Why is my 50mm macro my favourite lens for nonetheless life and meals images? That is one thing I get requested on a regular basis. I shoot with a Sony a7 II, a7R III and a Sony 50mm macro lens. Working with pretty small units and scenes, I like the flexibleness the 50mm macro provides me.
Not needing to face as removed from my topic as I’d with a 90mm or 100mm, is a bonus too. I can work in pretty tight areas and nonetheless get an total shot, however then at actually a flick of a swap bounce into 1:2 or 1:1 macro and actually seize the finer particulars.
Flexibility
For me, it truly is all concerning the flexibility and flexibility of this lens. within the 1:4 setting, I may even shoot portraits and landscapes if I want to. If I’m on location I can and have used this lens to shoot panorama pictures and in a snap some portraits as effectively, then with out stopping I can go straight again to taking pictures bees and flowers.
I do even have a Zeiss 55mm lens which is really beautiful for portraits, however I can not get in shut as I can with a macro for nice up-close pictures. Typically a 50mm could be a little too shut when working with bees and the opportunity of getting stung, however I discover if you’re sluggish and regular and don’t annoy them, they’re glad to pose for a photograph or two.
Nice focus
Whether or not on autofocus or guide focus, this lens captures beautiful element. The height meter on Sony cameras actually can assist help to get optimum focus, even with my eyes not being fairly what they was once with the small viewfinder.
There may be even a maintain perform with a small button on the aspect of the lens, which permits me to carry my focus and transfer round inside a shot. I will be 50mm or 5 meters (approx. 16.5 ft) away from my topic and the main focus remains to be wonderful. If I really feel the necessity to transfer in shut, I may even add extension tubes to the lens and actually get in shut.
Bokeh & blur
I am keen on the blur and bokeh from this lens — it’s a little softer than some 90mm macro lenses. Often, when working up shut together with your topic you get extra of a blur than a real bokeh, and the blur on this lens of sentimental and creamy, good for my type of images. I really don’t imagine I can get as near my topic and get the blur and bokeh with a typical 50mm lens, as I can with my 50mm macro.
Lovely pictures
Now I do know all of us say it’s the photographer and never the tools that makes stunning imagery, however having actually nice tools could make creating stunning pictures a pleasure. Certain I can take the identical picture with my smartphone. Whereas they’re completely wonderful nowadays, there appears to be an total lack within the depth of subject that I can seize with my 50mm. With the suitable props, and the suitable gentle, I can take a secular on a regular basis object and switch it right into a factor of magnificence.
Weight & value
Whereas for some this isn’t a deciding issue, for me it was an enormous factor. I borrowed a 50mm macro for a number of days to check out earlier than I made a decision to purchase it.
I had all the time used a 90mm macro up to now. They’re large, heavy and infrequently expensive, even with the ‘cheaper’ manufacturers. This was considerably smaller and lighter than the Sony 90mm. I had moved to a mirrorless digicam system as a result of the burden of DSLR digicam gear was changing into a difficulty for me.
The truth that it was roughly half the value of the 90mm was additionally compelling. The 90mm runs AUD$1500 ($998 USD), whereas the 50mm runs AUD$800 ($498 USD). Right here’s an entire spec comparability:
90mm Macro
- Weight: 0.96kg (roughly 2.1 kilos)
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Aperture Blades: 9
- Minimal focal distance: 0.28m (roughly 11 inches)
50mm Macro
- Weight: 0.23kg (roughly 0.5 kilos)
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Aperture Blades: 7
- Minimal focal distance: 0.16m (roughly 6.3 inches)
Now I’m not saying the 90mm is a foul lens — it’s stunning. However for me with weight and value being an enormous issue, the standard of the pictures is excellent, so for my vote is for the 50mm.
