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What I mean by appear longer is that the focal length of a 50mm lens will be longer on a DX camera. When you have a camera with a smaller sensor, the the focal length of the lens will become magnified and the length will be longer.

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And this might be over-generalizing a bit, but the 50mm lens is the ONE lens that every photographer should be carrying around in their bag for a few reasons.

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In addition to being able to shoot in low light situations, prime lenses are generally sharper and faster than zoom lenses in the same price range.

50mm lengthRuler

The one amazing thing about a 50mm lens is that you can pick up a good quality lens for under $150. For a lens that takes sharp & fast photos; this is almost unheard of.

It’s easy to become a lazy shooter when you use a zoom lens. But, when you use a prime lens like a 50mm, then you will have to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

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As a portrait photographer, they are wonderful and very useful for many instances. But, if you’re a landscape, sports, or wildlife photographer, then you probably won’t get as much use out of a 50mm lens.

Simple. You are now forced to work for different crops and angles. You have to start moving to find different views and this leads to more opportunity for creativity.

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Instead of relying on your hands to do all of the cropping and zooming, you will have to move your body for the perfect shot. This is what you call “zooming with your feet.”

Unless you buy a DX lens for your DX camera body, there will be some magnification. In simple terms, it will make your photos more “zoomed in.”

But, because they are designed for one length, they also have the capability to shoot at wider f-stops (f1.4, f1.8, etc.). This comes in handy when you are shooting in lower light situations or when you want to blur your backgrounds.

While I do believe that what makes a photographer good is their technique and experience, quality gear does come in handy to create better photos.

I remember the first time that I ever tried out my nifty fifty lens – it was eye-opening (and I am not just talking about my own eyes, but the eye of the aperture).

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This especially comes in handy when you’re shooting at certain times of the day such as golden hour and need more range for wider apertures. Or, when you’re shooting indoors for a lifestyle newborn session. These are just a few real life examples of why apertures of f1.4 and f1.8 can come in handy.

DX relates to your camera’s sensor size. Generally speaking, less expensive DSLR cameras are DX because the digital sensor is smaller than a full-sized sensor.

OMG, I have the canon version (which I LOVE and is great in it’s own right) but by far your images appear cleaner and crisper. I can see the difference myself! I have the Sigma 35art and it’s mind blowing. I think you may have just persuaded me to switch.

The 50mm length doesn’t zoom, crop, or widen the scene. It simply captures what’s right in front of you the way that you view it yourself.

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While this might seem like a downfall and a reason to not add a 50mm lens to your bag, it can actually be a good thing for a few reasons

Sure, it did have a learning curve to shooting at such small apertures, but once I got the hang of it, my photos took on a new look.

So, if you are using a standard 50mm lens on a cropped (DX) sensor, the photos that you take will have less room. It will appear more like a longer lens than the standard length of a 50mm.

I know that seems like a pretty bold statement, but I wouldn’t be saying it if I truly didn’t believe it. It’s been true for me and it’s be true for many photographers in my circle, so I know that this little lens will help you become better too.

Yes, there are 50mm lenses on the market that are in the 4 figure range (or my personal favorite), but you don’t need an expensive model to take great photos.