50mm preference over the 35mm for park scenes

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

Suspended / Banned
Messages
9,388
Name
Jon
Edit My Images
Yes
I have two basic old Nikon bodies, one being the Nikon D60 and the other a Nikon D80. I use the Nikon 50mm 1.8D on the D80 while I use the 35mm 1.8G on the D60 body.

I did a little test the other day, I walked a route through my local park using both camera's, and using my lens choice for each camera that I have already mentioned. I photographed the same scenes with each camera, then compared the images when I got back home.

For some reason I prefer the images from the D80 and 50mm 1.8D lens set up. The images give me that feeling of being there, that strange slightly eerie feeling of time stood still, if you know what I mean.

I got the 35mm as to get more in the shot, but for some reason the 50mm seems to produce images that seem nicer on the eye somehow.
 
Last edited:
50mm is closer to what your eyes can see. There will be less distortion, your subject will pop a little more and any bokeh in the image will be smoother too, which helps give the subject that 'pop'
 
Cagey75 said:
50mm is closer to what your eyes can see. There will be less distortion, your subject will pop a little more and any bokeh in the image will be smoother too, which helps give the subject that 'pop'
Click to expand...

50mm focal length is only considered a' normal' on a full frame (35mm) camera. It would be considered a short tele on the camera mentioned.
 
Yes, viewing angle is still 50mm, FX or DX.
 
freecom2 said:
50mm focal length is only considered a' normal' on a full frame (35mm) camera. It would be considered a short tele on the camera mentioned.
Click to expand...
Would it really be considered a short telephoto :thinking: as the only difference I am loosing is the outer bit. Either way I still like the image dimensions I am getting :)
 
I wouldn't call it a short tele on cropped - 60mm plus would be maybe. 50, even on cropped sensors, doesn't get you far into the distance enough to gain anything without having to move.
 
?

viewing angle changes with sensor size for the same lens.

50mm on crop gives about 32 degrees fov, on full frame about 48 degrees. Unless ive mistaken what you are referring to...
 
I think this is the source of confusion

Cagey75 said:
Yes, viewing angle is still 50mm, FX or DX.
Click to expand...

Angles are conventionally measured in degrees or Radians rather than millimetres. ;)

50mm is 50mm on FX or DX though.
 
Last edited:
Oh not this again :)

Yes, the actual field of view from a 50 remains the same no matter what camera it is attached to, but the smaller sensor is only covering part of the lens's image circle, and it's the field of view created by the lens/camera system that determines field of view of the resulting image.

With a 50mm lens on a 35mm sensor your field of view you have approximately 40 degrees horizontal angle of view. Put the same lens on a crop sensor camera, you have approximately 25 degrees of horizontal angle of view.

net result = 50mm on a 1.5x crop camera gives same field of view as a 75mm on a 35mm camera.

The focal length hasn't changed, no. The angle of coverage the lens produces hasn't changed, no... the lens/camera systems DO both have a different field of view though.

As a 50mm on a crop sensor camera gives the equivalent field of view to a 75mm lens on a 35mm camera, then yes, a 50 is a short telephoto on a D60 or a D90.
 
Last edited:
Pookeyhead said:
Oh not this again :)

Yes, the actual field of view from a 50 remains the same no matter what camera it is attached to, but the smaller sensor is only covering part of the lens's image circle, and it's the field of view created by the lens/camera system that determines field of view.
Click to expand...
Yes this does do my head in also, I can't understand why people can't grasp this! I get fed up when I see the stupid ah well that lens changes and becomes a whatever focal length on a cropped body. Implying that the focal length changes on a cropped camera, when all that changes is the field of view!
 
still, makes a nice change from the "what compact camera should I buy" threads
 
But its not got anything to do with field of view, angle of view, focal length or anything when you talk about why a 50mm lens is considered the same as the human eye.... its all about perspective distortion.

Go google it..
 
Perspective distortion is a product of field of view/magnification though isn't it.

:)
 
No, its a direct function of subject distance.
 
It's all related. You can't divorce one from the other. I could use a 14mm lens, and crop in to a tiny part of the frame that gives the same field of view as as a 50mm lens would if I'd taken it from the same position, and they would look identical (resolution aside).


[edit]

I've just realised that what we are saying is the same thing.
 
Last edited:
Anyway what I was saying in my original post was, I prefer using the 50mm over the 35mm while walking around the park. As this gives me images that I like the look of and if I like the look of it, then it's the right lens to use :)
 
jonbeeza said:
Anyway what I was saying in my original post was, I prefer using the 50mm over the 35mm while walking around the park. As this gives me images that I like the look of and if I like the look of it, then it's the right lens to use :)
Click to expand...


Absolutely correct. You use what gives you the results you like.
 
jonbeeza said:
For some reason I prefer the images from the D80 and 50mm 1.8D lens set up. The images give me that feeling of being there, that strange slightly eerie feeling of time stood still, if you know what I mean.
.
Click to expand...

The 50 1.8d is a little less contrasty which could account for the eerie-er look of winter scenes.
 
jonbeeza said:
Anyway what I was saying in my original post was, I prefer using the 50mm over the 35mm while walking around the park. As this gives me images that I like the look of and if I like the look of it, then it's the right lens to use :)
Click to expand...

I used to use mostly wide angle lenses on my 20D and I thought that 50mm was a little too tight for me, nice for taking pictures of specific things but a bit too tight for normal use.

On FF though a 50mm is my most used lens and strangely on MFT my most used lens is now a 55mm f1.7, equiv FoV of 110mm. I just find it a nice length that gives me a look I like.
 
My reply was written on my phone, without time to go into the tiny little details that everyone understands...! Sorry it derailed the thread so badly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top