50mm f/1.8 VS 35mm f1.8

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

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I am just wondering what would be a better match for my very basic Nikon D60. Either the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G Lens or the Nikon 35mm f1.8G AF-S DX ? I did try do a forum search for matching topics, but I kept just getting the white page and no results !
 
Both great lenses and very sharp, on a crop sensor body the 35mm will become more like a 50mm and the 50mm will become more like an 85mm

I would go with the 50mm if portrait photography is something your planning on doing but perhaps a more general walkabout lens would go for the 35mm

Chances are you could buy either and be very happy
 
I have both on my D300 and D7000 system and i use the 35mm f1.8 more then the 50mm
 
As above, depends what your going to use it for.

I sometimes even find my 35mm too long when chasing the little one around the house and can get crammed in a corner with no room to manoeuvre, so wouldn't consider a 50mm. I sometimes need wider.
 
I have both.......I have done several portrait ( head & shoulder) shoots and found the 50mm to be spot on, however I found it too long for street photography.....The 35mm suits that style of shooting much better .....As already mentioned, it really depends what shots you intend taking.

Edit: Used on a D80 body
 
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I have bought the 35mm because I wanted a lens to use indoors. Like mentioned above on a cropped sensor it's more like 50mm. I love the 35mm.
 
Phil Young said:
The 35mm will auto focus on your camera and the 50mm won't. At 1.8 i have tried to manual focus and it is very hard...
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Are you getting confused with an older 50mm 1.8?

The OP mentions the 2 newer AF-S lenses which do work perfectly on his D60 camera?
 
Sorry guys I should have been a little more clear, I am wanting to try my hand at portraits, of family and friends. Also maybe stuff done out and about, such as in the park and at times when I may be a little closer to the subject. Thanks for the replies so far
 
jonbeeza said:
Sorry guys I should have been a little more clear, I am wanting to try my hand at portraits, of family and friends. Also maybe stuff done out and about, such as in the park and at times when I may be a little closer to the subject. Thanks for the replies so far
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Sounds like you may find yourself buying both!:D :D
 
Asha said:
Sounds like you may find yourself buying both!:D :D
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I certainly would love both, but funds may not allow that :shake: I was in Jessops this morning, it was great. A quick scan of all the stuff I would love to own :naughty:
 
Perhaps you're looking at buying new??......If you are, why not consider 2nd hand, that way you may be able to stretch to buying both.
 
Zarch said:
Are you getting confused with an older 50mm 1.8?

The OP mentions the 2 newer AF-S lenses which do work perfectly on his D60 camera?
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Ah. Yes, i got confused!

Well i have a 50mm and had the 35mm and find the 50mm a tad restrictive indoors...

Keep meaning to sell it and get the 35 instead!
 
I thought my next lens was gonna be to 50mm after already owning the 35mm, trouble is my list I so big now I don't know what to get. :)
 
Asha said:
Perhaps you're looking at buying new??......If you are, why not consider 2nd hand, that way you may be able to stretch to buying both.
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I am already looking at that option, I have already been to cash generator, and a few other second hand gadjet shops, nothing of interest :( ... I had my eye on one on ebay, started going for silly prices, that with post and package worked out not much cheaper than new !
 
milster said:
I thought my next lens was gonna be to 50mm after already owning the 35mm, trouble is my list I so big now I don't know what to get. :)
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Not easy when you see all this glass but don't know which way to turn especially if when starting out, you're not sure what you really want to shoot or you want to be able to shoot everything!! ......can make it very expensive.
I'm as guilty as many other photographers of purchasing more glass before I've even found what my present gear is capable of.
Although the nifty fifty is cheap ( when it comes to the average lens price!), if funds are really tight then perhps the fact that you already have the 35mm and simply stepping a few steps closer to your subject will give you the 50mm equivalent, you may be better putting the funds towards a completely different lens that will broaden your horizons further like a telephoto or wide angle.....It is very easy to take the plunge on something then see something else but if you can hold back and give some serious thought to what you really intend to shoot then you can in the long rrun save yourself quite a lot of cash!
 
jonbeeza said:
I am already looking at that option, I have already been to cash generator, and a few other second hand gadjet shops, nothing of interest :( ... I had my eye on one on ebay, started going for silly prices, that with post and package worked out not much cheaper than new !
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seems to be quitte a regular thing now with ebay so I've noticed....sometimes people pay more than new price!...Duh!!! lol

Edit: Don't forget you can get some good bargains on here too!
 
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Yeah, it's a problem containing myself....Just as well my wife does it for me! :)

I already own the 18-55 kit lens, the 55-200mm and the 35mm. Like you say, really need to see what I can do with them first.

Sorry for higjacking your thread Jon, I'll leave now :schtum:
 
Yeah, I found ebay can have very inflated prices on a lot of things. I had a link for a second hand photography website somewhere, I'll see if I can dig it out.
 
milster said:
Yeah, it's a problem containing myself....Just as well my wife does it for me! :)

I already own the 18-55 kit lens, the 55-200mm and the 35mm. Like you say, really need to see what I can do with them first.

Sorry for higjacking your thread Jon, I'll leave now :schtum:
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Play around with your kit lens at 35mm for a week then try it at 50mm for a week. You'll soon work out what works best for you.
 
milster said:
Sorry for higjacking your thread Jon, I'll leave now :schtum:
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Hey don't worry, I sometimes do that myself. Besides it's good when we can see what everyone else has to say. Share away ;)
 
gad-westy said:
Play around with your kit lens at 35mm for a week then try it at 50mm for a week. You'll soon work out what works best for you.
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Superb advice! .....Nothing to lose!
 
