35mm or 50mm, which is your main lens?

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

While there are obvious differences in what each person uses as their "normal" lens, there can be actual optical characteristics that may influence that decision.

For me, I use a 58 mm focal length lens.

Why? Because I have found that particular focal length to match my own perspective with my eyes.

With a 58 mm lens, if I look through the camera view finder and note "where things are," when I look up at the scene with my eyes, nothing moves. Everything stays in the same place. If I put a 50 mm lens on the camera and repeat the process, things move when I shift my eye. This is especially noticeable on the sides of the viewfinder. When I look up, things on the side of the frame move out even more with a 50 mm lens. No, they do not move out as much as with a 35 mm lens, but they do move. With a 58 mm lens, everything stays in the same place. To me, that is "true perspective."

If you have access to these focal lengths, try it on your camera and see what you get.

Back when Nippon Kogaku came out with their Nikon F, their first fast standard lens for the F was the Nikkor-S Auto 1:1.4 f=5.8 cm. When Minolta came out with their first serious 35 mm SLR lens, it was also a 58 mm; the Auto Rokkor-PF f=58 mm 1:1.4. I believe that the optical engineers in both of the two companies in Japan who made their own optical glass had a reason for choosing 58 mm for their first serious professional low light level lens for a single lens reflex camera. I believe that reason is the true perspective this focal length provides in comparison with the vision of the human eye.

 

[clayne]

While 50mm might represent the natural level of magnification (or lack thereof) that our eyes see, I don't believe it portrays the perspective and width with which our eyes see. It tends to feel enclosed and captures only direct forward sight. Unfortunately this is not what how we typically perceive situations or scenes especially with our peripheral vision at play. This is the reason I feel 35mm, and sometimes even wider, characterize a scene in a more effective and realistic way. Even if there is slight distortion, it just feels more tactile and present, especially for environmental portraits.

50mm is more like a direct conversation with a single defined subject.

 

[nsouto]

For a long time I was a follower of the 50mm for its somewhat restricted angle of view although natural perspective
.
But nowadays, 35mm lenses see a lot of time on my cameras. The perspective might not be right there with natural, but the overall "feel" of the photos taken with it totally appeals to me.

As someone else said: there is no such thing as a right answer, except the one that keeps you happy?

 

[kitaanat]

My favorite camera is Kodak Retina IIIC that I've got Schneider Xenon 50mm f2.0 that come with the body.
When I shoot sometime I feel that I need a wider lens. After I've got 35mm lens for my camera I still use 50mm.
Now my favorite lens is 50mm.

 

[nicefor88]

Same as Dan and David.
Used to be the 35mm f2, now more the 50mm f1.4.
I ave a 35 on my M6 and a 50 on my F3. They stay there, never get changed. Take both cameras out.

 

[schizom]

the first lens i was really happy with was the 35 f/1.4, back then on a eos 20d and used as my quasi 50mm lens. i was pleased with the performance of the lens and the focal length, too. later then, as i wanted to go slightly more wideangle i decided not to change the lens but the camera, and since i wanted to go fullframe anyway i got myself the eos 5d and was then even more pleased with the 35mm, which in my opinion really is an outstanding lens. after a while i decided i wanted to shoot film again and i purchased an eos 1v body (which had always been the camera of my dreams, and still is). the performance of the lens (precision + speed of the AF) on the 1v blows me away everytime i tip on the shutter. and finally, after two years of shooting with this combo i decided to get the 50 f/1.2 to have a 50mm again as well. thats where i am now. both lenses perform outstandingly well. i use them both as it suits me.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I'm still loving the 35mm best on a rangefinder.... with the 25mm next in line. I still think the rangefinder is made for the 35mm.
-rob

 

[dougjgreen]

Neither is my main lens. My main lenses are 28mm and 90mm

 

[liquid695]

For my F3HP a 35 mm f/2 nikkor lens
for the leica R9 -Summicron 50 mm f/2 and lately my new lens Summicron 90 mm f/2 APO ASPH f/2

 

[funkpilz]

I love my nifty fifties, but when you travel, you need something much wider.

 

[phc]

50 - I only have two lenses, and they're both 50s.

Cheers, Paul.

