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I own a 18-55 kit lens for my Nikon D3300. i plan to sell it and buy a 35mm 1.8 prime lens. will it worth. i think there is no much difference in focal range of the both

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    if I have a 18-55mm lens is there a point in buying a 35mm prime?
    – MikeW ♦
    Jul 27, 2016 at 4:58
  • As someone who's been there and done that and asked the same question, definitely keep the 18-55 if for no other reason than to use the 18mm end of it. Wide angle can be nice in very tight quarters or if you want to get more of a subject's surroundings. Plus it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a dedicated wide-angle lens for the few occasions where you'd want to use it. (Edit: but buy the 35mm too. They retail for like $120, not a bank-breaker and will be a lifesaver in low-light conditions)
    – Ivan
    Jul 27, 2016 at 15:25

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The key difference between these two lenses is the fact that one is a zoom lens, and the other is a prime lens. Prime lenses usually offer better optical performance, at the same focal lengths, than a zoom lens.

The aperture is denoted by the f-number, and the 35 has a larger aperture, denoted by it's smaller f-number, i.e., 1.8.

A larger aperture gives you the creamy bokeh that successfully isolates the subject from the background, and is also very aesthetic, like this. This was shot by Brandon Woelfel on Instagram. Not exactly like this, but you get the idea.

On a Nikon D3300, which has an APS-C sensor, you would get the equivalent of 52 mm, not 35, which is perfect for daily use, street photography, and the casual video shoot too. This is because APS-C sensors in Nikon cameras have a crop factor of 1.5x.

I have the 35mm too, and it is fantastic. You should definitely go for it.

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  • do you think i dont need 18 55 after that. So can i sell it
    – laughs
    Jul 27, 2016 at 7:40
  • @laughs keep the 18-55, as it is useful when you have to take some wide shots. wait a bit and buy the 35 then. If it is urgent, then by all means, sell it.
    – premiumdrinkingrainwater
    Jul 27, 2016 at 9:26
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    @laughs You might want to search eBay to see what a used 18-55 VR sells for. You may not get that much for it since new it isn't that expensive. I would keep it; you might find the extra range useful at times.
    – Colin Brace
    Jul 27, 2016 at 14:46
  • Confirm, I used the 35 with my D90, it is really excellent. Not just the bookeh and aperture but the general image quality and sharpness is great.
    – Pierre Henry
    Jul 28, 2016 at 8:54

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