50mm 1.8D vs 50mm 1.8 AF vs 35 1.8

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50mm 1.8D vs 50mm 1.8 AF vs 35 1.8

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tommy22

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Which of the 3 should i get?
I have a D5100 with kitlens and the tokina 11-16.

-I know the D has no autofocus but the aperture ring is really a plus because I can't change aperture on the fly in the video mode on the D5100
-I am planning to get the D7000 replacement (or D400 if it's not FX) went it comes out so that's why I don't mind not having the built in autofocus motor right now; but i risk losing a lot of shot while waiting for the D7000 replacement because of it.
-Last but not least the D version is a tad cheaper here.

I can by the 50mm 1.8D at 120 euro
the 50mm 1.8G at 160 euro
35 1.8G 170 euro

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

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Well it is hard to say between the 50 and 35. They are different lenses. One might like the 35 and one the 50 depending on what you shoot. I would get the 1.8G instead of the 1.8D though...unless you really want the aperture ring for video because there is no advantage to getting the older version otherwise. All of these lenses have been discussed pretty thoroughly on here if you do a search.

Posted 1 year ago #
roombarobot

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With the same camera, I got the 35mm 1.8G as my first prime lens. My main reason is that one can crop smaller, but you can not crop wider, so I felt the 35mm would be more useful. Another reason is that at the 1.5x crop factor the 35mm=50mm and that is a great all-around focal length.

Posted 1 year ago #
tommy22

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roombarobot said:
With the same camera, I got the 35mm 1.8G as my first prime lens. My main reason is that one can crop smaller, but you can not crop wider, so I felt the 35mm would be more useful. Another reason is that at the 1.5x crop factor the 35mm=50mm and that is a great all-around focal length.

good point thank you; I'll get the 35mm than; hoping the D7100/D400 will have live aperture in video mode or the power aperture from the pro models

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

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I would try...put your kit lens at 35mm and walk around taking pictures. Then put it at 50mm and do the same. Figure out which you like better.

I kind of dislike the 35 personally. Others love it. My friend doesn't like his 50, but others love theirs. So it is hard to say which is right for you. Either choice is probably a good one. I think 50 is a better portrait length on DX and 35 not really landscape, but group photo length.

Posted 1 year ago #
tommy22

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i want to use it mostly indoors and shoot handheld
does the 35 have a big advantage here because of more light entering the camera?

Posted 1 year ago #
donaldejose

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The 35mm 1.8 won't allow more light in than either 50mm 1.8 lenses. But if your shoot indoors you will probably like the 35mm better because it has a wider angle of view. Set your kit lens to about 22-23mm and look through it inside the house. That is what a 35mm lens would see. Set your kit lens to about 35mm and look through it inside the house. That is about what a 50mm lens would see. See you already have the focal lengths of 35 and 50mm inside your kit lens. All you really get from going to 1.8 primes is more light to the sensor.

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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The 35mm is the one to get. 50mm on a DX is a bit weird IMHO - 35mm is a nice normal focal length.

I have a hardly used 50mm f1.4 G in my bag that I will swap for an 85mm 1.8 G if anybody is interested....

Posted 1 year ago #
Gabbb

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The moment you unlock the aperture ring 50mm 1.8d on your d5100 you will get an error message, I wouldn't bother with that on a d5100 for sure, the 1.8g is superior in every way on top of that, I wouldn't buy the d just because I would eventually get a body with a motor. Used indoors the 35mm is a lot more versatile, but if you have the space, or you're interested in portraiture the 50mm 1.8g is the one to get, also it has a lot faster AF than the 35mm 1.8g(it matters a lot when the lens has to hunt) and is optically more consistent, the 35mm 1.8g has a lot of loca and in bright sunlight the very strong green bokeh outlining can ruin shots, indoors in low light that's a non issue however.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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Just a note - you can buy the old 50mm 1.8 E-series MF lens for a song. I just picked one up for $35. I would go with the new version and find older MF glass for video.

Posted 1 year ago #
tommy22

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ok thx everyone for the advise: i'll buy the 50mm G version and look for a used D/E version for my videos.

Posted 1 year ago #
roombarobot

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If you are shooting indoors 50mm (75mm at a 1.5x crop) might be too narrow, heck 35mm (50mm at a 1.5x crop) might be as well. As was noted above, I'd try those different lengths with your kit zoom lens to see what you need for your purpose.

Posted 1 year ago #
MikeWhis

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35mm all the way. I regret buying the 50mm 1.8G, it's too far away. Good for portraits, but not good for anything else.

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveO

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donaldejose said:
The 35mm 1.8 won't allow more light in than either 50mm 1.8 lenses. But if your shoot indoors you will probably like the 35mm better because it has a wider angle of view. Set your kit lens to about 22-23mm and look through it inside the house. That is what a 35mm lens would see. Set your kit lens to about 35mm and look through it inside the house. That is about what a 50mm lens would see. See you already have the focal lengths of 35 and 50mm inside your kit lens. All you really get from going to 1.8 primes is more light to the sensor.

