35mm or 50mm?

Donk1166

Donk1166

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Having recently purchased a Nikon D5100 with a kit lens (18-55) I am looking at the pros & cons of getting a 35mm or 50mm prime.
I was wondering what peoples opinions are of these 2 types of lens. My photography is varied beginner stuff, more scenery than portrait though.
Off to New York in October so plenty of opportunity there!!
 
I had to make the same choice around a year ago. I went for the 35mm as its a bit wider and after a lot of use feel its still the best choice.
 
Without going into too much technical detail (remember I'm a beginner!) what are the main differences?
You mention width, how does this vary?
 
they act longer than the posted focal length.
50mm is the standard lens but as you're on a cropped sensor,. this is about 35mm. 50mm becomes 82mm ish..
so in this case, for me....
35mm, about what the human eye sees, great for groups, the pub, full length portraits
50mm, effectively a great portrait lens (as in head and shoulders or just capturing a winning smile), will be more flattering for this and lets you get a little further away from your subject.
new york? then I would go for the 35mm.
 
Put your kit lens at 35mm, then 50mm and see which you prefer.

Don't even bother worrying about crop factors and DX/FX. Unless you previously shot film, or used a fx camera it means nothing to you and will only confuse issues. I don't know why people bring it up at every possible opportunity.
 
i took my 35mm to new york in June and it never came off my D200, was absolutely great. the D200 is a cropped body just like the D5100.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Put your kit lens at 35mm, then 50mm and see which you prefer.

Don't even bother worrying about crop factors and DX/FX. Unless you previously shot film, or used a fx camera it means nothing to you and will only confuse issues. I don't know why people bring it up at every possible opportunity.
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saying not to worry about crop factors isnt very good advice at all. the 35mm or 50mm question appears very regularly especially since the f/1.8 lenses are very similar except from the focal length and people need to know more than just what lens takes better photos. not mentioning crop factors could lead into someone buying a 50mm and thinking it will give the field of view of a 50mm lens when the field of view is nearer 80mm. speaking about crop factors and explaining DX and FX widens people knowledge and understanding which cant be a bad thing.
 
Yup.

I often wonder if the often expressed lust for a 50mm is really understood and should be better directed to a 30/35mm.

People seem to think that 50mm is the "standard" that it used to be years ago when in reality these days most now have smaller sensor cameras for which 30/35 is the new 50.

This is something that even Sony doesn't seem to recognise as they still don't offer a "standard" for their Nex but do offer a 50mm.
 
I had the 50mm and sold it to buy the 35mm, the 35mm I have now is the 1.4L and the images it produces are stunning!

Back to the 50mm or 35mm, I found the 50mm to be best for shooting portraits close up and the 35 is better for the still work I do with Cars, Motorbikes and so on..
 
I have both the 35 and the 50. Both are good, for portrait type I use 50mm and for walk about I use 35mm.
 
But someone new to photography has no idea what the field of view of a 50 mm lens is.. Just let them live with it as it is and worry about it when or if they decide to change to full frame in the future.

It's fine to say a 35mm might be better, but it's just pointless to start confusing things with the DX/FX discussion when the person has no idea what the difference is and probably won't care until they pick up a FX camera.
 
TCR4x4 said:
But someone new to photography has no idea what the field of view of a 50 mm lens is.. Just let them live with it as it is and worry about it when or if they decide to change to full frame in the future.

It's fine to say a 35mm might be better, but it's just pointless to start confusing things with the DX/FX discussion when the person has no idea what the difference is and probably won't care until they pick up a FX camera.
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but not everyone will end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to upgrade lenses every month, not everyone wants to upgrade at all. i dont think you get that people might be happy with the kit they have even if it isnt full of pro equipment. and i dont think you understand that some people maybe cant afford to make vital mistake my choosing the wrong lens based INSULTING COMMENT REMOVED BY MODERATORS i have never used a fx body but i still care about crop sensors and field of view.
 
TCR4x4 said:
But someone new to photography has no idea what the field of view of a 50 mm lens is.. Just let them live with it as it is and worry about it when or if they decide to change to full frame in the future.

It's fine to say a 35mm might be better, but it's just pointless to start confusing things with the DX/FX discussion when the person has no idea what the difference is and probably won't care until they pick up a FX camera.
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I agree. As an APS-C user I couldn't care less what the FoV is on a full frame, what I would want to know is how a lens would perform on my camera for the uses I specify.

Information is a good thing, but to a new user too much can just serve to confuse (no disrespect to the OP). Where does it end? Do you include circle of confusion, depth of field calculations and the like too?

To answer the OP. If it isn't head and shoulder portraiture, then 35mm. Although I'd question why you need a 35mm for a visit to NY unless you are wanting to blur the background (brokeh) using a wide aperture (low F number) or shoot in low light (wide aperture/low F number).

