Fixed focal length lens questions

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jhock

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James
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Hi,

I am thinking about getting either a 50mm f1.8 or 35mm f1.8 for my Nikon D5000. I am looking at the AF-S models.

From what I can tell the 50mm is an FX lens, meaning on my DX it will have an equivalent focal length of 75mm due to the crop factor of the DX sensor? Fro. What I can tell Nikon do not do a 50mm in a DX format?

The 35mm is DX format (AF-s DX g model) this means it will be 35mm focal length on my DX camera?

Next question, what are they for?

From what I can tell they are useful for low light due to the large aperture, so wondering around town in the evening taking pictures would be a good use?

Would it also for for low light landscape shots, or is it not wide enough lens for that sort of thing?

Sorry for the questions, just want to see if it will do what I want, which really for when I am on holiday in town in the evening and only want to carry the camera and 1 lenses.
 
The 50 and the 35 is the actual focal length of the lens so the crop factor needs to be applied to both.

What are they for? I use mine (50 on crop) for every shot I take as it is the only lens I own. They are very good for low light and good for wandering around towns (you may prefer 35 as 50 can sometimes be too long)
Not best for landscapes (especially the 50) as not wide enough.

If you are used to a zoom with a large range you may find it limiting, especially if you tend to zoom in and out a lot. Set your current zoom to 35 or 50 and don't touch it and then go out shooting with it to get a feel for it.
 
All the DX and FX signifies is compatability. A DX lens will not work on a full frame body without sever vignetting and/or loss of pixels. The focal length never changes.
 
The23rdman said:
All the DX and FX signifies is compatability. A DX lens will not work on a full frame body without sever vignetting and/or loss of pixels. The focal length never changes.
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Ok, so does that mean that the Nikon 35mm lens is better option as is specific DX format lens (I relation to fact I want to use it with a D5000 which is DX format camera)?

So in terms of use, in town and portraits?
 
jhock said:
Ok, so does that mean that the Nikon 35mm lens is better option as is specific DX format lens (I relation to fact I want to use it with a D5000 which is DX format camera)?
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Not necessarily, all it means is that it is designed for the smaller image sensor size.

In this particular case with regard to the 35/1.8 it has received some glowing reviews, so is possibly the better option over the 35/2D FX version, plus it is cheaper.

As you have the D5000 which does not have a focus motor in the body, the 35/1.8 is the only option if you want AF, the 35/2 would only be manual focus on that body.

In summary if you want auto focus you need to look for the AF-S lenses, they do not need to be DX to work, just noted as AF-S.
 
Just following up on which focal length, I preferred using a 35mm focal length on my D300 crop sensor, 50mm rarely got a look in.
 
jhock said:
Ok, so does that mean that the Nikon 35mm lens is better option as is specific DX format lens (I relation to fact I want to use it with a D5000 which is DX format camera)?

So in terms of use, in town and portraits?
Click to expand...

Just to throw a spanner in - I'd say 50mm+ for portrait shots and 35mm for general use. :D

The 50mm is a great lens, but you might find yourself taking a few steps back for a lot of shots, that's all.
 
JT74 said:
Just to throw a spanner in - I'd say 50mm+ for portrait shots and 35mm for general use. :D

The 50mm is a great lens, but you might find yourself taking a few steps back for a lot of shots, that's all.
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I am far more likely to use it for general use than portrait work, it sounds like the 35mm would be good for taking shots inside where you can't or do not want to use flash, churches and such like.

Does that sound like it will be useful for that?
 
I do find myself stepping back a few steps a lot of the time with a 50 but then sometimes I find it is quite not long enough. That is the beauty of primes!
 
jhock said:
I am far more likely to use it for general use than portrait work, it sounds like the 35mm would be good for taking shots inside where you can't or do not want to use flash, churches and such like.

Does that sound like it will be useful for that?
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A nifty fifty (50mm 1.8) is generally regarded as the best all rounder (and great indoors and in low light) but in DSLR crop sensor terms that's the 35mm.

Not a huge difference between the two, a couple of footsteps.
 
The 35 1.8 is a brilliant lens on a crop body. Just brilliant.
 
