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This is the second post in a series about focal length for food photography. Check out the other posts in this series, 35mm, 85mm & 105mm.
The 50mm focal length is one that many of us start using because it’s considered a ‘great all-rounder’. We’ll get into what that means in a little more detail shortly.
There are also a variety of different lenses you can buy in the 50mm category. With a variety of maximum apertures which dictate the price of the lens.
The Great All-Rounder
Why is the 50mm considered a good all-round lens?
The simplest answer is that the 50mm focal length is equivalent to ‘what our eyes see’. It can easily be used to capture a range of angles including overhead, straight on and 45-degree without experiencing too much perspective distortion.
It’s also a lens that is suitable for a range of different niches. From travel and landscape photography to weddings and portraits, street photography and still life.
What I love the most about the 50mm is that if I needed to pack one lens for a trip where I knew I was capture ‘happy snaps’, travel shots and food, this focal length would be able to adapt.
Lens Quiz
Which Lens Matches Your Food Photography Style?
50mm is a Great Focal Length For Flatlays & Overhead Shots
When it comes to finding the hero angle for 50mm focal length, there are two angles that stand out the most:
- Overhead
- Straight-on
Note: You can still introduce perspective distortion as it depends on your distance from the subject. But you will get less with the 50mm than the 35mm focal lengths for still life.
50mm is not too wide, but not too tight. So it’s a great in-between focal length when you’re just starting out and you’re not sure what your style is.
Overhead and straight on shots can be easy to compose if you are new to composition or are trying new composition techniques.
RELATED: 4 Ultimate Lenses For Beautiful Food Photography.
Tell a Food Story With the 50mm Focal Length
Most food photographers get into food photography not just for the food, but the whole story behind our food. Think back to the time when you first discovered food photography existed.
Were you captivated by a food scene? I know I was.
Still, life is about adding elements to tell a story, and the 50mm focal length for food photography gives us a good amount of space in which to play with our foodie subjects.
Helps Negative Space & Text Constraints
If you’re shooting client work or have text constraints that you need to work around, the 50mm can give you enough breathing room to account for text.
It’s, therefore, a great focal length for client and magazine work.
Even if a client wants a tight shot, it’s worth getting a shot of the setup with the 50mm so there is more room to crop for different orientations and aspect ratios that we need to with blog templates, website headers and assets, plus social media needs.
I’ll bet you have a 50mm lens! Tell me in the comments if I’m right?!
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Fanette
I sure do! And with my 100mm macro, it’s my go -to lens 馃檪
I love this series Rachel, so much great information! Thank you so much!
Rachel
It’s such a great all-rounder right! We just can’t do without it. It’s mostly my third choice for a lens, but I couldn’t shoot without having it. Especially for larger flat lays.
jjorge
I have a fast Nikon 50 mm 1.4 and it’s the lens I use the most because, as you already said, I use it to tell the story of the food and the distortion provided seems to me the most convenient for most photos.
Rachel
That’s great that you have realised it works the best for your style of food photography!Thanks for sharing!
Swagatika Nayak
I use 50 mm for all my food photos. I would definitely try my 35 mm in my next shoot.
Thank you Rachel
Rachel
SO great to hear! Do you have a cropped sensor or a full-frame? The only thing about the 35mm on a full-frame is that there can be distortion introduced if you try to capture a subject too close!
Elena
I use sigma 50 mm 1.4 art for my food photos now, plus macro rings to capture some details. Love it!)
Rachel
Love it! I know that’s a great lens. Do you have a cropped sensor or full frame? How do you like your macro extender?
Elena
I use full frame canon 6d and the cheapest macro extender from aliexpress, but suddenly It works good and fulfills its functions in the way I like it!
Rachel
I always love hearing that Elena as I haven’t had too much experience with extenders! Good to know you’ve been able to use it in the way you like it.
