Nikon 35mm f1.8 or 50mm f1.4

[TaxiLab127]

Which lens would you choose and why? I know the wider aperture is better for dark rides. Is there a reason to get the 35mm instead? TIA!

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you shooting a crop sensor or full frame?

 

[TaxiLab127]

Full frame - I have a D600

 

[havoc315]

On full frame, I'd go with the 50 for dark rides. 35mm if you want a wider angle.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not a Nikon shooter so cannot address the optics of either of those lenses. As for the focal length, on a full frame camera, either is likely to be useful. I skew toward wider so would probably prefer the 35mm myself.

I shoot with a full frame Canon and love my Sigma 35mm f/1.4. That offers me the wider field of view coupled with the faster 1.4 aperture.

I had been shooting with a 30mm f/1.4 on a crop sensor for some time. I really enjoyed having a wider fast lens (because of my upgrade to FF) for a change of pace.

 

[Geoff_M]

I recently had the same debate. I had a Nikon 50m f1.4 AF-D that was way too soft for me, so I decided to move to the better rated AF-S models... the question was "1.4 or 1.8"? This review by Thom Hogan, whose advice I've found to be very good, made the decision for me:

It is a better lens both in the center and especially in the corners than the 50mm f/1.8D it replaces. Significantly so, in my opinion. The f/1.4G to f/1.8G comparison is a little more interesting: the f/1.8G might beat its bigger brother in the central area (slightly off center in my sample) but the f/1.4G wins the corner battle at f/1.8. In other words, at f/1.8 to about f/2.4, it's a close battle, but the more expensive lens has more edge-to-edge consistency about it. To get to optimum results with this new lens, you need to stop all the way down to f/5.6 on DX, f/8 on FX, where it is excellent to superb from corner to corner. So the sharpness game is a mixed bag: the new f/1.8G beats its predecessor wide open, but is a step behind it's more expensive f/1.4G brother at f/1.8.

I shoot FX now... so I picked a great used AF-S 1.4 for $225 at the local dealer!

 

[TaxiLab127]

Thanks everyone. I am going to go with the 50mm f/1.4. I will post some pics when I return.