50mm f/1.8 VS 35mm f1.8

milster said:
Get the 35mm 1.8 then save up for the 50mm 1.4 ;)
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hmmm if only it was that easy, I was in Jessops the other day and I was looking at the lenses. My missus was with me and she kept saying, get it get it get it. My heart was pounding, my hands were trembling, my lips were quivering. I was looking at the price tags and thinking should I, yes no yes no. But if I did get it while I was with the missus she could always say, well you have spent all that money on lenes so why can't I have this or that....:|

So it does take careful thinking and planning :thinking:
 
jonbeeza said:
hmmm if only it was that easy, I was in Jessops the other day and I was looking at the lenses. My missus was with me and she kept saying, get it get it get it. My heart was pounding, my hands were trembling, my lips were quivering. I was looking at the price tags and thinking should I, yes no yes no. But if I did get it while I was with the missus she could always say, well you have spent all that money on lenes so why can't I have this or that....:|

So it does take careful thinking and planning :thinking:
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:lol: I know what you mean.....
 
I have both, but for Sony, I'd say I use the 35mm more, but that may just be because I've not had it too long, so may still be the novelty of having a new lens...
 
I also have both and agree with Graham above, 35mm for flexibility for your portraits. The 50mm (=75mm on a crop sensor) is closer to the 85mm 'ideal' portrait lens but you do need space. They are both cracking lenses but start with the 35 would be my advice.
 
Ok settled I have decided on the 35mm, it seems a pretty good choice to go for. All it is now to track one down at the right price, I will have to search my back pockets. I know it is not a massive amount, but all my bills need paying first !
 
badboy1984 said:
Plenty of 35mm f1.8 at £149 in MPB.
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I take it that is for second hand ?



Just that these are prices I have seen in shops are


Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor Jacobs £161.99
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor Currys £161.99

But being brand new with all paperwork, it would be better to pay the extra few pounds. But there again I would not pay a lot of money for second hand goods!
 
i only mention it because someone said it will be lucky to find one around 130-150.

Second hand stuff you got to be patient. If you patient enough on ebay or here then you can probably grab one for £110-120.
 
ynot said:
Just to add to the dilemma have you considered the Sigma 30mm 1.4?
Very good lens.
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Another tub of Paracetamol at the ready :bonk:

A faster lens yes now that looks interesting, checking it out now thanks :thumbs:
 
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Rather than considering a pair of primes or just the one? What about a 17-50 Tamron 2.8 non vc?

This lens in nigh on bolted to my D3100. And it gives you both 35mm and 50mm you are after as well as cracking image quality and further flexibility going to 17mm.

Okay, no 1.8 aperture, but 2.8 isn't too shoddy.

2nd hand you are looking just above £200.

Just a thought........ apologies if this confuses things even more. :-)
 
Zarch said:
Rather than considering a pair of primes or just the one? What about a 17-50 Tamron 2.8 non vc?

Okay, no 1.8 aperture, but 2.8 isn't too shoddy.

2nd hand you are looking just above £200.

Just a thought........ apologies if this confuses things even more. :-)
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Hi Mick thanks for the info before, I have made a few notes and kept them on my desktop. I am making a shortlist now. :thumbs:
 
I'm in the exact same predicament as the OP here, torn right down the middle between 35mm and 50mm. Maybe slightly leaning towards the 50mm though... Decisions, decisions!!!!
 
If this is your first prime lens i would get the 35mm f1.8 AFS simply is a all rounded for portrait to walk around lens.

the 50mm is good but its only use on specify things.

If you still unsure, just go through all your photos and see what focal length do you shoot the most, that will tell you weather a 35mm or 50mm suits your need or not.
 
To tell you the truth most of the photos taken were of birds/swans, in local parks. I used the zoom as not to get too close physically, as not to disturb them. But I now want to try people shots, and street shots, while out and about. Basically I want to try and get a little to the action, that's why I thought the 35mm may be better...
 
Yes you right about the 35mm and thats exactly what the 35mm is good for.
 
