Should I trade my 50mm for a 35mm?

H

harmonica44

I have a 50mm prime, but my collaborators tell me that it makes the background too close, and their is not enough distance between the background and the actors. I was told by one cameraman that I should get a 35mm?

Do you think if I were to just have one it should be the 35?

Sorry I just realized this belong more in the lenses forum.
 
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50mm seems to generally be the focal length that most manufacturers sell a very fast lens for a reasonable price.

Your probably running the canon EF 50mm 1.8 ($90 or so) You never find a 24mm f1.8 for that price!
 
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Okay thanks. I have a 50mm 1.4 which cost $350. I was also going to get a 24mm 1.4 later on. If I have both of those, do I still need a 35? They say that the 50mm is not doing good cause the background objects are too close.
 
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On a crop sensor or super35 a 50mm would be considered a portrait lens, 35mm would be a 'normal' lens and 24mm would be a gentle wide angle. As you go wider the faster lenses can get expensive, but the Rokinon 24mm T/1.5 cine lens is relatively affordable at ~$700. Personally that would be my one lens for a crop sensor if I could only choose one and was on a budget.
 
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Well I just tried a 35mm and there is too much distortion for what I want. I want a lens that can do shots like this without distortion or at least very little. The close up eye shot at 6:31 into the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6x401CGAl8

Even a 50mm still seems to have a little distortion on a shot that close. But I also wanted this lens to double for medium close up shots, only my collaborators tell me the background is too close for those shots in the 50mm.
 
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If the background is too close: take a step back ;)

Really wide lenses will make the nooses of your actors big...

There is always something...

With more lenses you are more versatile...
 
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Having a range of lenses is going to be your solution... 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, 200mm, 250mm

Start with the 24mm, 50mm, 135mm (normal, closeup, telephoto)... fill in from there as you can afford to do.
 
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