finally got the nifty fifty... a couple of questions

[amberskies]

Finally picked up my first non-kit lens! Now I have to learn how to make the best use of it...

so, I'm looking for ideas of things to try/learn with the 50mm. What's your favourite stuff to shoot with it, and/or what should I try out in order to help me learn more? I have some ideas but I'm guessing there is a lot more than what I've thought of!

Also, I picked up a UV filter for it as well. Do I use this at all times outside, or just when it's sunny, or...? I wouldn't use it at night or indoors, I'm assuming. But the packaging said to use it all the time.

[ChrisPhilip]

I just got mine too, havent had a chance to use it yet. The UV filter is mainly to protect the lens so you can leave it on all the time, some people dont like them cause they dont want anything in front of the lens, some people like them.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by amberskies

Finally picked up my first non-kit lens! Now I have to learn how to make the best use of it...

so, I'm looking for ideas of things to try/learn with the 50mm. What's your favourite stuff to shoot with it, and/or what should I try out in order to help me learn more? I have some ideas but I'm guessing there is a lot more than what I've thought of!

Also, I picked up a UV filter for it as well. Do I use this at all times outside, or just when it's sunny, or...? I wouldn't use it at night or indoors, I'm assuming. But the packaging said to use it all the time.

Remember the sweet spot in that lens, like most, is a few stops up from it's widest opening...doesn't mean you can't shoot at F/1.8, but it won't be your sharpest setting, and you might want to consider that when absolute focus is critical.

[SoxAddict]

Once you start using this prime lens, you'll find more and more uses for it in your hobby. "They" say that a 50mm prime is a great 1st lens to buy as a new SLR user because, for one, it can help you learn to compose your pics more thoughtfully - ie/ rather than simply looking at something from a distance & just zooming in on it, you'll be forced to actually move yourself physically to compose the shot. So that's certainly one great use.

It's a really nice, sharp lens, you'll enjoy the results you get from it. And its low f-stop number means a nice wide aperture, so is great for getting used to incorporating narrow depth of field (& hence increased bokeh effect) into an image. They're just a couple of its uses…..

Like Chris said, uv filter use is person-dependent. I don't use one. Since you already have it though, you have nothing to lose by using it - you can always remove it down the line if you feel like. You probably already know that having anything in front of the lens reduces the amount of incoming light, so you end up "losing" a stop as a result & have to make up for this elsewhere in your settings.

Have fun with it!

[FormElement]

I am of the strong opinion that a UV filter is not only wasted, but causes problems. I had trouble with funny reflections and flare and as soon as I took the UV filter off all of those problems went away.

I also think the best way to learn and appreciate that lens is to just put it on for a day, and leave your other lens(es) at home. Sometimes I just put it on and go for a walk in the park. That's a great idea.

[amberskies]

Originally Posted by FormElement

I also think the best way to learn and appreciate that lens is to just put it on for a day, and leave your other lens(es) at home. Sometimes I just put it on and go for a walk in the park. That's a great idea.

I tried to do that today... at least, the water front, not the park. But by the time I got to the waterfront it was pouring rain, lol. Will try again another day. Instead, I sat inside a coffee shop and took pictures of my cup, just to test things out!

re: the UV filter. I keep hearing people talk about it as a protection against falls and scratches... isn't it supposed to protect the lens from UV rays? Isn't that the point? But nobody talks about that... does it serve that purpose? That's what I was wondering in my first post, and whether I should have it for daylight situations...?

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by amberskies

re: the UV filter. I keep hearing people talk about it as a protection against falls and scratches... isn't it supposed to protect the lens from UV rays? Isn't that the point? But nobody talks about that... does it serve that purpose? That's what I was wondering in my first post, and whether I should have it for daylight situations...?

Your sensor already has a UV filter, so these days the filter doesn't really filter anything.

It is a little bit of protection; with the cheap 50mm f/1.8's it's not as much of an issue because the lens is only $100 anyway, but if you have a $1200 lens that would cost a few hundred dollars and weeks of time to repair a scratched front element, it makes sense to buy $50 of protection in the form of a good UV filter.

Cheap UV filters are usually more hassle than they're worth. Decent ones don't cause as many problems as often (usually people complain about flare). And I don't know about this "you lose one stop" business, they're clear glass, you're not losing any measurable amount of light.

Unless you live in a plastic bubble, you will eventually knock your lens against something, drop your camera, have someone bump into you... it happens. Your choice whether you want your front element or a filter to take the brunt of it.

[amberskies]

Maybe I'll just hang onto the filter then, for situations when dropping/damaging the camera is more likely (I do take it to rougher areas sometimes and there have been a couple of times when I feared for the camera, lol).

(In Canada, the lens is $150 plus tax... apparently next time I need a lens I should shop over the border!

[autofocus]

[QUOTE=BCampbell;929513

".... And I don't know about this "you lose one stop" business, they're clear glass, you're not losing any measurable amount of light."


...agree, to my knowledge the only filters that will significantly decrease light entering the lens are the polarizers, neutral density, and some of the old colored filters we used on black and white film cameras

[111t]

Originally Posted by FormElement

I am of the strong opinion that a UV filter is not only wasted, but causes problems. I had trouble with funny reflections and flare and as soon as I took the UV filter off all of those problems went away.

I also think the best way to learn and appreciate that lens is to just put it on for a day, and leave your other lens(es) at home. Sometimes I just put it on and go for a walk in the park. That's a great idea.

There are some situations where you want to remove the UV filter. Any time that you are in danger of flare, you should remove the filter. With a little experience you'll realize what these situations are. The lens hood will help as well in these situations. (it's an add on item) depending on the type of photography you do you may want to pick one up. Anything clamped on to the front of your lens will result in a loss of sharpness. It will be slight with any half way decent filter. You usually get what you pay for in terms of coated and multi coated filters.

As far as things to do with your nifty fifty... The main uses i see are selective focus and low light ambient lit work. I always like to take night photos around town.