The 35mm is the best way to go. It provides more flexibility and with a 1.4 max aperture, you will get more than enough subject separation for portraiture. As far as 35mm lenses go, the Sigma is most corrected for distortion.
I have both and I’d strongly advise you to check out sample pictures from each. There is a significant difference in your field of view and only you can determine which most suits how you’d compose a photo. Both are excellent lenses and you won’t be disappointed...just get the one that suits what you’re trying to shoot.
^^^What kapsnb01 said. Set your zoom (supposing you own one ) to 35mm and 50mm and leave it there for a day or even a week. Buy the lens with the focal length you felt better with.
For people photography, I'd say get the 50 first, but you should really try what suits your style best.
This is not a very good question to ask others a on a forum, because for those two options the difference really boils down to your subjective preferences. Both are excellent lenses with little quality difference between them. Both are reasonably priced. Both are quite heavy, but fast with excellent AF.
Only you can decide which focal length best suits the particular perspective you're trying to get. I have both a 35 and a 50 on both camera systems I own and each is very useful for very different reasons. The 35 for the wider more environmental perspective, the 50 for a slightly more intimate portrait perspective and shallower DoF.
Both are great (I have owned both), for what I shoot I found one clear winner. The 35mm ART. I found it just GREAT all around. The 50mm is GREAT as well, however, the nifty fifty G used is like 100 bucks. I don't think its 10 times as good as the 1.8G personally, for what I shoot.
Agreed this is not a good question as it solely relates to the way you see images. Personally I am not a strong 35mm shooter even though the 35mm is technically more useful.
I find I prefer 50/58 mm and then for WA 24/25 preferably the 28 mm for streets.
I own both and use them for different purposes. I normally only take three lenses along: Nikon 24mm PC-E, Sigma 50mm f1.4, Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR Micro. If I were to take only one or two lenses, it would be Sigma 35mm f1.4 & 105mm Micro. Both Sigma lenses are very sharp. I don't use either one to photo people unless it's a group. Both are really too short for photos of just one or two people. You need to sort out your best 50 shots from the past 12 months, do an analysis of what focal length you used, and go from there. Your photos have the answer, not people on a message board.
If you see tight and close, the 50mm might be your standard lens.
If you see looser and further, the 35mm might be your standard lens.
Personally I find a 50mm to feel like a telephoto, it's tight and I often have to step back to frame the scene how I'd like. I prefer a 24mm for a lot of my urban and industrial work, but a 35mm makes a good "standard" lens for me and the way I see.
You need to work out which of the two feels natural for the way you see and frame things, then you'll know. Perhaps hire both and try them for a weekend or something. Or, if you have a standard zoom, tape it at 35mm and shoot for a day, then tape it at 50mm and shoot for a day. You should soon figure out which you prefer. They're both excellent lenses in their own right.
) to 35mm and 50mm and leave it there for a day or even a week. Buy the lens with the focal length you felt better with.