DFA 50 or DA35?

If you had a good quiver of zoom lenses, and wanted to add just one good prime macro, of short focal length (35 - 50mm), which one of these two would you choose and why? DFA 50mm f2.8 or DA35mm f2.8.

Regards

The 35mm because it's a great length for use as a walkaround prime.

35mm is a standatd lens for APS-c format, wheras 50mm is a short telephoto.

They are not interchangeable as alternatives without thinking about the sort of photography we want to do. If you like portraits, the 50mm. If you want a more general purpose lens, the 35mm.

The DA35 strikes me as a good general purpose lens with added macro. I have the cheaper f2.4 version and love it, but the idea of shooting extreme close ups definitely appeals. I have tried the 35 macro in a shop, and was impressed by the build and even the focus speed was reasonable for a macro.

Since getting my DA35 I've used my DFA50 a lot less. It's a shame because it's a lovely lens. In fact of the two I'd say the 50 is definitely slightly sharper, wide open at least.

What sort of macro are you going to do with it? If it's for general close ups of stuff you see while out and about, then the DA35 would definitely be the better option. If it's for more traditional macro subjects (flowers etc.) 1:1 then the DFA50 or possibly something longer than that.

I've just noticed that you already have an A 50mm f1.7. That, in my opinion, weights the question slightly more towards the DA35: one of the plus points of the DFA50 is its utility for portraits as well as macro (it might 'only' be f2.8 but its bokeh is delicious). Since you already have a faster 50, you won't get that secondary benefit.

Thanks all for the advice. I'm leaning towards the 35 now.

Regards

As general walkabout prime options I have the M50f1.7 and the K35f3.5 The 35 wins it hands down, it is just such a versatile focal length.

Interesting. I haven't found the 35mm f2.8 macro particularly useful as a walkabout lens. It's quite a large, heaving beastie and it can be quite tricky to obtain an autofocus lock with it, particularly since, being a macro, the lens has a long focus throw. For walkabout, I'm finding the 40mm f2.8 much easier, being lighter, smaller and fast to focus. In fact I'm thinking of trading in my 35mm macro in favour of a 50mm macro as I find a longer focal length more useful for macro shots. Using a macro lens as a general-purpose lens is a bit of a compromise, I suspect, and it doesn't always work. Another superb walkabout lens is the 21mm f3.2, imho, if that focal length fits your style of shooting.

Large and heavy?! It's a similar size to an M 50mm f1.7! I was surprised how quickly it locked onto focus in a fairly dark London Camera Exchange, both on shop displays and passers by outside. But I only had it 5 minutes.