Master Prime 40 vs 50

[King Cheung]

Dear All,

Actually, is there any difference if we take a MP 40mm as the standard lens instead of traditional 50mm? Anyone using 40mm instead of 50mm as standard lens? One advantage using 40mm at least is slightly lighter than 50mm.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Timur Civan]

On the Epic especially the 40mm will have a wider feel. It still will retain a lot of the "neutral" look, that is to say it wont have very much discernible distortion. but it will feel wider than a 50mm. obviously.

 

[King Cheung]

in other words, 40mm can never be the substitution of 50mm in terms of natural look. Is it correct?
thanks.

On the Epic especially the 40mm will have a wider feel. It still will retain a lot of the "neutral" look, that is to say it wont have very much discernible distortion. but it will feel wider than a 50mm. obviously.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

in other words, 40mm can never be the substitution of 50mm in terms of natural look. Is it correct?
thanks.

No, that's not true. If anything, a 40mm is closer to a "normal" lens on an Epic than a 50mm is. In FF35 still photography, a 50mm is considered "normal" in perspective. In 35mm cine / Super-35 / APS-C, that would be closer to a 35mm. Since the Epic sensor is somewhere in between, a 40mm would be about right for normal perspective, whatever that really means.

But the truth is that 40mm is just 10mm wider than 50mm. That's all. They are very similar but one is just a bit wider in view, that's all, and which you need to use just depends on the situation. It's not like that 10mm difference crosses over into some "unnatural" perspective or level of distortion. They are going to look very similar.

However, if you normally use a 50mm on a Red One or a 35mm movie camera, it's going to be a bit wider-angle already on a 5K Epic, so a 40mm is going to be even wider than the 50mm. You'd almost want a 65mm for the Epic if you are used to a 50mm on a Red One or 35mm movie camera.

 

[King Cheung]

Thanks a lot, David. Your reply is very clear and thoughtful.

No, that's not true. If anything, a 40mm is closer to a "normal" lens on an Epic than a 50mm is. In FF35 still photography, a 50mm is considered "normal" in perspective. In 35mm cine / Super-35 / APS-C, that would be closer to a 35mm. Since the Epic sensor is somewhere in between, a 40mm would be about right for normal perspective, whatever that really means.

But the truth is that 40mm is just 10mm wider than 50mm. That's all. They are very similar but one is just a bit wider in view, that's all, and which you need to use just depends on the situation. It's not like that 10mm difference crosses over into some "unnatural" perspective or level of distortion. They are going to look very similar.

However, if you normally use a 50mm on a Red One or a 35mm movie camera, it's going to be a bit wider-angle already on a 5K Epic, so a 40mm is going to be even wider than the 50mm. You'd almost want a 65mm for the Epic if you are used to a 50mm on a Red One or 35mm movie camera.

 

[Monty Chan]

On epic, I prefer 40 over 50. I agree with david that the 40mm is very similar to the 50mm, I just personally prefer 40mm because it pairs well with a 60mm.