Get the 35mm f1.8 :D
The Sigma f1.4 (if new) is great too - big but silky bokeh - problem is new its nearer 300 ukp.

I say get new because there have been quality problems which if new means at least you can get a replacement/free fixing...

Had one for a period, focussing was a little off on it and it had to go back to the london camera exchange (nice people btw). Pics on the flickr site (under sets on the right).

Did like the f1.4 on it tho ... :D


But back to the dilemma - 35mm f1.8 first... then see whether you need faster/wider/longer and expand as required :)

I've added a load more 35mm pics on the flickr site now :)
 
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ecniv said:
Get the 35mm f1.8 :D
The Sigma f1.4 (if new) is great too - big but silky bokeh - problem is new its nearer 300 ukp.

I say get new because there have been quality problems which if new means at least you can get a replacement/free fixing...

Had one for a period, focussing was a little off on it and it had to go back to the london camera exchange (nice *** btw). Pics on the flickr site (under sets on the right).

Did like the f1.4 on it tho ... :D


But back to the dilemma - 35mm f1.8 first... then see whether you need faster/wider/longer and expand as required :)

I've added a load more 35mm pics on the flickr site now :)
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The f1.4 a lovely lens yes please ;) but I suppose I will be looking at the 35mm f1.8 just a case of tracking one down at the right price.

Just had a look at your flickr link, some lovely photos on your page :thumbs:. That's the style I would love to try, were the background gets thrown out I love that effect. Thanks for the info ;)
 
Not sure if you are still looking, and I'm not an expert (!), but I have a D3000 with an older 50mm 1.8D (manual focus) and have just bought a 35mm 1.8 af-s at the weekend (both Nikon/Nikor)
The 35mm is just perfect for my needs (baby/toddler candid pics) and having auto focus is helping a lot:lol:
I thought the 50mm was quite good (focal lens) and was worried the 35 would be too wide, but not at all - it's much more usable.
Optically they appear the same to my eyes -very very good quality:thumbs:

I'd go for 35, much more 'usable' on a crop IMO. 50mm cost me £60 from LCE (secondhand) - pretty damn good when you consider the pics you can get. And the 35mm cost me 150ish from Jessops (think it is 180 instore, but reserve online and collect to get the online price:cool:) For that cash and quality, you wont go wrong...

I've got a few taken on the 35mm in critique/portraits just posted there....

Cheers.
 
SnappyHappy said:
Not sure if you are still looking, and I'm not an expert (!), but I have a D3000 with an older 50mm 1.8D (manual focus) and have just bought a 35mm 1.8 af-s at the weekend (both Nikon/Nikor)
The 35mm is just perfect for my needs (baby/toddler candid pics) and having auto focus is helping a lot:lol:
I thought the 50mm was quite good (focal lens) and was worried the 35 would be too wide, but not at all - it's much more usable.
Optically they appear the same to my eyes -very very good quality:thumbs:

I'd go for 35, much more 'usable' on a crop IMO. 50mm cost me £60 from LCE (secondhand) - pretty damn good when you consider the pics you can get. And the 35mm cost me 150ish from Jessops (think it is 180 instore, but reserve online and collect to get the online price:cool:) For that cash and quality, you wont go wrong...
Cheers.
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It does look like a really good lens, I am going into town tomorrow and I think I will have another look at it. I see the price has come down a little, it was £160 odd last week :thumbs:
 
yeah the 35mm is superb and i love using everytime but the only critics i have on the lens is it doesn't have the focus distance scale. I shoot video as well so it would be good to have distance scale on the lens but no bigger as the lens is simply superb.
 
badboy1984 said:
If this is your first prime lens i would get the 35mm f1.8 AFS simply is a all rounded for portrait to walk around lens.
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I took your advice anyway, bought one of these a few days ago and I have to say I think it's fantastic! :clap:
 
I'm so glad that others have the same dilema !!

My D90 will autofocus af-d lenses so that opens a few possibilities and part of me would prefer to invest in non DX lenses just incase I one day get the cash to go FX.

