In this video, I answer the commonly googled phrase: “Event Photography with a 50mm Lens.
Can you use a 50mm lens to shoot events?
The short answer is yes, of course. It is important to remember that there are no “correct” lenses to use when shooting an event. On my Youtube channel and this blog, I have repeatedly said that you only need two lenses to get the job done as an event photographer: that would be a 24-70mm lens and a 70-200mm lens. Sure, you will probably want something wider than 24mm to round off your kit, bu you would most likely be able to make do. So why bother with a 50mm lens? Read on…
Why would you use a 50mm at events?
Using a 50mm lens at an event does have advantages.
First lets talk about the purely technical and most obvious:
While a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm lens would cover your bases in regards to focal length, or field of view, they are not going to be as effective in low light as a prime lens would be. In general, those lenses tend to max out at an aperture of f2.8, with few exceptions. Meanwhile, prime lenses (even of the most affordable varieties) tend to max out at at-least f1.8. This improvement in low light gathering ability can make a significant difference when shooting in especially low light.
Why else might you choose to shoot an event with a 50mm lens?
First, in most cases, using a 50mm lens is going to result in a much lighter kit. There are several advantages to this, not just that you won’t get fatigued. Personally, I enjoy the lighter (and smaller) kit when I’m working through tight crowds. I find that I am personally able to maneuver better and when I poke my lens through tight crowds, like when I shoot over someone’s shoulder, I am significantly less intrusive.
Second, I enjoy using a fixed focal length because I know exactly what my field of view is before I raise my camera to my eye. Through repetition, I have learned to see in focal lengths, which means I know exactly how many feet forward or backward I need to take to get the shot I am pre visualizing.
Third, a 50mm focal length is considered “normal.” What this means is that it approximately represents the field of view of the human. There is some debate on how accurate this statement is, but what is not debatable is that a 50mm lens does not have distortion- either barrel or pin cushion.
Can you photograph an event with just a 50mm lens?
Of course you can shoot an event with just a 50mm lens, but I would not necessarily recommend it. It will all depend on the demands of the job. If, for example, you need to photograph a speaker on stage, you simply just might not have the reach with a 50mm lens to do so. However, if you are photographing a party as a roaming photographer, with plenty of space to work in, it might be sufficient. Personally, I plan on experimenting with this in the future and sharing my results. Stay tuned!
Do I use a 50mm lens when shooting events?
Currently, I use a 50mm lens to shoot my events, but in a limited way. As I shared in the above video, I have a Canon RF 1.2 lens, but do not have a body to shoot it on. I do however from time to time adapt vintage lenses to my Canon 5diii. I mostly use a Pentax 50mm SMC 1.2, which I absolutely love. It’s full of character, has a wide maximum aperture, and has a special way of rendering color (warm and earth toned). However, being a manually focussed lens, it’s quite difficult to use. I love the challenge, but I look forward to being able to use a more functional 50mm lens for my event work.
A few personal thoughts on using a 50mm lens at events.
Early in my career, I learned to love the look of tightly framed shots of people, with a telephoto lens, at a maximum aperture. It is a look long associated with professional photography. But while I like it, I do think it can easily be over done.
The TV show Lost comes to mind: I used to find its use of long lenses and tightly framed shots to be an indication of a higher production value than what was normal for the time. But now, I actually find it quite disorienting. Shots like these lend themselves to what is a very human story, but at times this is done at the expense of offering any real sense of space when not balanced with a wider field of view. But even when Lost does widen its field of view, it is usually done by backing up further with a long lens, still resulting in a compressed look. By the way, I also think this is done to hide the fact that locations are often being reused.
These days I favor a more “natural” look with my photography. I find that a 50mm lens with its well balanced field of view and lack of distortion does the trick.
If you’d like some additional help or just want to support the free resources I create for photographers, please consider checking out my Patreon page. I offer additional help to photographers with things like business coaching and portfolio reviews. A lot of work goes into creating these resources; Your support means the world to me and truly makes a difference.
Instagram | @retrograding https://www.instagram.com/retrograding/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mikmilman/