AF-S 35/1.4G or AF-S 24/1.4G?

[stenrasmussen]

My dealer has these two (used) at basically half price of new.
I might jump on one of them but before I do, what are your pros and cons?
(Yeah, yeah, I used to own them both but that was before I was GAS'ed).

[Fons Baerken]

get them both

[aerobat]

Yes get them both - always happy to help spend...

[pluton]

Both good, both cheap, buy both.  The word 'both' suddenly looks strange to me.

[David H. Hartman]

If you can't afford both then I'd get the AF-S 24/1.4G ED. This is my 55~60mm Micro, 105mm then 24mm way of building a system. If you have something in the 50~60mm and a 24~20mm then you might plug the hole with a 35/1.4.

Just my thinking. It's about the usefulness of focal lengths to me.

Dave Hartman

I guess it was a year ago now that I bought an AF-S 20/1.8G ED with a $100.00 instant rebate. I can crop back to a 24mm angle of view on a D800 without much pain. I also bought an AF-S 105/2.8G ED VR Micro for general use and close-up but not macro and finally an AF-S 50/1.8G for a normal as funds ran out.

[John Geerts]

Likewise.

[David H. Hartman]

Due to timing I believe that...

Likewise = "Both good, both cheap, buy both.  The word 'both' suddenly looks strange to me."

I'll be (+2) plus two even though I'm not allowed to touch the two lenses in the plastic as I have no local camera shop.

Dave Hartman

Both looks fine to me.

[John Geerts]

Oh, you edited your message Dave.   I would prefer the 24/1.4G because it's wider focal length gives more possibilities. 

[Erik Lund]

35mm AFS 1.4 is very close in performance look and feel to 58mm AFS 1.4 - Wonderfull and it can be stopped down a lot without loosing crispness,,,
24mm AFS 1.4 is just an all round fantastic performer,,,

[Nick Scavone]

I have both and they are great performers. However, I  find that I seldom use the 35 because it's just not wide enough. Photos with the 24 wide open or a stop down (e.g. Portraits) are really stunning.

Cheers,

Nick

[pluton]

However, I  find that I seldom use the 35 because it's just not wide enough.

I think that we have passed through the time that the 35mm focal length on 24x36 was seriously considered to be "wide".  Even the camera in an iPhone has a wider field of view.

[Frank Fremerey]

Get them both, try them extensively and possibly sell the one you might not like later for the price you have paid for it or more.

No brainer.

I did test them both (plus the 14-24G and the 24-70G) and then decided for the 1.4/24G. Why?

Because

-- geometry is nearly flawless so I get a great feel of what the picture will look like after processing,,, before shooting
-- at 1.4 I can separate a single person in a crowd
-- the lens features very smooth transitons from sharp to unsharp parts (what it means see below, this is taken @f=1.4!!!)
-- The 14-24 has no filter option (except for Lee filters) and no protection of the front lens against sea water and sand
-- The 24-70 is a superb high contrast lens but I do not like the rendering style at all
-- the 1.4/35G features much more geometrical distortion, so in nature it is good in cities only after geometrical correction

[Jan Anne]

The 35/1.4G is a must have lens IMHO, don't let the paper test fool you btw, the 35 is designed with some old skool character (like the 58G) where the 24 is more designed like a modern lens with high contrast, sharpness, etc. That said, the 24 is also a very nice and useful lens if that focal range is your preferred choice

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The AFS 35/1.4 G is a "pictorial" lens. It might not measure as well as others in a clinical lab, but use it for its intended purpose and it'll deliver fantastic results. In particular the smoothness of the transitions from focused plane into the background is superb. It also handles strong light sources with aplomb.

[JohnBrew]

When the 35 came out I rented it. I was impressed with the clarity, front and rear bokeh when shot wide open and I felt the lens had a lot of character. Strange that back then I thought the 35 focal length didn't really fit in for my shooting. Today I'm coming back to it as an option to stitching with my 50mm lenses.