23mm F2 vs 35mm F2

Chaidez wrote:

Chaidez wrote:

Hi and thanks for helping me.

I already have the 50mm f2 Fujinon. I am a photography student and I opted for the portrait, wich should I buy between 23mm f2 or 35mm f2, considering that I can only afford one.

Thank for the answers. Now it is clear to me not to go for the 35mm but now I doubt whether to take the 23mm f2 or the 27mm f2.8. Any suggestions?

I've owned both, along with the 23mm f1.4. It depends what you value. Key differences for me:

23mm f2: Well built, quiet and fast focussing, sharp and contrasty when stopped down, though not as sharp as the 35mm or even close to the 50mm. It's also very soft at f2 at minimum focus distance. I kept it for about a year then sold it.

27mm f2.8: Surprisingly sharp and also very small and light – makes you feel like you have an X100 series. Noisy focus motor and AF can hunt a bit in low light. I had the original but sold it because I wanted an aperture ring. I have now re-bought the WR version which fixes some of the issues I had with the original (the aperture ring and WR). It's still got that noisy AF motor though. I'm evaluating whether to keep it, but it does make for a really small kit when paired with my 50mm f2.

23mm f1.4: Fast aperture that gives a noticeable different look compared to the other two and is better suited to low light. It's not that much heavier than the f2 but bulkier. The clutch focus system is great for MF. It's just as sharp, if not more, than the other two stopped down. It's got some optical 'issues' at F1.4 such as longitudinal chromatic aberration, but really lovely fall off and bokeh. It's not WR and the focus motor isn't silent like the 23mm f2 but not as noisey at the 27mm.

Might be worth looking at the Viltrox 23mm f1.4, I've not used it though.

It it were me I'd go for the 18mm f1.4. If I were to just keep two of my lenses I think it and the 50mm f2 would be at the top of my list.