23mm F2 vs 35mm F2

Well now it's clearer I'll buy the 23mm f2. Thx again

pictograph 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.

You write that you opted for portrait.

so, I‘d recommend the 2/23 : fast, WR, sharp and lightweight, inexpensive at the same time.

In the days of film photography (which was FF) I had for a long time nothing but the 2/35 and the 2/90 mm FF. Which corrresponds with 23 and (nearly) 50 mm in APSC. Enough for 95% of shots and a really perfect pair of lenses.

the 18-55 is a very good zoom and - if bought second hand- costs near to nothing.

this zoom might be useful if you have not the time to change lenses.

Since your budget is small, forget all the f=1.4 lenses. Too expensive, too heavy and obstrusive, f=2 is enough, even for bokeh. In my personal opinion, 1.4 lenses are far too overrated.

As a student you have always your camera and 1-3 lenses with you - so forget the heavy and bulky 1.4 lenses. It is all about your talent and a reliable little, but sufficient and lightweight gear. Little lenses will provoke less fear or opposition of people if you primarily do portrait photography.

Cheers

Thanks a lot, ur advice not only helps me but also motivates me.
Although the comments about the 23mm f1.4 are made with good intentions, they demotivated me a bit for not having enough money to buy it. And made the 23mm F2 looks like a bad purchase.

The minimum focus distance softness of the 23mm f2 really drives me nuts. It's such a great lens otherwise - super versatile, sharp, lightweight, great AF. But that IQ at minimum focus is just awful. And really you have to stop down to f5.6 for it to really be clean and sharp and that is just really disappointing.

What is even more frustrating is that this issue is apparently remedied on the version that comes fixed on the X100V.

Of course, the 35 f2, another otherwise brilliant lens, suffers from this as well, though f4 will get you good results there.

Fortunately, this isn't an issue with the 50 f2.

Otherwise, I agree with the others that the 23 or the 27 would be a great pairing with the 50f2.

Cagey75 wrote:

mbeaumont wrote:

The minimum focus distance softness of the 23mm f2 really drives me nuts. It's such a great lens otherwise - super versatile, sharp, lightweight, great AF. But that IQ at minimum focus is just awful. And really you have to stop down to f5.6 for it to really be clean and sharp and that is just really disappointing.

What is even more frustrating is that this issue is apparently remedied on the version that comes fixed on the X100V.

Of course, the 35 f2, another otherwise brilliant lens, suffers from this as well, though f4 will get you good results there.

Fortunately, this isn't an issue with the 50 f2.

Otherwise, I agree with the others that the 23 or the 27 would be a great pairing with the 50f2.

I've taken some close ups at F2 with the 35 [I own the cheaper XC version but have owned the XF and find both optically identical] , it's nowhere near as bad for this purpose as the 23mm. Of course it is better stopped down, I find it decent at 2.8, but F2 is doable. It's certainly good enough at F2 steppped back a bit

Yeah agreed, the 35 f2 is not nearly as bad. That photo above looks great!