Ok,

So just be sure, the reason the 35mm f1.8 is better than the 18-55mm I have is because at 35mm my lens can not match the 35mm for the apeture?

So if I have this right, that means I can have a larger apeture, more light on the sensor, but not have to have such long shutter speed as my kit lens, so much better when being handheld and in low light.

If sounds like a good option.
 
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jhock said:
Ok,

So just be sure, the reason the 35mm f1.8 is better than the 18-55mm I have is because at 35mm my lens can not match the 35mm for the apeture?

So if I have this right, that means I can have a larger apeture, more light on the sensor, but not have to have such long shutter speed as my kit lens, so much better when being handheld and in low light.

If sounds like a good option.
Click to expand...

Low light ability, clarity, punch, sharpness, depth of field. It just am ace little lens.
 
I have now had go with both lenses in a shop and i am pretty sure which one I want.

I am going to go for the 35mm, it great to use very clear view finder image and nice bright shots even inside the shop.
 
Good choice. good advice.

If all youve ever ued is a zoom the first thing you'll notice is the feeling of loss of control when framing... dont panic! ...learn now, that you need to move your body instead. zoom with your feet as we say, it'll take some getting used to but after a while you should find it works a treat. ..... :thumbs:
 
Word of warning when zooming with your feet - always look behing you so you don't end up in a river, under a bus etc,. as easy to get engrossed in getting the image!

Also maybe need to learn to run really fast to replace the zoom of the 300mm lens.
 
Also..
- is this shot worth taking?
- from which direction? Where is my light?
- then move into position
Primes make you think before you shoot.
 
vaizki said:
Also..
- is this shot worth taking?
- from which direction? Where is my light?
- then move into position
Primes make you think before you shoot.
Click to expand...

Those things should be on every photographer's mind regardless of whether they're using primes or zooms. Primes do nothing other than give you one focal length to shoot at....
 
Kinda make me :lol: this prime v zoom.

Years ago when i was working in the trade,every camera SLR,expect top pro models,used to come with a 50mm lens,and you couldnt get rid of them everybody wanted a zoom,we used to have stacks of them :D

Now nearly all cameras come with a kit len zoom,now everybody want a prime. :D

Also years ago when i used to be a pro,i worked with a stackfull of primes,in a big old billingham bag,early zoom were not up to the job,but as soon as zoom got better,guess what i brought,and so did a lot of other pros.


Primes & zoom have their places,today most of the the time i use zoom :)
 
I can't see why a prime would make you think before you shoot. I use a prime because I like to have f1.8 and I am a cheapskate. Getting a zoom even with f2.8 usually turns out expensive.
I also like a light camera and having tried zooms I don't actually like using them, I prefer just raising the camera to eye (knowing exactly what I will get) and take the shot.

The negative is that some shots are missed because of it, mostly because of the lack of a wide end in my case. There is only so far you can move back sometimes and once you do the shot is different than it would have been stood in the same place with an 18 instead of 50.
 
ernesto said:
I can't see why a prime would make you think before you shoot. I use a prime because I like to have f1.8 and I am a cheapskate. Getting a zoom even with f2.8 usually turns out expensive.
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Thats is much the reason I have gone for the 35mm prime, I want F1.8 or there abouts but can't warrant spending hundreds and hundreds on a high quality zoom at the moment.

Picked it up today, good fun, brilliant in doors, low light does not need a very high ISO. Have fun with blured back grounds at the moment!
 
specialman said:
Those things should be on every photographer's mind regardless of whether they're using primes or zooms. Primes do nothing other than give you one focal length to shoot at....
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This was my exact reaction to that post too.:agree:
 
If it wasn't for your wanting a fixed lens my favorite walkabout lens is the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6 lens.

It doesn't have a good writeup by some so called "knowledgeable" photographers, but I have to differ. The one I have is superb at both ends of the range. Infact it was the only lens I used on my recent trip to Egypt.


Taken thru mini bus window travelling at speed. Don't think you could do better with any other lens. (photo unedited, exif left for checking)

dsc6174800x600.jpg

By bazza104 at 2012-05-25
 
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