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I have the Nikon kit lens that came with a D5100 — the kit lens is 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom. I was thinking of getting a fast lens and I am looking to buy the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX.

Should I consider 35mm or instead buy a 55-200mm for better range?

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    \$\begingroup\$ A similar question about a fast zoom lens rather than the kit zoom: Would a prime be redundant with a fast zoom?, and also somewhat related (because it's basically the opposite question): Getting ready to buy an entry-level dSLR — should I skip the kit lens? \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Sep 11, 2011 at 1:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ The first lens I bought was a Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX. I bought mine because the kit lens (18-55) required me to use a flash for indoor, low light pictures. Since I'm the 'family photographer' and need to capture all the birthday parties, reunions, graduations, funerals... I needed a low light lens. The 35mm f1.8 is still the go to lens for family events, day or night. I now have a 50mm 1.4D, which is pretty awesome too, but for indoor, around the table pics, it's a trifle too long. If you're interested in outdoor, good light pictures, then the 55-200 will probably be a better choice. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 6, 2012 at 22:25
  • \$\begingroup\$ I bought the 35mm f1.8 DX for the same reason as Therealstubot.. and while I use it a lot indoors, it's almost always with a bounced flash anyway. Unless you live in a very bright house, don't think a fast prime is enough to shoot without a flash - unless you are happy with ISO occasionally ranging into 3200-6400 range. The only real reason I use the 35mm is for shallow DOF (at least, shallower than the kit lens allows). \$\endgroup\$
    – Marco Mp
    Feb 11, 2013 at 13:08
  • \$\begingroup\$ It depends on what you want to do with the lens. \$\endgroup\$
    – Carsten S
    Jan 10, 2016 at 15:05

6 Answers 6

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Yes. Prime lenses usually offer both superior image quality and larger apertures compared to zoom lenses of similar price. This is due to simpler mechanical construction, as less moving parts are needed, and due to especially chromatic aberration being easier to correct for just one focal length.

The decision between 35mm and 55-200mm is in the end about your needs - 35mm lens gets you close to the 50mm-on-full-frame that has often been considered as the "neutral" focal length, and the one to use if you need to pick just one. Also, fast prime gives you ability to shoot concerts and other performances, and different kinds of indoor events in general.

55-200mm gives you more reach, and can be useful if you want to capture small details outdoors, or get perspective flattened up.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I'd add that having tried both 35/1.8 and 55-200/4-5.6 I must admit 35/1.8 gives noticeably crispier picture, which in turn allows for tighter cropping, making it comparable in reaching power to the 55-200. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 21, 2012 at 1:20
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    \$\begingroup\$ Having both, I strongly disagree. First of all the 55-200 is definetely sharp, a worse maybe than the 35mm but not by much. Also, on cropped sensors, a 35mm lens angle of view is 44.7°, at 55mm it is 29.38°. This would mean that the image would be cropped approx by 2/3 on both sides, and on a D50 that would be a 2.6Mpix image (pretty low). And to get the same image you'd get at 200mm you must crop a 200Kpix part which would be completely useless. \$\endgroup\$
    – Marco Mp
    Feb 11, 2013 at 13:17
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The answer to the question "should you consider a 35mm lens" is obviously going to depend a lot on you and on the type of photography you like to do. However, there are at least two factors (other than the very different focal lengths) that set the 35mm f/1.8 lens apart from the other two lenses.

1) Speed of the lens (how much light it lets in):

An f/1.8 aperture will let in around 4 times the amount of light as your 18-55mm. The difference this can make in indoor shooting is huge. A further consideration is the depth of field advantage that an f/1.8 lens will give you; you will be able to blur the background to a a much greater extent than with your current lens that covers that focal length.

2) Image Quality:

As a general rule, the faster a lens is, the higher the quality (and price). There are certainly exceptions to this 'rule', but it is usually the case that for a given aperture setting, the faster lens will be sharper. For example, shooting at f/4 with your 18-55mm (set to 35mm) and at f/4 with the Nikon 35mm, the 35mm will produce a better image.

* It is also a general guideline that prime lenses (fixed focal length) will have better image qiality than zoom lenses, due to the nature of the design of the optical elements.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ You said the difference in indoor photography can be "huge". My questin is, I just bought Nikon D5100 and I am really impressed with the indoor images. They are really super. Can I expect even better quality that that as you said "huge". I though the sole purpose of this lens would be faster action, slightly better picture and faded background. Please explain. \$\endgroup\$
    – TheTechGuy
    Sep 15, 2011 at 18:03
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    \$\begingroup\$ The difference between the two lens speeds discussed above is about 2.5 stops, which means the difference between being able shooting a scene with a shutter speed of 1/60 versus a shutter speed of 1/10, maintaining an equivalent exposure. The first is reasonably good at freezing motion due to camera shake, while the second would be quite blurry if handheld. Additionally, most lenses are not at their sharpest when wide open. Having a lower f-stop to start with allows you to stop down the lens to improve sharpness while still letting in a lot of light. \$\endgroup\$
    – Sean
    Sep 15, 2011 at 18:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ Right but I was actually point to the "huge" difference. Can the picture dramatically improve on my D5100 just with this lense when I already see it is superb in door? I have 18-55,and 55-300. Thanks \$\endgroup\$
    – TheTechGuy
    Sep 15, 2011 at 18:58
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    \$\begingroup\$ The actual difference the lens will make for your picture depends a lot on how you use it. If you are getting superb images already, then a dedicated fast prime may not be worth spending money on. The key word in my answer was that a faster lens can make a huge difference. If you don't take pictures in situations where your current lens struggles, then you may not see a big improvement. \$\endgroup\$
    – Sean
    Sep 15, 2011 at 19:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ yep, I may still need it for faded background, portraits and faster action which I think it might be worth it. \$\endgroup\$
    – TheTechGuy
    Sep 15, 2011 at 19:18
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Using prime lenses indirectly make you think a lot more about composition. This is fantastic to learn and find a style, yet comes with challenges. My favorite setup is a 50mm f1.4 and a 5D (which would have a comparable FOV to the 35mm on the D5100)

