Have you just bought your first camera and looking to buy your first prime lens? If you do a little research, you will find that there are 35mm and 50mm prime lenses. You have two similar but different choices. What are the features that make each of these lenses suitable for you?
In the following, we will compare 35mm vs 50mm lenses.
If you look at the photos below, you may be able to tell the difference between 35 vs 50mm lenses. Here we use portrait photography because this style of photography can show the difference between these two lenses well. In another post, we will mention about 35mm vs 50mm street photography.
As you can see, the 35mm lens captures more of the scene and is more suitable for full-length and waist-up photos. The 50mm lens is also suitable for shoulder-width photos with soft bokeh and no distortion. Of course, you can also use a 50mm lens to capture more of the scene, but you have to move away from it a bit. To better understand the difference between 35mm vs 50mm lenses, stay with us until the end of this article.
Crop and full frame
If we are talking about different sensors, comparing 35mm vs 50mm lenses is illogical. Different sensors are used in different cameras. In simple words, a full-frame camera is a camera whose sensor size is equal to a 35 mm film. Depending on the size of the sensor, the focal length of the lens may also change.
If you have a 50 mm lens, its focal length is also 50 mm. But in cameras with a crop sensor, the crop factor is equal to 1.6. So if you mount a 50mm lens on a 1.6 crop camera, the effective focal length will be 1.6x50 or 80mm. Also, the effective focal length of a 35 mm lens will be 56 mm.
Therefore, the difference between 35mm vs 50mm crop sensor is quite evident. The 50mm (80mm) lens is a classic portrait lens with a limited angle of view. And the 35 mm (56 mm) lens is also a normal lens that is suitable for most situations. But there are a few important questions when it comes to full-frame cameras.
Since the 35mm lens is not wide enough to provide the necessary perspective distortion, it is more suitable for situations where the 50mm lens is suitable. However, what are the differences between 35mm and 50mm lenses? Why do some photographers shoot only with a 35mm lens and others only with a 50mm lens?
35 mm prime lens
The 35mm prime lens is more suitable for photographers who want to take a wide-angle shot with minimal distortion. These lenses are suitable for wedding and street photography, news photography, landscape, and travel photography.
The viewing angle of the 35mm lens is almost similar to the human eye. So the photos you take with it are realistic and with the correct perspective. This lens is mostly used in filmmaking because it presents a natural image to the viewer. Technically, this product is known as a wide lens. The viewing angle and aperture of this lens, which is often open, allow photographers to shoot in difficult and low-light environments.
35 mm lens for portrait photography
Portrait photography is more of a feeling, and to evoke the emotions of your audience, you need to connect with them. Communicating with the subject, while you are far away, is often difficult, but by using a camera lens 35mm vs 50mm portrait intended, you can communicate well with the subject. This lens allows you to get closer to the subject which enhances the real emotions of the model. Therefore, in our opinion, this lens is the best option for street photography. In this style, emotions and the natural appearance of the photo are important
The second strength of portrait photography with a 35mm lens is to increase your storytelling ability. For example, imagine a girl sitting by the window. With a 50mm lens you can, girl, capture a small part of the table and the window, but a 35mm lens gives you a part of the room, the view outside the window, and the objects on the table, which increases the detail of the image and shows the atmosphere of the image. The interaction between the subject and the environment is one of the strengths of this lens.
35 mm lens for landscape photography
If you want to know the difference between 35 mm and 50mm lenses, you probably know that the 35 mm lens is much wider, and if you need a wide lens, you can use it. 35mm lens will help you much more because you can switch from portrait to landscape photography without changing the lens.
The landscape photos you take will not be similar to the photos you take with a 20mm lens but by using a 35mm lens, you can still take landscape photography without buying a special wide lens for this purpose.
35 mm lens for product photography
compatible with this style of photography. But 35mm lenses can take good photos even in this style. These lenses are wide enough that you can use them to photograph still objects or take photos with many elements and details.
In addition, 35 mm lenses are also suitable for photographing objects on the table, and you do not need to be at a height above the table to be able to photograph due to the closed viewing angles. Many food photographers use the 35 mm lens for photography, and the reason for most of them is the high speed of this lens.
35 mm lens for group photography
Group photos are one of the necessities of wedding photography or any other event. In such cases, you have to fit several people into the picture frame. The number of people may vary from 4 to 50 people. Professional photographers use dedicated wide lenses for such occasions, but if you cannot carry an extra lens with you, 35mm lenses are also a good option. Many photographers have managed to photograph 70 people with only a 35mm lens. Many of these photographers consider 35 mm lenses to be the best option for group photos.
Therefore, if we are going to choose an option from 50 mm and 35 mm lenses for group photography, the winner is clear. The main problem with shorter focal lengths and even 28mm is distortion. In these lenses, the objects that are at a greater distance from the center are seen as larger than the objects that are in the middle of the image, but there is no such problem in 35 mm lenses.
