APS-C -- 35mm or 50mm

[mcraige]

I've read a lot of online articles that say a must-have lens is a fast 50mm. Knowing that the 50mm will have a cropped field of view on an APS-C camera, would a 35mm be a better choice?

 

[photo_chick]

I think the reason the 50mm still gets recommended so much is because of the price. At about $100 it's a cheap way for people building a lens collection to acquire a fast prime. It also used to be sold as a kit lens with 35mm SLR's way back when so some of the recommendations may stem from that tradition. I personally love mine on my crop camera but most people I know do seem to find it too long and prefer a 35mm. Sigma also makes an awesome 30mm f/1.4 that can be had for less than $300 right now at B&H.

 

[bob100]

I've read a lot of online articles that say a must-have lens is a fast 50mm. Knowing that the 50mm will have a cropped field of view on an APS-C camera, would a 35mm be a better choice?

I agree with photochick, it's more about the cheap price of the "nifty fifty".
The Sigma 30mm 1.4 is a good choice for a wider large aperture prime on a crop model.

 

[nbaresejr]

I own the canon 50mm 1.8 and a crop camera. I purchased it because it was cheap and because I read alot of positive reviews. I used it a few times and now it sits back in its box. I dont know if I just dont like primes or is the focal length is just not right for me. When i took pictures inside i thought it was a little tight so maybe a 30 or 35mm my work better for me.

 

[mom2rtk]

I own the canon 50mm 1.8 and a crop camera. I purchased it because it was cheap and because I read alot of positive reviews. I used it a few times and now it sits back in its box. I dont know if I just dont like primes or is the focal length is just not right for me. When i took pictures inside i thought it was a little tight so maybe a 30 or 35mm my work better for me.

Mine sits in the box too. I agree with the other posters that the 30mm f/1.4 is a better choice. It was a better choice when it was $400, but with the new lower price, it's a slam dunk. Great lens, far better focal length.

Try walking around your house one day with your kit lens set at 50mm and see what you think.

 

[jenseib]

I keep looking for this 30mm that everyone is talking about, but it doesn't seem to have any in stock for Canon. Am I missing something?

 

[photo_chick]

I keep looking for this 30mm that everyone is talking about, but it doesn't seem to have any in stock for Canon. Am I missing something?

Oh wow... you're right. The Canon version is our of stock now. Dang it, I was going to pick one up next payday too.

Sigma is replacing the lens in their lineup with one that has more features (and of course a higher price). There's still the Nikon and Sony mounts left for those users.

edited to ad... I just checked Adorama and they're out, too. My local shop has it but they're still selling it for $489. Beach Camera has it (through Amazon) for $350.

 

[wbeem]

I've read a lot of online articles that say a must-have lens is a fast 50mm. Knowing that the 50mm will have a cropped field of view on an APS-C camera, would a 35mm be a better choice?

Only you can decide which is better for you. Don't believe articles that tell you what you "must have." I have a 50mm f/1.8 and I never use it. It just isn't an interesting or useful focal length for me. Someone else may love that focal length, though. Neither of us is wrong.

My advice is to buy a lens to solve a problem that you've already experienced. If you can say "I can't do XYZ without this lens" or "I could do XYZ better if I had that lens", then you have a good basis for making a sound buying decision.

For example, I recently bought a Nikon 85mm f/1.4mm lens, despite the fact that I already had that focal length covered with my 70-200mm zoom.

I bought it because this lens has a spectacular bokeh and very shallow depth of field. The 70-200 also has a nice bokeh to it, but not as much at 85mm as it does at 200mm. Considering this lens usually goes for about $1700, that's a lot of money to pay for a feature. So one should definitely know what they expect when spending money on a lens.

Also, you need to know what the lens doesn't do for you. Going back to the 85mm, I discovered that its minimum focusing distance is about 4-5 feet, so I can't get real close to a small object and fill the frame. It wasn't designed for that. To get the composition I wanted, I had to crop out most of the photo in post.

 

[havoc315]

The 35mm is certainly more useful all around.
But for many people, the 50mm is an unbeatable value. Mine is a used minolta that I bought for $70. Fantastic for low light, and a really good focal length on a crop body for portraits.
Useable indoors, but admittedly gets a bit too long at times.

 

[bob100]

I keep looking for this 30mm that everyone is talking about, but it doesn't seem to have any in stock for Canon. Am I missing something?

that $289 price appears to have disappeared so I guess the rumor is true
http://www.canonrumors.com/2013/01/sigma-announces-new-30-f1-4-for-aps-c/

 

[jenseib]

UGH! I found one on ebay for 309. I went to hit buy and it went up $40. Seriously? This guy must know it's hard to find, but I am ticked now. I would pay $309, but I won't pay for a price gouge.

edit. he replied to my message and told me it was a deal of the day and after so many are sold, then the price goes up. Not sure if that is true or not.

 

[mabas9395]

Amazon has it for $329 from 47th St Photo.

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-30mm-Ca...0M4E8&coliid=I3EJJ73VQIEN6M#productPromotions

 

[jenseib]

Buydig has it for 299.00 plus a free 32 SDHC card and $5 off with code DIG5

 

[DSLRuser]

My 35mm 1.8 is my "normal" lense

I do find that I am looking for and creating uses for the 50mm 1.4. on a DX camera, its too close for most shots, but not close enough when i want to get in close.

i am stillglad i have it, but its not as usefull as i thought it would be.

 

[mom2rtk]

Buydig has it for 299.00 plus a free 32 SDHC card and $5 off with code DIG5

So did you buy it? I know the ebay thing was irritating, but I still felt it was a good buy back in the day when I paid over $400 for mine.

I do find that I am looking for and creating uses for the 50mm 1.4. on a DX camera, its too close for most shots, but not close enough when i want to get in close.

That's what I always say about the 50mm 1.8 on my camera. Too long to be short, too short to be long. It just seems lost in between the extremes for my taste.

 

[jenseib]

So did you buy it? I know the ebay thing was irritating, but I still felt it was a good buy back in the day when I paid over $400 for mine.



That's what I always say about the 50mm 1.8 on my camera. Too long to be short, too short to be long. It just seems lost in between the extremes for my taste.

I did....... I got it off buydig for the cheaper price though. Though I might've added the fliters in the mix as well........

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

If anyone is still interested Adorama has the Sigma 30 (for Canon) in stock with free shipping at the $289 price.

http://www.adorama.com/SG3014EOS.html

 

[jenseib]

If anyone is still interested Adorama has the Sigma 30 (for Canon) in stock with free shipping at the $289 price.

http://www.adorama.com/SG3014EOS.html

UGH! It didn't this morning or this afternoon. they must've just added it back in.

 

[photo_chick]

If anyone is still interested Adorama has the Sigma 30 (for Canon) in stock with free shipping at the $289 price.

http://www.adorama.com/SG3014EOS.html

Not anymore. Well, as of 10 pm anyway.