspaper photographer back in the 90’s, I shot exclusively with the Nikon F3 with the 50mm and Tri-X 400. I have a 50mm on my F2 and one on my Nikon S2. I also find the 80mm on my medium format is also great. I find that any focal length above a 85mm is too tight and usually mostly good for nature shots.

[@JUSKOOLKREATIONS1]

so refreshing to hear this talk, I live in Trinidad, and I shoot with a Nikon D750 bought at B&H a couple of years now, and on one of my recent visit to the USA in September 2023, I was watching that nikon 50mm 1.8 G on B&H prior to leaving Trinidad and I know I was going there to ge it, on reaching there, I decided to give Adorama a visit first and I got a better deal at Adorama and bought it there, I hardly take it off my D750 now, thanks for sharing,

[@JamesWilliams-uq1pm]

I totally agree with you. I love the 50mm for me. Straight talk from you is refreshing. Love your wit.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Well thank you. Keep watching because I’m turning 60 in a few months. You may see that wit start fading soon. 😂😂

[@markinri1877]

Great video!! So refreshing to hear this. You're absolutely correct, the lense is not boring its their photos!!!

[@RichardBO9]

I recently bought a Nikon Df and a 40mm f/2 Voigtlander lens. This combination has brought the joy back into photography for me. It's all so refreshingly simple. Not having all of the "information" that and evf provides and thinking more about composition and the emotions motivating me to take a photo is just so cathartic. I appreciate your video.

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

I am 70 yo and started and learned photography with a 50 mm lens. This is still my best focal lens ever.

[@brucetaylor607]

You are so spot on correct and I love your video. There was a time during the 70's thru the 90's when you bought a SLR like Canon, Minolta, Olympus, Pentax and Nikon and the 50mm was standard on those cameras so we had to learn how to be creative. My son now has my Minolta X-700 with a 50mm f2 Minolta lens and he loves it. Fast forward to the digital age of DSLR'S and mirrorless and by no means is the "nifty fifty" boring so cut the BS and stop playerhating on the 50mm. My Nikon D3500 has a 50mm f1.8 and I couldn't be happier. It's all about being creative. Enough said.

[@thefilmplane.7787]

I found your videos recently and I really love them, I started photography as a hobby in the late 70's and decided that that was what I wanted to make for a living, I quit my rep job with a top of the line pharmaceutical company (Now responsible for the number 1 Covid vaccine) and started venturing into commercial photography, right at the beginning of my photography venture, I shot weddings for only 3 years to supplement my income, my point is that the first year as a wedding photographer, I only shot with a 50 mm lens, all manual mode and I had a lot of requests to shoot weddings, people didn't care about the camera gear, they loved the results, my second year I got a 35-105 lens and that is all I had to shoot weddings, but nowadays, I see all the gear this guys shot with and it has to be auto everything, sometimes I come across the DP preview guys and feel sorry that these new guys can't live without automated cameras and camera grips, it's like they almost want the cameras to do the job for them, anyway, sorry for the long comment. Keep up with the great videos.

[@tom.allez2134]

Awesome video. Honest and straightforward. Heck yeah

[@silviocaravelli3567]

I totally agree with your statement. Personally I always shoot portrait with 50mm and now I am venturing 24mm, it is very challenging but when you nail it, it is rewarding. Thanks 🙏

[@shanecaut1063]

Great video! I was using 28mm/35mm mostly for street/every day in the last year and then went to 50mm and used it exactly the same way zone focussing...it can be a wide angle if you want it to be...it can be a tele if you want it to be...all up to the user.

[@HJ-nh1wl]

Just bought Carl Zeiss Loxia 50mm f2 for my Sony A7rII ….. basically, to go back to my ‘roots’ (40 years ago) when I started this hobby/profession of ours called photography!

[@352PHOTOGRAPHY]

Thanks for the video. love the candid statements. I use a 50mm today and don't want to change. Just gotta keep stepping up my game

[@elmoqbobo]

On aspc sensor 35mm = 50mm. I use a kipon/iberit 35mm f2.4 manual focus on a fuji xe4. It reminds me of my first pentax spotomatic with a takumar 50mm f1.8. That focal length is how i view the world , and the whole trick is to fill the frame with an asymetrical balanced composition. Some of the greatest masters of photography used the 50mm focal length.

