35mm - WIDE ANGLE?

[karuna01]

Hi there,

I am using a DX40 DSLR which i must say is pretty good DSLR since i bought it 3 years ago. Still turns out some stunning pictures. I am using 18-55mm & 18-200mm lens.

I am thinking of getting a AFS-DX 35mm f1.8 - is this a wide angle lens for landscape photography & i was itching to get a prime lens. The spec says the pic angle is 44 Deg compared to the 18-200mm lens which has 76 Deg.

What's the advantage of using the 35mm lens?

[RichardTaylor]

On a camera like yours it is a "normal", in old 35mm terms, lens.
It is not a wide angle lens for your camera.
The main advantage is that it is a "fast" lens (F1.8) which makes it great for shallow depth of field and/or low light shooting.

[sybren]

Originally Posted by karuna01

The spec says the pic angle is 44 Deg compared to the 18-200mm lens which has 76 Deg.

A zoom lens has a field of view (FoV) range, not just one number. Your 18mm end (zoomed all the way out) is wider than the 35mm will give you. Why don't you use your 18-200mm and see which "zoom setting" you like best for landscapes?

[karuna01]

Many Tks Guys for the Info.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

and if it helps sway you either way, here are some shots i've taken with my 35: link

[dcclark]

I would not get the 35mm f/1.8 for landscapes. Check out 35mm using your 18-200 -- it's not really that wide on your camera (it is, of course, wider on a "full frame" FX camera). If you want a wide angle for landscapes, I recommend the Nikon 10-24, or Sigma 10-20, or something else in that range. THOSE are wide angles!

The reason to get the 35mm f/1.8 is if you need that f/1.8 -- for, say, indoor low-light shots. For landscapes, you'll be using f/10 or something like that anyhow, so the whole point of having a fast lens is a bit lost. It's not that you can't use the 35mm for landscapes, just that it's really intended to do a different kind of job.