35mm f/2d or 35mm f/1.8


Alvindicated

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Mar 3, 2011
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D90 user here.. already have the 35mm f/2d but still thinking abt the 35mm f/1.8 ..

which is like better?
 

to me, the 35 f/2D is better in almost every aspect, except for the the silent AF and a little larger aperture :)
 

D90 user here.. already have the 35mm f/2d but still thinking abt the 35mm f/1.8 ..

which is like better?

I would pick the 35/1.8. Much sharper, better IQ, faster and more accurate focusing (on D90), larger max aperture, cheaper. 35/1.8 performs slightly below the F2 version only in distortion and CA, but both are very slight and unnoticeable to most shooters.

The 35/2 is long overdue for an update from Nikon. But I doubt they will do it.
 

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Second the 35/1.8. I'm using it too, it's the only lens Nikon produce as a DX prime.
I think it's easy & inexpensive lens to recommend than 35/2 on D90.
 

If you have F2D already, I think no point getting F1.8 bah. Many bro here told me I should get the F2 instead when I bought mine a yr ago
 

Though the 35mm f1.8 is much revered here, im not seeing many users who post pictures with it. Initially i got this lens for portrait uses. It works relatively well actually but its not as sharp as ppl say. But for general photography its too tight for my liking. And the BnS has many 35mm f1.8 circulating. What does that tell you about this lens?

And as another user posted, the 35mm f2 and the 1.4 variant does not have much visible difference in sharpness, just the bokeh. The 1.4 version makes the subject POP out more than the f/2 version at apertures 1.4 - 2.8. After that it looks almost the same. So i dont think the f/2 is that bad.
 

I have both lenses. Optically, 35mm f1.8 is sharper, but autofocus wise 35mm f2 is a tad faster. I decided to keep 35mm f2 as I am preparing to upgrade to full frame.
 

Though the 35mm f1.8 is much revered here, im not seeing many users who post pictures with it. Initially i got this lens for portrait uses. It works relatively well actually but its not as sharp as ppl say. But for general photography its too tight for my liking. And the BnS has many 35mm f1.8 circulating. What does that tell you about this lens?

And as another user posted, the 35mm f2 and the 1.4 variant does not have much visible difference in sharpness, just the bokeh. The 1.4 version makes the subject POP out more than the f/2 version at apertures 1.4 - 2.8. After that it looks almost the same. So i dont think the f/2 is that bad.

more than half of my keepers tend to be shot using my 35 f/1.8

that the lens is widely available in bns is hardly an indicator of its quality (or lack thereof); many people can't get used to primes, upgrading to full frame, the list goes on.
 

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Second the 35/1.8. I'm using it too, it's the only lens Nikon produce as a DX prime.
I think it's easy & inexpensive lens to recommend than 35/2 on D90.



AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED is also a DX prime lens but not cheap though
 

thx guys for the feedback.. intend to upgrade to full frame too.. so decided to keep the f2
 

Hi,

read somewhere that the 35mm f2 does not auto focus on the D5000. Not sure if this is true? can anybody help?

Thanks.
 

Looking at the MTF charts below, the sharpness from centre to border of the 35mm f2D at wide open doesn't look good.

For 35mm f2D
pic_002.gif



For 35mm f1.8DX
pic_002.png


For 35mm f1.4G
pic_002.png
 

Hi,

read somewhere that the 35mm f2 does not auto focus on the D5000. Not sure if this is true? can anybody help?

Thanks.

35/2 has no built-in AF motor.
D5000 body has no built-in AF motor.

put 2 and 2 together, and ....?
 

Sample Shots for Nikon 35mm F2

1.jpg


DSC_0872.jpg