What is the difference between 35mm and 50mm?
James Williams
Published May 20, 2026
Keeping this in consideration, which is better lens 35mm or 50mm?
What's more, if you'll be working in tight spaces, or conversely, want the ability to capture more of the scene in a single shot and have more of the background in focus, the 35mm is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want greater reach regarding focal length, a 50mm lens will serve you better.
Likewise, is 35mm or 50mm better for portraits? Not to be outdone by the 35mm option, a 50mm lens is also an ideal choice for portraiture. Typically, 50mm lenses come in f/1.8, f/1.4 or f/1.2 variations, the latter of which is much more expensive, but has increased low-light shooting capabilities.
Secondly, do I need a 35mm If I have a 50mm?
So if you go from a 50mm to a 35mm, you are gaining about 50% more in the frame. If you are using APS-C or FX format, the 35mm lens on it will give you about the same angle of view as a 50mm does on a full frame and a 50mm on APS-C or FX gives you about the same angle of view as a 75mm would on a full frame.
What do you use a 35mm lens for?
#2: Versatility – The 35mm lens can be used for almost anything: Landscapes, portraits, travel shots, macro photography, street photography, real estate photography, product photography – just about everything.
Related Question Answers
Can you use 35mm film in a 50mm lens?
Sure you can. I estimate you have a camera with a 50mm lens. I suppose that your teacher told you to use a roll of 35mm film. Simple.Why are 35mm lenses so expensive?
The reason the 35mm lens is more expensive is because of the flange to sensor distance on an SLR. The SLR needs a mirror box to fit between the lens mount and the film or sensor. Mirrorless bodies have a big advantage when it comes to wide angle lenses, the lens design can be simpler and smaller.Is 35mm good for portraits?
Like it's cousin the 50mm lens, a 35mm lens is known for having excellent versatility. Use it on a full frame camera to get a standard view of a landscape. Pop one onto your crop sensor camera for a longer effective focal length for portraits. It's even better when you can find a good used 35mm lens for a great price.Is 35mm good for landscape?
A 35mm Prime Lens Captures Wide-Angle Shots - But Not Too Wide-Angle. What's nice about 35mm photography is that it's wide, but not too wide. That is, rather than distorting the landscape like an ultra-wide-angle lens would do, a 35mm lens pretty much captures the landscape as you see it with your own eyes.Why is 50mm lens so popular?
The high speed and wide aperture of a 50mm lens can also provide shallow depth of field. This gives you huge creative scope to blur out backgrounds and focus attention on your main subject. 50mm lenses also give attractive out-of-focus highlights (also known as bokeh).Which lens is best for wedding photography?
The Best Lenses for Wedding Photography- 50mm f/1.2 – 1.4. Jasmine's go-to lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens gives her the versatility she needs to shoot in a wide variety of conditions.
- 35mm f/1.4.
- 85mm f/1.2 – 1.8.
- 70-200 f/2.8.
- 100mm Macro f/2.8.
- 24-70mm f/2.8.
- 50mm f/1.4.
Is 50mm good for landscape?
Quality. Landscapes usually require very good sharpness, and 50mm prime lenses excel at that. No extra moving parts normally required for zooms makes for a crisper, sharper result.Is 35mm a good focal length?
Field of ViewI find the 35mm to be the perfect focal length, not too wide and not too long. It manages to avoid many of the issues of distortion that accompany wider options and can still create images with shallow depth of field.
How far away can I shoot with a 50mm lens?
The 50mm lens is a fantastic versatile lens and has a good focus area. A 50mm lens at f/1.8 and at a distance of 4 feet from your subject has a depth of field Of around 1.5 inches deep. Photographing that same subject from 10 feet, will have a depth of field of just under 10 inches deep.Is a 50mm lens good for weddings?
A 50mm lens is an essential part of shooting almost any wedding. Great for portraits, candid shots, and any night scenes, this will commonly be a workhorse for shooting the wedding. If you have multiple camera bodies to shoot the wedding on, leaving the 50mm on one body the entire time is a great option.Is 35mm good for video?
