50 or 35mm prime

Richiex1

Richiex1

Suspended / Banned
Messages
29
Name
Richie
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm in the market for my first prime lens and have been looking at the Nikon 50mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4 and 35mm f1.8.
I want it mainly for better indoor shots in low light, I have a Nikon D5100.
Ive been reading a bit on here and there is a consensus that a 50mm can sometimes be a bit long on a crop sensor camera, and that maybe the 35 is a better option.
If anyone have any thoughts, comparisons or advice I would be very grateful:bang:
 
35mm for indoors, 50mm can be a bit long in most situations. (on a crop sensor)
 
I suppose it depends on what you want in the frame. If you want a picture of quite a small thing 50mm might be lovely but if you want a picture of a bigger thing, or several things, 35mm might be just what you need :D

If you have a zoom lens you should try using it a 35 and 50mm and see what you are happiest with :D
 
I have had both and for me the 35mm was a bit too wide for my liking and I preferred my 50mm. Now I prefer my 85mm to them all. Is all about personal taste and what you are taking pictures of; that is why they make them both.
 
The 35 will act like 52.5 on a D5100 which is certainly not what I'd describe as "wide" - it acts like a "normal" lens on DX.

I'd say a 24mm on DX is the longest lens that would give what I would call a "wide" angle of view on a D5100.
 
Thanks for the feedback, why I never thought of trying out the two focal lengths on the kit lens I shall never no. Does anyone have any opinions on the pros and cons of the 50mm 1.8 vs 1.4 as the price differential isn't that great. Also what justifies the huge price of the Nikon 1.4 35mm. I've only been looking on Jessops website for comparisons.
I am quite new to photography so apologies if these questions are a bit lame, I just want to get the best lens for the job.
Thanks in advance.
 
google warehouse express for price's- they very good
 
I struggled with this too, ended up with the 50mm f1.8 almost 2 yrs ago now, thought about adding the 35mm f1.8 to my collection but couldnt see why or where i would use it, based on that and the 50mm causing me to invade personal space when shooting portraits i recently bought the 85mm f1.8, must admit i also feel more comfortable being 4-5ft back.

Mike
 
Quite subjective this as it depends a lot on your subject. I debated this for quite a while before going for the 35mm 1.8. I was only looking at the 50mm 1.4 as the 50mm 1.8AFS wasn't out at time. I'm quite pleased that I opted for the 35mm.

The 35mm gives you a few more options in indoor situations. You can usually move closer to subjects but when indoors it's often impossible to move further away. As an example a mate and I were playing around with twin flashes the other day. One of us was sat on one side of my living room and the person behind the camera was right up against the back wall to fit the whole upper body of the subject in. There was nowhere else to go if we'd wanted more 'subject'. With the 35mm, it would have been easy. Could have also had the option of fitting 2 or three people in shot. I also find that I use the 35mm a lot for landscapes which wasn't something I was expecting. The lens stays on the camera a lot longer than I'd anticipated.

On the flip side the 50mm does give a nice perspective for people shots. 35mm can sometimes distort people a tiny bit though face on it doesn't seem to matter.
 
Love my 35mm feel the 50 would have been a bit close and besides it makes me shuffle my feet a bit more ;)
 
I have both, and find 35mm an almost perfect focal length on a crop, and certainly more versatile than the 50mm.

I do everything I do with the 50 with the 35 (and more easily) and then some.

I love the Canon 35mm f/2!
 
Thanks again for the feedback I've just got back from town with a brand spanking new 35mm 1.8, having played around a while with the kit lens thought this would best suit my needs.
Thanks again
Rich
 
cambsno said:
I have found the 50mm ideal indoors, and would find the 35mm too wide for my liking.
Click to expand...

I suppose it depends on what you are shooting, I largely agree with cambsno. On my 17-55 90% of shots are either in the wide 17-24 range or in the 50-55 range (looking at the metadata filter on lightroom), with very few in the 35mm region.

I also have the 35 F/1.8 and 50 F/1.4, - for "general photography" I'd go for the 35mm (i.e. walk around town with it), but for mainly portrait orientated stuff the 50mm.

People who say "The 35mm is better on a crop than 50mm" are talking rubbish, the best focal length is what suits your shooting style which could be either lenses.
 
redddraggon said:
I suppose it depends on what you are shooting, I largely agree with cambsno. On my 17-55 90% of shots are either in the wide 17-24 range or in the 50-55 range (looking at the metadata filter on lightroom), with very few in the 35mm region.

I also have the 35 F/1.8 and 50 F/1.4, - for "general photography" I'd go for the 35mm (i.e. walk around town with it), but for mainly portrait orientated stuff the 50mm.

People who say "The 35mm is better on a crop than 50mm" are talking rubbish, the best focal length is what suits your shooting style which could be either lenses.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever heard someone say 35mm is better than 50mm on a crop. Where did anyone say it here?

If you are referring to my post I said I FIND 35mm perfect on a crop, that's me expressing an opinion and that's all I've seen on this thread.

To say someone is talking rubbish when they are expressing a valid opinion might be viewed as very arrogant.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top