If you need to choose to bring along only one lens it should be a super universal 50 mm lens. Here are the reasons why. This lens is perfect for model photography.
With 50 mm lens you are able to capture a huge variety of subjects that will look more realistic than when using wide angle lenses. 50 mm lens is a prime lens which has a fixed focal length. This means that you cannot zoom in and out with a lens. It is perfect for taking pictures of models and usually bring a higher quality of capture compared to regular zoom lens. Prime lens has less internal elements compared to zoom lens which means that it’s much superior and gives better results. Prime lenses like 50 mm lens are usually much smaller and lighter to carry around. Compared to zoom lens they have a wider aperture which means they’re able to let in higher quality of light. With smaller depth of field you can create a magical blurry background, perfect for portraits of models.
Besides models prime lenses are perfect for shooting in low light, because they let in more light than zoom lenses. You can always use them to photographing real estate architecture, urban areas.
With prime lenses you need to get closer or away from subject because you don’t have zoom. That is the only negative elements of prime lenses from my experience. Zoom lenses also don’t have constant maximum aperture like prime lenses have so the image quality will be lower. Remember the bigger the zoom the lower the quality.
When you’re using 50 mm lens for taking picture of object it gives you a realistic human angle of view. You don’t get so much distortion as with zoom lenses but you are limited only to one angle of view. With zoom lenses which gives you a wider result than our vision, you’re able to capture more of the surrounding. As a result you will get a more cinematic result which can sometimes have a different effect on the viewer..
The angle of view of prime lenses is closer to that of the human eye, that is why prime lenses, especially 50 mm lens are very popular. They usually also very affordable, because they have less physical elements than a zoom lens.