Added of course to the usual that my budget is tight probably covering a second hand af-d 50mm f1.8.

I have a family party in March amd want the lens to cover groups of 2/3 people, which makes me think the 35mm but I wouldn't want to make a comprimise for this alone if the 50mm is better.

Oh dear not sure that all makes sense. I think I really need to try both somehow.
 
DrRusty said:
I'm so glad that others have the same dilema !!

My D90 will autofocus af-d lenses so that opens a few possibilities and part of me would prefer to invest in non DX lenses just incase I one day get the cash to go FX.

Added of course to the usual that my budget is tight probably covering a second hand af-d 50mm f1.8.

I have a family party in March amd want the lens to cover groups of 2/3 people, which makes me think the 35mm but I wouldn't want to make a comprimise for this alone if the 50mm is better.

Oh dear not sure that all makes sense. I think I really need to try both somehow.
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I have both and i got to admit i use the 35mm more because the DOV is not too narrow for me where as the 50mm is more like lens i will use if i want to stay from a distance to take some portrait.

Optic wise both is superb, but i feel the 35mm wide open is slightly sharper then my 50mm wide open. when both stop down to around 2.8 it is the same.

Also the AF-S produce a little bit more contrast then the AF-D lens but can easily fix in post anyway so don't take that into account.

Focus speed on the 35mm seems faster to my eyes because of the AF-S and alot quiet as well because of the AF-S. But the focus speed on the 50mm still damn fast but maybe because i can hear the noise so it seems slower.

Either one is great depend on your purpose. You can easily grab both for cheap these days now.
 
DrRusty said:
I'm so glad that others have the same dilema !!

My D90 will autofocus af-d lenses so that opens a few possibilities and part of me would prefer to invest in non DX lenses just incase I one day get the cash to go FX.

Added of course to the usual that my budget is tight probably covering a second hand af-d 50mm f1.8.

I have a family party in March amd want the lens to cover groups of 2/3 people, which makes me think the 35mm but I wouldn't want to make a comprimise for this alone if the 50mm is better.

Oh dear not sure that all makes sense. I think I really need to try both somehow.
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I was either going to trade in my D3000, throw a few hundred at it and get a used D90 and stick my 50mm on, but in the end, I went for the 35mm af-s lens :lol: will probably put my 50mm back to LCE at the weekend, was a great lens though, just missed a lot of potential keepers due to my lack of quick manual focusing with the kids:'(
 
SnappyHappy said:
I was either going to trade in my D3000, throw a few hundred at it and get a used D90 and stick my 50mm on, but in the end, I went for the 35mm af-s lens :lol: will probably put my 50mm back to LCE at the weekend, was a great lens though, just missed a lot of potential keepers due to my lack of quick manual focusing with the kids:'(
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you might want to keep that 50mm, you never know when you might upgrade in the future.
 
Yeah, it's crossed my mind, for the small amount of cash it's worth I might just do that.
:)
 
Im having this dilemma and I'm 95% certain on getting the 35mm, especially when I consider the crop factor and how much 'better' the shots will be compared to my kit lens at 35mm to photoshop closer in and faff etc.

My feeling is that you can always move closer in, or even zone in PP, with the 35mm which you dont have the option with 50mm.

Plus, when you think about the crop factor the 35mm on a crop sensor really is the infamous 'nifty fifty' that you are interested in ;)
 
I thought the 35mm would be too wide for shots of the kids, and they might even look slightly distorted, but not at all, it's around 50odd on my crop anyway.
The 50mm (really 80odd my D3000) was still very good for portraits outside etc, but in the house you find yourself wanting to walk backwards through walls:cool:
I was just in another thread with badboy talking about the kit, and the 35mm in my opinion is much much better than walking around with your kit set to 35mm if you are comparing (not a bad idea if you want to see how you do with the focal length for a while?)
Since I got mine at the weekend, I have a lot more keepers and better crop options with the 35.:thumbs:
 
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