Whats Sharper/better

Checkout this and this. The 35mm seems to be generally sharper at the centre but softer around the edges. It's a close call.
 
They're both very sharp as lenses go. It would be splitting hairs to say which is better.
 
DannyDMR said:
i already know what i want it for and the focal length doesnt make any diffrence to me, just want a sharp lens
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Interesting whats the use you have in mind, I'm just curious as to why the focal length doesn't matter?
 
DannyDMR said:
focal length doesn't matter because either would do the same thing.

why would they be so different?
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I have a 35mm and a 50mm and I find them totally different and use them for different things. The 35mm I find a great length for a walk about prime as I tend to shoot landscapes and scenary so the moderate wide angle suits. The 50mm I tend to use if I'm shooting people informally at parties and gatherings as the extra length puts you at a more comfortable working distance and gives more natural results.

I wasn't trying to provoke or anything I was just genuinley curious.
 
DannyDMR said:
hiya guys need a little advice, ignoring DOF, Focal length what is sharper

35 1.8 G
50 1.4 D
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I had both, the 35 G was definitely sharper wide open (and the AF seemed more accurate)

I went FX though, so I only have the 50 1.4 D left.

What about the 50 1.8G that seems to have some really good reviews.
 
It will only be used in studio for babies mainly i shoot between 34mm and 50mm atm with babies so moving forwards or backwards won't make much f a difference to be honest. just want a lens that is sharpest or overall better quality
 
35 & 50 1.4 used is same price as a new 50 1.8 in my local camera shop so have a choice of all 3, reviews i have read suggest the 1.4's are slightly better quality glass
 
35mm may be a little too wide for baby shots. Babies are not very big:).

edit: Sharpness is not always a good trait for portraiture. For example, my wife hates it when I zoom into her (fine) mostache and beard hair. Unless the subject has flawless skin, a little softness can appear much better.
 
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DannyDMR said:
It will only be used in studio for babies mainly i shoot between 34mm and 50mm atm with babies so moving forwards or backwards won't make much f a difference to be honest. just want a lens that is sharpest or overall better quality
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I personally wouldn't consider a 35mm in the studio and rarely go wider than f8 so would hope any lens you choose will have the required sharpness.
 
DannyDMR said:
focal length doesn't matter because either would do the same thing.

why would they be so different?
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I wouldn't say they do the same thing, they're quite different.

Dxomark test lenses at there sweet spot and unusually that's wide open on the 35mm according to there figures, if this is important to you.
 
Best thing to do would be to test both back to back - then buy the copy you tested and found met your sharpness criterion. Even Nikon lenses can vary a little from copy to copy, so one 35mm may be sharper than a 50mm while with another pair, the opposite may be true.
 
DannyDMR said:
35 & 50 1.4 used is same price as a new 50 1.8 in my local camera shop so have a choice of all 3, reviews i have read suggest the 1.4's are slightly better quality glass
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1.4G or D? Neither are as sharp as the F1.8G wide open or even stopped down. The 1.4G doesn't even have an aspherical element whilst the cheaper 1.8G does.
 
James J said:
1.4G or D? Neither are as sharp as the F1.8G wide open or even stopped down. The 1.4G doesn't even have an aspherical element whilst the cheaper 1.8G does.
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That's what I have seen. 50/1.8G is the one I'd get.
 
Well I've had them all too and my 35 1.8 is the sharpest wide open by miles. Just shows that you have to go test the actual lens you'll be buying. :)
 
Funnily enough I have both a 50mm 1.4g and a 50mm 1.8g at the moment. Have to agree that the 1.8g is marginally sharper wide open though I think the 1.4g more or less matches it when it is also set at 1.8. Hard to say it's worth the extra cash though. Also had the 35mm when on DX and that's another excellent lens. It's really splitting hairs to say x is sharper than y etc. The truth is that they're all excellent. They even all look and feel the same though the 50mm 1.4g is noticeably heavier than the other two.
 
35 or 50 1.8 are very sharp. I had the 35 and now have the 50 and I was/am very happy with both. If focal length is not an issue as you mentioned above then I would go for the cheaper one.
 
If you want to take baby shots 50mm is the one to get, irrespective of which one is sharper (which they're both at a point where it doesn't make any difference anyway).
 
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