Take your 18-55mm local street shooting and keep it at 35mm. See how you feel before dropping some cash on a prime that you might not need.
 
callumduff said:
but not everyone will end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to upgrade lenses every month, not everyone wants to upgrade at all. i dont think you get that people might be happy with the kit they have even if it isnt full of pro equipment. and i dont think you understand that some people maybe cant afford to make vital mistake my choosing the wrong lens INSULTING COMMENT REMOVED BY MODERATORSi have never used a fx body but i still care about crop sensors and field of view.
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As a new user I now understand what the Important Notice at the top of the forum is about: :shake:

We've noticed an uprise of behaviour amongst members and threads that is antagonistic, belittling, insulting, argumentative, condescending, unhelpful or just downright plain rude.
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eddiewood said:
As a new user I now understand what the Important Notice at the top of the forum is about: :shake:
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to eddiewood: in the second quote it said about unhelpful posts. i personally feel the comment made by tcr4x4 was unhelpful to the forum because the origanal question made by Donk1166 mentioned the fact about their trip to new york later this year and the fact they shoot more scenery than portrait. as i have already mentioned i was in new york with my 35mm and it was great however a 50mm on a dx body would be no use at all in new york. and telling someone who is brand new to photography not to worry about anything until they get a full frame body is completely ludicrous and unnecessary.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Put your kit lens at 35mm, then 50mm and see which you prefer.
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This is the only piece of advice you need to follow.
Try your kit lens and see which focal length suits you and your photography best. Its all down to personal opinion as they're both great lenses and you really can't go too far wrong with either of them.
As a beginner all this crop factor and FX/DX stuff is over your head so you really don't need to worry about it too much at the moment.
 
callumduff said:
to eddiewood: in the second quote it said about unhelpful posts. i personally feel the comment made by tcr4x4 was unhelpful to the forum because the origanal question made by Donk1166 mentioned the fact about their trip to new york later this year and the fact they shoot more scenery than portrait. as i have already mentioned i was in new york with my 35mm and it was great however a 50mm on a dx body would be no use at all in new york. and telling someone who is brand new to photography not to worry about anything until they get a full frame body is completely ludicrous and unnecessary.
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With respect, your comment INSULTING COMMENT REMOVED BY MODERATORS is exactly the sort of comment that the notice appears to be aimed at, it is not for you to decide if a post is "unhelpful" or not.

Frankly it was completely uncalled for and it saddens me that I have stumbled across it literally two days into actively using this forum. This is the sort of thing that I'd expect to see on dpreview and the very reason I don't use that forum.

Apologies to the OP for the thread going off topic. This is my last word on this particular matter. Good luck with your choice (if any) and your NY trip.

I am out of here. :shake:
 
callumduff said:
As i have already mentioned i was in new york with my 35mm and it was great however a 50mm on a dx body would be no use at all in new york. and telling someone who is brand new to photography not to worry about anything until they get a full frame body is completely ludicrous and unnecessary.
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I might have read this wrong, but, to me, TCR4x4 wasn't saying that the differences between the 35mm and the 50mm don't matter on a DX body, but that the differences in the fields of view for these lenses on DX and FX bodies don't yet matter, as someone who has only used a DX camera wouldn't have any basis for comparison.
 
A Tcr said set your kit lens to 35 and 50 and shot with then set at just those and see what you prefer. Personally I love 50mm, I also souls worry about the Dx/fx argument for now.
 
I'd take the kit lens, and possibly a wide angle to New York, there's so much in the way of city scape to take in, though the 35mm is great for evening low light work.
 
callumduff said:
but not everyone will end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to end up with a full frame body, not everyone wants to upgrade lenses every month, not everyone wants to upgrade at all. i dont think you get that people might be happy with the kit they have even if it isnt full of pro equipment. and i dont think you understand that some people maybe cant afford to make vital mistake my choosing the wrong lens based on crap information told by people like you. i have never used a fx body but i still care about crop sensors and field of view.
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eddiewood said:
As a new user I now understand what the Important Notice at the top of the forum is about: :shake:
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Yes - that is the kind of behaviour the Notice was about - and insults of that nature are not acceptable.

Eddie: for future reference, if you run across this kind of comment, please just hit the RTM button (the little red triangle symbol) and we'll deal with it, as we have with this instance. Especially, don't quote the comment, and make extra work for some poor moderator having to go through the entire thread looking for repeated instances of the comment.
 
skysh4rk said:
I might have read this wrong, but, to me, TCR4x4 wasn't saying that the differences between the 35mm and the 50mm don't matter on a DX body, but that the differences in the fields of view for these lenses on DX and FX bodies don't yet matter, as someone who has only used a DX camera wouldn't have any basis for comparison.
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Correct, REMOVED
 
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To be honest,at the moment both the lens you are talking about are covered by your zoom range,to me unless you need a low light lens,both having the faster aperture of F1.8.