When using the same camera body the lens should be set to 35mm so it give the same view as the true 35mm prime. The same is true for the 50mm.

Posted 12 months ago #
donaldejose

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DaveO: No, you are forgetting the crop factor of DX vs. FX. The 35mm setting on the 18-55 mm kit lens which he has will equal the same angle as a 50mm prime lens. 35 x 1.5 = 52.5mm

See the prime lenses he is talking about are all measured in FX or 35mm "units." The 18-55mm kit lens is measured in DX units. DX units are not the same as FX units. Basically a DX lens at 18mm on a DX body equals about an FX 28mm lens on an FX or 35mm body. A 55mm DX lens on a DX body equals about an 85mm FX lens on an FX or 35mm body. If you take a 35mm prime FX lens and put it on a DX body it equals about what a 50mm FX lens would see on an FX or 35mm body. That is why the 35mm lens is called the "normal" (not wide angle) lens on DX bodies.

Posted 12 months ago #
DutchNikon

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donaldejose said:
DaveO: No, you are forgetting the crop factor of DX vs. FX. The 35mm setting on the 18-55 mm kit lens which he has will equal the same angle as a 50mm prime lens. 35 x 1.5 = 52.5mm

See the prime lenses he is talking about are all measured in FX or 35mm "units." The 18-55mm kit lens is measured in DX units. DX units are not the same as FX units. Basically a DX lens at 18mm on a DX body equals about an FX 28mm lens on an FX or 35mm body. A 55mm DX lens on a DX body equals about an 85mm FX lens on an FX or 35mm body. If you take a 35mm prime FX lens and put it on a DX body it equals about what a 50mm FX lens would see on an FX or 35mm body. That is why the 35mm lens is called the "normal" (not wide angle) lens on DX bodies.

???? I do not understand a word of this...
18mm is 18mm, 35mm = 35mm, there is no such thing as FX or DX units of measure.
So a zoom lens ( no matter which one)set at 35mm will provide exactly the same Field of View as an 35mm prime on the same camera full stop!

Posted 12 months ago #
tcole1983

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DutchNikon said:
???? I do not understand a word of this...
18mm is 18mm, 35mm = 35mm, there is no such thing as FX or DX units of measure.
So a zoom lens ( no matter which one)set at 35mm will provide exactly the same Field of View as an 35mm prime on the same camera full stop!

Yeah I don't think that comment is correct by donald. The measurement on either DX or FX lenses is the same focal length. If you put a 35 DX lens on a FX body it would be the same focal length as the 35 FX lens but you would just have the vignetting.

The crop factor comes from the bodies sensor and nothing to do with the focal lengths on the actual lens. If you shoot 35 on your 18-105 it will look the same as the 35 on the 35 F1.8 and 35 F1.4

Posted 12 months ago #
TheLostNinja

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Gabbb said:
... or you're interested in portraiture the 50mm 1.8g is the one to get, also it has a lot faster AF than the 35mm 1.8g(it matters a lot when the lens has to hunt) and is optically more consistent, the 35mm 1.8g ...

Interesting, my experiences are completely different from yours. All of my 50mm lenses focus sluggish compared to the 35mm (on my old D90). I never had that 35mm lens hunting, not even out on the street in the middle of the night (i take a lot of pictures at events at night). Focus is always super fast and accurate.

my only complaint is lens flare/ghosting with that lens.

Posted 12 months ago #
Gabbb

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TheLostNinja said:
Interesting, my experiences are completely different from yours. All of my 50mm lenses focus sluggish compared to the 35mm (on my old D90). I never had that 35mm lens hunting, not even out on the street in the middle of the night (i take a lot of pictures at events at night). Focus is always super fast and accurate.

my only complaint is lens flare/ghosting with that lens.

I don't think you have tried the new 50 1.8g, because the focusing on it is much faster than the 35mm at all situations on my d7000. (or much faster than the 50mm 1.4g) Every lens hunts some, if you shoot in low light with AF assist off. You are right ghosting can be a really serious issue with the 35.

Posted 12 months ago #
MikeWhis

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DutchNikon said:
???? I do not understand a word of this...
18mm is 18mm, 35mm = 35mm, there is no such thing as FX or DX units of measure.
So a zoom lens ( no matter which one)set at 35mm will provide exactly the same Field of View as an 35mm prime on the same camera full stop!

Problem is that the DX lens wouldn't cover the entire 35mm and therefore need to be cropped and therefore is longer. That's where the crop factor comes in. 35mm field of view in DX is equal to 53mm on FX. That cannot be debated.

Posted 12 months ago #

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50mm 1.8D vs 50mm 1.8 AF vs 35 1.8

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