Is it really true that a 50 mm lens for recording video is the best and most common way to do it? We investigate this here and break down the pros and cons of this focal length for your videos.
In the world of video content and filmmaking, the question of whether a 50 mm lens for recording video content is the most standard way or not is quite common, and there is a reason for it. This focal length has been praised and adopted by most of the professionals out there, making it pretty much a standard focal length. Still, it’s not for everyone and is definitely not perfect.
Pros of 50 mm Lens for Recording Video:
Anyone involved in narrative filmmaking will agree to the fact that with 50mm shooting, viewers believe what is being recorded happened in real life. The shots are made in a way that makes the viewer feel they are present in the scene and experiencing the same things as the objects in the video.
This is where 50mm prime lenses shine due to their ability to provide natural perspective and realism. Such lenses can replicate a human eye's field of view, meaning that in a scene, this focal length will let the viewer feel more personal and direct with the objects, as if they were standing next to them at a comfortable distance.
This is why a 50mm focal length is widely used to shoot a comfortable two-shot or a series of shot-reverse-shots (usually done in a conversation), which then feels natural and engaging for viewers of this video.
These prime lenses are designed with wider aperture values (f/1.8, f/1.4, etc.) and can introduce a smooth, shallow depth of field behind the objects, making them pop on the screen, which is very appealing and easy to focus on for viewers in the entire scene.
Such lenses can also deliver impressive low-light stills and footage (old lenses are prone to being shaky due to a lack of image stabilization) because of wide apertures. All of this happens without being in the telephoto domain, but creates a nice balance of focus and background blur without completely obliterating whatever is in the background.
Cons of 50 mm Lens for Recording Video:
But 50mm is not a universal solution for shooting videos, as it can be incredibly restrictive when shooting in environments like crowded streets and tight indoor spaces, especially in a small room. If you’re rocking an APS-C or Micro Four Thirds camera body, then it will be virtually impossible to capture an entire scene or even the full body of a person due to the smaller and cropped sensors and the mid-telephoto nature of the lens.
Moreover, such lenses cannot fit in a wider shot, especially when the video footage requires more than one person in the frame. They are also not suitable for fast-moving and dynamic environments; lower focal lengths like 24mm and 30mm are recommended for such shots. If you are someone who relies on zooming, especially outdoors, then 50mm is also not for you.
Shooting with a wide-screen 50mm lens in 2025
This year has been pretty exciting in the camera optics industry, as brands have come forward to bring more and more innovative 50mm lenses, especially with the arrival of cheaper anamorphic optics. This new generation of anamorphic breed, designed with 50mm focal lengths, can now deliver ultra-widescreen shots and also bring in distinctive lens flares and creamy bokeh, which were once only specific to cinema-grade video of Hollywood.
One such is the SIRUI Saturn 35/50/75mm Full-Frame Carbon Fiber Anamorphic Lens series, which takes videography to a whole new level. The full-frame 50 mm lens for recording video in this series is designed to combine the classic benefits of this focal length in videography with next-generation optical features, which are specifically targeted towards professional video production in 2025.
Due to its anamorphic nature of optics, you get a super widescreen video shot with a bright T2.9 aperture that can deliver ultra-crisp footage even in low light with super creamy oval bokeh. If you are targeting natural human perspective, macro capabilities, or mid-telephoto reach, this lens series has got you covered with different focal lengths.
Moreover, you get a super lightweight build, which is not common in this category of anamorphic lenses, and it is compatible with all modern full-frame cameras, making it a worthy investment for your videography career.
Wrapping Up:
A 50 mm lens for recording video has a huge advantage of mimicking the perspective of human engagement in a particular scene, but it cannot be applied to all types of video shooting schemes. The 50mm lens offering in the SIRUI Saturn 35/50/75mm Full-Frame Carbon Fiber Anamorphic Lens series fixes the problem of restrictive field of view and introduces cinema-grade features to the final video footage.
