Nikon 50mm 1.4 vs 35mm 1.8

gad-westy

gad-westy

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After a little advice. I fancy a nice fast prime and it's likely going to be one of the two in the title. I realise that the 50 is near twice the price of the 35 but given I'd be prepared to buy either that could be disregarded.

Just after opinions on which is 'best'? i know its extremely subjective but i guess there are people on here who have or have had both. I'd mainly use it for portraits, often indoors. Both seem quite good value for what you're getting. The 50 is obviously faster but I'm wondering if the 35 shorter length would be more useful. All reviews seem to suggest that they're both excellent. That just makes the decision harder!
 
Thanks for the link. A very useful read. That review has me leaning towards the 35mm. It's an odd one as most of my experience so far seems to suggest that more expensive=better. Maybe that isn't the case here. It would be nice to save a bit of cash I must admit.
 
I think it depends on what you want it for and if you have a DX vs FX camera (on a DX camera the 35mm becomes 50mm)
 
I have a DX camera (D5000). I realise the 35 wouldn't be much use if I ever moved to FX but I'm not sure that sort of thing should worry me. In terms of focal length, I've had a play with a 50 1.4 before and found it great for head shots. I can see that it may be limiting for wider stuff. I'm troubled by a few people saying that the 35 is too short for head shots. I need to try one.
 
to fill the frame with a head and no cropping, you need to be about 3-4' away. That is too intrusive for me personally. I also don't shoot just head shots, so the 35 is my choice. For indoor social and general walkaround, I love it.

thanks
rick
 
You may find the 50mm a bit limiting indoors where you are tight for space.

I usually use the 35mm indoors unless I can move back far enough.
 
I've had all three, the 35mm afs , 50mm 1.4 afs and also the 50mm 1.8 afd.

I flogged all but the 50mm 1.8 as it's uber sharp, fast to focus and well priced. Yeah its sometimes a bit long for smaller rooms indoors, but its worth pressing your back into the wall to get a decent shot. I going the 35mm a bit soft, and the 50mm 1.4 really slow to focus - not to mention being expensive.
 
Thanks all. I think it is going to come down to length. Both get good enough reviews that I don't think I'll be too disappointed with either. I am worried that 50 is going to be too long sometimes and 35 too short on occasions. I suppose that is always the case when choosing a prime.

My intention this week is to use my zoom lens to take a few shots at both lengths and see which works best for me. That may then be the deciding factor.

BTW 50mm 1.8 won't AF on my D5000. I'd almost certainly have got one by now if it did. :(
 
I know it might seem a bit extreme, but you could probably punt your D5000 and buy a 2nd hand d90 and 50mm f/1.8 for the price of a new 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4, would open you up to a purchase of older AF lenses too with having the AF motor built in. Or a D80/D200 but you might be used to the ISO performance of the D5000?

If not, the 35mm is a a cracking lens, I was sad to see mine go but felt it was just a little too short and had a bit of a chromatic aberration issue outdoors.
 
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swordjo said:
I know it might seem a bit extreme, but you could probably punt your D5000 and buy a 2nd hand d90 and 50mm f/1.8 for the price of a new 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4, would open you up to a purchase of older AF lenses too with having the AF motor built in. Or a D80/D200 but you might be used to the ISO performance of the D5000?

If not, the 35mm is a a cracking lens, I was sad to see mine go but felt it was just a little too short and had a bit of a chromatic aberration issue outdoors.
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I must admit that this thought has crossed my mind on a few occasions. When I put some thought into it I decided there were a few things that are stopping me:

1) The only non AF-S lens I would actually like to have is the 50mm 1.8 and I'd likely be just as happy (if a little poorer) with the AF-s alternatives.
2) My D5000 still has 18 months of warranty remaining
3) My wife likes the flip screen (I could easily live without)
4) And the biggy, if I'm going to change body, I'd like to take a big leap rather than an increment. I suspect it'll be a D300s or D7000 next but not before my D5000 is out of warranty.

One thing I have thought about is keeping the D5000, buying a used D80 and 50mm 1.8 and having a dedicated portrait camera. Seems a little lavish, but it would likely cost about the same as a new 50mm 1.4 lens. I presume that high ISO performance will be compromised?
 
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I've never had an issue with the ISO performance on my D80/200, saying that I've always used a flash ( off camera if lighting indoors is not to my satisfaction). I've just bought a 50mm 1.4d( non AF-s but still AF on motorised cams) which should hopefully help in lower light too. I managed to pick up a D80 and 50mm 1.4d for £370 so I'm not complaining about it :lol: ISO might not be up there with more modern cameras but there's always a way around it!
 
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swordjo said:
I've never had an issue with the ISO performance on my D80/200, saying that I've always used a flash ( off camera if lighting indoors is not to my satisfaction). I've just bought a 50mm 1.4d( non AF-s but still AF on motorised cams) which should hopefully help in lower light too. I managed to pick up a D80 and 50mm 1.4d for £370 so I'm not complaining about it :lol: ISO might not be up there with more modern cameras but there's always a way around it!
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So I just need to buy another camera, a fast prime and a flash. I knew this would be an expensive thread;)

Seriously though, I'm going to have a play around with the two focal lengths on my kit lens. I'll likely base the decision entirely on that but the more I read (this topic seems to come up a lot on a google search) the more I'm leaning toward the 35.
 
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gad-westy said:
So I just need to buy another camera, a fast prime and a flash. I knew this would be an expensive thread;)
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Wouldn't be an issue if you could have sold the D5000 but as you say that's not an option for you with you wanting to keep the camera until the warranty runs out. I made the decision to drop to a d80 to allow myself to have a decent camera, good lens and a few flashes ( which cost me about £430 all in). Just depends how you much you like the D5000 though.

Anyway, the 35mm f/1.8 is a cracking lens and you won't be disappointed at the price, as I said earlier just watch out for the CA on it. Have a look at my flickr as 99% of my pics are from the 35mm on a d80 or d200.
 
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