Can't decide which prime. Help!

[TJ K]

Ok so I'm trying to decide between the nikkor 35 f/1.8, the 50mm f/1.8, or the 50mm f/1.4D. If you have any experience with them please let me know what you think. Thanks
-TJ

 

[Overread]

do you have the kit zoom lens for your D90? Most of them cover a focal range including 35mm and 50mm so set your kit lens to one of those focal lengths and spend the day shooting it like a prime - do the same with the other focal range and see which one you prefer the use of overall. That should help you decide between the 35mm and 50mm options

 

[sA x sKy]

The f/1.4 depends on what type of camera you have. If you have a D40/D60, then it's useful cause of the built-in AF. The f/1.8 on the other hand, is a finer choice + much cheaper if you don't have the D40/D60. The 35mm, I'm not too sure of.

 

[TJ K]

do you have the kit zoom lens for your D90? Most of them cover a focal range including 35mm and 50mm so set your kit lens to one of those focal lengths and spend the day shooting it like a prime - do the same with the other focal range and see which one you prefer the use of overall. That should help you decide between the 35mm and 50mm options

Well not just the focal length but the quality,durability,bokeh.

The f/1.4 depends on what type of camera you have. If you have a D40/D60, then it's useful cause of the built-in AF. The f/1.8 on the other hand, is a finer choice + much cheaper if you don't have the D40/D60. The 35mm, I'm not too sure of.

so the 1.8 is better than the 1.4D?

 

[Overread]

I belive the build quality and durabilty of the 50mm f1.4 will be superior to that of the f1.8 version (since the f1.8 is budget aimed) but image quality will likly be very similar - I can't say about the bokeh comparison but I suspect both give a pleasing reasult with the 1.4 having the edge in that area.

I can't say anything with regard to the 35mm lens sadly

 

[Derrel]

I would try to head to a camera store in sunny south Florida and check the three lenses out in-person. You might find it worth your time and money to actually go to a store, handle the merchandise, and pay on the spot for the one you like the most. Even if it means driving an hour and a half to get to a store. Clearly, after a few minutes, you'll form an opinion.

Be aware that on a crop-sensor d-slr, a 50mm lens is somewhat selective in what it will frame at indoor distances. Outdoors, or at longer distances in larger rooms indoors, a 50 is an excellent lens choice.

The 35/1.8 is "new", small, and very affordable and has a wider angle of view.

 

[TJ K]

Sadly the camera stores in my area never really have anything but like some crappy tamron lenses so I am pretty much forced on online purchases. So would you say the image quality of the 35 1.8 is equal to that of the 50 1.8 or does the 50 have an advantage? Thanks for the help.

 

[Derrel]

Well, I was suggesting that you might have to drive 90 minutes out of your area to get to a camera store...as far as optical quality goes, the new 35/1.8 AF-S G Nikkor lens is a better wide-angle lens design than the venerable 35mm f/2 AF-D Nikon has had for so many years. I don't own the new f/1.8 model ( I have the 35/2 AiS and 35/2 AF-D), but I have seen quite a few samples of it on another forum where the average user is a serious Nikon enthusiast, and I have looked at Nikon's MTF graphs.

The images I have seen show a VERY good, but not quite excellent, performance. All for around $199. Given the price and the lack of 3rd party 35mm primes, the Nikkor is the only choice I know of except for the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, which is a much larger and heavier and more costly lens option.

Read the review of the 35/1.8 here and you'll see it has two points of total,overall image optimization: f/3.5 and f/8,which makes sense moving forward as DX sensor counts will climb into the 18+ MP range. Apertures smaller than f/8 have a performance decline, and a short focal length lens optimized for f/3.5 makes sense in several ways. Nikon AF-S 35mm F1.8G DX Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

 

[TJ K]

I don't know. I think the 50mm f/1.8 seems nice because it will work with full frame and crop sensors and it's cheaper than the 35. I looked at flickr and some nice pics came from that lens as well.

 

[fiveoboy01]

Well you have a crop frame camera, so that's kind of a moot point. Your D90 will autofocus all 3 lenses. Really it will depend on your budget, and what sort of field of view you want. If you're doing anything moderately close up, 35/1.8 might be the better choice on a DX sensor. Really it's dirt cheap, and has very good image quality. If you decide later on that you want more reach, you're only out $200, or you can probably sell it for very close to what you paid for it and put that toward a 50mm lens.

I have the 50/1.4 and the 35/1.8 and I generally find myself using the 35 more often but there are situations where I want more reach from the 50.

Both focal lengths have their uses.

 

[TJ K]

Well you have a crop frame camera, so that's kind of a moot point. Your D90 will autofocus all 3 lenses. Really it will depend on your budget, and what sort of field of view you want. If you're doing anything moderately close up, 35/1.8 might be the better choice on a DX sensor. Really it's dirt cheap, and has very good image quality. If you decide later on that you want more reach, you're only out $200, or you can probably sell it for very close to what you paid for it and put that toward a 50mm lens.

I have the 50/1.4 and the 35/1.8 and I generally find myself using the 35 more often but there are situations where I want more reach from the 50.

Both focal lengths have their uses.

It's a hard decision. When do you find yourself really needing that extra reach?

 

[fiveoboy01]

It's tough to say. Every situation is different. Generally when walking around I have one on the body and the other lens in my pocket because they're both pretty compact. I just switch if I need more reach or if I can't back up any further.

Can you afford the 50/1.4 at around $500 or so?

If you can, I say buy the 35/1.8 and the 50/1.8, then you have both focal lengths.

 

[Derrel]

If you're hankering for a 50mm, there is not much difference in the optical quality or bokeh of the 50mm 1.4 AF-D or the 50/1.8 AF-D models.

I would look for a used 50mm 1.8 AF or AF-D. The optical quality and optical design of both models was unchanged from 1987 until the present day on the 50/1.8. I have a couple 50 1.8's, both bought used. I payed $40 for the last one.

It is possible to buy an old junker AF Nikon, like a 4004 or 6006 from the late 1980's/early 1990's on eBay and get a 50/1.8 AF on there. Buy the combo, and throw away the camera. The AF models are the same optics as the AF-D models, which convey focusing Distance to the light metering and flash metering systems. Earlier lenses are AF, later ones (post 1992??) are AF-D on the 50mm lenses, and same with the 85mm 1.8 AF and AF-D.

As far as bokeh goes on 50 1.8 and 50 1.4 AF or AF-D versions--it is BAD. Not a pretty shooting lens,either model. The new 50mm f/1.4 AF-S G on the other hand, is decidedly a better bokeh lens, with a rounder diaphragm,and a pretty good rendering of out of focus backgrounds and OOF highlights. The 35mm 1/8 AF-S G is also a better bokeh lens than either of the older 1.8 or 1.4 AF/AF-D prime lenses.

When the 50 1.4 and 1.8 AF lenses were designed, "boke" was strictly a Japanese concept, and it was a good 10 years prior to the concept of "bokeh", with an h added, being introduced to the English speaking world.

 

[TJ K]

i can't buy both right now at least. only one atm

 

[fiveoboy01]

Then I think you should go with the 35/1.8. In my mind, it's usually easier to get closer to the subject than it is to back up, especially if you're already crammed up against something

You can always get a 50mm length lens later.