Canon 35mm vs 50mm prime for full-frame street fashion photography

Asked 11/9/2013

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I shoot street fashion on a full-frame Canon and want one fast prime that focuses quickly, has a wide aperture, and is easy to carry. I’m choosing between a 35mm and a 50mm prime as an all-around lens for portraits and full-body street shots. Which focal length is the better single-lens choice for this style, and are there reasons to consider a different focal length instead?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

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AI Answer

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There isn’t a single right answer here: 35mm and 50mm are both strong choices, and the best one depends on how you like to frame.

On full frame, 35mm is generally the more versatile walkaround focal length for street work because it makes full-body shots and environmental portraits easier in tighter spaces. If you want one lens to carry everywhere, 35mm is often the safer choice.

A 50mm can work well for portraits and some full-body shots, but it won’t truly replace 35mm if you often want to include more surroundings. It gives a tighter perspective and usually needs more working distance.

Based on the sample style you described, some photographers would actually prefer 85mm for stronger subject isolation and flattering portrait rendering, especially outdoors where you have room to step back. But 85mm is less flexible as a single do-everything street lens.

So if you can only buy one, pick 35mm for versatility and walkaround use; pick 50mm only if you strongly prefer a tighter portrait-oriented look. If your priority is maximum background blur and classic fashion separation, consider whether an 85mm fits your shooting style better.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

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I don't know how you expect for us to decide for you. These are all excellent lenses. They will all do what you are wanting to do. Of course 35mm is very different from 85mm. Only you will know which focal length suits your shooting style.

We already have some questions that would be useful to review here:

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My Suggestion

I would scrap this entire idea. Street photography encourages small kits, with small lenses that manually focus easily. I would MUCH prefer a Fujifilm X100S to any of the lenses you mentioned for example. Small, light, fixed lens, quiet operation, unimposing. Grabbing a Canon 5D MkIII with a 50mm f/1.2 is anything but unimposing in my opinion. A small Leica M clone is what I would want for street photography, not a beast of an SLR. If money is no object, just go buy the Leica M, Sony A7, or the deal of the Fujifilm X Pro1. Full frame DSLR's are not a street photographers best friend.

Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4892

12y ago

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