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24mm vs 50mm [Complete Lens Comparison]

In: 
Published: 04/05/2023

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If you are shopping for lenses to use in real estate interior photography, the most popular options you have are the 24mm and 50mm lenses. The following 24mm vs 50mm guide reveals some crucial differences between the usability and performance of the two lenses.

24mm vs 50mm Lens Overview

When it comes to camera lenses for real estate photography, one of the most important aspects you need to consider is the focal length. The following guide reveals how the focal length determines the overall angle of view and usability of the 24mm and 50mm lenses.

A black DSLR Canon camera with a 50mm Canon lens placed on a white wooden surface

24mm Lens

The 24mm lens is a prime lens with a focal length of 24mm. Note that 24mm is just a focal length, and other factors, such as the aperture and construction quality, can make different 24mm lens models perform differently. 

 
Brand:
Sony E-mount FE 24mm
 
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1
 
Brand:
Sigma 24mm f/1.4
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.7
4.6
4.4
Brand:
Sony E-mount FE 24mm
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.7
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.6
Brand:
Sigma 24mm f/1.4
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.4

For instance, a 24mm lens designed for a full-frame camera might not perform the same as a 24mm lens designed for a crop-factor camera.

50mm Lens

A 50mm lens has a focal length of 50mm. Like the 24mm, the focal length doesn't define the overall performance of the lens as there are other aspects, such as image stabilization and aperture, that can affect the suitability of the lens in different conditions.

 
Brand:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2
 
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2
 
Brand:
Sony FE 50mm F1.2
Item Weight :
1.28 pounds
Item Weight :
2.4 pounds
Item Weight :
1.72 pounds
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
4.7
4.9
4.9
Brand:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2
Item Weight :
1.28 pounds
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
4.7
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2
Item Weight :
2.4 pounds
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
4.9
Brand:
Sony FE 50mm F1.2
Item Weight :
1.72 pounds
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
4.9

Comparing 24mm and 50mm Lenses

Although the 24mm and 50mm lenses are prime lenses with a fixed focal length, the focal length is different, making them have the following differences and similarities in performance and usability.

Similarities

Regardless of the field of view differences, the two lenses have the following design and performance similarities.

  • The two lenses can't vary the field of view
  • Both lenses can capture excellent images in good ambient lighting
  • The lenses are relatively lightweight compared to zoom lenses
  • The equivalent field of view of the lenses changes depending on the size of the camera sensor

Differences

Even if the two lenses can't vary the angle of view, one has a narrower angle of view than the other, making them have the following differences.

Portability

The portability of a lens primarily depends on its overall size and weight. A compact and lightweight lens is preferable as you can shoot handheld for a lengthy time. The weight of a lens varies depending on several factors, such as diameter, barrel length, and construction materials.

If you hold all the other factors constant, the difference between the weight and size of a 24mm compared to that of a 50mm would be the barrel length. Focal length is the physical distance from the center of the optics to the sensor.

Since this distance can't be on its own, it's enclosed in a lens barrel. A longer distance translates to a longer lens barrel, more size, and added weight. As a result, a 50mm is bulkier and less portable compared to a 24mm.

A black 24mm Nikon lens holds by a person near a window

Depth of Field

Depth of field is one of the most confusing concepts, especially for new photographers. Depth of field, usually abbreviated as DOF, is the distance between the closest and farthest elements you can consider to be in focus when taking a photo.

The depth of field is known to vary depending on the aperture settings. However, the focal length plays a vital role in the aperture equation. Typically, the aperture is expressed as a fraction of the lens's focal length, such as f/2 or f/3.5.

Basic mathematics says you will get a bigger figure whenever you increase the numerator or decrease the denominator. If you hold the denominator constant, the aperture is larger when the numerator is larger. This makes the 50mm lens achieve a shallower depth of field compared to the 24mm.

Performance in Poor Lighting

As a real estate photographer, you might be familiar with the issue of poor lighting in most property interiors. If you try to be smart by cranking up the ISO to boost the image brightness, this usually goes wrong with the image quality, courtesy of the digital noise.

One of the most viable solutions is to use a fast lens that allows more light to reach the camera sensor. Usually, the light the lens can allow depends on the opening, which is the aperture. In most cases, 50mm lenses for Canon have wide maximum apertures of around f/1.8.

The narrower angle of view also allows them to concentrate light toward the camera sensor. This allows them to take brighter photos than their 24mm lenses for Canon 24mm lenses for Canon under the same lighting conditions.

Image Quality

A camera is generally small compared to the area the sensor views at a given time. That means there is a form of condensation where the light from the entire scene is condensed to fit the size of the sensor.

As a result, some elements in the photo are farther away from the sensor than others when taking a picture. For instance, if you take a picture of an interior room while standing at the doorway, the room's corners will be far from the camera than the center.

Usually, this makes the elements around the edges of the frame, which are corners of the room in my case, look distorted or curved. This distortion tends to increase as you increase the size of the scene. Since the 24mm views a wider scene compared to the 50mm, it causes more distortions.

Major Distinguishing Factor

The major distinguishing factor between a 24mm and 50mm is the angle of view. This refers to the area the lens can cover at a certain time. The 24mm lens has a wider angle of view of around 84.1 degrees when paired with a 35mm sensor.

When paired with a crop factor camera with a crop of 1.5x, this field of view narrows to around 60.7 degrees. On the other hand, the 50mm angle of view is narrower, at around 46.8 degrees when paired with a 35mm sensor.

When paired with a crop factor camera with a crop of 1.5x, this angle of view further narrows to around 31.4 degrees. That means the 50mm can't take wide-angle photos, regardless of the camera sensor size you pair it with.

When to Use a 24mm Lens

The 24mm is ideal for taking interior photos in tight corners with limited subject distance. It's also suitable for adding wide-angle effects to your photos to make the room look spacious.

When to Use a 50mm Lens

The 50mm offers a natural angle of view, making it ideal for shooting portraits as it can reproduce a person's face with minimal distortions. It's also suitable for taking indoor photos in bad lighting.

A black Canon 50mm lens placed on top of a rock in the forest

Which Lens Is Better?

The 50mm lens is better as it's more versatile, and you can use it in a wide range of applications such as real estate, landscape, architectural, portraits, and street photography.

Related Questions

Does the Angle of View Change With Sensor Size?

Technically, the angle of view doesn't change. However, the equivalent angle of view changes as a factor of the crop effect. For instance, the 24mm changes to 36mm with a crop of 1.5x.

Can a 50mm Lens Take Macro Photos?

Yes, a 50mm lens can take macro photos. Even if it might not match the lenses designed for macro photography, the angle of view is standard to allow you to take quality macro shots.

Does the 50mm Lens Magnify Subjects More Than the 24mm?

The longer focal length of 50mm makes it have a bigger magnification effect than 24mm when using cameras of the same sensor size.

Final Verdict

When choosing a lens for outdoor and indoor photography, the above guide can help you choose a prime lens with a focal length that allows you to take wide-angle interior photos within a limited distance or exterior photos with minimal distortions of the property design.

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