Last months I re-discovered my 50mm lens. To use that is a refreshment with inspiration rather than a limitation. I will try to explain what is happening and give some idea about my experience. Last week I have been in Barcelona only with the 50mm lens in the bag.

Photography is about seeing and recognizing the subject. Having a camera with a zoom lens the eyes of the photographer also are in "zoom mode".

When using only 50mm lens for weeks the eyes will be adapted to non zoom mode. The effect of not zooming with the brain helps to see the scene better.

Sure, there is always the question, what do I put in my bag.. leaving home with only a 50mm lens can be a bit scary. In the beginning you will feel that you missed opportunities because not having zoom lenses in the bag. After a while you don?t have that feeling anymore....

Making the composition in the viewfinder with the limitation not beeing able to zoom requires more concentration but with less parameters focus gets even stronger on seeing.

No zoom means, one parameter more to play with. I found this gave place to another parameter while taking the photograph. Since I started to use 50mm almost exclusively I am much more aware of apenture and the resulting DOF.

It seems with the 50mm lens to master technique became more easy and the burden to find subjects is lower since eyes are not zooming in and out. I can recommend to get a 50 mm lens and see the world in a much simpler way.