Which Nikon f/1.8 prime should I buy for a D3100: 35mm or 50mm?

Asked 2/5/2012

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I’m new to photography and use a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. I want to add a fast f/1.8 prime and am choosing between the AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G and the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. How do I decide which focal length is better for me, especially for general use versus portraits?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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The question here doesn't — or shouldn't — come down to what we prefer, but rather what you want to use it for. These lenses (because of their different focal length) have a significantly different angle of view, which means that they serve different purposes. Eventually, you may find that you want both.

On your APS-C Nikon, the 50mm lens acts as a short portrait lens. It's kind of awkward for most anything else, but is just about perfect for taking head-and-shoulders portraits. I say awkward because it's not enough "reach" to pick out details like a longer telephoto lens, but is narrow enough that it's difficult to frame indoor scenes. That doesn't mean you can't use it more generally, of course.

The wider 35mm acts as a normal lens — it gives a comfortable and versatile field of view that doesn't feel either wide-angle or telephoto. For that reason, if you're just going to pick one of the two, this is probably going to be your best bet. But it depends on what you're looking for — a portrait lens may be just what you need.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

14y ago

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Choose based on what you want to shoot, because 35mm and 50mm feel quite different on a Nikon D3100 (APS-C/DX).

  • 35mm f/1.8: acts like a “normal” lens on DX. It’s the more versatile everyday option for general photography, casual indoor shots, and walk-around use.
  • 50mm f/1.8: behaves more like a short portrait lens on DX. It’s better suited to head-and-shoulders portraits, but can feel tight indoors or for general-purpose shooting.

A simple way to decide: use your 18-55 kit lens and spend some time shooting at 35mm only, then 50mm only. That will quickly show you which field of view fits your style. If you find 35mm comfortable for most scenes, get the 35mm first. If your main goal is portraits, the 50mm may suit you better.

Many photographers eventually end up wanting both, but for a first prime on a D3100, the 35mm f/1.8 is usually the more flexible starting point.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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