Ditching zoom lens for prime!

bigredshark · 26 Jul 2011 at 09:49

James J said:
How would you guys rate the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G (£199.99) or the 35 mm version for sharpness and general all round use + low light etc?

The 50mm f/1.8 G is just about Nikon's sharpest 50mm prime (which isn't saying a huge amount actually, I still think the 24-70 zoom is sharper at 50mm f/2.8 than any of the primes). It's reasonable value too. Downsides include nothing special bokeh and, like all of those primes, slowish AF.

I'd say get one at that price but keep in mind a 50mm on a crop sensor isn't a natural focal length, on a crop I'd have a 24, 28 or 35 (for 35, 40 and 50mm equiv) myself...

James J · 26 Jul 2011 at 11:27

bigredshark said:
The 50mm f/1.8 G is just about Nikon's sharpest 50mm prime (which isn't saying a huge amount actually, I still think the 24-70 zoom is sharper at 50mm f/2.8 than any of the primes). It's reasonable value too. Downsides include nothing special bokeh and, like all of those primes, slowish AF.

I'd say get one at that price but keep in mind a 50mm on a crop sensor isn't a natural focal length, on a crop I'd have a 24, 28 or 35 (for 35, 40 and 50mm equiv) myself...

Thanks, kinda cementing what I was already thinking from numerous hours of reading reviews on the 50 and the 35. The 35 should give me the AOV of near enough the 50 on a FF/35mil (well 52.5 ish but whos counting lol) which would be vastly better than the 50 (75mm) on landscape work. I have the DX 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 VR but I'm hoping to get clearer night shots with one of the primes.

My main problem is I love autofocus straight away when looking at anything but an AF-S or AF-I lens and I can buy the Nikkon AF 50mm 1.4 for less than the AF-S 1.8g due to that, just couldn't use autofocus if I did -.-

Its all swings and roundabouts when looking at primes on a recent crop sensor DSLR

mrk · 26 Jul 2011 at 11:28

Maybe on a DX format body but on an EOS? Makes perfect sense

James J · 26 Jul 2011 at 11:35

mrk said:
Maybe on a DX format body but on an EOS? Makes perfect sense

Ha yeah, but budget isn't willing

The current nikon DX range though does cause some crazy vignette on FX cameras so when it comes to the time I jump ship to a full frame, I'll be selling the lenses also and starting from scratch. Gonna finish uni first though before I consider something like that, then I'll just save and buy exactly what I want/need for a FX camera instead.

bigredshark · 26 Jul 2011 at 11:36

James J said:
Thanks, kinda cementing what I was already thinking from numerous hours of reading reviews on the 50 and the 35. The 35 should give me the AOV of near enough the 50 on a FF/35mil (well 52.5 ish but whos counting lol) which would be vastly better than the 50 (75mm) on landscape work. I have the DX 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 VR but I'm hoping to get clearer night shots with one of the primes.

My main problem is I love autofocus straight away when looking at anything but an AF-S or AF-I lens and I can buy the Nikkon AF 50mm 1.4 for less than the AF-S 1.8g due to that, just couldn't use autofocus if I did -.-

Its all swings and roundabouts when looking at primes on a recent crop sensor DSLR

There is an answer - Nikon's 24 f/1.4 AF-S prime is the perfect option on a crop sensor as it gives you roughly the all round equivalent of a 35 f/2 on full frame, it's an awesome lens in virtually every respect. Unfortunately it costs about £1600 and you won't find a used one easily as it's very new and people don't tend to let them go. It's a awesome combination with a D7000 though.

More practically, the 35/1.8 DX is good value and worth getting I think. I don't like it's build (it feels like a £150 lens at the end of the day) but I can't deny it's good value. Don't completely write of the 50mm focal length on a crop sensor though, it forces you to take some more interesting shots - glancing back through my flickr stream there's some nice shots I've taken with a 50/1.4 on a crop sensor. But I'd get a 35 first in your position.

James J · 26 Jul 2011 at 11:40

bigredshark said:
There is an answer - Nikon's 24 f/1.4 AF-S prime is the perfect option on a crop sensor as it gives you roughly the all round equivalent of a 35 f/2 on full frame, it's an awesome lens in virtually every respect. Unfortunately it costs about £1600 and you won't find a used one easily as it's very new and people don't tend to let them go. It's a awesome combination with a D7000 though.

More practically, the 35/1.8 DX is good value and worth getting I think. I don't like it's build (it feels like a £150 lens at the end of the day) but I can't deny it's good value. Don't completely write of the 50mm focal length on a crop sensor though, it forces you to take some more interesting shots - glancing back through my flickr stream there's some nice shots I've taken with a 50/1.4 on a crop sensor. But I'd get a 35 first in your position.

Thanks, makes it a lot easier to justify a purchase when you get some clear advice lol. I'm definitely not writing off the 50 as that also puts me in a focal range I don't have at the moment, which could come in useful. I think I'll get the 35 first, then look at the 50 a few months later, funds allowing. Just got to source a nice low cost 35mm DX now