Nikon f1.8 50mm or 35mm
Author
Discussion

Lucas CAV

Original Poster:

3,068 posts

249 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I fancy a fast prime - Nikon do a 35mm or 50mm --

I'm leaning towards the 35mm even though its more pricy as I suspect the 50mm will be a bit long on a DX sensor ?

I've seen lots of praise for the 50mm but not a lot yet for the 35mm


Anyone got a view on these lenses?

SamHH

5,078 posts

246 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I'm not sure what you mean by "too long". Too long for what?

If you've got a zoom lens that covers that range, set it to 35mm, then 50mm and see which you prefer.

Klankie

73 posts

209 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I've got a 50mm 1.8, and yes it is a bit long, idea for portraits and is as sharp as a sharp thing.

I wondered about the 35mm as it is closer to a "standard" lens, but iirc it didn,t get a good write up in a photo mag review, something about excessive CA, anyway it summed it up as "nice try Nikon must do better".

Have you thought about the sigma 30mm?

Mike

//dean

1,063 posts

226 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I have both on an FX (D3).

Love the nifty 50 but the 35mm sounds like it's right up your street! Go for it, tis a great lens!

james_tigerwoods

16,347 posts

227 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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furtive

4,503 posts

309 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
I've got both. I've had the 50mm f/1.8 for quite a while and found it too "close" often so very recently invested in the new Nikon AFS 35mm f/1.8 and it's great especially in low light.

Both are fantasic lenses, but I think the 35mm just pips the 50mm in it's usefulness

All the recent pics in my photostream on flickr were taken with the 35mm:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furtives/

Edited by furtive on Monday 14th September 17:21

Lucas CAV

Original Poster:

3,068 posts

249 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
thanks for the replies guys

to answer a few...

the Sigma 30 looks good --- more than I want to spend on this lens though

To clarify my concerns about the 50mm -- I had a very brief go with one and found that i struggled to get far enough away from things to get a shot!
Indoor people shots were good though - but again, hard to get much more than their face in!

Must say I'm still looking a the 35mm -- same good ow light performance but with a wider (more useful) angle

furtive

4,503 posts

309 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
That's exactly the reason I got my 35mm.