35mm or 50mm

Orbster

Orbster

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Hi all, I'm thinking of buying a small prime lens for my Nikon D5000 and unsure what would be best.

I have done a little bit of reading about both and the general consensus seems to be that a 35mm gives the equivalent of a 50mm on 35mm format but I am wondering whether the wider aperture on the 50mm would make for more pleasing photo's in the end?

I would like to be able to do more photo's indoors of my family and also I believe the wider aperture will give me sharper pictures outside too?

Any advice?
 
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I'd go with a 35, in fact I did. It could do with being a leeeeettle wider but not by much, and that will be helped by the smaller crop factor on Nikons.

I think 50mm will be way to long as an every day lens though, the reason most people get 50's over 35's is the 50's are much cheaper (mainly the f/1.8).
 
I have a 30mm and a 50mm, and I find the 30mm to be a more useful focal length on an APS-C sensor.
 
For people photography I'd go for the 50mm in a heart beat. The 35 is a tad to wide for portraits imo.

The 50 also has the larger aperture so you can really separate your subject from the background.

My other-half's daughter uses my 50mm on her D5000 ocassionaly and gets some cracking photos.

HTH
 
The lack of a focussing motor is a real shame on the Dx000 or D40/D40x/D60 but it does not absolutely stop you using it. They can be used manually!
 
50mm great for indoor head and shoulder shots but otherwise too telephoto indoors. 35mm better for groups indoors with adequate but not ideal portrait capability. The 50mm f1.4 G is a ghastly rattly difficult to clean dust absorbing piece of poo as well as being silly money. 35mm is better value and in my experience easier to sell should you wish to. The difference between f1.4 and f1.8 gonna bother you?

But that's just my opinion!
 
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Why not try limitting yourself to 35mm and 50mm for a few days shooting and see which focal length suits you more?
 
I would not be without my 50mm 1.4AFS. I would choose that for portraits over the 35mm any day of the week. Have a look through pics you have taken - are they closer to the 35mm or 50mm?
 
The 35mm f/2 is a brilliant lens - way better than the 'faster' optic, though it's not great for portraiture due to the distortion it gives to faces, it can be used to some effect and is a pretty nice all-round lens, especially on FX...
 
got my 35mm AF-S yesterday, love it already. Tbh 35mm for me is perfect
 
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