[@alienhatz3265]

I committed to 50mm earlier this year without really understanding the ramifications of doing so, but I've been really appreciating the gains I've made from the decision. Thanks for the video

[@kaskoPhoto]

You’re very welcome.

[@hurleygreen927]

THANKS FOR THE INFO ON THE NIFTY FIFTY! I started out with a 50mm 1.8 Nikon lens, and when that was damaged, I found myself possessing a classic 55mm Nikon macro lens with MANUAL focusing: once I got used to the focusing, I fell in love with it! It's razor sharp and is a great walkaround lens..agaon, THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO!

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@ccw5886]

So true. Just got back into photography after 40 years. Now 62 I have a very old but lovely M8 and I have partnered it with a 35 mm Voightlander lens. (46mm with the crop factor so a fifty really). Its a great lens and yes, its not easy to get great shots with a fifity ...without some bloody effort. Bresson shot with a fifty, didn't stop him! The camera is a tool, no more...Its up to you to hone your skill. Do the work!

[@netsdzian8009]

i started shooting photos 1 month ago with my canon 600D + EF50mm1.8stm. Its a magic combo outdoors! Indoors there is no much space....but you can do some portraits also!

[@danielmollohan1703]

Look at all of Ralph Gibson work. Almost all 50. Oh, and some guy named Henri?

[@dafezz92]

I'm on and off again photographer now, and I 98% use the 50 mm lens. There's something about it that makes me more invested in my shot. Whether I need to go closer, farther away ETC. I feel like I think about my shots a lot more when using it. I also love how it can soak up so much light!

[@lornarosemorrison]

Absolutely, the fun is in the challenge. Thanks for your very wise words.

[@agylub]

A Nikkormat FT2, Tri X in D76 1:1 and 50mm f2 captured the best years of my life

[@The_English_Verse_by_Rohit]

I have been this only lens for 3 years and my photography improved.

[@Narsuitus]

My 50mm for my 6x7cm medium format camera is a great wide-angle lens. My 50mm for my full-frame camera is a great normal lens. My 50mm for my micro 4/3 camera is a great telephoto lens.

[@kpkjolso]

Thanks a lot for an inspiring video. I love my 50mm lenses, l got 4 of them. Lately l have’nt used them that much, but after watching your video, l would certainty go and have a day out with my camera and 50mm’s again. Thx a lot😊👍

[@jean-lucbarmaverain8519]

Also one of my best lens to work !

[@DanCThorpe]

I've always liked a 50mm. Been working with 35mm for the last few months and I kept just wanting just a little bit more subject selection.

[@wrstlingyoda]

Truly enjoy your honest content! Kept my 50mm & 85mm then traded in all other lenses for the Leica Q2 28mm. A 35mm one day, maybe, but I am able to do what I enjoy.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Isn’t that an amazing camera! Seriously my favorite of all time so far.

[@MrJapanforce]

there is nothing better than a 50mm focal length. In fact, it is just marvell. For those who know and love photography of course!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I do love the 50. I have friends that are the same way about their 35. And at events I use a 28 or 35 but have trouble using them anywhere else.

[@faustoart]

I think that the 50mm is my favourite focal length, I own, not sure, 12 or 15 different 50mm lenses, vintage (leica, takumar, fujinon, industar...) and actual (fuji, sony, canon) and I really think it's the perfect all-terrain lens. Boring? Maybe, I don't know, I like it too much, you can have a lot of separation if you want, bokeh is really amazing in some lenses, and the image is not distorted. Maybe it's not perfect for everything, but it's really, really good. Totally agree with you today!! A suggestion: Maybe a video commenting the materials that you use for the background drops? Is it paper, or do you use fabric?? If so, how do you iron it?? 😀

[@outdoorspal]

I agree with your assessment on your comments.. about before KZbinrs criticize what they don’t really know about what is take a photo with manual settings on SLR

[@terryallen9546]

I take walks in our nature park with a lumix pocket zoom. Sometimes I take a dslr with a zoom. But for my regular job head shots, I use old film 50mm, 55, 58 glass...on a dslr or sony adapted. They give such nice, consistent quality.

[@throughmichaelslensphotogr2000]

50 is my favorite lens . My best work came with a 50 mm .

