Why the 50mm Prime Lens (aka The Nifty Fifty) Should Be Your Next Camera Upgrade

If you’ve recently unboxed a shiny new camera and are wondering which lens to get next — stop scrolling. You could do a lot worse than picking up the humble, affordable, and utterly brilliant 50mm prime lens — lovingly known as the nifty fifty.

Whether you’re into street photography, portraits, or just want to level up your photo game, the 50mm prime might just become your new best friend.

I reach for mine probably 70% of the time for my Street photography— and here’s why. Also photos used in this blog were taken on the 50mm lens for reference. The canon RF 50mm lens has formed a powerful combo with my Canon EOS R6 Mark ii.

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1. Prime Lenses = Sharp Photos (and Fewer Gimmicks)

A prime lens means it has a fixed focal length — no zoom, no messing around. And that’s a good thing.

Fewer moving parts = better image quality and less distortion. It’s like swapping out fast food for a home-cooked meal — simpler, but way better results.

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2. 50mm Is Basically How We See the World

On a full-frame camera, the 50mm focal length is pretty close to what our eyes naturally see (around 40–50mm).

Translation?

Composing shots becomes super intuitive — what you see is pretty much what you get. That makes the 50mm perfect for natural-looking photos, especially for portraits and candid street photography.

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3. It’s Cheap (In the Best Way Possible)

The 50mm is often the cheapest lens in any camera brand’s lineup. Don’t let that put you off — this thing punches well above its price tag.

Most f/1.8 versions are great value for money, with sharp images, lovely background blur, and solid performance. You won’t need to sell a kidney to get one, which is always a win.

Seriously you won’t get a sharper lens at this price point.

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4. It’s Fast. Like, Really Fast.

Not race-pigeon fast (although I’d watch that sport), but fast in photography terms — meaning it has a wide aperture, often f/1.8 or even wider.

A wider aperture = more light hitting your sensor. That’s perfect for:

• Low-light situations (goodbye, grainy indoor shots)

• Beautiful background blur (aka that dreamy bokeh effect)

• Creative control over depth of field

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5. Light, Small, and Discreet — Perfect for Street Photography

No one likes lugging around heavy gear. The 50mm prime is compact, lightweight, and doesn’t scream “Hey, look at me with my giant lens!” — which is exactly what you want when capturing candid moments in the wild.

Plus, big telephoto lenses? Great for wildlife… not so great when pigeons mistake them for a convenient perch.

The 50mm however is the ideal lens for street photography, travel, or everyday carry.

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6. Ridiculously Versatile

The 50mm is like the Swiss Army knife of lenses. You can use it for:

• Portraits

• Street photography

• Documentary-style shots

• Even some landscapes

It forces you to move your feet, think about composition, and get creative — all good habits for growing as a photographer.

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Okay, But What’s the Catch?

No lens is perfect, and the nifty fifty has a couple of drawbacks to keep in mind:

1. Build Quality

Most budget 50mm lenses are made of plastic, which is why they’re affectionately known as the plastic fantastic. They’re not exactly rugged — but if you look after them, they’ll last for years.

2. No Image Stabilisation

Cheaper models usually don’t come with image stabilization, so you’ll want to keep your shutter speed above 1/50 when shooting handheld — unless you’re going for that intentional motion blur effect.

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Final Thoughts: Is the 50mm Prime Worth It?

In short: Absolutely.

Whether you’re new to photography or looking for a lightweight lens that delivers, the 50mm prime is one of the smartest and most fun investments you can make.

It’s cheap, sharp, fast, and super versatile — and it just might become your go-to lens like it did for me.