Advantages of 35mm Lenses
1. Wide Field of View: A 35mm lens’ ability to capture a wider perspective is one of its primary features. This makes it ideal for landscape and architectural photography, in which you want to include more of your surroundings in the frame.
2. Minimal Distortion: 35mm lenses have less distortion as compared to wider lenses, such as ultra-wide angles. This qualifies them for documentary photography, when authenticity and natural depiction are essential.
3. Low Light Performance: Many 35mm lenses offer larger maximum apertures, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8, which allows for better low-light performance. This makes them an excellent alternative for indoor and street photography in low-light situations.
35mm Lens Limitations
- Isolation of a Specific Subject: 35mm lenses may not give as much subject isolation as larger focal lengths because to their wider field of vision. A 35mm lens may not be the ideal choice if you want more apparent background blur and subject separation.
- Decreased Compression: A 35mm lens’s wider perspective can result in less compression of the scene, making distant subjects appear smaller. This might be a disadvantage in certain genres, such as nature or sports photography, when it is desirable to bring distant subjects closer.
The best 35mm lenses
Even though many manufacturers are interested in making 50 mm lenses and there are fewer 35 mm lenses available in the market, you can still find quality samples in the market. You will see some of these lenses below.
Sigma 35mm F/1.4 Art
High resolution, low distortion and chromatic aberration, beautiful 3D pattern, and lastly reasonable price are some of the positive features of this lens. Regarding the weak points, we can also point out the lack of protection against moisture and dust, which can limit your time when shooting reportage in difficult conditions
What are the features of 35mm vs 50mm focal length? The truth is that these fixed focal length lenses were not designed for these purposes, and the purpose of their construction was to provide more optical quality possible and convey the artistic beauty of the photo. This is why this line of Sigma lenses is known as Art.
Canon 35mm f/1.4L II USM
This lens is classified as a professional lens and is distinguished from other lenses due to its perfect technical design. This lens is a high-resolution lens with a fast and accurate focus that can take beautiful and professional photos. The high level of protection of the lens is admirable in its way.
This lens is specially designed to operate in harsh conditions. News, sports, and wedding photographers will surely love this lens. The only weakness is the high vignette value and average flash resistance.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 G ED
This 35mm lens is the follower of Nikon’s f/1.8 budget lens series. Clarity, micro-contrast, color interpretation, and other optical characteristics of this lens are excellent for its price, and this is what makes this lens one of the best options in the Nikon lens series (Nikon 35mm vs 50m). Based on the tests, the resolution of this lens is high and even higher than Nikon f/1.4G and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art.
Autofocus performance and speed are excellent even in low light conditions. Of course, despite the many strengths of this lens, it also has some weaknesses that are evident in street photography. The vignette level of this lens is relatively high and its chromatic aberrations are also noticeable. But the biggest weakness of this lens is the bokeh, which many people think is not suitable at all. There are other posts on our website that will show you the difference between 35mm and 50mm lens.
What is a 50mm lens?
A 50mm lens, often known as a standard or normal lens, closely reflects the human eye’s perspective. It has a field of vision that is neither too broad nor too narrow, making it a useful lens for a variety of shooting genres. The 50mm focal length is frequently regarded as the standard for prime lenses.
Benefits of 50mm Lenses
1. Natural Perspective: The 50mm lens provides a perspective that is similar to how we observe the world naturally. This makes it a fantastic choice for street photography, reportage, and everyday shooting in which we want to capture scenes as we see them.
2. Isolation of the Subject: 50mm lenses with a wider maximum aperture, usually around f/1.4 or f/1.8, can generate stunning background blur and subject isolation. As a result, they are ideal for portrait photography, where the main subject must stand out from the background.
3. Adaptability: A 50mm lens is a jack-of-all-trades lens that may be used for a variety of photography genres. The 50mm lens is capable of handling everything from portraits to landscapes, street photography to product photos.
Limitations of 50mm Lenses
1. Narrower Field of View: The 50mm lens has a narrower field of view than the 35mm lens. While this can be useful in some situations, it may not be optimal if you want to capture more of the landscape or fit a large gathering of people into the frame.
2. Landscapes with less depth: Some landscape photographers choose wider lenses, such as 35mm, to produce a deeper sense of depth and capture a larger scene. A 50mm lens may not provide the same sense of space.
Which Lens Is Right for You (35mm vs 50mm lenses)?
After learning about the properties of both 35mm and 50mm lenses, you may be wondering which lens is best for you. The truth is that there is no definite answer because it all comes down to your particular preferences, shooting style, and the type of photography you do.
A 35mm lens may be a better choice if you frequently capture landscapes, architecture, or group portraits and want a wider viewpoint. In such cases, its capacity to catch more of the scene in a single frame can be useful.
The 50mm lens, on the other hand, is a fantastic choice if you desire a more versatile lens that closely reflects your normal vision and gives superb subject isolation. Many photographers like it because of its ability to capture daily sceneries, portraiture, and street photography with amazing outcomes.
source : https://photograph-mastery.com/35mm-vs-50mm-lenses-which-is-better/