FAST 35MM LENSES

Fast 35mm prime lenses are outstandingly versatile for many shooting scenarios. Here are four of the best models on the market

WHEN SHOOTING WITH

FULL-FRAME CAMERAS, 35MM

LENSES ARE POPULAR WITH ALL SORTS OF PHOTOGRAPHERS, COVERING EVERYTHING

FROM NEWS AND REPORTAGE, WEDDINGS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITURE, TO LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY. THE CLASSIC FOCAL LENGTH GIVES A NATURAL PERSPECTIVE WITH A MORE GENEROUS VIEWING ANGLE THAN A ‘STANDARD’ 50MM LENS, WHICH CAN FEEL RELATIVELY RESTRICTIVE. THAT’S WHY 35MM IS GENERALLY THE PREFERRED FOCAL LENGTH FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO NEED TO REACT QUICKLY TO SCENES THAT ARE UNFOLDING BEFORE THEIR EYES, OFTEN SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.

THERE’S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR 35MM F/1.8 OR F/2 PRIME LENSES. THEY’RE COMPARATIVELY COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT AND ARE OFTEN QUITE

INEXPENSIVE TO BUY.

HOWEVER, THE SERIOUS MONEY IS USUALLY ON 35MM F/1.4 LENSES. THESE TEND TO BE MORE ROBUST, WITH TOP-FLIGHT BUILD QUALITY, CATERING TO THE MOST DEMANDING ENTHUSIAST AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS. THE EXTRA TWO-THIRDS OF AN F-STOP IN APERTURE WIDTH NATURALLY ENABLES FASTER SHUTTER SPEEDS UNDER DULL OR INDOOR LIGHTING CONDITIONS, SO YOU CAN CARRY ON SHOOTING HANDHELD WITHOUT NEEDING TO BUMP UP YOUR CAMERA’S ISO SETTING SO MUCH.

THE EXTRA APERTURE WIDTH ALSO ENABLES A TIGHTER DEPTH OF FIELD. WE OFTEN REACH

FOR 85MM LENSES WHEN WE’RE AFTER

BEAUTIFUL BOKEH (THE PICTORIAL QUALITY OF DEFOCUSED AREAS

IN A SCENE), BUT A 35MM F/1.4

LENS IS ABLE TO DELIVER QUITE A TIGHT DEPTH OF FIELD WHEN SHOOTING CLOSE-UPS, SO YOU

CAN EFFECTIVELY ISOLATE A SUBJECT AGAINST A BLURRED BACKGROUND. BEING ABLE TO GET IN COMPARATIVELY CLOSE, THANKS TO THE MODERATELY WIDE VIEWING ANGLE, CAN ALSO BE A BONUS WHEN YOU WANT TO EXAGGERATE THE SCENE’S PERSPECTIVE.

WE’VE PICKED THE TOP FOUR CONTENDERS FOR CANON AND NIKON SLRS, ALTHOUGH THE SIGMA LENS ON TEST IS AVAILABLE IN A WIDER RANGE OF MOUNT OPTIONS. HERE’S HOW THEY COMPARE.