35mm VS 50mm lens

[Shawn7656]

Everyone always says that a 50mm lens is great for portrait photography, but are they saying this for full size sensors or for crop sensors? If it's for a full sized sensor then I would benefit more from getting a 35mm lens, right? The size difference means 35mm would come out to 52mm on a crop sensor (if I know what I'm talking about that is lol )

[RichardTaylor]

They are talking crop sensors.

For full frame sensors 80mm is generally regarded as a "good" portrait focal length.

[SwissJon]

If you're talking Field of view, then yes, your maths is right.

I bought the 35mm 1.8 prime about 6 months ago and never used it, I found you had to be really "in your face" to get a decent head shot. I've recently sold it and bought a 50mm 1.4 and it's been virtually glued to my lens. It's about the right length for portraits, although I'm wondering if that too isn't a little short, and the 85mm 1.8 might be the better option for head only portraits. However I'll stick with what I've got for now, it's getting alot of use.

Don't let the Field of View fool you. The reason that 50mm are so popular is because the distortion/perspective is about what we perceive with our eyes. On the 35mm sensor, that also happened to coincide with a close approximation to what we see in our field of view. With a crop sensor you're always going to be compromising, however you can adjust your field of view by taking a step back or forward.

The easiest way to tell what the right focal length for a prime is, is to look at the kind of photos you want to take, and see what the average focal length is.. Or look at the photos you've taken with a zoom.

This one was taken at 70mm.

This one was taken at 50mm

So was this one

This one was taken at 35mm

As you can see, there's no "right" focal length, but I do think that 50mm is more flexible than 35mm on a crop sensor.

[Shawn7656]

That's good
50mm are a bit cheaper than 35s haha

Thanks for the help

EDIT: The page didn't load your reply until after I posted SwissJon. Thanks for the visuals it helped a lot. I'll probably end up with a 50mm then. If I feel it's too much I might sell it back and get a 35mm. We shall see. I've got awhile until I'm going to making purchases anyways. Again, thanks for the help

[SalvadorCraine]

They are talking crop sensors.

[Biomech]

I bought the 35mm 1.8 prime about 6 months ago and never used it, I found you had to be really "in your face" to get a decent head shot.

See I find that my 50mm gets in really tight - maybe I should just move back further :P Although I hear what you're saying with the 35mm. This was taken with a 30mm and I must have been only inches from her face :P

500px / Photo "A Nubbin" by Jamie O'Rourke

Looking at it, there is a bit of distortion in the face, but her face is a bit like that anyway (don't tell her I said that!)

[Shawn7656]

Haha nice! I'll keep my mouth shut (though it should be easy since I don't know her )

[SwissJon]

There's more than a bit of distortion there.. But that's perpective distortion, which is not possible to fix in PP.

That's the problem.. The closer you get to your subject, the more the small distances between the end of the nose and the top of the lip, or the eye and the ear become proportionally larger compared to the distance the lens is from the face. To fill the frame with a face, you need to get literally inches away, and that leaves you in the unenviable position of giving your client a big nose! Not very flattering. In fact, with people who are somewhat um round. You shold get an even longer lens and stand back further from them, as this will have the effect of flatening the image and flattering the person.

All fun and games!! Only you can tell what you prefer, but most wedding photogs I've seen tend to shoot with a 70-200.

[Shawn7656]

I'm planning on doing more portrait TFP work with friends and family for awhile as I don't have much for a portfolio (especially with portrait work) yet. So I'll try to 50mm for now

Weddings come later, much later. Unless someone else is there doing it professionally too haha

[ccting]

;D............I have tested and taken pictures using both lenses.. later i show..

50mm f/1.4 --> slow autofocus, bright enough for pretty pics
35mm f/1.8 much faster + sharper than above.

35mm has sweet point at f/2.8, but not practically for portrait as you need to move very close to subject. So what do you want? sharp and faster autofocus or more practical portrait shooting? I found 85mm f/1.8 is much better lens than 50mm f/1.4.

Why not you just buy two lenses? 35mm f/1.8 and another 85mm f/1.4? lol. What happen to your kit len anyway?
buy 35mm if the len is for multiple purpose or baby. buy 50mm if priority is portrait.. / kids.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...=0&FORM=LKVR22