35mm or 50mm?

50mm, more natural perspective, better for isolating subjects without being too , can be used for candid portraits, more versatile for what I shoot.

I don't shoot much landscape/scenics, but when I do I like 35mm well enough (since I like small RF/VF cams, it's the main option so I don't have much choice... XA, Minox, Konica etc. etc.)
 
35 mm just because it gives you a wider view. On a RF I found its framelines much more interesting than the small 50. On a RF a 50 is almost a tele.
 
50mm suits me best. I've tried using 35mm now and again but I find it a struggle not to clutter up the frame- I wish I didn't find it so hard to use.
 
Hello:

I'm a 50mm and longer shooter by preference. Selecting a detail from a "normal" view is a forte of the 50 or 75.

If your preference is people and being "in the midst of things" the 35 and shorter is the way to go. MHO of course.

yours
FPJ
 
I agree with italy74. 35mm is a nice all-around. It feels like a normal on a RF and still gives nice wider angle when needed. With a fast 35mm you get some bokeh too. My 35mm is a VC Ultron 35/1.7 and I really like it. I recently got a Nokton 50/1.5 too, but I think I will use it much less...
 
I started out using telephoto FLs such as 200, 135, 85 (on SLRs).... Currently, I use 50mm most of the time with my M6/5D but have recently discovered 35mm and find it to be more versatile and I like the perspective it gives when taking photos of my subjects and their surroundings.

I also have a 28mm lens, but have not used it much... maybe later down the track... and who knows... 21mm and 15mm here I come :)
 
each is a classic focal length. Much of it hs to do with how comfortable you feel working close up (35) or further away from your subject. Indoors I find the 50 somewhat limiting.
 
Mike Johnston has some interesting things to say about 35s and 50s. Take with a pinch of salt (because he's making humorous generalisations) but there's a grain of truth in his observations.

Owing to poverty, I shot exclusively with a 50mm for nearly a year, then pretty much exclusively with a 35mm for a couple of years. Was happy at the time with both, but I'm getting wider as I get older... ;)

Now I've got an R4a, I've been thinking of getting a 21mm to make the most use of the viewfinder, but truth is I prefer having a bit of space around the frames, so I like 25mm on the R4a and 35mm on the Hexar RF, i.e., the second widest framelines in each case.

Personal taste, again. But they're both fairly flexible focal lengths in terms of composition, and they can both be relatively inexpensive - and will be easy to sell on if you don't get on with one of them.

As to the 'philosophy' bit, maybe think about Mike's comment about the 50mm being able to mimic moderate wides as well as short teles?
 
50mm, but I don't have a 35mm. I like the 40mm on my Canonet and the one on my CL when I had it, and I really need to get a 35mm or 28mm. I don't know that I have that strong a preference, per se, just that even a 40mm seems too wide sometimes. A 50mm always seems workable.
 
I am using a 50mm and a 21mm but I desperately want a 35mm.

Ideally I'd have 2 bodies one with a 50 and one with a 35. One loaded with B&W and the other with colour.
 
together the perfect couple

together the perfect couple

My setup is m6 with 35 und 50 mm. I use the 35 about 70% and 50 about 30%. I feel like I can cover almost all needs for my kind of photography, witch is street and traveling photography. Currently in new York I almost only use the 35 because these buildings just don't fit in a 50 frame:D
In a longer term I will ad a 24 and a 90 lens to my setup for interiours and portraits/stills.
 
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I am happy with 50 and 28 so 50 gets my vote. Though I am sure I will end up with a 35 one day just to see what the fuss is about.

David
 
capitalK said:
I am using a 50mm and a 21mm but I desperately want a 35mm.

Ideally I'd have 2 bodies one with a 50 and one with a 35. One loaded with B&W and the other with colour.
Click to expand...

Don't you need 4 bodies then?

Or, which film gets the 35 and why?
 
35mmdelux said:
Who is Mike Johnson if I may be so bold?
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The guy who created the phrase "King of bokeh" ...

about 35 or 50 ? I use either 35 or 50 but never both together. (21)-35-90 goes well for me, so does (21)-50-90. Everyday use is either the 35 or 50.

Cheers,

Gabor
 
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