[@Snapit551]

Yes the nifty fifty is truly a do it all lens for me and can totally agree with you

[@C-JOHANSSON]

In the late 70s and the 80s 50mm was the standard normal lens and the only one I had on my Canon. I still have it and sometime use it together with my Fuji and Kodachrome64 or TRI-X simulation.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Wow how I miss Kodachrome 64!!!

[@martyjwalker]

If I was sent away for a year and told to take one camera and lens it'd be my D700 (or my D3) with my 50mm pancake manual focus.

[@christopherrodriguez7223]

This is my favorite lens (50mm Voigtlander APO), I truly love and enjoy it.

[@devanteross2838]

Loved this! Feeling better about keeping on keeping on with my thrifty RF 50 1.8 😃

[@kaskoPhoto]

It’s my favorite!

[@mrca2004]

My pentax me came with a 50 1.8 that I used for 20 years. I have dozens of lenses but 50 isn't a favorite... yet I somehow have 5! The 50 1.4D came with my newly acquired f6. Cartier Bresson shot with a 50 and his images are not boring. Ansel nailed it, the most important part of the camera i s the 12 inches behind it. I too love my voigtlander , a 58 nokton. The pancake is fun and makes a small package on a vintage fm2n. The 15 yr old sigma has gorgeous bokeh. For street, I lke a 50 and shot it's equivalent in 645, 6x6.

[@kaskoPhoto]

The Pentax 50 was my first 50 as well. But I do love a 50

[@frits1463]

HC Bresson did everything with a 50mm I believe...

[@boredgrass]

I wouldn't sign on to your "In the oldie times, we ate pebbles, and it made us stronger!!" notion (and I took my first photos about 50 years ago with a Kodak Instamatic 110 ...) But what makes the 50mm prime interesting to me is it's closeness to the perspective of the human eye. That idea that I can preserve something I see or have in my mind and preserve it very nearly the way I see it is a quality in itself! As to the dominance of "unqualified *high-tech gear photographers",: The fact remains that they pick up their cameras and take photos! Were they to fail in reaching their artistic potential or that of their gear because they are distracted and lack the skills, I can't say anything to them but "Keep on going making photos and have fun with it!" It isn't easy to motivate someone to try making art. It is very easy to discourage someone, especially young people! *The Lomography community makes photos with Holgas, Dianas and old analogue cameras! I've seen videos in which 18-year-olds demonstrate how to load a film.

[@michamakowski9558]

50mm was my only lens for 35mm, recently after 20 years I added 105/2,5 nikkor to my bag.

[@magnuslundin18]

I almost shoot every paid portrait with my Fujifilm 63 (ekv. 50mm). My favourite focal length and not at all boring. Great video!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I really want to try that lens. I am a Hasselblad XCF 65 user and I love the images from that 63

[@magnuslundin18]

I can really recommend that lens. Hasselblad sounds great as well, especially for a Swede like me 😀

[@kaskoPhoto]

@@magnuslundin18 well Swede…. You better be getting some Hasselblad gear soon!!! That glass is so damn good.

[@magnuslundin18]

Haha, I went for the budget brand. Need some more work to upgrade. I live in Hasselblad town. But as you say, just a tool.

[@kaskoPhoto]

@@magnuslundin18 but it’s your Heritage! Screw what I say WHEN YOU LIVE THERE!! 😂😂

[@longrider9551]

I have shot with many primes from 24/135 for about ten years as an intermediate skill level photographer. The focal lengths I seem to be able to compose best with are 28, 40, 65 and 90. I don't know why its just a flow with those 4 lenses

[@LepsuSankari]

For normal street photography what I have found with different focal lengths is that the environment you're in is as important as the focal length. If interesting detail and people are sparse then something from 85 to 200 (maybe longer or a macro) feels like a standard view because the area your eyes are focused on is much smaller. If you live in a tightly packed city then something from 14 to 28 is nice because usually you want to get some context to your subject and you may not have the room to step a few steps back. To me 35mm and 50mm feel normal in cities I live near as they are small and quite sparsely populated.

[@kevinl1492]

I have always had a 50mm but never really used it much. Maybe a few shots then I would swap it for a 35mm or 28mm. You have made me think about why. Maybe it is just difficult to use effectively. Challenge accepted!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I have always had the best 35s, but could never wait to go back to the 50. But my go to for events is always the 35.

