Photography More Camera Stuff 35mm or 50mm Prime

[Moriath]

I know 50mm is supposed to best for portraits but if i was to get one prime lens would the 35mm be better ?

I would use it for more than just portraits i think

 

[caLLous]

Depends. What camera are you putting it on? I'd go with the 50mm on a crop sensor personally. The Canon EF 50mm f1.4 (the "nifty fifty") is an excellent choice. A nice wide prime lens is a great way to learn stuff about composition, depth of field, bokeh etc... And it's ideal for portraits on a crop sensor.

 

[old.user4556]

What camera system are we talking about? Canon, Nikon, Pentax.... ?

A 30mm lens is going to give you a 48mm on a Canon sensor, so will act more like 50mm in the old school sense. I use my 50mm for portraits - it works well for head and shoulders on a crop body (works like an 80mm on full-frame).

I am going to disagree with Cal and say go straight for the Canon f/1.4 if you're on a Canon system - cheap plastic mount, f/1.8 and hexagonal / harsh bokeh due to limited aperture blades put me off it. Mind you, it is cheap.

 

[caLLous]

But I said go for the f1.4 as well.

 

[old.user4556]

Oh, so you did, apologies - nifty fifty to me means the cheapo 50mm f/1.8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nifty_Fifty

 

[caLLous]

Oh, I always thought it referred to the f1.4. I don't have the nifty fifty then, I have the f1.4. And a cracking little lens it is too.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Oh, so you did, apologies - nifty fifty to me means the cheapo 50mm f/1.8

Nifty Fifty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the price it's an excellent lens, I have one myself as it's one of the only decent affordable ones out there

 

[caLLous]

It felt a *bit* like it came out of a cereal box though. :$

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Yes, build quality is pretty flimsy but the results are nice and sharp.

 

[old.user4556]

No disrespect to it, you can't complain for the cash.

 

[Moriath]

nikon d50 atm but maybe a d7000 for future

 

[caLLous]

Well Nikon do a similarly priced 50mm f1.4, no experience of it but it's got universally good customer reviews on Warehouse Express.

 

[Deebs]

Moriath,

Use thread prefixes ffs!

Added for you this time

 

[Moriath]

hehe ok didnt realise there was one f or this subject

 

[Moriath]

is tehre a big difference between a 1.4 and 1.8 with 100 quid between versions

 

[caLLous]

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/09/01/lens-review-nikon-50mm-f1-4g-vs-nikon-50mm-f1-8g/ I would go for the 1.4 but that's only from the Canon side (build quality and plastic lens mount on the 1.8, mainly), don't know about Nikon.

 

[Clown]

Get both the 35mm and the 50mm

 

[Moriath]

eventually i should but at that price one a month or the mrs will yell hehe