If it were me I would work with this lens for a while,and save for an 17-55mm F2.8 or if you need longer range 16-85mm.

:)
 
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callumduff said:
to eddiewood: in the second quote it said about unhelpful posts. i personally feel the comment made by tcr4x4 was unhelpful to the forum because the origanal question made by Donk1166 mentioned the fact about their trip to new york later this year and the fact they shoot more scenery than portrait. as i have already mentioned i was in new york with my 35mm and it was great however a 50mm on a dx body would be no use at all in new york. and telling someone who is brand new to photography not to worry about anything until they get a full frame body is completely ludicrous and unnecessary.
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I agree.

I use a crop body too, and although a canon the same theory applies.

I bought a 50mm 1.8 before knowing about crop factors, and bought a sigma 30mm a couple of months down the line. the 50mm never got used on my DSLR because it's a bit long for my needs (and probably is for the OP going traveling too) and is now constantly on my 35mm film cam where it is a standard focal length.

If anything, in a vibrant city such as new york, i'd be tempted to go even wider as there is so much to capture - in my opinion of course.

I don't see anything wrong with learning about crop factors, it's not challenging to understand, but can affect purchasing decisions. more knowledge when buying is hardley a bad thing?
 
Ash. said:
I agree.

I use a crop body too, and although a canon the same theory applies.

I bought a 50mm 1.8 before knowing about crop factors, and bought a sigma 30mm a couple of months down the line. the 50mm never got used on my DSLR because it's a bit long for my needs (and probably is for the OP going traveling too) and is now constantly on my 35mm film cam where it is a standard focal length.

If anything, in a vibrant city such as new york, i'd be tempted to go even wider as there is so much to capture - in my opinion of course.

I don't see anything wrong with learning about crop factors, it's not challenging to understand, but can affect purchasing decisions. more knowledge when buying is hardley a bad thing?
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But for somebody who is new and doesn't have experience in 35mm terms, 18-55mm is 18-55mm and 5.1mm in a compact is 5.1mm. It doesn't matter UNLESS (not 'until' as was previously said) the OP wanted to go full frame and all the number on their lenses would then mean a different field of view.

I started with crop sensor and my head was fixed to thinking in crop terms, ie 50mm = 50mm and although "in 35mm terms" it is wrong, it didn't matter because I was used to that system.

Because I had a crop sensor for so long and now moved to full frame I'm actually working te other way around, thinking my 85mm is equivalent I the 50mm I used to love using. I know this may be laughed at by long time photographers but it doesn't matter, you get the same result, as long as you get used to your system. If you're not looking to go full frame, which most people aren't, why keep converting it to a system you'll never use?
 
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TheBigYin said:
Yes - that is the kind of behaviour the Notice was about - and insults of that nature are not acceptable.

Eddie: for future reference, if you run across this kind of comment, please just hit the RTM button (the little red triangle symbol) and we'll deal with it, as we have with this instance. Especially, don't quote the comment, and make extra work for some poor moderator having to go through the entire thread looking for repeated instances of the comment.
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Fair point. :thumbs:
 
Phall82 said:
But for somebody who is new and doesn't have experience in 35mm terms, 18-55mm is 18-55mm and 5.1mm in a compact is 5.1mm. It doesn't matter UNLESS (not 'until' as was previously said) the OP wanted to go full frame and all the number on their lenses would then mean a different field of view.

I started with crop sensor and my head was fixed to thinking in crop terms, ie 50mm = 50mm and although "in 35mm terms" it is wrong, it didn't matter because I was used to that system.

Because I had a crop sensor for so long and now moved to full frame I'm actually working te other way around, thinking my 85mm is equivalent I the 50mm I used to love using. I know this may be laughed at by long time photographers but it doesn't matter, you get the same result, as long as you get used to your system. If you're not looking to go full frame, which most people aren't, why keep converting it to a system you'll never use?
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I understand what you're saying, and I don't disagree with you and understanding your personal system.

The confusion seems to lie in the categorisation of lenses; "wide angle", "standard" etc.

a 28mm is considered a wide angle, however on a crop sensor it's fairly close to a standard - unless you understood the crop factor, you might purchase a 28mm hoping for it to be a wide angle, only to be a little dissapointed.
 
Ash. said:
I agree.

I use a crop body too, and although a canon the same theory applies.

I bought a 50mm 1.8 before knowing about crop factors, and bought a sigma 30mm a couple of months down the line. the 50mm never got used on my DSLR because it's a bit long for my needs (and probably is for the OP going traveling too) and is now constantly on my 35mm film cam where it is a standard focal length.

