50L or 35L? details inside...could use some other peoples opinions!

Ok, I have my 50L which was purchased brand new a few days before Christmas... and since then I've used it maybe 5 times! I drooled over this lens for so long and now I'm somewhat disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, this lens is amazing! The quality and pictures it produces are absolutely phenomenal.

I plan on doing weddings, engagements and dabble in studio work such as band promos and simple newborn/family photos and my issue here is the space I have to work with.

Which (iyho of course) would be the better work horse? Or did I miss the nail head completely? Other options maybe?

Any input is appreciated!

35L. Why don't you use your zoom lens to the suitable FL, and see wether 35mm is match your need.
Btw, what makes you disappointed on 50L?

KY707 wrote in post #11576394
35L. Why don't you use your zoom lens to the suitable FL, and see wether 35mm is match your need.
Btw, what makes you disappointed on 50L?

its just simply not suited for what I need my 1300+ dollars to do! I had a love hate relationship with my 1.8, but did enjoy some of the photos I got so figured the 50L would fix my hate part of that equation but it turns out it is just too close (which was probably my problem all along apparently...)

I tried the 35 on the tammy, and it seems to be more of what I want so I'll probably just sell off the 50 and get searching!

You may look at Zeiss 35 too, if you don't need AF.

It was more a quality concern, I had read the 50L horror stories but decided to try it out... and luckily the copy I have seems to be spot on!
I was just seeing which lens people preferred for those situations as far as quality of the image. I guess it all comes down to personal preference anyways.

Perhaps get the 35L and the 50 1.4 as a compromise?

If you could, I'd recommend getting both and keeping them.

They are 2 very different lenses IMHO. Some might feel that the focal lengths are pretty similar but the look from a 50mm is definitely different from a 35mm which is more on the wide side.

Both lenses would work exceptionally well for the purposes you listed. However if you're gonna be doing portraits I feel that the 50mm would work better, especially for closeups. The 35mm would be good for journalistic shots where storytelling is needed, as well as environmental portraits.

I own the 35L, I've got the 50mm f1.4, I still have gas for the 50L but truth be told the f1.4 is really good enough.

I currently own and love both. 35L gives a slightly more crispy and contrasty look while 50L is more "gentle" (but just as sharp). It's hard to put it into words, but that's the best way I can describe the difference.

My problem is that I generally like the rendering from 50L more, but much prefer 35mm focal length. So, I go through phases when I use one of them more or less exclusively for a few months and then switch to the other. It's more of a problem than it may seem, because between the phases, in the transition period, I change preferences almost daily and if I happen to use the "wrong lens" I feel frustrated when shooting and get unhappy with the photos. Really a stupid problem, but I don't know what to do about it.

The old Zeiss 35/1.4 seems to render in a way I really like, but no AF... Not sure if I could live with that.

It sounds like you too are more of a 35mm person. In that case it's likely that 35L will suit you better. It really is an amazing lens, and if I had never tried 50L I would probably still be 100% happy with the 35mm.

Helena wrote in post #11576714
I currently own and love both. 35L gives a slightly more crispy and contrasty look while 50L is more "gentle" (but just as sharp). It's hard to put it into words, but that's the best way I can describe the difference.

My problem is that I generally like the rendering from 50L more, but much prefer 35mm focal length. So, I go through phases when I use one of them more or less exclusively for a few months and then switch to the other. It's more of a problem than it may seem, because between the phases, in the transition period, I change preferences almost daily and if I happen to use the "wrong lens" I feel frustrated when shooting and get unhappy with the photos. Really a stupid problem, but I don't know what to do about it.

The old Zeiss 35/1.4 seems to render in a way I really like, but no AF... Not sure if I could live with that.

It sounds like you too are more of a 35mm person. In that case it's likely that 35L will suit you better. It really is an amazing lens, and if I had never tried 50L I would probably still be 100% happy with the 35mm.

Yeah, I figure for the band promos a 35L would be much better though for individuals/couples I'm sure the 50 would be best.
Gah! I need to be rich

I'm thinking the 50L needs to go, to be replaced with the 35L and ill just use the Tammy (though its not nearly as nice!) For the closer shots until I can afford both the primes I desire.

I use my 50L much more than my 35L. Very versatile IMO.

35L + Sigma 50? Just a thought.

The 50L's bokeh blows away the 35L

In comparison the 35L seems like a crappy zoom lens

That said, the 35L blows away the 50L when it comes to sharpness

Filling the frame @ 35 my not be what you want, get both.

smorter wrote in post #11577319
The 50L's bokeh blows away the 35L

In comparison the 35L seems like a crappy zoom lens

That said, the 35L blows away the 50L when it comes to sharpness

Blows away? Crappy zoom lens? Really?

Jerk.photo wrote in post #11576403
its just simply not suited for what I need my 1300+ dollars to do! I had a love hate relationship with my 1.8, but did enjoy some of the photos I got so figured the 50L would fix my hate part of that equation but it turns out it is just too close (which was probably my problem all along apparently...)

I tried the 35 on the tammy, and it seems to be more of what I want so I'll probably just sell off the 50 and get searching!

I still don't understand what you don't like about your 50L.. you failed to specifically tells us what you don't like about it. Are you talking about AF accuracy???