35mm Lens Vs. 28mm Lens: Which Should You Choose?

Purchasing the proper lens is complex, especially given the many options available today. In addition, they are not inexpensive; a poor buy will surely drain your finances.

35mm Lens Vs. 28mm Lens worse still is picking between two excellent lenses, such as the 35mm vs. 28mm Lens. In today’s essay, I will examine these wide-angle lenses in greater depth to assist you in selecting the finest one.

Video: 50mm vs 35mm vs 28mm – Best Street Photography Lens

35MM VS. 28MM LENS

Although they share a nearly identical focal length and are both wide-angle lenses, they are distinct in several respects. However, both lenses are capable, and the choice between them depends on the style of photography and the photographer’s taste for standard lenses.

35mm Lens Vs. 28mm Lens

I can only choose between them if you provide a brand name and aperture. Typically, well-known manufacturers such as Sony, Nikon, and Canon provide superior lenses of this sort compared to third-party competitors.

A premium 28mm prime lens from Sony is superior to an inexpensive 28mm lens from a third-party manufacturer such as Sigma. However, let’s overlook that for now and concentrate on focal lengths.

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BOTH LENSES

If you are in the market for your first camera lens, you may be curious about the distinction between 28-mm and 35-mm lenses. Of course, each lens has advantages and disadvantages, but which one is ideal for you?

THE BENEFITS OF THE 35MM

Assume you are an amateur photographer who needs a prime lens. The 35mm focal length suits photographers who need an everyday lens for walking around and photographing objects.

It has a natural appearance with minimal to no distortion. It works particularly well for subjects in the middle of the frame. This is because the edges of a wide-angle lens are not as crisp as the center. The most popular apertures for this lens type are f/2 or f/1.4, which are excellent in low light in the kit lenses.

THE DRAWBACKS OF THE 35MM

Everything, or every device, possesses both strengths and flaws. The same applies to lenses. As noted, the 35mm f2 corners are not as crisp as the center.

This leads us to conclude that, although being a wide-angle lens, there are better lenses than this one for landscapes or wide shots. Due to the greater focal length, you can still take fantastic landscape photographs, but you will be restricted. It is too narrow for broad photos and too wide for everything else in 35mm lens.

Aside from that, I can only think of something else that would be a problem, but you should be aware that you will be confined to a particular sort of photography and can alternatively choose a zoom lens.

THE BENEFITS OF THE 28MM

The 28mm focal length strikes a good balance between the subject and the background. It lacks the versatility of the 35mm format but excels in other areas.

Because it is more comprehensive than its counterpart, it provides a more excellent focal point for the scene. This lens is also highly compact and lightweight, making it easy to store and transport. Except for the extra 7-focal range, it is remarkably comparable to the 35mm lens.

THE DRAWBACKS OF THE 28MM

Again, it has the same disadvantages as its counterpart. In this case, the wider angle will improve landscape photography, but it will not assist other sorts of travel photography.

People will also find it annoying as the 28mm is so tiny that you must always be near the target. As a photojournalist, you should avoid getting too close to your subject, like in street photos.

COMPARING BOTH LENSES ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Let me be clear: these lenses are only appropriate for portrait photography. The optimal focal length for a portrait lens is 50mm, with a minimum of 50mm and a maximum of 135mm.

That doesn’t imply you can’t capture photos with other focal lengths, but these are the most perfect. Assuming you snap several portraits with your 28mm wide-angle lens, the subjects will appear broader, resulting in distortion, which people despise.

If you are forced to choose between a 28mm and a 35mm lens for portraiture, I recommend the 35mm. Although it will not be as crisp as an 85mm lens, it can still produce superb headshots from the street photographer.

Some expert photographers have worked out how to use wide-angle lenses for portraits, indicating that even a 35mm lens can produce excellent portraits.

LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Landscape photography demands the use of a wide-angle lens. Even though the focal ranges of 28mm and 35mm are minimal, they still need to be lowered slightly. For instance, a 14mm–18mm one is significantly superior.

You may have already worked it out. The 28mm lens is the better of the two lenses described above for landscape photography. In addition to the shorter focal length, this lens also imparts a unique character to the images, making it a fantastic choice for landscape photography.

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Ultimately, this is the section where both lenses excel. Both lenses above do particularly well for photographing food, jewelry, or other small objects.

