35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.8 (Nikon)

I've just gone through the same thing but for different reasons. I already have the 35mm G lens on my DX camera, I am looking to upgrade to FX and the 35mm would only work in DX mode so just purchased the 50mm G. The 35mm is a fantastic lens on a crop camera but the 50 is a little awkward, it's neither a wide enough or long enough for a portrait lens. I think it is slightly sharper and better built but I have to agree and I doubt you would really benefit anything on your camera. I also agree an 85mm would be a great companion to your 35mm and a much better investment.
 
minnnt said:
The 35 would work in FX mode but you'd get some vignetting. The 35mm fx version is stupid money by comparison.
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That's sort of what I was getting at. Use the camera in crop mode to eliminate the vignetting or crop it out in PP. I would sooner have a lens that produces a light circle to cover the entire sensor. I managed to get a virtually new 50mm for £85 so it was a no brainer for me.
 
As others have said you can turn a 35mm into a 50mm by taking 2 steps forward its pointless having both, either go for a 85mm 1.8 or if you want a 50mm get a tamron 17-50 2.8 its a great walkabout lens and can do portraits too, I found 35mm not wide enough for street on a crop camera.
 
Keep the 35 and get an 85 as suggested. Great combination. It's the default I carry in my bag most times, only take other lenses when I know I'm going to actually use them that day.
 
Jaisus said:
Ok another lens thread,

I have the 35mm 1.8 at the moment but I have noticed that Jessops have the 50mm 1.8 on sale and it has a very good write up. Would it be worth me buying?

I currently use my 35mm for low light shots, street photography and a few portraits, would I gain much from getting the 50mm?
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On APS-C I preferred my 30mm f1.4 to my 50mm f1.4 as 50mm always seemed a bit long on APS -C for me and 85mm would be waaaaaay too long for me. I did use my 50mm on APS-C but not as much as the 30mm but when I moved to a 5D the 50mm became my lens of choice, as it is now on my Sony A7. I use my 85mm's less often and often when I do it's for a portrait, a job that a 50mm could do on APS-C.

On APS-C 35 and 50mm makes sense to me and on FF 50 and 85.

danolive1 said:
As others have said you can turn a 35mm into a 50mm by taking 2 steps forward its pointless having both, either go for a 85mm 1.8 or if you want a 50mm get a tamron 17-50 2.8 its a great walkabout lens and can do portraits too, I found 35mm not wide enough for street on a crop camera.
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It doesn't work like that for me. Personally I think that for me at least a particular focal length feels right and I find myself moving to pretty much the right position to take the shot before the camera is raised to my eye. Trying to turn a 35 into a 50 wouldn't feel right for me and I know I'd want to swap lenses, I think it's enough of a difference to matter.
 
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I know I couldn't keep a 35 & 50, unless I was using 2 bodies a lot. There's not enough between them. I prefer the 35 personally, had a couple of 50mm lenses, but I always felt they were either not wide enough for my needs, or not long enough. Which is why my mains are 35 & 85.
 
I sold my 50mm when I bought the Tamron 17 - 50, still have the 35mm but have not used it either since I have bought the Tamron.
 
sep9001 said:
I sold my 50mm when I bought the Tamron 17 - 50, still have the 35mm but have not used it either since I have bought the Tamron.
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I have the Tamron and the 35 also. I found that when i got the 17-50 that's all i used but now it sits on my window sill as a paper weight and the 35 and 85 stay in my bag. The Nikon primes really are superb, especially for the price.
 
:agree: The 85mm is simply brilliant
 
The 85 is the lens I could sell the quickest, if I ever find myself rooting through bins for food. But, hopefully I never will - on either count! :o
 
Cagey75 said:
The 85 is the lens I could sell the quickest, if I ever find myself rooting through bins for food. But, hopefully I never will - on either count! :eek:
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Yeah, I agree that 85mm is a nice focal length but your profile says you have a D800 which is a "FF" camera, The op has an APS-C which is a x1.5 crop.

If the op goes into this knowing the implications for FoV all well and good. Personally I'd find 85mm a bit long on APS-C especially without IS, but people prefer different things and if the op is happy with a FF equivelant FoV of 85x1.5=127mm then everyone is happy :D
 
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minnnt said:
I was weary about having the 85mm on a crop body but in reality it is awesome. :D
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As long as the potential buyer knows it's going to be 127mm FoV equiv and the implications for shutter speed if shooting handheld.

Perhaps I'm being a bit pedantic but we seem to see people with different format cameras recommending lenses without being specific. 85mm on FF is IMVHO different enough to 85mm on APS-C to at least point out which FoV we're talking about liking.
 
woof woof said:
Yeah, I agree that 85mm is a nice focal length but your profile says you have a D800 which is a "FF" camera, The op has an APS-C which is a x1.5 crop.

If the op goes into this knowing the implications for FoV all well and good. Personally I'd find 85mm a bit long on APS-C especially without IS, but people prefer different things and if the op is happy with a FF equivelant FoV of 85x1.5=127mm then everyone is happy :D
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Note I didn't mention FX or DX, because I think it's a must have for both! ;) The 35 for DX over the 50 any day. The 85 on DX is akin to a short tele - great for portraits and also capturing stuff in the distance, or even for landscape to add a little compression.

I'm sure the OP knows the difference .... let's give them a little credit. And also to those making suggestions, who do realise it could be either format.
 
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so, to answer the OP's question...."no" :D
 
Cagey75 said:
Note I didn't mention FX or DX, because I think it's a must have for both! ;) The 35 for DX over the 50 any day. The 85 on DX is akin to a short tele - great for portraits and also capturing stuff in the distance, or even for landscape to add a little compression.

I'm sure the OP knows the difference .... let's give them a little credit.
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I disagree. IMVHO we should be clear what we're saying. For example you enthused about the lens but you use it on a FF camera and this fact isn't clear unless we look in your profile. On APS-C it's a different beast, it may be an even lovelier beast if you like 127mm FoV but different it is, IMVHO. It's a bit like me saying that my 45mm is a fantastic head and shoulders portrait FoV and IMVHO it is, on my G1 which is x2 crop but on a FF camera it would be more of a "standard" lens for me and I'd feel a bit uncomfortable getting so close to a subject when taking a tight head shot. YMMV.

Anyway, I'm not in any way having a pop I just thought I'd mention this issue for the sake of clarity and I do agree that some lenses are just... lovely. For example I had the Sigma 12-24mm and 50 and 85mm f1.4's and owning those lenses was a big part of the reason I moved from a Canon 20D to 5D.
 
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Well it's not you we're suggesting to for one. And you're basically assuming that OP couldn't tell the difference for himself. I know that I knew the difference between cropped and FX before I ever had a dslr.

And STILL I'm suggesting the 85, DX or not. I don't know why you're barging in on it, make your own suggestions all you want, I'll stick to mine thanks.

Btw, it's still 85mm .... just cropped. No matter what way you swing it.
 
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