I got the Nikon AF-S 50MM F/1.8G Prime Lens on sale, but I'm not sure I need it..

Nilok

Senior Member
Hello,

I currently shoot with a Nikon D3400 (crop sensor) using a Nikon AFS 35MM F1.8 Prime Lens. I also own the kit lens that came with the camera (18mm-55mm), but I don't tend to use it much as I shoot mostly indoors in the winter and the pictures were coming out too dark.

I am by no means a professional and only do photography as a hobby. I mostly bought the camera to take pictures of my now 2 year old.

I did a TON of research and watched a TON of videos on Youtube to help me decide if I would have any benefits keeping both the 35mm and 50mm prime. I love the 35mm (~50mm on my crop sensor D3400) when shooting inside the house, but I'm thinking maybe the 50mm (~80mm on my crop sensor camera) would be better for outdoor shots?

From all my research I gathered that the 50mm could be restrictive on my crop sensor due to the narrow field of view, but that it would make for a better portrait lens and give me better bokeh effects with less distortion on the edges and on faces when shooting up close. Would it provide better sharpness than my 35mm though and would the bokeh really be much of an upgrade?

I keep hearing that the 35 and 50 are too similar to have both, and that moving forward 2-3 steps would give me the same results. Most people that bought the 50 before the 35 say they would not have bought the 50 if they had bought the 35 first. I'm not ready to spend more on getting an 85mm, so I am either going to keep both or return the 50. I have not tried the 50 as I cannot return it once opened.

I don't think I have ever been this indecisive in my life, so I'm asking for opinions here.:confused::confused:

Thank you,
 

todd7500

Senior Member
Welcome.
Love the 35mm. So much in fact that my next purchase might be a 50. Sometimes you just cant move a few steps.They are cheap and they are VERY sharp (at least the 35 f/1,8 that i bought). Cant ask for more.

More intriguing is the "to dark" issue. I am not an expect but I think I would look at that problem first then get other lenses.

Have you tried jacking up the exposure compensation a stop or two and see if that makes it better?

Might also try the matrix metering. I was troubled with some dark images and it got better quick when AI figured out (DAH) that that I was using the center weighted metering and my focus point was often on a dark part of the scene.

Is your ISO set to auto, or at least high enough for indoor work? There is bunch to learn about the Nikon metering system and all the options. (YouTube has become my friend)

Just my thoughts,

Best of luck
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Hello,

I currently shoot with a Nikon D3400 (crop sensor) using a Nikon AFS 35MM F1.8 Prime Lens. I also own the kit lens that came with the camera (18mm-55mm), but I don't tend to use it much as I shoot mostly indoors in the winter and the pictures were coming out too dark.

I am by no means a professional and only do photography as a hobby. I mostly bought the camera to take pictures of my now 2 year old.

I did a TON of research and watched a TON of videos on Youtube to help me decide if I would have any benefits keeping both the 35mm and 50mm prime. I love the 35mm (~50mm on my crop sensor D3400) when shooting inside the house, but I'm thinking maybe the 50mm (~80mm on my crop sensor camera) would be better for outdoor shots?

From all my research I gathered that the 50mm could be restrictive on my crop sensor due to the narrow field of view, but that it would make for a better portrait lens and give me better bokeh effects with less distortion on the edges and on faces when shooting up close. Would it provide better sharpness than my 35mm though and would the bokeh really be much of an upgrade?

I keep hearing that the 35 and 50 are too similar to have both, and that moving forward 2-3 steps would give me the same results. Most people that bought the 50 before the 35 say they would not have bought the 50 if they had bought the 35 first. I'm not ready to spend more on getting an 85mm, so I am either going to keep both or return the 50. I have not tried the 50 as I cannot return it once opened.

I don't think I have ever been this indecisive in my life, so I'm asking for opinions here.:confused::confused:

Thank you,
Given the choice between the 35mm and 50mm f/1.8G's on a DX body -- and those two lenses ONLY -- I'd choose the 35mm. I say that while confirming that the 50mm f/1.8G does deliver slightly better overall performance, generally speaking, as compared to the 35mm. I can't say for sure that's due to the 50mm f/1.8G being an FX lens or not but I have my suspicions. I do not consider either lens suitable for portraits, except full-body (as opposed to head-shots or head-and-shoulder shots) and even then I'd reach for something, almost anything, with more focal length such as an 85mm or 135mm if I had the opportunity. But, keeping this to the two lenses in question, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and the 50mm f/1.8G, I find the 35mm is the more flexible lens of the two on a DX body. Further, unless you're shooting raw, and post-processing your shots, I have to wonder if you'd really see the image quality difference between the two. In short, I don't think this is a decision you should be losing sleep over.

If your shots are coming out a little dark when shooting indoors, invest $100 or so on a decent flash and learn to use it. You'll be glad you did.
 
Last edited:

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Got to agree on the flash over the lens. Especially now that the little one is running around, used properly it can help stop motion and improve sharpness without the deer in the headlights look.
 

Nilok

Senior Member
I just wanted to thank everyone that replied to this thread to offer help.

I will try adjusting the exposure compensation for the times when I’m shooting indoors with less light. I will also look at getting a speedlight for those times when there just isn’t enough light.

As for keeping the 50mm or not, I’m leaning towards returning it as it seems that I am trying too hard to find any real advantages I would get from it since I already have a 35mm. It may not compliment my current 35mm well.
 

n8rfastback

New member
You may be surprised how much you like the 50. I prefer the 35 for a lot of shots, but the 50mm as a portrait lens and all around lens is really a great option. You may fins that as the 2 year old grows up you can use the 50 to get good shots when you can turn the shutter speed down and open up the aperture.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
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