The 50mm focal length has always been one of my favorite focal lengths. On a full frame or super 35mm camera, a 50mm lens will act as a beautiful “normal” length lens, very similar to the human eye’s field of view, while on a crop sensor camera (such as Micro Four Thirds) they Makes a great telephoto or portrait style lens. I really want to share some of my favorite affordable 50mm lenses with all my readers, so be sure to read on to see my top 5 picks.
Why 50mm Lenses Are So Great
In short, many 50mm lenses offer excellent image quality, wide apertures and low prices. Certain focal lengths are more challenging to design and build than others, which is why when you get to the extreme wide-angle or extreme telephoto end, there are fewer lens options… and they’re usually much more expensive, too. Without getting too deep into the mechanics of lens construction, it’s safe to say that certain focal lengths (particularly 50mm and 85mm) generally offer the best value for money. That’s why you might be able to find a 50mm lens for under $200 that, if the other lens happens to be a wide-angle or telephoto lens, outperforms the more expensive lens in terms of sharpness, color accuracy, and distortion lens. There are exceptions of course, but for the most part, a 50mm lens is great value for money and definitely lends itself to a cinematic look.
Before jumping into my top 5 list, a few things to note…
As the title of this article states, the lenses on this list are designed to fit budget needs. In other words, I’m not including Zeiss ultra-fast lenses, Cooke lenses, or any other very high-end cine lenses because they are too expensive for most filmmakers to afford. Instead, I want to share with you some 50mm lenses that produce results that are not far off from more expensive glass lenses, but at a price that independent filmmakers can afford. So not all of these lenses are “theater lenses” – meaning they don’t necessarily have manual apertures, follow focus gears, or hard stops on the focus ring. However, with the usual workarounds, they can be easily used in a film production environment.
Also, I decided to base this list on full-frame EF lenses because each lens on the list can be adapted to different camera mounts, including MFT.
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Why on the list: This lens is truly a workhorse and offers great value for money. although it doesn’t look like Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens Or as fast as its big brother, Canon f/1.2 L series lens, It’s the ideal 50mm lens for filmmakers on a budget. This is an extremely sharp lens with beautiful colors and is very fast at f/1.4. While the L series lenses are slightly faster and have better build quality, I wouldn’t recommend spending the extra money unless you are an experienced shooter and really need the extra speed.
Canon 50mm f/1.4 – B & H $399
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4
Why on the list: I mentioned above that I wouldn’t include the Zeiss Superspeeds on this list (because they’re too expensive), but this 50mm photography lens from Zeiss is more affordable and offers the gorgeous quality we’ve all come to expect from Zeiss. While it’s by no means the cheapest lens on this list, $725 is a steal considering the optical quality, not to mention the construction of the lens body, which is designed to last a long time.
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T – B & H $725
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 art lens
Why on the list: Sigma has released some incredible lenses over the past few years, some of which fall into the “art lens” category. This is actually the most expensive lens on the list and almost didn’t make the cut (because I wanted all the lenses to be under $1000), but if you have some extra cash to spend, it’s well worth it. I’ve shot with this lens twice and I’m really impressed with the sharpness, detail and skin tones it produces, which is a no-brainer for anyone who has purchased Sigma glass.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens – B & H $949
Sigma 50mm f/2.8
Why on the list: If you already own some Sigma glass and want to cover your 50mm focal length range, but don’t want to spend nearly $1000 on an art lens – this is a great option. The physical construction and overall feel of this lens are excellent, and the image quality it produces is impeccable. An important consideration with this lens is that it’s not as fast as other lenses on this list since it only opens to f/2.8, but not everyone needs an extremely fast lens. Personally, I usually set my lens to f/2.8 or above to get the sharpest image possible.
Sigma Normal 50mm f/2.8 – B & H $349
Rokinon 50mm T1.5 cine lens
Why on the list: First off, this is the only theater shot on the list, which is an important consideration for some shooters. I also like that this lens is part of a larger kit, so if you want to invest in an affordable cinema lens kit, this 50mm might be a good place to start. It’s very fast at T1.5 (roughly equivalent to f/1.4 for this lens), and it’s also very sharp when stopped down a bit. Other lenses on this list may give you slightly sharper or more accurate images, but this Rokinon 50mm is the only one that delivers a true cinema lens experience.
Rokinon 50mm T1.5 AS UMC Cine DS
In summary
All the lenses on this list are capable of delivering excellent results. Choosing between them depends largely on what lenses you already have in your kit, your budget, and your needs as a filmmaker. If you have a lot of Sigma or Canon glass, it’s always a good idea to equip your kit with well-matched lenses. But if you’re completely starting from scratch, or are an eclectic lens buyer, a Zeiss or Rokinon might be best for you.
For more tips on cinematic style shooting, be sure to check out My guide to shooting cinematic images with a digital SLR camera.