 

[sangetsu]

I never go out with only one lens. My 2 main 35mm SLR cameras are a Canon F1 and an Olympus OM4Ti. When I carry my Canon, I usually take a 55mm 1.2, a 24mm 2.8, and the 20mm 2.8. Each lens sees a similar amount of use. Composing for a single lens may sound more "macho", but it's nice not having to have my options limited by using only 1 lens.

On my OM4, I usually carry a Zuiko 55mm 1.2, a 24mm 2.8, and a Zuiko 35-70 zoom. The 24mm does the in-the-city shots quite well, the 55mm 1.2 works for shooting in the evening. The 35-70 is mainly for people.

 

[Pumal]

20mm f/2.8 for my F4; sometimes 85mm f/2
45mm f/2.8 and 150mm for my Mamiya 645

 

[Dave Wooten]

In my 20's all of my photography was in the street and my set up was tri x, Pentax 1.4. It was the only camera and lens that I had. It was my pride and joy. I still like that set up best and I still have that camera and lens 40 years later. If I were to grab one and go that would be it. Through the years I have added 35 mm f 1.4 and I like that set up. Lately I have started to "collect" other cheap 50 mm and 40 mm lenses. It would now be a hard choice if I were to chose one, the 40 mm lenses are a strong contender. Nikon F3 P is used with the 35 1.4. I recently got a really nice Konica with a 40 mm f1.8 for a few bucks. I have nt taken it out yet.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Update, the zoom is retired.

I now almost exclusively use a 55mm f/2 and a 100mm f/2.8.

So I'm still not either 35mm or 50mm...

I am also shooting a lot more 35mm lately. Everybody is getting cameras with funky lenses on them. I go the opposite way and focus solely on simplicity and subject matter. For me it's my way and the highway...

I do the zoom thing with 35mm. I have a Vivitar Series I that stretches from 35-85mm focal length at f/2.8. It's a really nice lens that's incredibly sharp and handles contrast very well.
Then I get the odd bug and use an 18mm ultrawide for low-to-the-ground stuff; Sigma 2.8), or my Pentax prime lenses where I tend to like the normal to telephoto lenses, my favorites are the 55mm f/2 and the 135mm f/3.5.
It all seems to depend upon the mood and the subject matter, and it's hard to see a trend since I so seldomly use 35mm (but love it when I do).
- Thomas

 

[Sirius Glass]

For 35mm I have a 28mm to 200mm, 28mm to 300mm*, and 20mm to 35mm Nikon zooms.

Steve
*Nikon mount Tameron

A historical note. When I used prime lenses I had a 35mm lens that I sold for a 28mm lens because the 35mm lens was too close to the 50mm lens. When I was in Europe I used the 28mm lens almost exclusively, followed by the 50mm and then the 21mm lenses.

Steve

 

[photogolf]

50mm AF or Series E is my camera's side kit (F4 or F5).

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I usually go to a 24, 85, or 100 macro on my 35mm.

Jeff

 

[darkosaric]

50mm. second choice 105mm.

 

[filthy6]

It seems native to me to use a 35mm lens on my rangefinder, and a 50mm lens on my SLR. Doesn't seem to be any rationale for it, but it works for me.

 

[Scott_Sheppard]

Canon 50mm F1.2L is my goto lens... All ways on a body ready to go.

So 50mm YES... !!

 

[Oren Grad]

35.

 

[McQueen278]

I'm a 50mm kinda guy. I prefer the large max apertures most of the time. If I had a 35mm f/1.x that might change, but the fastest 35mm to my knowledge in the Zuiko line is a massively overpriced 35mm f/2. I love my Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 though. Rich colors and sharp as a tack wide open.

 

[dbuckle]

I like my Konica 40mm 1.8 very sharp for walking around. My 50/1.7 is also excellent. The 85/1.8 for portraits is hard to beat. I just got a 35/2.8 but hav'nt used it yet. If I can find a Konica 57mm 1.2 I can afford I'll snap it up.

 

[glockman99]

Eventho it's pretty slow as a f/3.5-5.6 lens, my Nikkor 24-120mm AF-D lens is the one that my F4s has on it...It makes for an excellent "walkabout lens", with an excellent range of focal-lengths for "street-shooting".