My 35mm delema, can you help?

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Bill16

Senior Member
OK, I need a 35mm for my D300 DX camera pretty badly! Here is my delema. I have been trying to stick to FX lenses so my lenses will work on both my D300 and whatever FX camera I end up getting(likely a D700). But it cost twice the price for a used AF-D 35mm than it does for a new AF-S DX 35mm lens.

So I guess I need to know how useful a 35mm lens is on a FX camera. If it is useful, is it twice the price useful? AF-S FX lenses are too expensive on my budget, so AF-D lenses are my generally go for lenses.

So what do you think I should do? $159.00 for a DX lens new doable soon, or a FX D model lens at $300.00+ used and not really doable right now?
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
The 35mm Dx lens seems to hold it's value pretty well. So just buy the DX version now, and by the time you get your FX camera you can sell the DX lens and buy the FX version.
As a matter of fact, when you buy your D700, I'll buy the 35mm DX off of you.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I wouldn't hold ya to it buddy! Lol You might end up wanting one before I'd be ready to buy a D700, and I can't see making you wait on me my friend! But that does sound like a possible option for me, even though I hate selling stuff(I suck at selling stuff) ! Lol :D

But I'm going give your idea some serious thought, because it sounds so practical and reasonable that it makes sense to me. Thanks buddy! :D

Blacktop said:
The 35mm Dx lens seems to hold it's value pretty well. So just buy the DX version now, and by the time you get your FX camera you can sell the DX lens and buy the FX version.
As a matter of fact, when you buy your D700, I'll buy the 35mm DX off of you.
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STM

Senior Member
Definitely go with a 35mm FX. A 35mm lens bridges the gap nicely between a 24mm wide angle and 50mm "normal" lens. Many working pros used to use the 35mm f/2 or f/1.4 Nikkors as their "walking around lenses" instead of a 50mm
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Hmmm from that video, it sounds like the 35mm fx ain't too much better on the fx camera than the DX 35mm. Man that was disappointing for a fx lens on a fx camera. The results of a DX lens on a fx camera was expected, but not the results of a fx lens on a fx camera.

It seems like a 35mm lens on a fx camera isn't going to be great unless you buy the upper end lenses with F/1.4. Sigh...........

Maybe getting a 35 mm lens for the FX isn't a real need, I hope anyway. Lol :)

But that was a fx g lens, and I was looking at fx D lenses. So maybe the D version is better?

Well I'll think on it and try to learn more before making a final desision. I have some time before the money is available anyway(sometime in the next month hopefully).

Thanks buddy for the video link, that was informative! :D
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
The F/2 and the F/1.4 lenses may not be doable for me because of cost, and I imagine they are way way more than I'll be able to come up with anytime soon.
But I'll check on them and try to see if someday I might be able to get one of those.:)

STM said:
Definitely go with a 35mm FX. A 35mm lens bridges the gap nicely between a 24mm wide angle and 50mm "normal" lens. Many working pros used to use the 35mm f/2 or f/1.4 Nikkors as their "walking around lenses" instead of a 50mm
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RON_RIP

Senior Member
You might want to consider the Tokina 35mm 2.8 macro that I have. It"s macro ability makes it more useful, in my opinion than the Nikon 35 1.8. It too is a dx lens, though.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
OK I'll check it out! :) Thanks buddy! :D

RON said:
You might want to consider the Tokina 35mm 2.8 macro that I have. It"s macro ability makes it more useful, in my opinion than the Nikon 35 1.8. It too is a dx lens, though.
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Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
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Bill, just get the 35 1.8 DX lens. It's very sharp and light and is great in low light situations.
 
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STM

Senior Member
Bill16 said:
The F/2 and the F/1.4 lenses may not be doable for me because of cost, and I imagine they are way way more than I'll be able to come up with anytime soon.
But I'll check on them and try to see if someday I might be able to get one of those.:)
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You can always check used on Ebay. Since all I get are AI/AIS lenses it is my one-stop shopping place or lenses. They are generally a lot cheaper then KEH. But I scrutinize them very hard before getting and will only deal with people that have a return policy
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
It sure seems to be the best deal in cost vs quality that I've seen on a 35mm lens. So it seems likely it will be the one I'll likely be buying. Everything else is quite a bit more and even then they are used or refurbished at best. :D

Marcel said:
Bill, just get the 35 1.8 DX lens. It's very sharp and light and is great in low light situations.
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RON_RIP

Senior Member
Well, I must say that everyone seems to praise that lens, so i believe it is pretty sharp and the price is right. I chose the Tokina over the Nikon and paid $100 more simply to protest lenses made in the PRC. Luckily it proved to be a great lens and I do not know why Tokina discontinued it. Wether or not one can be found at a discount price is hard to say. From a strictly cost basis the Nikon would be the obvious choice and I think there are refurbished ones out there that are even better priced.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I must admit eBay is my goto place for stuff, and so I read and look things over carefully too.
So you were recommending ai or ais versions? I haven't been looking at ai and ais lenses recently, so I don't know what prices those 35mms are selling at.

STM said:
You can always check used on Ebay. Since all I get are AI/AIS lenses it is my one-stop shopping place or lenses. They are generally a lot cheaper then KEH. But I scrutinize them very hard before getting and will only deal with people that have a return policy
Click to expand...
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
OK after doing some research, it seem like this will be one focal length that I should have two lenses with. The nikkor af-s 35mm f/1.8 g lens for the DX and a Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 D lens for the FX.
The two lenses seem to be good for their purpose at reasonable prices. The DX lens is just too good to pass by for the price and so I think I'll be buying one pretty soon. The FX AF f/2D seems to a good option for me for the FX, and at a reasonable price that I think I can likely manage to buy later when needed after getting a FX camera. :)

Any opinions on this idea/possible choice? I'm very open to better price vs quality options, if the are reasonably enough priced! :D

You all have been a huge help, and I want to thank you all very much! :D
 
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aroy

Senior Member
Actually the 35mm on DX has same FOV as a 50mm on FX, so using the same focal length on DX and FX will give you completely different perspective. I suggest that you get the 35mm F1.8 DX now, and think about FX later. As this lense retains its value quite well you may not loose much when (if at all) you sell it.

If you are not goint to use the 35mm on FX for low light, but for landscapes, then the older manual focus AIS lenses are a much better buy. Why pay for the F1.4/F1.8 when you will use it at F4 upwards.
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
How bout 35 f2 AF D lens?

There is one locally here on C/L for $250. If I didn't have it covered for now with the 35-70 f2.8 D AF I would be calling the guy this morning......

You know what my next imminent purchase is, need to stay focused and on course!

What do you want to use the 35 primarily for anyway? Perhaps an Nikkor Ai would be a better choice. I will be replacing my long ago sold off Nikkor 28 2.8 Ai either that or the 70-200 f2.8 VR 1 selling locally soon will be my next lens grab.....

My other thought would be just grab the35 f1.8 DX and flip it on C/L when you are done with it, should sell in 5 minutes! First prime choice for any Nikon 3300 newbie with good reason. My Sony SAM 35 1.8 was gone same day I posted it. Easy peasy and I broke dead even on it.....
 
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