I have been shooting with the basic kit lens on my Nikon D5600 for almost a year now and I am finally ready to actually spend some money on a decent prime lens. I have a trip to Chicago coming up in three weeks and I really want to capture some nice street photography but also some sharp portraits of my girlfriend while we are out there. My budget is pretty tight, trying to stay under $200 if possible, so I have been looking at the used market mostly.
Right now I am totally torn between the AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G and the 50mm f/1.8G. I know the 35mm is supposed to be more versatile for everyday stuff since it is a crop sensor body but then I see the shots from the 50mm and that bokeh just looks so much better for people. I keep going back and forth because I dont want to be constantly backing up into traffic just to fit a building in the frame with the 50mm but I also dont want the 35mm to make faces look weird if I get too close. Is there one that stands out as the better all-rounder for a city trip or am I overthinking the difference between them?
Honestly, I had pretty high hopes for using a 50mm for travel, but unfortunately, it was a major letdown once I actually got into a dense city environment. On your D5600 sensor, that lens behaves more like a telephoto, which makes street photography feel cramped and frustrating. I had issues with framing basic architecture because you just cant back up far enough without hitting a wall or a car.
- Focal Length: The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G is too tight for narrow Chicago sidewalks.
- Versatility: I found the 35mm is not as good as expected for extreme bokeh, but it handles the storytelling aspect of travel way better.
- Usability: You wont have to constantly swap lenses or miss the shot because your field of view is too narrow. Go with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It is more of a true normal lens for your setup. It is better to have a slightly wider shot you can crop later than a shot that is too tight to use... trust me on that one.
> Is there one that stands out as the better all-rounder for a city trip Stumbled upon this yesterday. @Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, I've been very happy with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G for years. Technical tip: check the DXOMark website to see its sharpness scores on the D5600; it punches way above its price. Also, look at MPB or KEH for used gear. They're super reliable and you'll definitely find a clean copy for well under your $200 budget.
^ This. Also, jumping in here because Ive spent way too much time wandering cities with a crop sensor. Rudolf is right about the 50mm being tight, and Joseph is spot on with the 35mm being a workhorse, but there is a middle ground I used for a trip to Philly that was actually perfect for reliability. I ended up grabbing a used Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G and it really surprised me. It might seem weird using a macro lens for street stuff, but it works better than you think:
- Focus is tack sharp every single time, which is huge when you only get one shot.
- 40mm is that sweet spot between the 35 and 50... tight enough for portraits but wide enough for most street scenes.
- You can get those crazy close-up shots of city details that regular lenses cant hit. Another solid choice is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art. Its a bit heavier but that f/1.4 aperture is a life saver for night shots in the city. Honestly, if you value gear that feels solid and wont break if it taps a railing, that Sigma is a tank. Just keep an eye on used prices because it fluctuates right around your $200 mark. Both are way more reliable than hunting for the perfect spot to stand with a 50mm when traffic is zooming by.
Been thinking about your dilemma for a few hours and honestly, you're overthinking the Nikon-only options. Like someone mentioned, that 35mm perspective is the standard for a reason, but in my experience, the real secret is checking out the third-party brands. I've tried many setups over the years and honestly, you should just go with Sigma. Any of their primes meant for crop sensors are gonna be stellar. Their glass is super consistent and the technical performance usually beats the entry-level Nikon stuff in terms of corner sharpness and handling CA... it is just better value. A few reasons why:
- Better build quality than the plastic kit stuff
- Usually sharper wide open
- Way better value on the used market Just find a used Sigma prime for Nikon mount and dont look back. Tamron is another solid bet, basically any of their newer stuff will do the trick too. TL;DR: Nikon glass is fine, but Sigma is the play for tight budgets. Just grab any Sigma prime for APS-C and you'll get way better value for your money.
This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖
