Prime Lens

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crazye_star

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Personally, I would get 28 mm or 35 mm for APS-C DSLRs, the wider angle of view makes it more useful in most situations. You can crop your photos to get a narrower shot (although u lose some pixels) but you can't get a wider shot from a more tele lens.

Well, that's my opinion.
 
Norman Chan

Norman Chan

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For digital lens focal 28mm = film type focal length 40mm

For digital lens focal 35mm = film type focal length 50mm

Are the above estimate correct ? So for prime lens will the 35mm be better as it is near the film type focal length of 50mm.
 
davidktw

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Norman Chan said:
For digital lens focal 28mm = film type focal length 40mm

For digital lens focal 35mm = film type focal length 50mm

Are the above estimate correct ? So for prime lens will the 35mm be better as it is near the film type focal length of 50mm.
Click to expand...

Don't be confused between focal length and FOV. Focal will never change on the lens regardless if the sensor is full or cropped. It's the FOV that changes. This terminology MUST be handled very carefully if you want to further understand the effect relative to DOF.

There is NO BETTER. Some people don't like to get near to their subject, using 50mm for DX will get the FOV near to 75mm which is good for them. Some people like to follow the FOV of a 35mm film, and hence use 32-35mm focal length on cropped sensors.

Go to the shop with your own camera body and look through the viewfinder and see how relax or tight the FOV is for each lens focal length. It will be a mistake thinking popular is what you want.

Me for example, like to work with wide angles regardless on DX or FX, and I don't mind moving up close to the subject, like in one of the marathon event. I'm basically right infront of them at 24mm on FX. The kind of perspective is very different from standing far away. Perspective distortion at each focal length gives a flavour and mood to the kind of photo you are taking.

If you are not sure, I recommend you work with a general zoom lens of focal length between 17-55 for DX and 24-70 for FX and see which you use more. What's the point of going for primes if you don't even know which focal length you will use the most often ?

Going for popular or recommended is silly, because different photographers have different shooting habit and no one can speak of how you should aim and shoot.
 
Nakedtoes

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Norman Chan said:
Sorry to ask...any reason to have so many prime lens ?
Click to expand...

Try to rent those focal lengths that interest u n see the differences.

Basically I use 24mm landscape n walk around, and some portrait shots with unique presentation n background.

35mm very good walk around n journalists lens.

50mm same as above but the most less use. Can be used for full portrait.

85mm my main/ half portrait lens. Super creamy background bokeh.

Btw I am using FX and both 50mm n 85mm are afd lenses cause they are cheaper n done their jobs n I did compare them with Afs versions before decided against the upgrade.

24mm & 35mm can said be very close focal lengths. U need to try both to see the strengths of both and why kind of photos u wanna take.

For DX users I would recommend 24mm f1.4 cause it is 35mm in dx if u no problem with $$. Else 35mm f1.8 or Sigma 35mm f1.4 is superb too. I would also seriously consider the new Sigma 18-35mm F1.8.
 
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Nakedtoes

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If I can only have 1 prime then is 35mm, if 2 then are 24mm/35mm & 85mm.

Previously I only use 24 & 85 for traveling tour n chuck in the light 50mm. Then the new Sigma 35mm out n is truly a great lens, so add into my arsenal.
 
HOLYMOFO

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28 or 35mm for me. ideal for street photography iirc
 
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Nakedtoes

Nakedtoes

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this are the primes lenses i keep and most likely will not sell due to the reasons beside

1) nikkor 24 f1.4 - superb lens almost 3d kind of image.. the color is saturated but not overdone. Not as sharp as sigma 35mm(freak of nature status)

2) Sigma 35mm f1.4 - the best 35mm i ever tried.. yes the best even better then canon and nikon.. go read the tonnes of reviews out there. Suprise the sigma warm color signature is not present in this lens..

3) Nikon AFD 50 F1.8 - sharp at f 1.8... super cheap can throw around...

4) nikkor AFD 85mm AFD.. sharp at f1.4 and got that magical rendering of image... the few lens that i tried that gives me the WOW factor.. i compared with AFS version yes the color is abit more saturated and abit more sharper but dun have that magical look i want... and all AFD lens focus much much faster then AFS counterpart (PRIME LENSES only) .. those telephoto AFD is slower then AFS most of the time... dun believe me go test it yrself. dun let the noisy afd fool u
 
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