Canon APS-C starter prime: EF 35mm f/2 IS or EF 50mm f/1.4?
Asked 3/2/2020
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2 answers
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I’m new to photography and use a Canon 77D (APS-C) with the EF-S 18-135mm kit lens. I want my first prime for portraits with pleasing background blur, plus street and everyday shooting in daylight and at night.
I’m choosing between the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 and Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS. The 50mm attracts me because of the f/1.4 aperture, while the 35mm seems more modern and includes image stabilization.
On a Canon APS-C body, which focal length makes more sense for these uses? Are the autofocus reliability concerns about the older Canon 50mm f/1.4 something to worry about? What are the main pros and cons of each for portraits versus general photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
5
Your camera has a 1.6x crop factor. On APS-C, 50mm gives you the field of view of a classic portrait lens on full frame (80mm). While 35mm will give you the FOV of a "normal" lens (56mm).
If you want the lens mainly for portraits, go for the 50/1.4. If you're on a budget, consider 50/1.8.
If you want the lens for general photography, get the 35/2. You might even consider EF 28/1.8 USM (which has the FOV of a 45mm lens on full frame – also, "normal").
Other options:
- Consider other primes, like the EF-S 24/2.8 STM. It's inexpensive and very sharp, though it won't give you the amount of background blur you appear to be seeking.
- Maximize the background blur that the 18-135/3.5-5.6 zoom delivers by using the long end of its range (135mm).
- Experiment with the focal lengths on your zoom to see what FOV you need or prefer. You can tape the zoom to preset focal lengths to simulate the experience of working with a prime.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On your 77D, 50mm behaves like about 80mm full-frame equivalent, while 35mm behaves like about 56mm.
That means:
- 50mm f/1.4: better fit if your main goal is portraits, since the tighter field of view is more portrait-friendly.
- 35mm f/2 IS: better all-around choice for street, everyday shooting, and general use.
From the shared experience here, the 35mm f/2 IS is also the more practical starter prime: it’s sharper closer to wide open, and its image stabilization helps for handheld low-light shots. The 50mm f/1.4 offers a wider maximum aperture, but users often find it soft at f/1.4 and sharper only when stopped down, which reduces some of the advantage of buying it for f/1.4 in the first place.
If you want one lens to cover portraits and day-to-day photography, the 35mm f/2 IS is the safer choice on APS-C. If you want a lens mainly for head-and-shoulders portraits, choose the 50mm. Before buying, it’s also smart to test your zoom at 35mm and 50mm to see which framing you naturally prefer.
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