Nikon 35mm f1.8 AFS, or 50mm f1.4 AFD

MindofMel

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,586
Name
Mel
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all,

I am looking for a shorter prime to go on my d7000. I currently have a sigma 28-70 2.8, nikon 85 1.8 and a sigma 70-200 2.8 and just want a short, sharp, fast prime.

I have previously owned the 35 and know its a great performer but that 50 being able to open up a bit wider is tempting me. Their pretty much the same price 2nd hand, give/take..

Any opinions..

(primarily for general use/ event photography).
 
Last edited:
I'm in the same dilemma, was really tempted to go for the 35mm but now swaying towards the 50mm 1.4 G. Just need something for low light/ in door shooting without using the flash. It'll probably come down to personal choice in the end I think.
 
On crop sensor I find the 50mm to 'zoomed' in for my liking, I think the 35mm is just right.
I have 35mm 1.8 and I'll never ever sell it however I've had 2 50mm's lenses and sold them again.
 
Last edited:
I have both - both great although I prefer the indoor capabilities of the 50mm. I don't find it too cropped but then I'm mostly taking images of my 10 month old!
 
Last edited:
I have the new 50mm f/1.8, it's about £100 cheaper than the 1.4 version. It is a little tight for indoors, but it is the main lens I use. It would be nice to have both the 35mm and the 50mm though :) 15mm difference is actually quite noticeable.
 
I find even the 35mm f1.8 to be too tight for indoor stuff at times, so I would definitely avoid the 50mm for general use.
 
I have both and prefer the 35mm. Its the lens I use the most and wouldn't be without it. A friend got the Sigma 30mm 1.4 but having focus issues with it on her D80. Could be an option though?
 
you can always crop the 35 to be 50. You can't always step back to make the 50 into a 35.

thanks
rick
 
I used to have the 35mm AFS and the 1.8 AFD. Much preferred the 50mm AFD, and I'm sure the 1.4 AFD would be that much nicer.

Wide open on both the 35mm would be slightly sharper, but there was something that I really didn't like about the pics. With both at 2.8 the 50mm absolutely blew the 35mm away with sharpness and just made the picture pop in a way the 35mm could never do.

At first I thought the 50mm was far too tight for indoors, but adapted to it after dropping back to the 35mm for a while and being annoyed. Lets's face it, they're both prime so you'll eventually ending up stepping back or forwards a few steps no matter how big your house is!!

Even putting aside quality, outdoors the 50mm is always the better option I feel.
 
Last edited:
I have both - both great although I prefer the indoor capabilities of the 50mm. I don't find it too cropped but then I'm mostly taking images of my 10 month old!

When he/she starts moving around, you may well find the 50mm restrictive..... I do even with my 35mm when my 20 month old girl starts hurtling towards me and i've got no further corner to retreat into! :lol:
 
I owned the 1.4D and no photo that came from it ever made me go WOW like the 35mm does daily.
 
I have a 50 as well as 20mm and a 24mm 1.8's
The 20 and 50 works so well I am trying to sell the 24 as I never use it!
tried a 35 but it was too close to both.
 
On crop sensor I find the 50mm to 'zoomed' in for my liking, I think the 35mm is just right.
Same here, I had the 50mm f1.4 G on my D70 and although it was a cracking lens, I could never quite frame the shot the way I wanted.
 
I prefer the field of view of the 35mm for general use. Taking into account the crop sensor this comes out at about 53.55mm on the D7000.

The 50mm I've just bought provides a much tighter field of view of 76.5mm on the D7000 which is too much for most indoor situations.

On a side note I'd go with the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.8G over the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4G. The price difference isn't really justified as the only advantage it seems to have is the fractionally wider aperture. The f1.8 has an aspherical lens to reduce chromatic aberration as well as the new nano coating to reduce flare.

Some reports say it's faster than the f1.4G to focus too.

I tried both 50mm lenses in the shop yesterday and walked away with the f1.8G (and the 35mm f1.8G).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I prefer the field of view of the 35mm for general use. Taking into account the crop sensor this comes out at about 53.55mm on the D7000.

The 50mm I've just bought provides a much tighter field of view of 76.5mm on the D7000 which is too much for most indoor situations.

On a side note I'd go with the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.8G over the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4G. The price difference isn't really justified as the only advantage it seems to have is the fractionally wider aperture. The f1.8 has an aspherical lens to reduce chromatic aberration as well as the new nano coating to reduce flare.

Some reports say it's faster than the f1.4G to focus too.

I tried both in the shop yesterday and walked away with the f1.4G

That doesn't make sense? You preferred the 1.8 and bought the 1.4?
 
Back
Top