Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S

Earlier in the week I blogged about the new Nikon 50mm f/1.8 that I found under the Christmas tree with my name on it.  Today, I thought I'd share a little more on my first experiences with a prime lens.

First and foremost, it's a f/1.8!  The primary driver for my wanting this lens was to be able to shoot those shallow depth-of-field portraits in low light conditions.  While it's not something I do a lot of, shooting the nieces and nephews indoors has always been challenging.  I'm hopeful this new option in the camera bag will help combat that particular scenario.  Oh yeah, did I mention the Bokeh? ;)

Second, it's a prime lens - my first.  "Sneaker Zoom"!I'm STILL turning the focus ring expecting the image to become magnified in the viewfinder before remembering I need to move my feet :).  With a minimum focus distance of about 18 inches, being able to shoot with both eyes open has proven yet again to be a useful skill.  Prevents me from plowing into my subject when the sneaker zoom gets a little carried away... 2 left feet and all.

50mm is a nice focal length for my purposes, and it's a pretty affordable tool to add to your own camera bag.  If you find yourself in the market, I'd highly recommend this lens.  You may also consider Nikon's 35mm f/1.8 specifically for DX cameras.