Is a 50mm FX lens a good walk-around lens on a Nikon DX body?
Asked 9/21/2012
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I shoot with a Nikon D5100 and already have the 35mm f/1.8 DX prime. I’m considering adding a 50mm f/1.4 FX lens. On my DX camera that should give a field of view similar to about 75mm on full frame. Has anyone used a 50mm this way on DX, and does it work well as a general-purpose or walk-around lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
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Yes you are correct the 50mm on an DX body(D5100) will give you the field of view of a 75mm lens on an FX body.
Generally speaking, 75mm is somewhat tight as a general purpose walk around lens. 50mm is more commonly used for this, and to get that effective field of view on your camera you would want something around 33mm or so(which you already have in your 35mm lens).
You can find more information on why 50mm is so common and recommended in this thread: Why is the 50mm prime lens the most standard?
Keep in mind this is all down to personal preferences. Depending on your shooting style, you might find that 50mm is exactly what you love to shoot and you can shoot exactly what you want at all times with this. Myself, I find 50mm too limiting especially when indoors on a DX body, especially when I am trying to capture images of the faces of multiple people. It is simply too tight of a crop for my taste. Outside and walking around, a 50mm typically works out great on a DX body, but that is my opinion - and certainly up for debate.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—on a Nikon DX body, a 50mm lens gives a field of view similar to about 75mm on full frame.
Whether it works as a walk-around lens is mostly personal preference. For many photographers, 75mm-equivalent feels a bit tight for general-purpose use, especially indoors or in smaller spaces. A more typical “normal” walk-around view on DX is around 33–35mm, which you already have with your 35mm f/1.8.
That said, some people do like 50mm on DX for street shooting or tighter everyday framing. One benefit mentioned is that the view can feel natural enough to shoot with both eyes open and still be aware of what’s just outside the frame.
So: if you want a true all-purpose everyday lens on your D5100, your 35mm is probably the better fit. If you want a tighter perspective for portraits, detail shots, or a different street style, the 50mm can be a very good addition.
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