Specialising in Photography for Outdoor Lifestyle Brands & Travel focused businesses across Scotland and beyond // Author and Educator.
IS A 50MM LENS GOOD FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY? The idea of travel photography tends to go hand in hand with variety and options which naturally would incline most photographers to make a zoom their camera lens of choice. But let me suggest another way to go. The humble 50mm lens, also known as the ‘nifty fifty’ might not seem like an obvious alternative but here’s a few reasons why it might be your best next travel lens. * A 50mm is amazing in taking low-light photographs due to a wide aperture (f/1.8 or wider) * It is wonderfully packable. A 50mm with an aperture of f1.8 is physically a small and light lens which makes it perfect for travelling and carrying. * A prime 50mm can create amazing bokeh when shooting at its widest aperture. * It’s sharper than most of the zoom lenses when stepping down the aperture * It pushes you to work for your composition by making you physically get closer or further away than your subject. I love this. * A 50mm lens is discreet and unobtrusive which makes it perfect for street photography which I always do when travelling. The 50mm focal length is as close as a camera lens will get to producing a field of view equivalent to the human eye which makes using it such a straightforward and real experience for me whatever the subject. If you spend enough time with any lens you will come to realise its strengths and weaknesses but the sheer versatility of a 50mm for a wide variety of subjects and how it challenges you to work for that natural frame time after time makes it my first choice every time for travelling. So far in 2024 l've purposefully gone travelling with just a 50mm ninety percent of the time and it's been so refreshing to do so. Even the difference in my pack size and weight has been transformative to the whole experience. Photographers - what's your favourite lens? Follow me on my own hashtag #somewhereskyphotography for more content #photography #travelphotography #tourism #cameragear #outdoorphotography
Funnily enough, I'm currently considering a 50mm prime for my Sony A7R, Steven, specifically for some of the reasons you outline above. I want to carry my camera more, so a smaller, lighter lens seems like a no brainer, and who doesn't love the quality of most primes! I also like the idea of returning to the simplicity of a fixed focal length to help push my creativity, and make me move around my subject more, instead of just zooming in. Well timed post, I think you've sealed the deal!
Karen L Richard
8mo
I have surprisingly few lenses - for my headshots I use an 85mm prime, and I shoot my portraits with a 28-75 zoom and a 50mm prime. When I am traveling I use a 24-240 super zoom and my Sony A7R4 has the option to switch to APC crop which effectively makes this a maximum 400mm focal length covering a big range and meaning I don’t need to change lenses!
Damn it just sold mine!:D
Emma Dunham
8mo
I love my 50mm lens, it's one of my 3 lenses I use all the time. However for food not landscapes, but as your photos are landscapes are stunning, I would expect its a bonus for you too.
I only ever take my Canon 50mm 1.2 on my travels. And yes, it certainly does make me consider my composition more. It's my favourite travel companion 😊 after my partner, of course!
Chris Cottrell
8mo
Great points Steven. yes, I agree 50mm f1.4 is one of my bring along lenses for all the reasons you list. Thanks for sharing Steven
Teri Miller
8mo
I love the 50mm, but I sometimes to forget about it when out in the field. Thanks for the reminder of what a versatile lens it is - I'm going to try to use it a lot more!
Richard McNabb
8mo
My lens of choice Steven along with a 20mm as and when required.
Tom Crowl
8mo
The nifty fifty was one of my first lenses and it served me well for several years before I switched to mirrorless and invested in new glass. After reading this, I think I will have to start playing with it again!
Ecommerce Operations | I help SMBs grow their direct-to-consumer website sales while staying compliant and profitable on Amazon channels | UCD Smurfit MBA | Fan of poems and photographs
8moI do bring my zoom lens whenever I travel, because it is versatile and rainproof, but I almost never take it out of the bag. You'd think I'd know by now, right? If I'm bringing just one lens while traveling, it will be my 21mm F3.2 pancake. It is tiny, easygoing, and slightly magical. I bought this lens for cityscapes because, at the time, I couldn't afford the 15mm F4 I really wanted. But it ended up being my favorite, even now that I own quite a few lenses that are supposedly "better."