Choosing the Best Lens for Your Crop Sensor Body: A Nikon 35mm f/1.8G vs. 50mm f/1.8G
Introduction
Deciding between a Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and a Nikon 50mm f/1.8G for a crop sensor camera can be a challenging choice. Both lenses offer excellent performance, but their focal lengths and characteristics make them better suited for different scenarios. This article will help you determine which lens is right for you based on your photography needs.
The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens
The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is a versatile lens that offers a wide angle of view, making it ideal for the indoors or small spaces. While it doesn't blur the background as much as a 50mm lens, its wider field of view can help you capture more of the scene, especially useful during indoor events like birthday receptions.
The 35mm lens is great for capturing candid moments and providing more context within your photos. However, in outdoor settings, the 50mm lens might suit you better due to its compact nature and slightly faster shutter speed.
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Lens
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is a classic standard lens that is often favored for its sharpness and beauty in portraits. Its longer focal length makes it ideal for isolating subjects and creating the illusion of greater depth of field, which is perfect for outdoor and studio photography.
While the 50mm lens doesn't offer the same wide field of view as the 35mm, it excels at creating more background blur or bokeh, which many photographers find more pleasing for portraits. Keep in mind that this property is more pronounced on a full-frame camera, so on a crop sensor body like the D5200, it will be slightly less dramatic.
Experimenting to Find Your Preference
Ultimately, the best way to determine which lens is right for you is through experimentation. Try shooting with each lens for a week and record your observations.
Week 1: 50mm Only
Set your camera to 50mm and shoot for a week. Pay attention to how the background is blurred and the overall composition. Separate the subjects from their backgrounds more or less successfully? Does the lens feel limiting in terms of the frame size?
Week 2: 35mm Only
Switch to 35mm and continue shooting for another week. Observe the wider field of view and how it captures more of the scene. Does it make you feel more comfortable in tight spaces? How does the bokeh compare to the 50mm lens?
Comparison
After completing both weeks, compare the photos you took with each lens. The differences should become apparent, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your preferences and photography style.
Understanding the Crop Factor
It's important to understand the concept of the crop factor, especially when dealing with crop sensor cameras like the D5200. The crop factor is 1.5x, meaning a 50mm lens will become equivalent to 75mm on this body. Conversely, a 35mm lens will become equivalent to 52.5mm on a crop sensor, which is closer to a 56mm on APS-C sensors.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best lens for your crop sensor body, both the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and Nikon 50mm f/1.8G have their advantages and are suitable for different scenarios. Indoor shoots, such as birthday receptions, might benefit more from the wider 35mm lens, while outdoor or portrait photography might prefer the 50mm lens for its background blur and sharpness.
Experimenting with both lenses will give you a better understanding of their unique characteristics and help you decide which one fits your photography needs best.
Fine-Tuning the Choice
Before making your decision, consider the following factors:
Photography style: Are you more focused on portraiture or indoor/candid shots? Aperture preference: Do you want the slightly wider aperture of the 35mm lens or the narrower one of the 50mm lens? Portability and comfort: Will a longer lens like the 50mm make you uncomfortable, or can you handle a shorter lens like the 35mm for extended periods?By considering these factors, you can make a more informed decision on which lens will serve you best in your photography pursuits.