23mm vs 35mm - can only pick one, should I pull the trigger or stick to 18-55 before I'm sure?

Started 10 months ago | Discussions thread
Och Elo Regular Member • Posts: 318
Re: 23mm vs 35mm - can only pick one, should I pull the trigger or stick to 18-55 before I'm sure?
4

Generally speaking, whenever someone wants to add 1 prime to a zoom lens they already have and are undecided about which, I recommend the longer focal length if it's a variable aperture zoom like the 18-55.

Simple reason being the prime is faster, so you want to complement the zoom where that focal length will give you the most difference in aperture. That will give you more overall versatility.

For example, unless someone had some absolute need for it, I wouldn't really recommend the 18mm f2 to pair with the 18-55. Reason being the 18mm is at f/2.8. So you only gain a stop of light, which doesn't open up that many newer creative latitude. Not to mention for static subjects the 18-55's OIS would probably be superior unless your body has IBIS.

So I'd go 35mm just for that reason.

Another bonus is that I personally find (and most agree as far as I can tell) that the 35mm f2 is slightly superior optically to the 23mm f2. I'm assuming you are shopping the Fujicron lenses, but my bad if you are not.

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