7 Weeks of Photography with a 50mm Prime Lens

At the end of 2024, I decided I was going to shoot for a month exclusively on the Sony FE 50mm 1.8. I was fully expecting to get to the end of those four weeks and head straight back to using other lenses. However, I’m now (as of writing this) seven weeks in, so I thought I’d share five of the realisations I’ve had thus far while practising photography exclusively with a budget 50mm prime lens.

All of the images showcased in this blog post were shot over the last 7 weeks on the aforementioned Sony 50mm.

Why did I need to do this?

Truth be told, I didn't need to, but for many years 50mm had been my favorite focal length. Throughout 2024, however, I found myself wanting to use it less and less, often finding it too limiting for most of what I'm currently photographing. Since I believe knowing your favorite focal length for photography is really important, I wanted to see how I felt about 50mm after using it exclusively.

Connection and movement

The biggest benefit I've noticed is more related to using a prime lens than the specific 50mm focal length. Using a prime has made me feel more connected to what I'm photographing. Let me explain.

You will have no doubt heard of ‘‘zooming with your feet’’ and physically working a scene, this definitely came into play here. Sometimes, it feels like the camera and lens disappear in my hand. Zooming and changing focal lengths on a zoom lens can be distracting. It pulls me out of the moment and often presents too many options.

Moving around more to make the fixed prime work has meant I'm spending more time assessing my subject and considering my options, rather than just staying put in my favourite vantage point and taking photos at multiple focal lengths. Of course that stand and zoom approach has it’s benefits too, especially when you are re visiting a spot you know well and want to camp out for the perfect moment to occur.

The overall experience using a prime though, has simply been more immersive, which is interesting because the versatility of a zoom is certainly convenient. I've traded some flexibility for a more grounded and connected process. It feels more about me and the location, rather than me, the location, and constantly changing the focal length on a zoom.

I definitely want my choices to be made with more conscious thought when it comes to taking photos. It may sound silly coming from a photographer, but I’ve spent less time looking at the back of my camera weighing up options and more time thinking about my environment before eventually taking my shot.

Easier post processing (kind of)

Because it's a prime lens again, not just because it's 50mm, post-processing and editing have been simpler. I haven't been standing in one spot taking the same shot at different focal lengths (apologies for banging on about that again) but it does mean fewer images to sort through.

I might have worked harder in the field to get specific shots, but then I haven't had to sit and delete similar shots at two or three different focal lengths when I get home. This does mean fewer options in post-processing, but I've generally felt I chose the right spot to take the photo at 50mm, so I didn't really need the extra choices cluttering and confusing the editing process anyway.

Same doubts

Now, having mentioned two fantastic pros, as I said at the start of this post one of the reasons I initially doubted 50mm was because I found it a bit too tight for most of what I photograph these days.

That was still true throughout the last seven weeks. There were moments in basically every photography session where I thought, "Nah, the 50mm is too close." Which despite annoying me initially it didn't stop me from moving elsewhere, reassessing my subject, and still coming away with a good photo.

You can quickly see this as a pro because it broadens your perspective and adds to your knowledge of what does and doesn't work, regardless of whether you choose to use a prime lens. It's really great to learn and experience that.

Problem-solving is so valuable in photography, and being forced to problem-solve because you can't just adjust the lens back 5 or 10mm is really good practice.

There will definitely be moments in the future where I miss a shot of a fleeting moment because it's too tight for my style and I don't have time to readjust, so I guess I'm still seeing it as a con for now.

Unexpected game changer

My favorite thing I noticed over the last seven weeks was how streamlined my images looked. Regardless of the subject, time of day, or whether I was standing closer or further away, they all have a cohesive look with the same compression, distortion, and vignetting.

Obviously, if you change lenses in the field, or change focal length on a zoom, the overall look of the image will be quite different. 16mm will have much more distortion than 35mm, and different lenses will all render bokeh and colour in their own way.

It shouldn't have come as such a surprise, given I often talk about lens choice being one of the major factors in our photography style. However, it’s been a long time since I’ve shot with a prime exclusively to "re-notice" this.

It kind of gave me the same feeling as when you shoot 4x5 sheet film with the same lens; no matter what you're photographing, each image just feels so connected to the others. This was especially obvious when editing photos from different days; they all seemed to click that little bit easier.

If one of the points in this post was swaying me to swapping to prime lens photography only, it would be this one. Especially because I know first hand how hard it is to keep a cohesive style when you shoot across such a wide range of subjects and genres. I would hate to be a photographer than only ever takes photos on the beach, but I’d also hate to have a gallery full of images that look like they could all be from different artists (perhaps that’s me currently, you’d have to be the judge there)

A final, basic but major pro

Finally, given that this was a major reason why 50mm had been my favorite focal length for so long, it's no surprise I had the same feelings about how minimal and easygoing a small 50mm lens on a mirrorless body is. I've very firmly reached the point where I couldn't care less about carrying a bunch of lenses around, swapping them while I'm out, and diving into my camera bag.

The 50mm lens paired with the Sony A7CII (which is what I shot 90% of the images on over the last 7 weeks) has honestly been the most creatively freeing experience to date for me. Pair that with the Bellroy Venture sling bag that I’ve been using to house my gear while out, and were talking a minimal photographers dream combo.

Of course, that would be the case with any tiny, fast prime lens; some are smaller, some are a bit bigger, but the joy of shooting that lightweight and minimal setup has played a huge role in my enjoyment while out, as I expected it would.

I’m now extremely curious how I would feel if I invested in a more premium prime that is ever so slightly wider. Could that be my forever set up?

With all that being said, if you've never shot with a prime lens for an extended period without swapping to other lenses or focal lengths, I highly recommend doing it. You'll probably learn a lot about yourself and your photography.

It could be something you enjoy so much that it becomes your go-to setup, or you might realize how much you hate it. Either way, at least you can then cross small primes off your list of gear to consider. It's a valuable experiment, even if just to confirm your preferences.

You might discover a newfound appreciation for the simplicity of a single focal length, or you might find that the limitations outweigh the benefits for your style of shooting. There's really no way to know until you try it. And who knows? Maybe it'll inspire you to try other primes or even influence how you use your zoom lenses.