35mm. The 35mm's focal length creates a comfortable distance between the subject and audience. I actually think this is probably one of the best focal points for doing the YouTube “talk to camera” format.What is a 16 35mm lens good for?
Of course the 16-35mm lens is an absolute staple for landscape photographers the world over. It's wide enough to capture grand, epic scenes and wide vistas - I can just imagine the tiny person silhouette right now. But it's also narrow enough to punch in to scenes that perhaps aren't as grand as they could be.Is 35mm a wide angle lens?
On a full-frame camera, any lens with a focal length of 35mm or wider is considered a wide angle lens, while 24mm and wider is considered an ultra-wide angle lens. For instance, a 35mm lens will give you a focal length of 21.8mm on a Canon DSLR, or 23.3mm on a Nikon DSLR.What should my first prime lens be?
50mmIs 50mm the best focal length?
The 50mm 'nifty fifty' lens gives the most flexibility to your photography and is probably the easiest focal length to frame well. Many professionals would choose one of the 50mm lenses if it was the only lens they could carry.Which is better 24mm or 35mm?
The 24mm will give you a bit more scope and it might come in handy, but for most scenes and situations you would be fine with a 35mm. It's not so wide that you are catching tons of unwanted background components, yet it's not so tight that you can't see your environment.What is the most used focal length in photography?
Standard (35mm-70 mm)Standard lenses as called standard for a reason – these are the most common lenses, in both prime and zoom format. Their focal lengths can be used for virtually anything, from nature to action. A standard lens such as a 50mm f/1.8 is an excellent, inexpensive addition for a camera.
How do you use a 35mm lens for portraits?
The Distance From Your SubjectFirst off, don't get up close and personal to your subject as the 35mm lens will make whatever is closest to the camera really big. Instead, always try to shoot portraits with a 35mm lens getting around half of the person's body in the frame.
Which lens should I use for portraits?
10 Great Lenses for Portrait Photography for Canon and Nikon Shooters- Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II.
- Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II.
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L.
- Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II.
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II.
- Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G.
- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II.
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4G.
How do you take a picture with a 35mm lens?
Some tips if you're shooting with a 35mm lens: When shooting horizontally: If you want to fill the frame with your subject's waist up to their head, shoot with a 35mm lens, at 1.2 meters (about 2 arm lengths away, or 4 feet away). If you want a shot of just their face with a 35mm when shooting horizontally, shoot at .What is the sharpest 35mm lens?
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG ART is clearly the sharpest lens but the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.0 ZF. 2 and the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G are both really solid all round performer as well.Can you use 35mm lenses on digital cameras?
by: Digital SLR GuideYou can use older 35mm lenses with a digital SLR, with a few exceptions. First, you need to match the brand of digital SLR camera with the brand of lens. For example, if you've got a collection of Nikon lenses, then you'll need to get a Nikon DSLR to use them.
Is a 35mm lens good for weddings?
That being said, the focal length is the true winner here; a 35mm lens is perhaps the most flexible and this makes it one of the best lenses for storytelling. This lens is perfect for capturing places, faces, and everything in the middle. While shooting most weddings, you're never standing still.What does a 35mm lens mean?
35mm. Standard lenses are popular as they are closest to the angle of view we humans see. These lenses have minimal distortion, which can be flattering to the subject. They tend to use large apertures and allow a lot of light to enter the lens which makes them fast in low light conditions.What is a 40mm lens good for?
For a crop sensor camera, the 40mm is the equivalent to about 64mm – still a good “middle ground” length. If you're a photographer looking for a lightweight lens with a decent focusing distance, good bokeh, and is unobtrusive (a great feature for street photographers), give the 40mm a try.What lenses should every photographer have?
6 Camera Lenses Every Photographer Should Know and When to Use Them!- Canon 50mm Standard Lens.
- Tamron 70-300mm Lens.
- Tamron 70-300mm Lens.
- Sony Macro Lens.