New lens: Nikon 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.8

Miss Moo!!

Miss Moo!!

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Hello my Jessops vouchers have just come through and I am off to buy a new lens.... one of the above. But I can't decide which one :(

I have a D5000 and 18-55 and 55-200 lens, I don't take pics of set things, I do a bit of everything really.

Any reccomendations??
 
Miss Moo!! said:
Hello my Jessops vouchers have just come through and I am off to buy a new lens.... one of the above. But I can't decide which one :(

I have a D5000 and 18-55 and 55-200 lens, I don't take pics of set things, I do a bit of everything really.

Any reccomendations??
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I think the 35mm f1.8 will suit your needs best, however the 50mm f1.8 is a stunning portrait lens
 
I hate taking pics of people haha. People tale about the distortion on the 35mm? X
 
The DX 35mm is a great lens, and the closest to a standard prime. You'll have a lot of fun with it, go for it.
 
35mm on your crop sensor will be the same as 50mm on a full frame sensor.

The perspective our eyes see is apparently 50mm.

I've got the 35mm and love it, I only use it in low light and for indoors, but I must spend a day out with it as my only lens to see how I do :)
 
I have both the 35 and the 50. I use the 35 more now unless I am outside and want more distance and reach when the 50 suits my needs better for portraits and candids. I use a D5100 so 35 is like 50, 50 is like 75. I think the 35 will suit you better, as you mentioned you do not have a specific use for the lens. The 35 is good for low light, street, portraits, and it focuses closer than the 50 so you can get a macro like effect from it too.
 
I recently got the 35mm AF-S for my D5000, it's a brilliant little lens, so many options, and i haven't found a situation yet that it hasn't shone

just to echo the above, with either of the lens, you'll need the AF-S models as the D5000 does not come with an in body focusing motor.
 
Seraph82 said:
I recently got the 35mm AF-S for my D5000, it's a brilliant little lens, so many options, and i haven't found a situation yet that it hasn't shone

just to echo the above, with either of the lens, you'll need the AF-S models as the D5000 does not come with an in body focusing motor.
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+1 The new 50mm 1.8G and the 35mm 1.8G are both AF-S lenses so they will autofocus with the D5000/5100, which do not have in-body focus motors. They are both under £180 :-)
 
Personally I'd go for the 35mm... slightly wider field of view getting more in the pic --- plus you won't need to step back. The 50mm I have (older f1.4d version approx 200ukp) usually is too close and I need to move back a step or two.

If you have a zoom lens, put it at 35 mm take a pic, then put it at 50mm take a pic... see which you'd use more.
 
ecniv said:
If you have a zoom lens, put it at 35 mm take a pic, then put it at 50mm take a pic... see which you'd use more.
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Go through your EXIF data and see what range you use your 18-55 kit lens most at. If you tend to be hitting the 55mm far end a lot, the 50mm may be your best bet. If you always tend to be around the 30-40mm mark, then obviously the 35mm is the best way.
 
Thanks guys, they both seem great, so I will look at the EXIF info. I was in the shop about to buy the 50mm and thankfully looking at this thread they were out of stock.
 
The 50 is okay, but the 35 is a truly stunning bit of kit at any price. I absolutely adore it.
 
i've had both for my D5000 (non AF-S 50mm) and preferred the 35mm if i'm honest... saying that I then sold both to buy the 50mm 1.4 which I just love :-)
 
D5000...?

well you could buy an older Nikkor 50mm 1.8 Ai

will mount - will meter - but manual focus

I love mine...quality..:lol:
 
i have both and the 35mm on the crop sensor is better for me
 
Well I was think about getting one of these 2 lenses and could not make my mind, but everyone seems to love the 35mm so that's the one for me
 
Yardbent said:
D5000...?

well you could buy an older Nikkor 50mm 1.8 Ai

will mount - will meter - but manual focus

I love mine...quality..:lol:
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The D5000 meters with AI lenses?
 
Another vote for the 35mm - never noticed any distortion either
 
Yardbent said:
my mistake ...it's all manual

been looking at the D7000 and got mixed up
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No problem, just wanted to make sure that I wasn't going mad :thumbs:

AI/AI-S lenses won't meter, AF/AF-D lenses will meter but won't autofocus, and AF-S lenses will meter and autofocus for the record.
 
It's not a hard choice, just flip a coin as to which one you buy first, as you should likely have both lenses at sometime.

I'd get the 35mm first then the 50 1.8G, even over the 50 1.4G, as it's sharper than the 1.4 at the same aperture, suffers much less from coma, focuses faster, however vignetting is worse, and also CA is worse with back lit subjects, there is also a fair amount of distortion.
 
Thanks for the help guys, I am swaying toward the 35mm now after reading this. Does anyone have any pics they have taken with this lens on a similar camera?:)
 
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