Are 35mm and 50mm too close?
Both the 35mm and 50mm are classic lengths, offering great versatility. And while they're fairly close to each other in terms of focal length (you won't find many primes lenses that fall in between!), they tend to be suited to slightly different jobs, and can give a very different feel.
A 35mm lens on your camera would be the equivalent of a 50mm lens on a full frame camera. This is commonly considered a "normal focal length" for general shooting.
For example a 50mm lens may have a minimum distance to the subject of about 14 inches, but you wouldn't want to shoot a portrait shot from that distance. For one thing you would probably only get part of the subject in the frame.
1.2 meters (two arm lengths)
I think by default (assuming you're shooting with a manual-focusing lens), keep your 35mm at a default distance of 1.2 meters (2 arm length distance). To me, this distance is ideal for most framing in street photography with a 35mm– you will fill the frame, whatever you photograph.
50mm: The Most Versatile Prime
In a full frame sensor system, the 50mm lens most accurately approximates the human eye's field of vision (On a crop sensor (APS-C), it is the 35mm prime that best approximates the same view).
50mm aka the “nifty fifty”
The 50mm is the ideal street photography lens. Actually it's an ideal lens full stop. It has the most applications of any focal and hence why they are often referred to as the “nifty fifty”, the versatile lens.
Which prime lens is better 35mm or 50mm? The 35mm lens focal length is more versatile when shooting indoors for its wide field of view and capturing more scenery when traveling than the 50mm lens which is more zoomed-in making it difficult to use indoors but ideal for traditional, headshots and portraits.
While the 35mm is great for full-length street portraits where you want to show a lot of background, a 50mm will focus the scene right in on your subject and the most important background details. It allows you to highlight their expressions and personality by getting in close to what really matters.
35mm lenses are amongst the most popular out there, considered to be standard lenses with an ideal focal length that covers multiple applications. They're accessible, easy to use and fun to shoot with which is why many photographers include them in their kit.
50mm with tubes will give you excellent close ups.
What shutter speed should I use for a 50mm lens?
So if you're shooting with a 50mm lens, the rule says that you shouldn't pick a shutter speed slower than 1/50 if you want a sharp picture. So you could shoot at 1/80 or 1/100 and be just fine, but don't go to 1/40 or 1/20.
A 50mm prime should be wide enough to shoot group portraits outside, but if you're shooting inside, then you have to consider whether you have enough space to back up and get everyone in the frame. Unfortunately, sometimes you won't know that until you get there and put everyone together.
Which prime lens is better 35mm or 50mm? The 35mm lens focal length is more versatile when shooting indoors for its wide field of view and capturing more scenery when traveling than the 50mm lens which is more zoomed-in making it difficult to use indoors but ideal for traditional, headshots and portraits.
While the 35mm is great for full-length street portraits where you want to show a lot of background, a 50mm will focus the scene right in on your subject and the most important background details. It allows you to highlight their expressions and personality by getting in close to what really matters.
The 50mm lens sometimes has a bad reputation for being a boring lens. Unlike a wide angle lens which takes in a wider view of the world or a telephoto lens what lets you see things further away, the 50mm lens doesn't do anything special.
35mm lenses can allow for closer focusing distances, and paired with the wider field of view, they provide a deeper depth of field overall. Depth of field refers to a set distance between the closest and farthest objects in a photo that appears acceptably sharp.
