With the advent of the new 50/1.2L do you find that you are making less use of your 35/1.4L?

This thread might be called choosing between 35mm or 50mm as your standard prime on a FF body. Before much of this discussion was based on the 35mm L quality versus the 50/1.4* "main stream" results, and less on the topic of choosing your standard prime.

I am particularly curious to learn what owners of both objectives have to say on this, but also anyone choosing between 35 and 50mm on full frame.

Yes, it is also based on personal preference, but one can ask fellow enthusiasts their (professional and hobbyist alike) opinions.

*note that this is currently my favorite prime, so no criticism intended. More so, it triggers a strong interest in the f/1.2 lens.

I have both the 35L and the 50/1.L and use each for what I'm shooting on my 5D. Which lens you use is just part of the mix when creating images. Some times you want the look of a 50 and some times a 35. And I plan to get a 50/1.2L

The more lenses one has the more choice you have in crafting an image.

I had both and sold the 35L. I also have the 16-35 and use that for the 35 and wideangle range. I use the 85L and 50L for lowlight and that special "look". Although I seem to be using the 85 less lately also.

rhorta wrote:

Yes, it is also based on personal preference, but one can ask fellow enthusiasts their (professional and hobbyist alike) opinions.





My opinion is that if I were to carry only one prime, it would definitely be a 50mm.

If I could carry two primes, it would be a 35mm and a 85mm. I would not even consider a 50mm in this situation, because it'd be somewhat redundant with either of the two lenses I mentioned.

This would hold true for me regardless of the camera brand, or lens quality.

around the city: 35L
interior shots: 35L
landscapes: 35L
architecture: 35L
totally unsure of what i'll be shooting: 35L or 50L
interior detail shots: 50L
out in bad weather: 50L
portrait snaps of my girlfriend: 50L

if i'm on a paid shoot then i'd have all of my lenses with me.   the above examples are really only for walking around without a tripod while on vacation or just shooting for the heck of it.

given the choice of one prime to carry for a walkaround, the 35L would always win over the 50L as i find 35mm a more interesting focal length.   but, if i wanted a low-light prime for close-up detail with less perspective distortion then i'd grab a 50L.   if i was going out in bad weather and wanted some added protection against rain/moisture then the 50L would be my choice again.   in the end the 35L is glued to my 1Ds about 90% of the time.

i don't own a 50L right now because of issues that i mentioned in the hands-on thread but plan to buy another after things get worked out.   regardless of any problems, i find the 50L to be a different enough lens compared to the 35L to eventually own both again.

-erik

I find the 35L the must useful single lens and use the 85 or 135 for portraits when I have the light and time (otherwise the zooms rule). I think of the 50mm FL as a specialized FL with an "ordinary" on FF.

But I am very happy to use my 50L (which offers me much better quality than the 50 F1.4 in and around F1.8) when I have a fixed position and subject.

KFG1 wrote:
I seem to take more shots in general since getting the 50L, but I still use my 35L in the situations that I used it in before. I feel that the 50L is a huge step above the 50 /1.4 that I used to have. I'm now happy with the 50mm range.

Neither of your listed bodies is FF, which changes the use of these two lenses. The 35mm acts as a 50mm analog and the 50mm as a 85mm analog.

Now I am thinking of opting for the 35L / 85L combo, with 50/1.4 on FF until the bugs are sorted out with the new 50L and using the 35L as 50mm analog on my cropped body. I'm pretty much convinced that these three will form my personal perfect prime triangle.

(But I am still facinated with the 35 vs 50mm as standard lens on FF / 35mm cameras. Any links or books of interest on this particular subject?)

Edited by rhorta on Feb 22, 2007 at 08:11 PM GMT

I have the 35L, 85L, and 135L that I use on my full frame bodies.

If I was to own just one, I would keep the 85L and let go of the other two. This is based on how much i like the image quality/results of the 85L and no so much the focal length. If I used focal length as a criteria, I would keep the 35L as it is my preferred focal range for general pupose photography.


If I had to choose between the 135L and 50L, I would take the 50L. However, since the 50L and 35L are kinda close in focal length, I have refrained from buying the 50mm to date. Plus the 35L is a hard lens to beat for excellent image quality.