I just got the 35mm and absolutely love it, makes me smile when I use it. I do find that sometimes it feels like I am up in someones face though and for this reason will be adding the 50mm to the collection.

If you are anything like me you'll end up trying them all.
 
I have done a little more reading up, and maybe the better bet would be the 35mm. Especially taking into consideration the changes that the crop sensor body will produce.
 
jonbeeza said:
I have done a little more reading up, and maybe the better bet would be the 35mm. Especially taking into consideration the changes that the crop sensor body will produce.
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Ignoring perspective for a second (50mm is more flattering on your subjects), it's usually much easier to move closer to your subject than it is to move further away, especially indoors. That's what steered me towards the 35mm on DX. It's a cracking lens but I hear that the 50mm is pretty damn good too.
 
I have both. For close-ups of my toddler the 50mm wins every time. In fact go second hand and get a 50mm 1.4 - sweet as!:)
 
gad-westy said:
Ignoring perspective for a second (50mm is more flattering on your subjects), it's usually much easier to move closer to your subject than it is to move further away, especially indoors. That's what steered me towards the 35mm on DX. It's a cracking lens but I hear that the 50mm is pretty damn good too.
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Hmm I am leaning towards the 35mm :)







davek said:
I have both. For close-ups of my toddler the 50mm wins every time. In fact go second hand and get a 50mm 1.4 - sweet as!:)
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On the other hand :thinking:

Looks like I will be going to bed and sleeping on it I think :bonk:
 
I have the 35mm f1.8 from jessops... recent addition.
I also have the 50mm f1.4d


I found that the f1.4 was difficult to get the focus right, but gave the better bokeh. But also was too close in most situations (great outdoors and with a bit of space tho).

The 35mm I have only just started posting pic on the flickr photo stream... Link should be in the sig.

I used to use the tokina 11-16 the most, gets it all in, but the 35mm is nice and quick af most times. I also have a 28mm vivitar, manual focus. At f2.5 is gets good results if you are lucky with the focus ;) That cost 40ukp from ebay. Plus another 15ukp for the adapter.

Anyways... go for the 35mm... If you can afford the interest free, ask about that in jessops too - think its 6 months interest free, and instore price is around 180ukp... :)
 
ecniv said:
I have the 35mm f1.8 from jessops... recent addition.
I also have the 50mm f1.4d


I found that the f1.4 was difficult to get the focus right, but gave the better bokeh. But also was too close in most situations (great outdoors and with a bit of space tho).

The 35mm I have only just started posting pic on the flickr photo stream... Link should be in the sig.

I used to use the tokina 11-16 the most, gets it all in, but the 35mm is nice and quick af most times. I also have a 28mm vivitar, manual focus. At f2.5 is gets good results if you are lucky with the focus ;) That cost 40ukp from ebay. Plus another 15ukp for the adapter.

Anyways... go for the 35mm... If you can afford the interest free, ask about that in jessops too - think its 6 months interest free, and instore price is around 180ukp... :)
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Thanks for all the info, but isnt the 50mm f1.4d an older fit? Not sure this will match up with my D60 ! I was in Jessops yesterday, and the 35mm f1.8 G DX was priced at £189.95

I will have a look in your photo stream in ;) thanks
 
I have just noticed Jacobs has the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor priced at £161.99
 
I have a 35mm and 50mm, much prefer the 50mm for portraits.

If I had a 85mm I'd probably prefer that more though.
 
I have just been looking on ebay for a lens, and people are listing their lenses dearer than shops such as Jacobs, and Currys! So why would anyone buy off ebay, combined with postage and packing the lenses work out dearer? I would much rather pop into a shop and buy it, then at least you know you will deffo get the lens!

It's just that I don't really want to splash out on a brand new lens!
 
jonbeeza said:
Thanks for all the info, but isnt the 50mm f1.4d an older fit? Not sure this will match up with my D60 ! I was in Jessops yesterday, and the 35mm f1.8 G DX was priced at £189.95

I will have a look in your photo stream in ;) thanks
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For only a few quid more, you could get a used 50mm 1.4 af-s.

I honestly don't know which I'd choose in your position. For a while I owned both and tended to use the 35mm more but always seemed to reach for the 50mm if I was shooting people.
 
jonbeeza said:
I have just been looking on ebay for a lens, and people are listing their lenses dearer than shops such as Jacobs, and Currys! So why would anyone buy off ebay, combined with postage and packing the lenses work out dearer? I would much rather pop into a shop and buy it, then at least you know you will deffo get the lens!

It's just that I don't really want to splash out on a brand new lens!
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There are a lot of daft people in the world and most of them seem to gravitate towards ebay. I've sold used stuff on there for more than a brand new, still in the box example sells for on the high street. I think people just don't do their research or maybe they just get over excited at the prospect of 'winning' an auction.
 
Street shot i will prefer 35mm, portrait shot i will prefer 50mm but i also like the 85mm
 
badboy1984 said:
Street shot i will prefer 35mm, portrait shot i will prefer 50mm but i also like the 85mm
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I am leaning more towards the 35mm, would be great if I could get hold of both. Might pop back into town and have another look :cool:
 
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