Nikon D90: keep the 35mm f/1.8 DX or sell it for a 50mm f/1.4G?
Asked 12/30/2011
3 views
2 answers
0
I use a Nikon D90 and intended to buy a 50mm f/1.4G, but I ended up with a 35mm f/1.8G DX instead and paid too much for it. I still want the 50mm, but if I sell the 35mm now I’ll lose money. On a DX body like the D90, is the 35mm actually the better lens to keep, or should I sell it and buy the 50mm f/1.4G anyway?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
On a cropped sensor camera like the D90, I personally find a 35mm focal length more useful, and if I were buying I would go for the 35mm f/1.8 at half the price.
Optically, my friends who have the 50mm f/1.4 say it's a bit soft wide open, but has nice bokeh. According to this review it is quite soft wide open, and sharpest at f/5.6.
On the other hand, the 35mm f/1.8, like the 50mm f/1.8, is very sharp wide open, and at maximum sharpness by about f/2.8 (see this review). I think the bokeh on the 35mm f/1.8 is pretty good, Ken Rockwell disagrees
If you can't pursue the seller and work things out, then the money is effectively lost already - you've overpaid for the 35mm lens, or you'll lose out by selling it and buying a 50mm f/1.4. Just put that behind you and try to forget how much you (over)paid for the lens, and just unemotionally try to work out where to go from here.
My advice would be use this lens for a bit and see how you like it. Will you use the extra stop that the f/1.4 gives you? If you do a lot of low light shooting maybe. If it's soft and you often have to stop it down, then I'm not sure it's such a great advantage. If you need the faster lens, or you prefer 50mm focal length to 35mm focal length, then sell this one and buy the other.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On a Nikon D90 (DX/crop sensor), 35mm is often the more practical everyday focal length than 50mm. Several responders also noted the 35mm f/1.8 DX is generally quite sharp wide open, while the 50mm f/1.4G is often considered softer at f/1.4, though it does give nicer blur.
The key point is to separate the bad purchase from the lens decision. The overpayment is already a sunk cost. If the seller truly misrepresented the item, first try to return or exchange it. If that fails, decide based on which lens you’ll actually use:
- Keep the 35mm if you want a versatile normal lens for the D90.
- Sell it only if you’ve tried it and still specifically want the 50mm look and handling.
A good middle ground is to use the 35mm for a while in the situations you had planned for the 50mm. If it works for you, keep it. If not, sell it rather than letting it sit unused. In short: on a D90, the 35mm f/1.8 DX is a strong lens and may well be the better fit unless you know you specifically want the 50mm’s rendering.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Will the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G work better than the 50mm f/1.8D on a Nikon D90 DX camera?
Should I buy the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX or the 35mm f/2 for a D90?
35mm or 50mm f/1.8 for portraits on a Nikon D3100?
If the Nikon 35mm/50mm f/1.8G is sharper, why do some reviewers prefer the f/1.4G?
What causes blue and red fringes around black areas in my test photos?