Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G or Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

V

viceversarobbi

New member
na'then peeps

I have a dilemma, I'm looking at purchasing my first prime lens and torn between these two, my budget only allows for one of these at present time. I take a lot of gig and theatre images, my 55mm and 200mm are okay but at many of these events the lighting is very poor, also I can't always get very close to the subject ( I don't really want to be sat on the drummers' knee)..........usually I'm one to two metres away........any help would be most welcome.................cheers
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Using your current zoom lens at 50mm, does that feild of view work for you? If it does, then that is the lens that you need to buy first followed by the 35mm when youy have enough funds.
 
Whiskeyman

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
Well, the obvious choice is... all of them! Plus more!!

Gee, I'm not sure what your'e shooting, but at 1-2 meters on a DX? My serious first reaction is the 35mm.

But Glenn's advice is spot on. Use your zoom at the expected distances and see if that focal length serves your purpose.

WM
 
V

viceversarobbi

New member
Whiskeyman said:
Well, the obvious choice is... all of them! Plus more!!

Gee, I'm not sure what your'e shooting, but at 1-2 meters on a DX? My serious first reaction is the 35mm.

But Glenn's advice is spot on. Use your zoom at the expected distances and see if that focal length serves your purpose.

WM
Click to expand...
cheers bud.............my leaning is towards the 35mm as I've read that it's actually a 50mm and the 50mm comes out at 74mm.............:cool:
 
Whiskeyman

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
viceversarobbi said:
cheers bud.............my leaning is towards the 35mm as I've read that it's actually a 50mm and the 50mm comes out at 74mm.............:cool:
Click to expand...

Don't believe everything you read. On any camera, any lens is the same focal length as it is on any other camera. The 35mm is a 35 mm and the 50 mm is a 50 mm.

What they are actually referring to is the equivalent effective filed of view; stating the approximate focal length of the lens giving the same field of view in the FX format, or 35 mm film. While it is true that a 35mm lens will fill a DX camera frame at about the same distance that a 50 mm lens will fill a DX frame, saying that a 35 mm lens is/becomes a 50 mm isn't correct, so don't let them talk you into this! Regardless of the camera, the projected size of your subject on the camera's sensor for a given lens is the same on either format camera, unless it is too big to fit completely on the sensor.

Either way, getting back to your lens choice, both are excellent lenses. I'll now muddy the water a bit an suggest you look into the 28 mm focal length range, as well.

Good fortune to you.

WM
WM
 
V

viceversarobbi

New member
thanx WM..........that put's it into more perspective, I'm out tonight at a gig so I'll play with camera set at 50mm and see if the resulting images are what I'm looking for, as for a 28mm, I think I may leave that out of the equation for the present (the mrs will kill me if I suggest I need all 3 :eek: ).........tis all a minefield as I've only recently upgraded to a DSLR and finding that more and more I need to add to my kit............ah well I'll have to fore-go a holiday this year :(.............thanx again....tis very helpful.................robbi
 
V

viceversarobbi

New member
cheers HF................obviously there are more connotations to this than I first thought, I'll have to get my 'thinking' cap on and not rush into a decision................:cool:
 
S

ShootRaw

Senior Member
Looking forward to your decision..IMO The 50 will be wide enough and bring subjects closer with a better perspective..Good Luck
 
F

fotojack

Senior Member
My first suggestion would be the 35, given the distance you say you are from your subjects. But as WM and the others have said, the 50 would fit the bill, too, albeit from a farther distance, considering the 1.5 crop of your camera. Can't go wrong with either one. Tough decision, eh? :)
 
L

Lawrence

Senior Member
I had the same dilemma and someone suggested I set my kit lens to 35 for one week and shoot and then to 50 for the next week and shoot. This way you use your feet to compose and learn which distance suits you best.
for me it was the 35 and that is what I bought. No regrets.
 
T

TonyD315

Senior Member
I had the same issue back in October. I was torn between and two and finally decided on the 35mm. I've used it at family gatherings and walking around the city. The lens has been great. I have found that depending on the setting you're in, the 35 sometimes can be too tight...I can only imagine what the 50 would be like...that's why my next lens is going to be the 17-55 2.8


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
A

Annasarp

Senior Member
Few months back I was also in the same situation. Finally after much research and contemplation decided upon 50mm. 35mm lens is made for DX cameras, so it won't workout if ur upgrading to FX camera body in future. I would vote for 50mm :)

Sent from my GT-I9070 using Tapatalk
 
Jerhyer

Jerhyer

Senior Member
I just rented the 35mm from Borrow Lenses and spent the weekend with it. I took it to a club and did lots of shots of people there and it performed flawlessly for me. It allowed me to get great shots in crowded areas with the crazy lighting. Not being used to the really wide aperture the first couple shots had a really narrow DOF but after that it was aces! I will being purchasing this lense ASAP!

I plan on upgrading my 3100 to a 7100 maybe this summer so I will still be able to use the DX lense. After that I may go full frame. Still undecided about that!
 
Top