How a 50mm lens will change your life

You purchased a DSLR camera and you're taking higher quality photos than you ever have before. It's such an exciting feeling! 

But sometimes you look at others' images and wonder how they take those extremely sharp images with the very blurry background. Their secret is likely that they purchased a 50mm lens.

Your "kit lens" (the lens that came with your camera) can take nice photos, but they are nothing compared to what you can do with a 50mm lens. Here's why...

1. Shoot in low-light situations. (MUCH lower light.) The 50mm lens has a wider aperture, which means more light can make it into your camera. If you're familiar with shooting in manual mode, you know this means that you'll be able to reduce ISO (to avoid grain) and increase shutter speed (for sharper images). If you're not familiar with shooting in manual mode, sign up for my next workshop and I'll teach you all about it.
2. Get that bokeh! Bokeh is the blurry, out-of-focus part of an image. If you want a crisp subject, but a super blurry background, the 50mm lens is all you need!
3. Finally get sharper images. A prime lens (like the 50mm) is a lens that doesn't zoom in and out. This means there are less moving parts inside, which allows for sharper images. Plus, the light weight nature of this lens will help you avoid camera shake since you won't be lugging multiple pounds of gear! (Yes, my arms sometimes get tired!)
4. This 50 really is nifty. People don't call it the "nifty fifty" for nothing! I use a 50mm lens to shoot portraits, products, food, etc. The list goes on and on!
5. The best part? It's incredibly affordable. Depending on the type of DSLR camera you have, a 50mm lens with a f/1.8 aperture will likely only cost you around $100-200. (In my opinion, this is a STEAL considering the quality of images you get from this lens.) I shoot Canon, and the first 50mm lens I purchased was $125. Nikon has a similar lens for $220. If you want an even wider aperture, Canon makes an 50mm f/1.2. It'll set you back over $1,300, but if you want me to talk you into it, I will! It's my favorite lens I own.

If you have any additional questions about 50mm lenses (or anything else, for that matter!), comment below, or reach out via my contact page.

Happy shooting!
​Autumn