If anything, in a vibrant city such as new york, i'd be tempted to go even wider as there is so much to capture - in my opinion of course.

I don't see anything wrong with learning about crop factors, it's not challenging to understand, but can affect purchasing decisions. more knowledge when buying is hardley a bad thing?
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Indeed it can and nobody is disputing that FoV is important in a lens purchase. It is common-sense.

However, if you had asked my advice I would have said that the 50mm is fine (and preferable) for head and shoulder portraits, but the 35mm is better for street shooting, group shots and small rooms. As a new user you would have had your answer with no "techie speak".

Inexperienced users want to know the FoV on their camera, not what it would be on a full frame. Even I don't care what the FoV is on a full frame, it is irrelevant to my shooting on my equipment.

There is no right or wrong, but my belief is that dumping a lot of technical information on a new user asking a simple question makes photography that bit more complicated to them. They have plenty of time to seek out that information later, lets get them off Auto first. :D
 
Best advice has already been given.

Set your kit lens to 35 and take some pics,then set it to 50mm and take some more pics.See which you prefer.

Simple really and certainly no need for another TP bitchfest.
 
Donk1166 said:
Having recently purchased a Nikon D5100 with a kit lens (18-55) I am looking at the pros & cons of getting a 35mm or 50mm prime.
I was wondering what peoples opinions are of these 2 types of lens. My photography is varied beginner stuff, more scenery than portrait though.
Off to New York in October so plenty of opportunity there!!
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Hi Donk1166,

Can I ask, what are your criteria (e.g. speed, weight, optical quality...) for wanting either focal length prime?

I would second as to what has previously been mentioned before, either choose your prime based on which focal length you prefer using your current lens at or go through your pictures you have already taken to see which focal length you have used most frequently in the pictures you have kept.

If I was in your situation I would probably stick with your kit lens for your trip to NY, then you have got the flexibility for all different types of shots in the city, but as you like landscape/scenery perhaps treat yourself to something a little wider. Sigma 10-20mm or Tokina 11-16 are popular choices.

Or as a third option, how about a 24mm f/2.8 - small, fast, lovely image quality (I don't think that it will autofocus on your D5100 - nice to do things manually though!)
http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...s/used-nikon-fit-lenses/nikon-af-24mm-f/2.8d/

Have fun choosing either way! :thumbs:

Cheers
Osmo
 
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fracster said:
Best advice has already been given.

Set your kit lens to 35 and take some pics,then set it to 50mm and take some more pics.See which you prefer.

Simple really and certainly no need for another TP bitchfest.
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Handbags at dawn it is then. :lol:
 
Osmo said:
If I was in your situation I would probably stick with your kit lens for your trip to NY, then you have got the flexibility for all different types of shots in the city,Have fun choosing either way! :thumbs:
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Good advice. Why limit yourself when you have the option of using a lens that provides wide and narrow shots.
I only have one lens and it is a prime but there are clearly drawbacks when using a fixed focal length and to make the most of NY would probably need a variety of focal lengths.
 
It's hardly "too much info for a new photographer" :D you take the focal length and multiply it by 1.6 (or whatever your crop factor is) and then you have the actual focal length you're using.

I don't see why you wouldn't want to learn something that is relevant to your photography? more knowledge is only ever useful. and you won't be confused by simple things such as the categorys "wide" "standard" "medium telephoto" etc, as you'll understand what category the lenses you use fit into when used on your camera.

All individual choice though as stated.

keeping the kit lens / trying out 35 and 50 on the kit lens before deciding remains the best peices of advice given.
 
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Ash. said:
It's hardly "too much info for a new photographer" :D you take the focal length and multiply it by 1.6 (or whatever your crop factor is) and then you have the actual focal length you're using.

I don't see why you wouldn't want to learn something that is relevant to your photography?
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Agree. I think people try and make out that the technicalities of photography are more complicated than they are. It doesn't need to be dumbed down and without knowing the intelligence of the new photographer it is a bit insulting.
I am a technical person (bit too much but that is another issue :) ) and I found the technicalities of photography very easy to pick up and i am sure many others do to. And we are not in talk basics here are we?
 
To be honest, I find it fairly simple to convert - but then again, I sort of come from an era of using Medium Format as my main camera - so anything less than 90mm or so was a wide angle :lol:

It's much more simple these days - at one point I was shooting with anything from a 10x8" camera down to 35mm full frame, and you just sort of remembered what a "base" lens was and took it from there... considering a 300mm lens as being the equivalent of a full frame 50mm lens, and a 210mm as being a wide angle might just be a bit difficult to grasp these days though :lol:
 
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