In this guide, we’ll discover what makes a lens nifty and how a nifty fifty is your best choice.
The art and science of photography comes with many acronyms, rules, and terminology.
As part of your journey as a photographer, you must learn, understand, and embrace such cultural norms to fully optimize your experience.
It’s also essential to stand amongst peers and “talk shop.”
Nifty fifty is one of the most common expressions amongst photographers in the know.
A nifty fifty is a cheap and cheerful lens featuring a 50mm focal range and a friendly price tag.
It’s the lens every photographer should have in their camera bag for fun experiments and experiences.
50mm is one of the most common focal ranges, and almost all lens brands offer at least one variant of this focal range.
Fortunately, Fujifilm X Series photographers have several optically sharp 50mm lenses to choose from.
The big question is, are they nifty enough? Let’s take a look.
Nifty Fifty – Terms And Conditions
Fujifilm X-T5 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
Nifty fifty is a term used to describe a lens featuring a 50mm focal distance.
There are several 50mm lenses with different apertures and price points in full-frame brands such as Canon or Nikon.
Typically, the wider the aperture, the higher the quality of the build and the better the optical configuration.
The aperture and build quality also significantly impact the price of each nifty fifty lens.
In some circles, a true nifty fifty is a cheaper-quality 50mm lens with an aperture of around f/2 to f/4.
When I shot with Canon cameras in the early days, my favorite nifty fifty was the Canon EF Mount 50mm f/1.8 STM lens (a favourite on our list of the best Canon lenses).
It was, and still is, one of the cheapest 50mm full-frame lenses.
It’s lightweight, sharp enough, has a wide aperture, and captures decent image quality.
Aside from calling it a nifty fifty, I also labeled it plastic-fantastic. It retails for around US$130, making it incredibly affordable and accessible.
Canon also offers an RF Mount 50mm f/1.8 STM lens for around US$230.
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When it comes to Fujifilm 50mm lenses, there’s a slight caveat to the nifty fifty label.
Fuji X Series cameras use an APS-C 1.5x cropped sensor. As a result, a 50mm Fuji lens has the equivalent focal range of a 75mm full-frame lens.
If we’re going to be exact and scientific about it, a 35mm Fuji lens, such as the XF 35mm f/2, is the equivalent of a 50mm full-frame lens from Canon. Clear as mud!
For the sake of this article, we’ll consider the Fujifilm range of prime lenses to highlight any lens with around 50mm APS-C focal range.
We’ll cover the Fujifilm 30-35mm (45-52mm full frame equivalent) focal range another day.
Why is Fifty So Nifty?
Fujifilm X-T3 + XF 50mm f/1 R WR
While researching this article, I thought it important to examine what makes the 50mm focal distance so useful.
I’ve shot with, tested, and reviewed every Fuji 50mm variant. Nothing but hard science here, folks!
Keep in mind that a nifty fifty is a relatively compact prime lens with an aperture of around f/2. It also has to be affordable and easy to master.
The ability to work with a single prime lens in almost any situation makes a lens of this nature nifty.
Walking out of the house with a 50mm prime fitted to your camera creates a simple photography experience.
One where you must make the most of a single lens in street scenes, portraits, architecture, or even landscapes.
Given the compact size of the lens, your overall camera and 50mm lens combo are lightweight and easy to carry by hand.
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF 50mm f/2 R WR
I recently employed a similar approach when I undertook the Fujifilm Single Lens Challenge.
However, in that scenario, I was working with a Fuji XF 27mm f/2.8 lens with a 40.5mm full-frame equivalent focal distance – the same thing, but different.
Given that a fifty of the nifty variety is cheap, there’s a lot of charm in squeezing as much as possible out of such an inexpensive lens.
How Nifty Are Fuji’s Fifties?
Fujifilm X-E4 + XF 50mm f/2 R WR
Fujifilm X Series photographers have many choices when it comes to X-mount lenses with a focal range of around 50mm.
There are 50mm Fuji lenses suited to enthusiasts and 50mm lenses suited to professionals.
Having a diverse range of options for such a standard focal range is essential to support every level of photography skill and budget.
To complete the nifty fifty checklist, the lens should be affordable, compact, lightweight, simple, and have a decent aperture.
Let’s check out the Fuji range to determine what lenses fit the bill.
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR
My Nifty Fifty | Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR
I wouldn’t hesitate to refer to the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 lens as Fuji’s best nifty fifty option.
It’s a lightweight and compact prime measuring ø60.0mm x 59.4mm (2.36 x 2.34”) and weighing 200g (0.44lb).
Given its small size and weight, it balances perfectly on any Fujifilm X Series camera, from the X-S20 to the flagship X-T5.
Its wide f/2 maximum aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and delivers subtle depth of field.
The XF 50mm f/2 captures swirling background blur and light point bokeh if there’s enough distance between a subject and background elements.
The weather-sealed lens boasts fast focus performance, a manual aperture ring, and excellent ergonomics.
