35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

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Archive 2009 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

OCphotography
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p.1 #1 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Hey all!

Need some advice.. I cant decide which lens will benefit me most on a D300s for studio portraits, the new 35mm f/1.8 DX or the new 50mm f/1.4..

What would you choose and why?

Thanks in advance.

Dec 07, 2009 at 02:54 PM

Avi B
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p.1 #2 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

50mm gets you head and shoulder portrait length equivalent. So that one.
Unless you want more full-body portrait, then the 35.

Alternatively you can just get the 18-70 and use it at f/5.6 or f/8 in the studio...

Dec 07, 2009 at 03:02 PM

OCphotography
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p.1 #3 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Thanks!

I mostly do tight portraits and I was thinking about using my 10-24mm at 24mm if I need full-body portraits.

How about quality, 50mm better overall?

Dec 07, 2009 at 04:13 PM

Avi B
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p.1 #4 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

If you do tight portraits then why not the 85/1.4?

Or even the AIS 105/2.5 (manual focus lens).

Dec 07, 2009 at 04:22 PM

OCphotography
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p.1 #5 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Avi B wrote:
If you do tight portraits then why not the 85/1.4?

Or even the AIS 105/2.5 (manual focus lens).

Not an option.

Dec 07, 2009 at 04:57 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.1 #6 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

50mm gives a short-telephoto FOV on DX, so that would be my choice.

35mm gives a "normal" view on DX. Nice for general walk-around but not so great for portraits.

Dec 07, 2009 at 05:03 PM

cheeba
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p.1 #7 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

The 50 f/1.8D is a stellar lens (especially for the price), so I suggest considering it and the 35 f/1.8. You'd still be $100 under the cost of the 50 f/1.4G - enough for a cheap flash

Dec 07, 2009 at 05:22 PM

Gaylon Holmes
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p.1 #8 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

cheeba wrote:
The 50 f/1.8D is a stellar lens (especially for the price), so I suggest considering it and the 35 f/1.8. You'd still be $100 under the cost of the 50 f/1.4G - enough for a cheap flash

Pretty tough to argue that!

Dec 07, 2009 at 05:27 PM

jmz313
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p.1 #9 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Probably the best way to go.

Dec 07, 2009 at 05:46 PM

Rangerr6
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p.1 #10 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

^^^ +1

Dec 07, 2009 at 06:49 PM

ryan stewart
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p.1 #11 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

I wouldnt do the 50/1.8 for portraits. I would (and have) do the 50/1.4. Its going to perform better with more open apertures and that helps with subject isolation. I went with the AFD one, bought it before the AFS came out and cant see a reason to upgrade.

Of course i would love the 85/1.4 Nikkor but, well, no. I did just pick up the Rokinon that as mentioned in here and so far it looks promising.

Dec 07, 2009 at 07:00 PM

cheeba
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p.1 #12 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Yeah, how about tossing in another $100-150 for:

- 50 f/1.8
- 35 f/1.8
- 85 f/1.4 Rokinon

That would be an amazing kit for the $$$ invested (half of what just my Nikon 85 f/1.4 cost

)

Dec 07, 2009 at 07:44 PM

claybrook
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p.1 #13 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

In the studio, I agree with what most are saying here. However, if you're going to take it out of the studio, I highly recommend the 50 1.4 - either D or G version. And don't forget about the Sigma 30mm 1.4. Amazing lens if you get a good copy.

Dec 07, 2009 at 08:27 PM

Kittyk
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p.1 #14 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

i dont know how yours, but all 50 1.8 (all three were latest models) have in many situation some weird hotspot in the middle. they are sharp and fast focusing but whats that for when they can destroy whole image time to time?
On dx i would get new 35 and old used 50 1.4

Dec 07, 2009 at 09:08 PM

lxdesign
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p.1 #15 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

on a budget -- I would go with the 50mm f/1.8 for portraits as well. The 35mm f/1.8 is a great DX walk around lens. Nice a light, when you don't feel like weilding the heavy glass around.

Jun 18, 2010 at 06:45 PM

Len Shepherd
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p.1 #16 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Gaylon Holmes wrote:
cheeba wrote:
The 50 f/1.8D is a stellar lens (especially for the price), so I suggest considering it and the 35 f/1.8. You'd still be $100 under the cost of the 50 f/1.4G - enough for a cheap flash

Pretty tough to argue that!
Not so - if you shoot wide open
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/singlefocal/normal/af_50mmf_18d/index.htm
A lens not mentioned so far is the 60mm G - the lens chosen for the portraits in the 24MP D3x brochure.

Jun 18, 2010 at 08:11 PM

JHerr
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p.1 #17 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

I use my 35 1.8 for up close kid portraits, but for adults prefer a longer FL.

Jun 18, 2010 at 08:19 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.1 #18 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Len Shepherd wrote:
A lens not mentioned so far is the 60mm G - the lens chosen for the portraits in the 24MP D3x brochure.

Len, I was going to mention just that

If you're working in the studio you're often shooting fro f/4-f16 with strobes. Many folks use a macro in the 55-90mm range for this sort of work. If you need to MF and are shooting from a tripod the focus throw is often longer and more precise, you gain macro capability as well.

So yes the 60G is worth considering, if you have enough working space so is the 105VR. Otherwise considering what you already have I'd probably go with the 50 f/1.4G or a used 18-70 f/3.5-4.5.

Jun 18, 2010 at 08:42 PM

visionguru
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p.1 #19 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Simple: 50 f/1.4G
I have both. The 50 1.4G has better bokeh, faster aperture (2/3 stop faster). A better lens with more flexibility.

Jun 19, 2010 at 05:08 PM

Two23
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p.1 #20 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

lxdesign wrote:
on a budget -- I would go with the 50mm f/1.8 for portraits as well. The 35mm f/1.8 is a great DX walk around lens. Nice a light, when you don't feel like weilding the heavy glass around.

You brought up a thread from half a year ago?

Kent in SD

Jun 19, 2010 at 08:16 PM

logic_nguyen
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p.1 #21 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

ok honestly 50mm is awesome for bokeh, sharpness, and for portrait photography hands down

however 35mm isn't so bad, I mean its an everyday lens, its a wider angle so when you do portraits its actually pretty good, i used the lens for some of my portraits nowadays and i like that i can get a little closer and have a creamy or bokehish background

Jun 20, 2010 at 05:27 PM

Berschwinger
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p.1 #22 · 35 f/1.8 DX or 50 f/1.4 G on D300s?

Unless you're shooting more than one person, go for the 50mm. I like my Sigma 50mm 1.4.

Jun 21, 2010 at 02:43 PM


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