Once the 40mm hype dies down, photographers and brands alike will be hunting for the next it focal length. And I think I know what it is. I have no inside information, and I don’t lurk on photography forums to take the pulse of the community, so consider this nothing more than a hunch:
58mm is the next big thing.
Here’s why:
- It’s noticeably different from the nifty fifty, but it stops well short of telephoto territory, a sweet spot that’s easy to overlook;
- It already has a quiet, devoted following: ask any Helios 44 owner about their lens and you won’t hear the end of its vintage charm and swirly bokeh;
- There are also plenty of Helios lenses floating around the used market, meaning curious photographers can get their hands on one for under $50;
- And it’s not just Helios — other well-respected names have made 58mm lenses too, including Carl Zeiss (whose design Helios famously borrowed), Nikon, Pentax, and Voigtländer.
All it takes is one relatively big manufacturer to launch a modern 58mm lens, and I’m fairly certain others will follow.
What do you think?
