Best PRIME Lens for CROP Sensor? 35mm 50mm vs 85mm [Compared]

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Comparing 35mm vs 50mm vs 85mm on crop sensor: Which prime lens is better for an APS-C sensor camera?

Let’s face it:

When you get your first DSLR with a kit lens, you soon realize that your standard kit is just not enough.

And if you’re at this point of your photography journey, then it’s likely you have one of the following questions:

- What is the best prime lens for crop sensor, especially for portrait photography?
- What is the difference between 35mm and 50mm lens?
- Which is better, 85mm or 50mm?
- Which is better, 35mm or 50mm (for portraits)?

That’s why I decided to compose this complete beginner’s guide on the differences between 85mm, 50mm and 35mm prime lenses.

Text-based review:

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Quick overview of 35mm vs 50mm vs 85mm
01:45 Why talk about crop sensor only?
02:11 Nifty-Fifty Full Frame vs Crop
02:55 50mm on full-frame DSLRs
03:19 50mm on crop (APS-C) sensor
04:27 50mm on crop = great portrait lens?
05:05 35mm Lens on Crop Sensor Body
06:38 85mm on Crop Sensor (Prime For Portraits)
08:40 Prime Lens vs. Zoom: Which Is Better?
09:39 35mm vs. 50mm vs. 85mm - Which to Choose?

#primelens #cameralenses #photographytips

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If you have any thoughts, questions, suggestions, let me know in the comments below! I LOVE to hear from you!

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The information contained on Digital World Beauty is intended for informational and educational purposes only.

[kaiateya]

I wish I'd seen your video before getting an RF50mm for my R100 (APS-C). It really is beautiful, though, I love using it as a "fast" lens with low light or IR filters, but it's kind of too zoomed for my tastes on random walking around usage. Bit of a shame, really, because it's by far one of the cheapest primes for R-series cameras right now. I'm looking into a 35mm f/1.8 lately.

[oliverherzog]

12mm for wide, 35mm as dayly, 56mm portrait, plus 16-50mm for wide fexibility and 50-200 mm for telephoto
5 lenses for everything

[christiancorvera]

This is the best and correct perspective when explaining focal lengths and misconceptions. Outstanding!

[peeyushgautam]

I think a 35mm would be a great blend between photo and video capabilities for my apsc body, it can handle very versatile range of genres like portraits, landscape, videos and all.

[HansKeesom]

I have a 100 euro 50 mm 1.8G dx on my 35 euro Nikon d70... Yep that is small and cheap. With a 52-58 adapter I can combine itit with canon WC(0.7) and TC (1.5) lenses to a 24.5mm and to a 52.5 lens with out loosing of course in reality that is actually more like 35 mm and 85 in ff terms. So I have 35-50-85 with me in a really small package. It is great when I want to go light weight and light strong.

[urbanrider]

Okay i will use 85mm for my crop sensor to shoot a portrait photography it will becime a 136mm.

[JimD]

A quick upfront disclaimer. I am an ameteur photographer. I don't make a living taking photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed your video and I gave you a thumbs up. However, there is one little fact you left out; and that is the cost of an 85mm lens. I shoot with a crop sensor camera. I own a 35mm lens and a 50mm lens. I use the 35mm lens for family gatherings, and the 50mm lens for shooting events. I paid $75.00 for my used 35mm lens, and $120.00 for my used 50mm lens. A used 85mm lens will cost more than both the 50mm and 35mm lenses together. You can find them at used camera sites like KEH or MPB ranging from $280.00 to $350.00. Anyone who can dole out $300.00 dollars for a lens can afford a full frame camera. Besides, I have never had any problem shooting with my 50mm lens. Now having said all that, yes an 85mm lens is an amazing lens. One day when I can afford it, I plan to add an 85mm to my lens collection. Also I plan to upgrade to a full frame camera somewhere down the road.

[Linteria]

This was really well done, except for one major flaw: most of the visual examples were full-frame while speaking on cropped perspectives. I appreciated the compilation of popular youtubers at first, until i realized none of it matched what was being said.

[qsdpybx]

Dude this was amazingly put together. An AMAZING video. How the hell does it have this few views, in comparison to what it deserves. Thank you! Cleared up a lot of stuff for me

[Narsuitus]

The first prime lens I purchased for my APS-C crop sensor camera was a 23mm f/1.4.

The second prime lens I purchased for my APS-C crop sensor camera was a 56mm f/1.2.

The third prime lens I purchased for my APS-C crop sensor camera was a 16mm f/1.4.

If forced to choose between a 35, 50, and 85mm as my first lens for my APS-C crop sensor camera, I would choose the 35mm.

[rjakiel]

Meike EF-M 28mm/2.8 on a Canon EOS M line camera givea you 45mm effective which is pretty damned close to that 43mm sweetspot for a whopping $80 with some awesome image quality.

[bensonchisenga]

So what's your conclusion, , , do you advise 35mm or 85mm on crop sensor for a person like me who just want to upgrade as my first professional lens

[princehollis]

For the best quality pictures, should I get the 85mm on my APS-C camera? Or am I supposed to get a 50mm lens, since it would be the equivalent to a full-frame 85mm?

[frankiebonales]

Best comparison video among the three lenses I've seen in YouTube. The only one that gave a definite answer.

[princehollis]

For the best quality pictures, should I get the 85mm on my APS-C camera? Or am I supposed to get a 50mm lens, since it would be the equivalent to a full-frame 85mm?

[brianchore]

Thanks 35mm will suit me well for birthday & travel photography

[ShawnBlyth]

Any thoughts for best lens length for landscape? I assume the 35mm would be great for getting more in the frame, but would an 85 work well at all for trying to pull distant features forward (like a mountain) with some compression? Newer to photography so just trying to learn!

[okaro]

1:13 Just the opposite. 50 mm on crop equals 75 mm on full frame or actually 80 mm as you are showing Canon lenses.

[nicolemorenaud]

Try a 40mm on a Canon crop camera, (64mm FOV). Very nice.

[robestey]

Loved your video - the explanations were excellent. Thank you