Best and Cheapest Prime :: Nikon 50mm 1.8D

The prime lens

Fixed focal length lenses are a must for all true photo enthusiasts and professional photographers. The pictures taken through prime lens presents an unmatchable quality of pictures, the quality which it places is tough to be achieved through zoom lens. For Nikon, it starts with 50mm 1.8D a full frame prime which delivers the sharpest images compared to any lens from Nikon.

What is a Prime Lens?

A prime lens is a fixed focal length lens. This is opposed to the zoom lens which does have varied focal lengths. The advantage of having a prime lens in your bag is the added low light capability. Most of the prime lens comes with an F value of 1.4-1.8, which is a ultrawide opening to your aperture. Since the optics are simpler to the design of a zoom lens, the prime can maintain a larger aperture. The prime lenses are available in the following focal lengths: 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, and 600mm.

With each upgrade in focal length there is a increased cost and the 600mm Nikon lens which has the aperture of f/4 comes at a price of $8700 or 388000 (approx.). So thats lot of money you spend for the glass. And when you have a 600mm prime, the quality of images that you will be viewing will be of superior quality.

Coming back to 50mm 1.8D

The lens costs around $150 or Rs 7000 (approx.) and this is extremely small lens or a pancake lens. But once you start shooting with this little wonder, you will want this clarity on every lens you shoot with.

To start, once you have the lens you will notice an orange marker on the aperture markings. Align the marker to 2.8 and the lock will slide in. Once you have this lens mounted you should be good to go.

The lens doesn't have a AF motor or VR to its belt, but for 50mm you won't really need the VR unless you have shaky hands. Also the lens would not autofocus on SLR's like D3000, D3100, D5000 and similar models lacking the internal focusing motor. Also with DX-type or cameras that are not full frame, this lens works as an excellent portrait lens giving you clarity and zoom close to 74mm.

The lens can also be used to take macro shots, which involves attaching a reverse coupler in front of any zoom lens and attaching the 50mm lens to the front. This creates amazing shots, but I personally don't think this is a good method as you won't get a sharp shot as in normal Macro lenses.

So do give this a try. Have a good day!

The contents displayed are copyrighted to Prasul Surendran, any unauthorized use or promotion is illegal.