Remember how I stated previously that you shouldn’t stay within your subject? I have lied. When photographing products, you should undoubtedly approach as close as feasible.

Both lenses will perform adequately; selecting one over the other will mostly rely on your preferences and the subject you are capturing. Still, you should avoid getting too near and personal with your subject, especially in journalism.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Mastering street photography takes a lot of work that street photographer is doing. Sometimes you’ll want to get closer to your subject, while other times, you’ll want to avoid bringing attention to yourself. So again, it depends mainly on your choices.

On average, the human eye has a focus range of 50mm; however, each eye is unique. Thus some people can see with a 35mm focal length, while others can see with a 40mm focal length, and so on. Therefore, 28mm and 35mm focal lengths are adequate for street photography.

To capture a natural emotion, it is often necessary to be far away from the subject and take the photo without being seen.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 28-MM AND 35-MM LENS

Several fundamental qualities of lenses might help you determine which is best for you. Here are the primary distinctions between 28-mm and 35-mm lenses:

• Aperture: The aperture is the opening through which light goes through the lens. The aperture size impacts the amount of light that enters the camera and the depth of field. A larger aperture (smaller f-number) produces a shallow depth of field, whereas a smaller aperture (larger f-number) produces a deeper depth of field.
• Field of view: The lens’s focal length determines the field of view, which indicates how much of a scene will be caught. A 28-mm lens has a broader field of view than a 35-mm lens, which can catch more of the scene in front of you.
• Les lenses with a lower focal length are typically more compact and lighter than ones with a longer focal length. This makes 28-mm lenses more portable than 35-mm lenses, which might be advantageous for trekking or vacation.

A LENS’S FOCAL LENGTH DETERMINES ITS CHARACTERISTICS

When a subject is in focus, the focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens and the sensor. This distance influences the image’s field of vision and magnification. A shorter focal length will yield a larger field of view, whereas a longer focal length will result in a narrower field but greater magnification.

Typically, 28-mm lenses are used for landscape photography because they allow you to capture a large region within the frame. They are also helpful for street photography because they allow you to get near your subjects without invading their privacy for wide-angle lenses. 

Lenses with a focal length of 35 millimeters are frequently employed for portraiture because they create a natural perspective that flatters the person. They can also be used for event photography because they can capture wide and close-up photos.

FIELD OF VIEW ON A LENS

The depth of field is the area of a scene that looks in sharp focus. It is determined by aperture, focal length, and subject distance. A larger aperture (smaller f-number) produces a shallow depth of field, whereas a smaller aperture (larger f-number) produces a deeper depth of field.

For instance, if you’re using a 28-mm lens with an aperture of f/16 and focusing on a subject 1.5 meters distant, anything between 1.2 and 1.8 meters would seem in focus. However, if the same lens is used, but the aperture is changed to f/11, then objects between 0.91 and 2.11 meters will be in focus.

The depth of field of 35-mm lenses is shallower than that of 28-mm f28 lenses. This can be useful if you wish to separate your subject from the background and highlight them. A wider aperture can also be advantageous while photographing in low light, as it allows more light to reach the sensor.

The 35 mm lens captures less of the scene than the 28 mm lens, resulting in a smaller field of vision. This is because of its longer focal length, which provides greater magnification. This demonstrates that the 35 mm lens is superior for portraits and the 28 mm lens for landscape or street photography.

FINAL WORDS

Again, I need help identifying the best lens. I would be hypocritical if I selected one over the other because each lens has its own set of uses, pros, and downsides.

If you can buy both lenses, they are a great addition to your collection and will be utilized eventually. That is all. This article gave you general information and helped you decide which to buy.

FAQs

Is 35mm superior to 28mm?

If you are forced to choose between a 28mm and a 35mm lens for portraiture, I recommend the 35mm. Although it will not be as crisp as an 85mm lens, it can still produce superb headshots in sensor size.

Is there a significant distinction between 28mm and 35mm lenses?

A 35mm focal length allows you to focus more intently on the meal and more closely resembles the human eye than a 28mm lens. The photographs above and below were taken during the food photography seminars I organized.

Why is a 28mm helpful lens?

Use a 28mm lens to tell a subject’s story and environment. If you get close, they are lovely for street photography. They are excellent lenses for everyday photography. You will obtain a greater field depth than a 35mm lens.

Originally posted on April 10, 2023 @ 8:18 pm