Nikon D5100 Next Lens 35mm or 50mm F1.8?

richardirv

richardirv

richardirv

Associate
Joined
16 Mar 2011
Posts
824
Location
Leeds
Hi everyone

Just pondering which would be the next logical lens to buy? I have the 18-55 VR & the 55-200 VR. I know a prime is going to give me better images but I am not sure which one will be the better choice.

The 35mm F1.8 or the 50mm F1.8 (F1.4 is out of my price range)

Will be for general stuff & portraits.

Cheers
 
I've been dribbling on about lenses for that specific camera for a while now and the 35mm 1.8 AF-S was recommended as it's the equivalent of 50mm-ish on a full-frame and is tack sharp, as they say. Well, as DP says, anyway. :p

I'll be getting it anyway. Post up some pics of it when you get it. :cool:

Do you have a flickr account I can check out some of your D5100 photos on btw, richardirv?
 
Get the 35mm one. Its like having a 52.5mm lens on the D5100 from a film perspective . Had the same camera and the AF-S 35mm F1.8 lens myself and really enjoyed it. It is indeed tack sharp, even wide open. If you go for the 50mm variant, it'll be like using an 85mm lens on a full frame camera so might be a tad too long for most portraits.
 
alexthecheese said:
I've been dribbling on about lenses for that specific camera for a while now and the 35mm 1.8 AF-S was recommended as it's the equivalent of 50mm-ish on a full-frame and is tack sharp, as they say. Well, as DP says, anyway. :p

I'll be getting it anyway. Post up some pics of it when you get it. :cool:

Do you have a flickr account I can check out some of your D5100 photos on btw, richardirv?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, yes I do have a flickr account but I'll be honest I am struggling with it. I was trying to sort it out the other day but it was just frustrating me, ended up using photobucket for the purposes that I needed at the time.
 
James J said:
Get the 35mm one. Its like having a 52.5mm lens on the D5100 from a film perspective . Had the same camera and the AF-S 35mm F1.8 lens myself and really enjoyed it. It is indeed tack sharp, even wide open. If you go for the 50mm variant, it'll be like using an 85mm lens on a full frame camera so might be a tad too long for most portraits.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the tips, I was aware of the DX FX difference in mm but was drifting towards the 50mm as the bokeh is not supposed to be as good on the 35mm and I read advice that 55-85mm is the best range for portraits.

I guess a 50mm would be good for outdoor portraits and a 35mm would be better for indoor.

I will probably end up with both lenses at some point but its which to go for first.
 
I've owned both and the 50 is just too long indoors but fantastic for portraits, the 35 you would use more offer as there's greater flexibility there I guess ideally you would have both. In the end I ended up selling both and getting the 50 f1.4 but to me its a little softer wide open than the f1.8g.
 
richardirv said:
Ok, thanks for the tips, I was aware of the DX FX difference in mm but was drifting towards the 50mm as the bokeh is not supposed to be as good on the 35mm and I read advice that 55-85mm is the best range for portraits.

I guess a 50mm would be good for outdoor portraits and a 35mm would be better for indoor.

I will probably end up with both lenses at some point but its which to go for first.
Click to expand...

Go with the 35 first then get the 50 if you need it. You can always move slightly closer with the 35, yet indoors you might not be able to move back using the 50 lol.
 
Think the 35mm sounds like the one to go for first. I have also put my flickr into my sig. Its only small at the moment, only had the camera a few weeks and not really been anywhere so its mainly the dogs etc LOL. Living in Leeds doesn't help, need to travel to get somewhere worth photographing and the weather isn't helping matters.
 
richardirv said:
Think the 35mm sounds like the one to go for first. I have also put my flickr into my sig. Its only small at the moment, only had the camera a few weeks and not really been anywhere so its mainly the dogs etc LOL. Living in Leeds doesn't help, need to travel to get somewhere worth photographing and the weather isn't helping matters.
Click to expand...

Added you on flickr. Try your hand at some architecture style photos as leeds is probably a great place for that sort of photography!
 
get 35mm f1.8G. i was debating between the two and came to the exact same conclusion as James J.

check out my flickr for some shots using the 35mm.
 
Right, the 35mm it is then. Thanks for all the advice chaps. Not sure when I will be getting it, birthday coming up next month so fingers crossed. I would just go out and buy it but I have spent so much recently If I bought another lens I could find myself single!! LOL
 
I have a D3100 with the 18-55 VR, and recently picked up the 35mm 1.8 - awesome lens.

Looking at 55-200 VR now too for a bit more range as its quite cheap.
 
Turbo-G said:
I have a D3100 with the 18-55 VR, and recently picked up the 35mm 1.8 - awesome lens.

Looking at 55-200 VR now too for a bit more range as its quite cheap.
Click to expand...


You have kind of gone the opposite to me, I went for the 55-200 VR first and now looking for a prime. I have been impressed with the 55-200 so far, I'm no expert though.

Only down side is changing lenses, the 55 is just too long for indoor candid shots. Would love the 18-200 but my money is all locked up in savings to move house so unfortunately lenses are a low priority for me. :mad:
 
Its often best to actually change the lenses as primes are vastly better for portrait photography anyway as they tend to have far better aperture ratings.
 
I've got the 35 1.8 AFS and the 50 1.8 AFD on my D40/D2 and both are awesome. 35 is sharpest at f2/2.8 I find. If I had to choose one, I'd get the 35 I think. But the 50 is very nice as well. Get both. They are cheap enough. The 35 even works at a pinch on full frame on my F4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom