How about the 35mm Focal Length?

 

Recently, I took my 35mm f/1.8 lens and left it on the camera for longer than ever before. I thought I should share my experiences. To start with, I am a travel photographer only. I do no professional work like weddings or portraits. If I did, the 35mm would certainly not be my first choice. It is simply too limiting and also a bit on the boring side. For weddings or events, my choice would be the 24-70 f/2.8 which offers 35mm f/2.8, and with good quality. For portraits, a longer lens would be my way, like the 85mm f/1.8.

The 35mm angle of view, however, is versatile enough to be useful for anything. Subjects will fill the frame without having to get uncomfortably close to them, as it is the case with a wider lens. Distortion is also not that blatant. And you still see enough of the background to give context. 

A scene with some layers in it like the one above will work very well, and the composition is easier than it would be with a wider lens. Thus, this focal lens is good for the street. Some prefer the 50mm, because it is more concentrated on a single subject. But that does not work always. I have written about my experiences with the 85mm on the street. It is really a different approach.

In any case, my feeling is that you need layers for the 35mm to work, even just two, a subject and a background. Sub-framing will also work well, because it provides a foreground to look through. Rarely does a scene with a single layer work. Exceptions might be a facade which is interesting enough to fill the frame.

The best use of this lens on the street is definitely in photos where there is a lot to discover. It is not good for minimalistic art. Because it does not compress like a tele or even the 50mm, it will give a sense of three-dimensionality immediately. 

At night, a wider aperture will be welcome. The 35mm will not allow smooth backgrounds unless you are very close to your subjects. But the background will be blurry enough to allow a separation of the main subject. You need a good version of this focal length. I prefer the Nikon Z f/1.8 lenses because the out-of-focus areas look smooth and do not intrude with "character".

Is it a boring lens? Well, it is neither wide enough to show a grand view of a scene, nor narrow enough to pick out details. It is in-between. It is also a common focal length. It is not extra-ordinary. Some shoot with such a restriction and nothing else all life long. In view of those masters, I hold back with calling it boring. 

What are the alternatives?

• There is the 28mm f/2.8 and 40mm f/2 lenses for Nikon Z, and several third-party lens of Chinese origin. While these are usually surprisingly sharp, I prefer quality as long as I can afford it. The Nikon S-line lenses simply have outstanding flare resistance and little chromatic aberration, something that is very important for wider lenses. Those alternatives are lighter and smaller, on the other side.
• The 50mm feels more like a telephoto lens than a general lens for me. We all know how good the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 is. But I feel restricted when it is the only lens I have with me. And you cannot crop from 50mm to 35mm.
• The 14-30 f/4 is a ultra-wide lens which needs a completely different approach. I think you cannot use it for quick shots on the street. You will always have to carefully compose the image, at least at the wider end. And it does not provide f/1.8 which is restricting. The f/2.8 ultra-wide zooms are monsters that I do not want to carry around.
• The 24-70 f/4 S-line lens is my best alternative, being about the same size but heavier than the 35mm f/1.8. Obviously, it is more versatile and I use it for travelling, hiking and biking. There are cases where the 35mm f/1.8 prime lens should be preferred, however. If you really want the wider angle but also isolate your subject, f/1.8 is most welcome. In low light, you will occasionally be glad you have a faster lens too.

In summary, I think that the 35mm is a good walk-around focal length, if you want or need a fast prime. It is excellent on the streets, and I would argue that it allows easier shots than the 50mm with which you often have to back off. It will also easier tell stories about the surroundings of your subject. If you really need a fast prime to shoot at 35mm or can get away with a zoom, only you can tell.