I have enough from our tax return to order one of them...which do I want? They're both f1.8, the 35mm costs a little more and it's on back order (indefinitely it seems), the 50mm is about $60 cheaper and not on back order.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
If you're shooting APS-C, the 35mm is closer to a "normal" lens (close to what the human eye sees). If you have full-frame, or might get full-frame in future, 50mm is a "normal" lens and probably more versatile, as 35mm will give some distortion. Personally, I like 50mm on APS-C and 85mm on full-frame.
Both focal length are classic, and from your photos it seems you shoot both portrait and landscape. I assume you use APS-C size sensor, so that would make 35mm behave more like a 50mm on FullFrame, but a 50mm will behalve like a 75mm on FullFrame (short tele). So 35mm will be more flexible..just IMO.
Perhaps 35mm is more suitable for you at the moment.
I debated the same issue a few months back and wound up going with the 35mm. I do a lot of shooting indoors and because my house is sort of cramped I figured backing up to get a shot wouldn't always be an option. I went through some of my old photos here and checked the settings, discovering that most of my shots with my zoom lens were taken in the 25-40mm range. And I second @crappysailor 's comment that you shouldn't pay more than $200 for a 35mm. The day after I bought mine for that price I noticed it had magically jumped up $50 on Amazon. So if you do go with that keep an eye on the price until it drops to a reasonable number.
It depends on what you're shooting and what lenses you already have. IMO, if this will be your first fast prime the 35mm will be more versatile since it's really almost like shooting a 50mm on a crop camera. If you're doing a lot of indoor shooting the wider lens will be invaluable.
Think of it this way. You can always crop a wider shot a little tighter to get the composition you want, but you can't knock down walls or often move things to back up with a longer lens to get the framing you want.
Just my two cents. Both are great lenses to have and ideally you would have both in your bag, but I'd start with the 35 first.
I ordered the 35mm a few weeks ago at about $192 at Adorama with 5% cash back on ebates. I'd been watching it on Amazon for awhile and the price just kept going up! In fact when I looked at it the other day it was at $399.99 on Amazon and $260ish on Adorama. I figured since I shoot closer to 35mm and not 50mm the 35 was the way to go but with the indefinite wait time on the back order I was wondering if it was worth it!
reply @triptych_angel: I have a Nikon D-60 that obviously I need to keep becoming familiar with since I don't know if it's full frame or cropped.
reply @bobg: Since my 18-55 is having focusing issues I was looking at the 35mm to be more of an everyday lens :)
@jinximages ok I have been taking pictures for a long time, always film, now I am trying to get use to my canon dslr. I hate to be ignorant about this, but the term
(full-frame) does not click in my old mind. what is it, how do you know if it is full frame or not. It is more than likely a simple thing, but I just don't know thanks
@rrt full frame means camera that half a sensor the size of a 35mm film frame... not to be confussed with Large format... 8x10... which is more inline with your film mind...
a crop sensor is between 30 and 70% the size of a 35mm frame and has that effect on the size of the film...
like 50mm was normal on 35 or 80mm was normal on 120 or 300mm is normal on 8x10 30mm is normal on a cropped digital sensor.
@rrt and yes it is funny that digital shooters feel 35mm is 'full-frame'. I remember reading adams books and him saying 35mm is the cheap format that is ok, but real photos are 8x10 or 4x5... or at the very least 120... times change...
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http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-AF-S-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302166329&sr=8-1
Way too much for it. I paid $180 or so. If you can wait, you'll be able to get it cheaper.
Perhaps 35mm is more suitable for you at the moment.
Think of it this way. You can always crop a wider shot a little tighter to get the composition you want, but you can't knock down walls or often move things to back up with a longer lens to get the framing you want.
Just my two cents. Both are great lenses to have and ideally you would have both in your bag, but I'd start with the 35 first.
reply @triptych_angel: I have a Nikon D-60 that obviously I need to keep becoming familiar with since I don't know if it's full frame or cropped.
reply @bobg: Since my 18-55 is having focusing issues I was looking at the 35mm to be more of an everyday lens :)
(full-frame) does not click in my old mind. what is it, how do you know if it is full frame or not. It is more than likely a simple thing, but I just don't know thanks
a crop sensor is between 30 and 70% the size of a 35mm frame and has that effect on the size of the film...
like 50mm was normal on 35 or 80mm was normal on 120 or 300mm is normal on 8x10 30mm is normal on a cropped digital sensor.