[e92sf]

I have a lingering question, that has been nagging me and I cannot get a straight answer or just not understanding info from the internet. I was hoping someone here can answer that question.

I have nikon 50mm 1.8g lens and it seems to have a zoom feature. I know that it is a prime lens and you have to move around. On the lens what does the infinity to x ft. mean? Do I only use that when I set the lens to manual mode or could I use that when it's set to automatic.

I was playing around with the lens and currently have it set to auto, and it seems to take different pics when I mess with the zoom. Does changing the zoom, dictate how far away I should be away from the subject?

This is my first prime lens, so I'm just trying to use the lens correctly.

[gcochard]

It's not a zoom, it's just the focus.

http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/50mm-f18-g.htm#breath

I'm assuming you mean the window with the infinity symbol in it, that's the focus distance scale. It tells you how far away the lens is focusing. It also has two dots on the outside to tell you your depth of field at f/16. That is, how much of the image will be in focus.


Changing the focus does indeed change how far away you should be from the subject.

[e92sf]

Ok, that makes sense now.

I guess that is why pics come out differently when I change the focus.

Thanks for clearing that up.