The only area where it doesn’t meet the nifty fifty criteria is price. Available in black or silver, the XF 50mm f/2 retails for around US$460.
However, it’s an incredibly solid lens with exceptional build quality. It’s a fun lens to work with, especially given its size.
I love the image quality and sharpness the lens produces in almost every setting.
I consider it to be THE Fuji Nifty Fifty lens of choice.
Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
While we’re on the topic of Fuji 50mm lenses, it’s essential to cover other lenses with the same or similar focal distances.
Starting with the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, it’s one of the sharpest lenses in the Fuji fleet.
The Fuji 56mm f/1.2 is considered the go-to lens for portrait photography with an X Series camera.
It boasts sublime optical quality thanks to its fast, wide f/1.2 maximum aperture, delivering excellent depth of field and delicious background blur and bokeh.
Image sharpness is assured throughout the aperture with clean corners from f/2.8. It’s not very nifty for a fifty, though!
It’s an incredibly solid lens measuring Ø79.4mm×76mm (3.1×3”) and weighing 445g (1lb). You could hammer nails into wood with it.
It weighs over double the Fuji XF 50mm f/2! The current generation Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR is the third 56mm lens developed by the Japanese optics wizards.
The original 56mm f/1.2 R prime lens was launched in 2014 and was quickly hailed as a perfect portrait lens for early X Series photographers.
Fujifilm X-T5 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
In a strange move by Fuji, they released the XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR APD version later that same year. It was the same design, size, weight, and aperture as the original.
The only key difference was the altered lens configuration, which featured an APD filter lens element that enhanced background blur and bokeh wide open.
The most recent version of the XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR boasts faster focus performance and weather sealing. It retails for around US$1,000.
I recently tested and reviewed the lens paired with the Fujifilm X-T5. I put it through its paces, photographing family portraits, street scenes, and a concert in a low-lit event space (you can see the photos from the latter here).
In every scenario and setting, the 56mm Fuji delivers beyond expectations.
The APD version retails for a premium of around US$1,600, which is well out of the nifty fifty ballpark.
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 R WR
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 R WR
If you’re looking for an X Mount Fuji lens with an exceptionally wide aperture for portraiture, I’ve got a treat for you!
The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 is a portrait photographer’s dream bit of glass. That’s right! I said f/1!
Wide open at f/1, the lens delivers exceptionally sharp detail in the center while any background elements blur into smooth swirls and bokeh balls.
It’s truly mesmerizing to behold a portrait shot at f/1. The weather-sealed lens is the only Fuji lens with such a wide aperture.
At Ø87mm×103.5mm (3.4 x 4.1”) and 845g (1.9lb), it’s much bigger and bulkier than any of the XF 56mm lenses. Side by side with the XF 50mm f/2, it dwarfs the little nifty fifty.
The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 is a pro-grade X Series lens suited to portraiture and product photography.
Due to the high caliber build, optics, and output, it costs around US$1,500.
While it’s a fifty, it’s certainly far from nifty. It’s big, heavy, and super expensive.
Which Fifty Does Greg Find Nifty?
Fujifilm X-E4 + XF 50mm f/2 R WR
Having tested and reviewed all of the Fuji 50mm and 56mm lenses, I have come to an important conclusion. Before I reveal all, it’s essential to understand a few factors.
While I’ve done my fair share of portrait work, I’m not a professional portrait photographer.
Furthermore, I’ve shot plenty of product and food images, but it’s also not my bread and butter. Pardon the pun.
Until recently, my Fuji kit consisted of wide prime lenses, including the XF16mm f/2.8, XF 23mm f/2, and XF 27mm f/2.8.
To complete the kit, I needed a longer prime of around 50mm. There are many to choose from.
The XF 56mm delivers exceptional image quality and background.
The 50mm f/1 takes everything great about the 56mm f/1.2 lenses and cranks up the depth of field and subject separation. However, both are much larger, heavier, and more expensive than a traditional nifty fifty.
Ultimately, I chose the lightweight, compact, and affordable Fuji XF 50mm f/2 as the perfect 50mm Nifty Fifty to pair with my X-E4.
I use that X Series combo for the product photos I use in my Shotkit camera and lens reviews.
Fifty Shades Of Fujifilm
Fujifilm X-T 5 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
As a street and travel photographer, I love having a small range of wide, compact, lightweight prime lenses.
I don’t own any Fuji zoom lenses, as I prefer to approach my work and play with a fast prime.
Until recently, I thought my trio of wide prime lenses was all I needed.
However, once I picked up the Fuji nifty fifty, I suddenly realized its potential to expand my work and explore genres I’d long neglected.
I was suddenly interested in elevating my product shots, practicing portraiture, and applying a 50mm focal length in my street work.
I now realize how essential a nifty fifty is in my Fuji kit.
Do you own a Fuji nifty fifty prime lens for your X Series camera? What’s your favorite 50mm from Fuji?
