35mm or 50mm prime?

BigRazer93 · 9 Jan 2013 at 13:11

Hi guys,

I want to get another new lens next month, and was wondering what would be the best for portraits, and out and about in day/night time.

I'll be using it on my d3100, I'm leaning towards the 35mm as I read up somewhere it's theoretically a 50mm when on the camera due to the sensor?

Thanks guys!

Ksanti · 9 Jan 2013 at 13:19

50 is a better portrait length and can be used on full frame if you ever make the move.

35 is all around a slightly more useful lens and a bit more versatile but you won't be able to do headshots, but can't be used on full frame when the time comes.

danoliver1 · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:34

Go for the 35mm 50mm is a bit long for general use esp indoors, and its fine for headshots just move closer to your subject.

whitecrook · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:35

the 35 will work on full frame at down to about f4/ f5.6, slight bit of vignetting

pingu666 · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:43

zooming with your feet is different to zooming with your lens, shorter focal length is less flattering

mrk · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:47

Depends on your shooting style. You have a crop though, the 35mm will work better indoors because of that FL wise anyway.

BigRazer93 · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:58

Thanks guys!

I cant me seeing a full frame sensor anything time soon.

So the 35mm would be better portraits (shoulders and head with bokeh), new borns etc? And also about at night?

whitecrook · 9 Jan 2013 at 19:59

I have both, If I had to choose one (for crop sensor) I'd get the 35

BigRazer93 · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:06

Cheers for that Crook!

Would you be able to show me a few quick shots using the 35mm prime or link me to your flickr?

Thanks!

2StepSteve · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:08

For crop I'd also get the 35mm. I found 50mm to be irritatingly close on crop.

whitecrook · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:18

Ben-Irvine93 said:
Cheers for that Crook!

Would you be able to show me a few quick shots using the 35mm prime or link me to your flickr?

Thanks!

I don't really use flickr recently, I just uploaded a bunch of snaps ages ago but here is my link http://www.flickr.com/photos/58045613@N05/

I can't find how to find the lens info, but these were taken before I had my 50, and the torch ones are a different lens (70-210 iirc)

edit : probly a better link : http://www.flickr.com/photos/58045613@N05/sets/72157629676390487/

pingu666 · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:31

50mm on a crop sensor is 75mm, really a outdoor lens, or for portraits, indoors it is too narrow for most things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRoqNx9rlVA

DJ_Switch · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:49

Ben-Irvine93 said:
what would be the best for portraits, and out and about in day/night time.

The 50mm would be my choice for what you've asked. The 35mm has far too much distortion to be recommended for portraits. It is sharp but it is not a nice lens for portrait photography. Also...the fact you say "out and about" means the narrower field of view that the 50mm will give indoors will not be a limiting factor. 50mm all the way in this case.

Ksanti · 9 Jan 2013 at 21:58

^^ This

I've owned both and given he keeps asking about head and shoulders portraits absolutely go with the 50, the 35 just gives too much distortion at that distance.

Turbo-G · 9 Jan 2013 at 22:03

I have a 35mm 1.8, which I also use on a D3100.

Best thing about it is it's low light performance, you could be in a really dark restaurant, bump up the ISO and shoot handheld with it to reasonable results.

50mm will be perfect for portraits, but you'll find it unusable in a lot of indoor scenarios. You can struggle with the 35mm on a crop sensor in some scenario's.

Best thing to do, assuming you have the 18-55mm kit lens, is get used to the field of view at both 35mm and 55mm and try determine which one will be of more use to you.

BigRazer93 · 10 Jan 2013 at 13:51

Thanks for all the helpful information guys!

I've had a go at 33mm & 55mm on the kit lens, and I think the results are far better at 35mm.

Hopefully Jessops will have a sale on at the local store, so hopefully I can get it a bit cheaper!

Thanks for help again guys!

Happy shooting!

KingBrian · 12 Jan 2013 at 15:13

I also have a 35mm and 50mm prime and I usually pick up the 35 more than the 50, my vote is get the 35.

Eddie182 · 12 Jan 2013 at 16:40

I have both, and for head & shoulders portraits/outdoor use the 50mm is the more useful of the two.

The 35mm is great for indoor use (taking photos of the kids running around etc), but it's too short for proper portrait work. As far as low light performance, they are both pretty much identical in that regard. I have the 50mm 1.4 rather than the more common 1.8, which is ever so slightly better than the 35mm in my experience, but not by any significant amount.