[@kevinl1492]

@@kaskoPhoto Got the RF 35mm yesterday so I will be using at the next event. But the RF 50mm will be in the bag.

[@BilBrown]

I always say 28, 50, 90 (85 for some) is one crew, the other hovers around the 24, 35, 75. The 28 at close focus when you have to be in the action is phenomenal and dynamic, but when you have to step away or want to communicate with your subject in a portrait or simply just keep a little more distance a 50 is the best. The 90 (85) for detail, for up in it when you can't get close enough with the 28 and you want to see the sweat on a brow. Instant separation just barely stopped down with that 90 (85). The 24, 35, 75 crowd like it wide, and not so close. The 75 is a portrait lens, but almost works like a 50 in so many ways. The 35 can also work a little like a 50, and the 24 is just point at anything and you will likely get it. So with this formula of primes, you can see that the 50 is literally between the 35 and 75 and has attributes of both. For environmental portraiture, wide enough to get in some context like the 35, but close enough to show some detail for particulars. The 50 is not as easy to zone focus as the 24, 28, 35 but you can with practice remember it enough to not always have to look to focus - so it can be fast, especially on manual cameras.What do they say, "zoom with your feet"? In my experience this is what the 50 does, it becomes physical photography when you have a 50 and pay attention. The 50mm kens context and detail at the same time is what makes dreams dreams. Good video.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I love the balance of distance and rendering the 50 offers me.

[@stephenelliott7071]

28, 50 and 85mm (full frame) are my favourites...35mm is boring to me :)

[@davidwamback9000]

The 50 mm lens is not at all boring. It is a tool, and like any tool it takes skill and vision to master it. Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ralph Gibson used it almost exclusively for photography, and the master filmmaker Yasurjiro Ozu used the 50 mm exclusively. I would not call their work boring. It is exceptional. Yes it’s difficult to master. Remember, “a poor carpenter blames his tools”. Don’t dismiss the tool, master it. Find your vision within the discipline … dare to be great 👍! PS. I too love the Voigtlander 50 Apo Lanthar an exceptional lens, and am endeavoring to master it. It’s not up to the paintbrush to paint your masterpiece, its instrument of your vision.

[@MrGirbes]

Never heard someone say that the 50mm was boring (luckely) but if someone would say so I would wonder if he/she understands the effect of the focal lenght on the look and feel of your picture (and therfore I would not trust his advice). If the story is that 'a blurry background = Artisic' I would also not take advice from that person. I own an old minolta 50mm f1.7 I use it a lot (fun fact: it makes you move around a lot).

I like to see some examples of the use of 50mm :)

[@danielschley3972]

Thanks for the content sir!

[@AndrewHardacre]

I own 5 different 50mm lenses. Not sure why. From the Nocti f0.95 to a 1959 Elmar f2.8. It’s horses for courses - but I invariably come back to this focal length. Why boring?

[@mikefoster6018]

100%. I almost expect anxiety from beginners who buy the 50mm as one of their first lenses, as it's very tricky to get results! (I'm still halfway in that category myself). I think a lot of 24-35mm etc photos are too lazy, relying on the basic wow factor of distortion and only weakly considering the background. With the 50mm, it can be like having to portrait the foreground and portrait the background simultaneously. I love that. It's like composing a comic strip panel or a miniature model vignette.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I got the 50 and then later the 28 with my Pentax k1000 a few (48) years back. I was always most comfortable with the 50. But in today’s “the camera does everything for you” age, I think you have a valid point with new photographers.

[@cameraprepper7938]

Skills or no skills, I think the 50mm focal Lens are "boring" for "full frame" 24x36mm format, but it is nice for APSC format.

[@lxhk3595]

Since smartphone the 50mm is not the "normal" every day look anymore. This became wide oder super-wide angle, which most people are not able to use. 50mm meanwhile gives a classical / different look for young eyes I guess. I personally prefer to take the 35mm along, to not be too long for a scene, just to realize often enough, the fifty would have fit better.

[@sbai4319]

I love the 50mm. I actually have two and when I get my next body, I will get another 50mm.

[@RavikantRai21490]

Some people may not like 50mm because they depend on a shitload of blur behind their subject to make anything "look good". Can't take any extra effort.

[@KeithEmmerichDOTcom]

I live with a 24 & 50 for most of my street shooting.

