35L or 50L?

I need to make a decision. I have been researching the Lens sample archive on the above lenses. And need to choose one. I mainly shoot portraits/ indoor. Want to do more outdoor natural light. Use mainly my 70-200 2.8 and 85L . 24-105 probably will be sold. Which one?

I've said it before and I'll gladly say it again. If you must choose between the 35L and the 50L, then you should go for the 35L.

35 - This FL works well for portraits, group shots, street photographty, landscapes, e.t.c. It is basicly "the ultimate all around prime lens".

50 - This FL works well for portraits, but not so much for anything else.. Also, the 50L has issues with focus shift. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=876835

I have both, i find that the 35L is a much more versatile lens, it's on my camera most of the time. I think if you already have an 85 then the 35 would be the better choice. I sold my 24-105 to fund the primes and have not looked back.

Thanks for your opinion.That is where I have been leaning towards. Just needed some reinforcing, however, knowing me I will probably get them both eventually. Your work is very inspiring by the way Ricku.

according to jim wrote in post #12590339
Thanks for your opinion.That is where I have been leaning towards. Just needed some reinforcing, however, knowing me I will probably get them both eventually. Your work is very inspiring by the way Ricku.

Glad to help, and thanks for the compliment.

Yeah, the 50L is definitely nice to have if you can live with the focus shift. One of my friends has owned one and he claims that the focus shift is less noticable with some lenses than others.

Good luck and happy shootning.

Is the 35L a good but for a crop like a 7D if I am thinking about getting a second bodt (5D Ii) someday

I vote for 35L as well. As others say, the 35L is more versatile and it pairs itself nicely with a 85mm.

Ricku wrote in post #12590308
I've said it before and I'll gladly say it again. If you must choose between the 35L and the 50L, then you should go for the 35L.

35 - This FL works well for portraits, group shots, street photographty, landscapes, e.t.c. It is basicly "the ultimate all around prime lens".

50 - This FL works well for portraits, but not so much for anything else.. Also, the 50L has issues with focus shift. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=876835

FWIW, I have both the 35L and 50L, and I definitely use my 50L for more than just portraits... in fact, I use it for just about everything, and I use it much more than my 35L.

And I don't have any focus shift issues.

You already have a 70-200 range as well as an 85mm. 50L will be redundant IMO.

35L for my vote. (I have a very similar setup you're thinking about)

This has been talked about a million times so I would also do a search to get the same 50/50 opinions :-} but seriously just take your 24-105 and shoot at 35 for a day and shoot at 50 for a day and see what works. Both primes are excellent so it just depends on the FL you like.

Seeing you have an 85 a 35 would probably be more useful. I vote get 35L and ad a 50 1.4 which is also very good.


- I disagree that the 50L can only do portraits. 35 to 50 is really not all that different.

I've had both the 50L and the 35L. They're both very close in focal range especially on a FF. I personally prefer the 50L for the shallower depth of field, faster aperture, and better depth of field for portraits. But they're very close to the same.

I had a 50L, sold it and buy 35L. In my opinion 35mm is a more useful focal length on FF than 50mm. You can always crop if you need tighter composition and still ended up with plenty of mp on a 5D2.
The 35L is a perfect prime lens on FF except for it's CA.

ahendarman wrote in post #12591859
I had a 50L, sold it and buy 35L. In my opinion 35mm is a more useful focal length on FF than 50mm. You can always crop if you need tighter composition and still ended up with plenty of mp on a 5D2.
The 35L is a perfect prime lens on FF except for it's CA.

This. Cropping on the 35L with all those extra mp's (assuming you're using a 5d) is not a problem, and you can use it like a 50 should the end picture require it

I favor a 50mm FL over a 35mm FL every day of the week.

I don't care for the slight distortion of the 35mm FL, and I also highly favor the compression and background blur/bokeh of a 50mm prime.

My vote goes to the 35L