50mm Landscape Photography: Such A Viable Option
You should really be considering 50mm landscape photography.
Why?
Well, that’s what we’re going to discuss in this article. We will start with the benefits of using a 50mm and conclude with some techniques and challenges.
It’s going to be a great read filled with useful information. It'll either convince you that 50mm landscape photography is viable or improve what you’re currently taking.
Let’s get started with benefits!
Benefits To Using A 50mm Lens For Landscape Photography
I don't want to come across as saying wide-angle landscape photography is bad. Because it's not, some of the best landscape photos of all time were captured wide - so a wide or ultra-wide lens is proven and will continue to be a very viable option.
That's why I support it so much and preach to beginners that you can do almost anything with a 50mm lens.
| Lens | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM | $125.00 |
|
| Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G | $196.95 |
|
| Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 | $248.00 |
|
What Makes A Prime Lens So Different And More Natural?
You know a wide and definitely an ultra-wide when you see one. Distortion is very apparent, and verticals are never straight. Everything is stretched from the center of the image, and objects in the distance are far smaller than you see them in real life.
A 50mm lens eliminates a lot of these issues. The benefits include:
- A prime lens (sharper than zoom lenses)
- Compression is more significant than a wide or ultra-wide
- The new creative process (and possibilities)
- Inexpensive compared to high-end zooms
- Perfect travel lens (subjective)
We will touch a little bit on each of these benefits coming up, so stick around!
A Prime Lens Is Sharper Than A Zoom
A prime lens is a fixed focal length, meaning that it does not zoom in and out. It usually has fewer moving parts than the average zoom lens, which makes for sharper images. You may see some distortion on cheaper lenses, but this can be easily corrected in post-processing Photoshop or Lightroom.
The color rendering is more accurate because of fewer glass elements (compared to a zoom).
It's a pretty simple concept to grasp, but I will include a video below with great comparisons.
Compression Is More Significant
A prime lens is a fixed focal length, meaning that it does not zoom in and out. It usually has fewer moving parts than the average zoom lens, which makes for sharper images. You may see some distortion on cheaper lenses, but this can be easily corrected in post-processing Photoshop or Lightroom.
The color rendering is more accurate because of fewer glass elements (compared to a zoom).
It's a pretty simple concept to grasp, but I will include a video below with great comparisons.
Think of 'sandwiching' the foreground and background to your current focal plane.
I have included a video below that covers this in great detail.
It Opens Your Mind And Allows You To Become More Creative.
With anything new and out of the norm - assuming you like to take landscape on wide-angle lenses... A 50mm lens will open new creative doors.
You can no longer zoom and have to physically move the camera if you want to 'zoom out or in.' Your framing and composition take more thought to create (or spend all day moving your camera around).
Your aperture opens wider on a prime (most of the time). So if you're into taking blue hour landscapes and want to allow more light, you have that option.
Ultimately, you'll have an image and process that you would have never had if you had taken it at a wide-angle.
It Opens Your Mind And Allows You To Become More Creative.
Let's talk about the nifty fifty.
I'm sure you all have heard the term before. This phrase was coined by those who highly valued the 50mm focal length for its capabilities. Some firmly believe you can capture 80% (or more) of all forms of photography with this focal length. I support these claims myself.
Now, compare this to an 'average' wide angle zoom. This would be a 16-35mm f/4. The cost of one, across the board, is about $1000. Of course, some are more and some are less (especially if bought used on eBay or Amazon). But you get the idea.
| Lens | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM | $125.00 |
|
| Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G | $196.95 |
|
| Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 | $248.00 |
|
Wide Angle Zooms Are Much More Expensive Than A 50mm.
I know this is quite obvious - but I wanted to send this one home with real-world numbers.
Wide-angle primes are equally expensive (a good 24mm prime can run $1000+). Even 'off-brand' manufacturers like Laowa make ultra-wide manual lenses that are great! But run $800+.
But think about it, their purpose is wide/ultra-wide-angle photos - nothing more. Want to take portraits? I wouldn't suggest it. What about indoor events and concerts? Eh, maybe to capture a shot of the entire venue... then what? You get my point, I'm sure.
Compare the table above and below for price comparison.
| Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Sony - FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM | $2,198.00 |
|
| Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM | $1,249.95 |
|
| Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D | $1,838.92 |
|
| Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM |
|
|
| Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E | $1,596.95 |
|
| Sony E-Mount 24-70 F2.8 G Master | $1,698.00 |
|
A 50mm Lens Is Great For Travel
Its size is perfect. Small enough to not add too much weight or space, yet versatile enough to take pretty much any photo you would need on vacation or traveling. The only exception, in my opinion, is wildlife photos. But again, a wildlife lens is in its own category and for an entirely different article.
You can even leave the lens mounted to your camera throughout your travels and pull it out and snap photos when you need it. As long as you have a little room to move around and get the distance you need, you'll be golden.
50mm Landscape Settings
First off, there isn't much difference in settings between a wide-angle and 50mm.
You'll want:
- Your aperture is between f/8 and f/11. If you decide to go lower because you need more light... check your photos and see where you may need to photo stack a few images to get the sharpness you want.
- Then, adjust shutter speed and ISO accordingly.
Seeing as you'll most likely have your camera on a tripod... you'll be able to set the shutter speed where you need it and not have to worry about camera shake/blur.
Long Exposures Aren't Treated Much Different
If you're taking long exposures, be sure to have a nice ND filter with you and a remote. I include the remote because you want to eliminate as much camera shake as possible. Even if you use the 2 or 10-second timer, you're still putting your hands on the camera, not eliminating camera shake. I remote fixes that.
Not to mention, remotes are very inexpensive (I think my Sony remote was like $30).
I have included videos for this topic as well.
Value The Gear And The Process
Concerning a 50mm - there is so much value even outside of landscapes. We're talking portraits, street photography, pet photography, cars, product, etc...
The only profession I would not recommend using a prime or 50mm on would be Real Estate photography/video. You would not get great results with the different sizes of homes and rooms. A wide-angle lens is great for that.
Value the process of taking a landscape photo with a 50mm. You'll create beautiful images that don't look like a typical landscape. This makes you and your work unique and will stand out from the rest of the wide-angle guys.
Yeah, the process is different; it requires you to possibly do a little more work and think a little more about it - but in the end, your result will be that much different from what you'd get out of a wide-angle lens.
Embrace the journey of mastering it in the field of landscape photography.
I Hope You Have Learned A Bit About The 50mm For Landscape Photography!
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have learned a thing or two.
If anything, remember, if you decide to start taking landscapes with a 50mm... don't give up. If you aren't happy with what you see on the computer - find what you did wrong and exactly how to fix it.
Nothing great, or worth anything, happens overnight. It'll take a little practice and time to build the motor skills and mindset for it. But once you do, you have a skill set that most don't - and a look to your landscape photos than even fewer do.
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Until next time, be safe and keep creating!
