One thing I discovered this summer while storm chasing for lightning pictures is that my trusty 50mm f1.8 lens was a tiny bit too long at times.
As you may know, the 50mm lens on a traditional 35mm camera comes very close matching the normal field of view that a person can see. On a DSLR with a crop factor it changed the field of view enough to cause it to behave like a mild telephoto lens.
Doing the math, a 35mm lens on a DSLR with a crop factor comes out close enough to a 50mm on a 35mm body, or a DSLR without a crop factor. With that in mind, I decided that I needed to pick one up. It arrived yesterday.
This lens is quite a bit more expensive than the 50mm f1.8, but still quite affordable. This is the first test shot I took with it. This was shot out of my front door.
I am pleased with the sharpness and contrast. I look forward to taking more shots with it, and like every new lens I get, I will put it on my D200, leave everything else at home, and spend a day or two with only that lens.