Using only primes for event photography. I will never forget one of my first paid events.

I tend to have a facebook oriented distribution, and from a meeting with the clients, all I really had been hired to do was get people new profile pictures! Profiles and half body crops were all I was aiming to shoot.

All I took to the event was a 50mm on the old 5D mark i and a flash. When the guests started arriving one girl was adement that I should get a full portrait of her and her friend. I took a few paces back and with my back against the wall and I still couldn't fit them both in. We had to march through to a larger space in poor lighting and try again there.

Using a prime means you have to move around to get the composition how you want it. This is rarely convenient. Even taking several primes is a faff. My new setup at events involves two cameras, one with a standard prime, the other with a zoom.

Street photography. Although stressful in a professional context, going and doing street photography without a zoom function is very liberating. You have to often get yourself right in the heart of the scene to get the shot (unless you're using some 500m Tamron jobby!).

Numbers aren't everything. Consider both lenses before you spend wads of cash. I think you should try out the lenses for a couple of days and then buy which ever you prefer using. No other answers cover this aspect of fixed length lenses. The internet is already bloated with people praising the prime lenses for the optic quality and faster apertures.

I run a photographic society and we have a community thats friendly enough to share lenses. A member recently purchased a Canon with the kit lens and a 60-200mm zoom lens. Dissatisfied with his choice, I lent him the canon plastastic 50mm and within a few days he sold the zoom tele photo lens and bought a 50mm prime. All the members who have tried primes, go out and buy them. They do tend to just stay attached to your camera.

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I use my DX 35mm f1/8G in almost all situations, I zoom using my feet. It's great especially in low light scenarios. I love its bokeh especially in f/2.8.

About the 18-55mm, other people swap it with 35mm, but I suggests not to or totally abandon it after getting that portrait lens. It is very usable in almost all (mid-to-high light) situations, from semi wide angle to semi telephoto. Take in mind that in DX cameras, focal range below 35mm is considered as wide lens. Lenses that go below 18mm are very pricey. If you're not a photographer working on the industry or in the field, I don't think you would need that pricey wide angle lens and therefore the 18-55mm can give you the wide angle.

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I have a Nikon D3000 with 18-55mm and 35mm lenses. To date, I have obtained better images from the 35mm lens, both indoor and outdoors. According to you which one is better.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Hi. This isn't really an answer. Are you commenting, or wanting to ask a question? \$\endgroup\$
    – MikeW
    Apr 11, 2013 at 9:25
  • \$\begingroup\$ I think it's an answer; just a short one, commenting that he has both lenses and gets better results from the 35mm, with the implication being that therefore there is a point. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Apr 12, 2013 at 2:07
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This is probably some old post that i found googling for info,

I just got a 35mm 1.8 to replace the very slow 18-55mm.

The 35mm 1.8 prime (paid $100) is definitely a better lens than the 18-55 kit.. i can see the difference.. the Autofocus is smoother on the 35mm (less noisy)

As for zooming with the 35mm, i too, use my feet to zoom.

Little intro: i used to be a semi-pro photographer, i did few weddings and other small events. I was using mainly Canon 5D MK2 anmd Nikon D300s with a 17-55 2.8 and sometime with Alienbees flash. I never switch lens, i prefer using multiple dslr with their own lens and settings...faster and quicker.

Unfortunately, One day i had sell all my equipment (+$7000.00) to buy a house LOL

Now im slowly getting back to photography as my wife wants me to take family pictures...damit. I was given a D3200 kit to start with which i find very flimsy compared to my ex-D300s. This d3200 lacks so many features.. It probably cannot do HSS...anyhow.. if i get richer i will upgrade again but for now im just some ex-photographer who needs to take family pictures the cheapest way possible.

I threw that 18-55 very quick.. got this very plastic 35mm prime for half the retail price and using a cheap yongno flash.. You know what, i get photo that are almost as good as i used to get with the D300s+17-55. Pictures arent exactly the same, but arent bad either.. it's just more tricky now and it requires more work under photoshop.

I think you can use the 35mm as a walk around lens presuming you won't do any wide...

By the way, for more heavy lenses like the 17-55, i highly recommend using a Rapid Sling strap rather than the (look at me) disposable neck strap that are given with most DSLR....

I think im gona enjoy the 35mm as a walk around lens too and try see how it performs for strobist photography.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Think of this as more like Wikipedia than a forum. If you have new information or otherwise a better answer, there's no reason to be concerned over the age of the question. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Jan 2, 2016 at 6:17

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