Cindy
Great series Rachel. I have 3 lenses. A 50 mm for overheads/flatlays, a 24-70 mm lens that I love for shooting video and a 100 mm macro that is probably my favourite for capturing details.
Since watching the video with you and Lauren, I have been taking my F stop on the 100 mm lens way up to 16 and above and experimenting with that.
Rachel
Love it, Cindy! The 24-70mm is a great range of focal lengths in one. Although I’m biased to primes, it’s great to have access to different angles of view for style!
Natalie
I literally just bought my 50mm and for all those reasons you mentioned above ! I love it ,it’s such a great lens .Great read,thanks for sharing
Rachel
It’s such a great focal length! A great staple to have. Thanks for reading Natalie!
Ashley Madden
Thank you Rachel! I had questions about the 50 mm, you touched on all of them! As always, so helpful!
Ashley
Rachel
Woohoo! That’s super. So glad to hear that Ashley. Thanks for reading!
Katia
I have 50mm Sigma Art 1.4 and I love it, another lense i have but use less is 100mm Canon 2.8. Its funny that after i have got 50mm, i dont go to 100 mm that much – possibly missing out on smth.
Rachel
I think it all depends on what you want to capture and what stories you want to tell right! I do love the 100mm focal length. Perhaps read the post on that focal length https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/105mm-focal-length/, it might inspire you to get out your maco!
Barbara Cantrell
Hi.
I read your post on the 50mm lens and bought one. I think I will like it but I cant figure out how to use it with my camera. I am a total rookie. I have a Panasonic G7. I bought a metabones attachment as well. My camera kept reading no lens attached but everything was properly fitted. So I changed my settings to “shoot without lens”. I cant figure out how to focus the lens and everything is extremely close up. Can you help?
Thank you
Rachel
Hey Barbara! I am sorry to hear your new lens isn’t working for you. I’m not familiar with Panasonic cameras or lenses, but what first comes to mind are two things. There could be a failure with the attachment OR the lens itself might not be compatible with your camera. Usually, or at least with other brands, there are lenses for cropped sensor cameras and full-frame cameras. We always want to buy the one that will work with our camera. Which 50mm Panasonic lens did you buy, or was it another brand? Let me know so I can see if I can point you in the right direction 馃檪
Barbara
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S Nikkor lens
Rachel Korinek
Sorry I didn’t see this Barbara. I’m not specifically up to speed with if every lens can be used on other brands outside of Nikon and Canon. If you know you can use the lens with a Panasonic and you’ve purchased the right adaptor. From what you’re saying, it sounds like there is a compatibility issue. Who did you purchase the lens from?
Ashley Madden
Hey Rachel,
Could you shed light on how you use the 60mm on a full frame and if you recommend? I believe you mention that you use this lens in an earlier post. Also I’ve asked questions on each post!! eeee sorry! You’ve been so helpful 馃檪
Rachel
Of course Ashley! I answer every blog comment and always appreciate the conversation 馃檪 If you have a full-frame, I recommend getting 50mm, 85mm/90mm and a 100mm/105mm before the 60mm. I do have a 60mm lens, however, 60mm and 50mm are so close, and the 60mm macro won’t get you as good 45-degree shots as it’s not a narrow focal length like the 100mm/105mm. I do recommend a 60mm focal length for a cropped sensor, which is different.
Roberta Dall'Alba
First lens I bought <3 (just because I broke my kit lens ? fate!)
Rachel
It’s a staple! So glad to hear that x
Pam
I LOVE MY 50 MM!!! I also have the 85 and it’s what I’m mainly using at the moment but when I see that I have the 50 (because sometimes I forget) it’s like I fall in love with it all over again.
Rachel Korinek
Oh, I love that Pam! It is nice when that happens and a good reminder for us to always explore!
Anita
Great Post ! I will start using my 50 mm from now on for great food photography … Thank you,
Rachel Korinek
That’s so great to hear! You have a full-frame camera right?