I’ve been using the 50mm f/1.8 STM lens, also known as a nifty fifty, for a full year and I now completely understand the hype around this popular focal length and lens. The nifty fifty on a full frame camera, gives you a similar view to what your eyes see, so it’s a very easy lens to pick up and enjoy. The lens is a budget friendly choice at $125, so it’s considered an easy choice for many who want professional results, at a very affordable price point. At f/1.8 the lens lets in plenty of light, and combined with my Canon 6D, which performs well at a high ISO, makes this a winning combination for photographers that find themselves in low light situations.
Before I owned this lens, I was used to using a zoom lens, so switching to a prime lens was a bit of an adjustment. The 50mm forces you to move your body to get the shot, since the focal length is fixed. This makes for a much more active photographer, which is a good thing in my opinion, and forces you to get a bit more creative with your shot. On the downside, the 50mm is not necessarily the best focal length for every situation. I’ve found in small spaces, a wider focal length would be helpful, such as a 35mm. Many portrait photographers also love the 85mm focal length for the flattering compression of a telephoto focal length.
If video is important to you, this lens has a STM stepping motor which is ideal for video work, where you need a quiet autofocus system. It’s compact and light, which is great if portability and ergonomics are important to you. I’ve often heard the advice that the best camera is the one you have with you, so keeping things light is important if you are going to be carrying or holding your camera for a long period of time. Overall, I’ve been very happy with this lens, so much so, that it’s rarely left my camera body this past year.