How do 35mm and 50mm prime lenses compare on a Nikon D50 DX body?
Asked 2/21/2011
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I’m choosing between the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX for a Nikon D50. I understand the D50 has a 1.5x crop factor, so a 50mm lens gives a field of view similar to 75mm on full frame. Does the 35mm f/1.8 DX also get multiplied by 1.5x, giving an equivalent field of view of about 52mm, even though it’s marked DX? I want to be sure I understand how focal length and crop factor work before buying.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
6
You are correct on both accounts, the 50mm will effectively have a 75mm Field of View (FoV) and the 35mm will effectively have a 52mm FoV.
The DX just means that the lens should only be used on a DX body, not that its 'a 35mm FoV on a DX body'.
Originally by user1819. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1819
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. On a Nikon D50, both lenses’ field of view is affected by the 1.5x crop factor.
- 50mm behaves like a 75mm equivalent field of view
- 35mm behaves like about a 52.5mm equivalent field of view
The “DX” label does not change the focal length or cancel the crop factor. It only means the lens is designed to cover Nikon’s smaller DX sensor area. On your D50, a 35mm DX lens is still a 35mm lens, but the camera’s smaller sensor crops the image, so it looks like a “normal” 50mm-ish view compared with full frame.
In practical use, many photographers find 35mm on DX more versatile for general and indoor shooting, while 50mm on DX feels tighter and is often preferred more for portraits. A good way to decide is to use your kit zoom at 35mm for a while, then at 50mm, and see which framing suits how you shoot.
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