Why is 50mm considered a standard prime, and is 35mm or 50mm better on a Nikon D3000?
Asked 9/2/2010
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I often read that 50mm primes are the “standard” choice, but I’m shopping for a prime for my Nikon D3000 and noticed a big price difference between a 35mm f/1.8 and a 50mm f/1.4. I understand the f/1.4 lens is faster in low light, but I’m really trying to understand why 50mm is so commonly recommended.
Since the D3000 has a crop sensor, does 50mm still count as a normal focal length, or is 35mm actually closer? I mostly want the lens for indoor photos of my fast-moving baby and toddler, since my kit lens and 55-200mm zoom struggle unless I’m outside.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
44
Most standard because:
- 50mm on a full frame is said to give a natural field of view.
- 50mm is apparently an simple focal length to design
On a your crop sensor, it is 75e, while the 35mm is 52.5e. Thus, the 35mm lens will be closer to "normal"
Reasons why most photographers may choose the 50mm could be to use it for portraits on crop sensors. 75e is a great focal length for portraits, especially when combined with such a wide aperture. Other reasons may include: higher resolution, smoother bokeh, better color, better rendition, higher contrast and microcontrast, more flare resistance, less CA, less distortion, less vignetting, better build quality, faster AF, etc.
Originally by user389. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user389
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
50mm is called “standard” mainly because on full-frame/35mm cameras it gives a natural-looking field of view and has long been a popular, relatively simple lens design. That popularity also helped make 50mm primes common and often good value.
On your Nikon D3000, though, the crop factor changes things: 50mm behaves like about a 75mm equivalent, while 35mm behaves like about a 52.5mm equivalent. So on your camera, 35mm is actually much closer to the traditional “normal” focal length.
A 50mm prime on APS-C is often chosen more for portraits, because that tighter view flatters faces and works well with wide apertures. Higher-end 50mm lenses may also offer benefits like better build, rendering, contrast, and optical correction, in addition to the wider f/1.4 aperture.
For indoor photos of kids, 35mm is often the more practical choice on a crop body because it gives a more natural angle of view in tighter spaces, while still helping in low light.
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