[@BelowZero]

Can’t agree more. Amateurs talk about cameras, professionals about lenses, only true artist speak about light. Btw, everyone should start their photography journey with a 50mm prime lens…

[@kaskoPhoto]

You are 100 % on point with starting with a 50mm and expanding from there.

[@michaelcase8574]

The lens isn't boring, your photos are boring! Creativity is enhanced by limitations.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Good point

[@bennieferinga9609]

For me a 35mm lens is much more boring than a 50mm lens. I have to use it a lot more to get used to it, I guess. A 50mm, or 45mm, or 55mm, I don't find boring at all.

[@arloharnish]

When I clicked on this video I thought I was going to learn something...

[@kaskoPhoto]

Funny, when I made this video, I didn’t think you’d be watching.

[@martinsrensen3869]

Takes some getting used to

[@JamesWilliams-uq1pm]

I agree with all of it. 😊

[@leotomma3494]

Would be great if you showed a few pictures

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for the input. Much appreciated

[@hansalbers9894]

😊😊

[@joshuagutierrez8407]

Love the video! I prefer to shoot on a 50mm vs. 85mm for portraiture any day of the week. Why??? That’s simple. I can interact/direct my subject from just feet away instead of yelling out commands from 10 feet away. If you shoot at 1.2…yes, you risk one eye being in-focus and one eye out, but that’s an easy fix. Back up a few feet and boom. Now your entire subject is in the same plane and now in focus. Distortion…eh, there’s barely anything worth getting your panties in a twist. It’s not wide enough….you must be an amateur. And to your credit…people that say - “It’s boring,” well…you’re boring. I keep my 50mm on 24/7 unless I need a specific lens for a specific reason. Then I change. I hope more people continue to buy into the BS that 50mm is boring so I can pick up older MF lenses that have wayyyyy more character than these newer lenses. I just found your channel and love that you’re telling it how it is. No BS or fluff.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for your comments. Very much appreciated and some great input.

[@daniaahmad4015]

Absolutely 💯

[@michaelcase8574]

Banarke made it a normal lens with the Leica 1 camera.

[@kaskoPhoto]

There’s nothing like the original focal length. So that is BB and AB

[@1stormcat]

I agree 100% on the "creamy bokeh" business!!! Just marketing hype!

[@NormanZealandMalana]

I tried the 50, and most of my shots, I ended up cropping into. Just not for me.

[@Zelanias]

50mm for full format or aspc? :D

[@kaskoPhoto]

Both

[@Zelanias]

@@kaskoPhoto ok thank you tons :D

[@Zelanias]

@@kaskoPhoto can i ask you what lens you would recommend to grow with as a photographer and explore photography: 18mm, 23mm, 33/35mm or 50mm? I like to photograph my dog and like, trees/reflections and stuff but i want to photograph various things! :D

[@Zelanias]

sorry i forgot to add: i have a fujifilm xt20 but might upgrade to the xt3. 😁

[@nexderm5606]

same is true with 16 mm

[@johntravena119]

Would love to see these KZbinr’s try n convince Cartier-Bresson that the 50mm is boring. They can’t hold his velvet glove.

[@superkrell]

If you don`t like a 50mm lens you're not normal...!😁

[@kaskoPhoto]

😂 that’s probably not completely true 😂😂

[@therealchickentender]

It certainly provides content creation ideas for your channel, no doubt.... but otherwise I'd say you *really* need to cull your subscription list at this point! LMAO You're going to explode on camera soon.

[@betod63]

And the most ridiculous thing about the manufacturers' marketing is the use of minimal depth of field to promote their lenses, because people who have no technical or aesthetic (historical/philosophical) training follow the stupidity of the herd behind the already completely disfigured word: "bokeh". They don't know how to compose, or put together a story within a frame, not anything that has already been done and they settle for the reductionism of narrative resources, completely stupid.

[@OBYourThirst]

lol younger gen is just more lazy or find short cuts lol. i think 50 is nice and just have to get creative and move around lol.

[@MrVoayer]

The truth hurts !!!

[@AllCarsUnited]

Not really it really is a boring lens 😂

[@kaskoPhoto]

Keep practicing, you will get better!

[@AllCarsUnited]

Anyone can come up with a good composition with any focal length. I've no interested in practicing on a focal length I stopped caring about years ago.

[@Modiford]

"The 50mm lens isn’t boring", no just this video, zzzz....