Why I’m Thinking of Trading in my 35mm Lens for a 24mm.

I have always recommended a 35mm lens over a 50. Despite the common advice to start with a 50 mm lens, I have always found the 35 to be a superior focal length.

And yet… lately I’ve felt less enthused about my 35. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I still recommend it for beginners. It’s a strong choice.

The thing is, as I grow as a photographer, I find myself wanting a lens with more character.

Earlier this year I shot a wedding. I shot most of the reception on my a7iii with my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. But occasionally I would pick up my a7c with the 20mm f/1.8 G.

I had way more fun shooting with the 20mm. The shots are just far more interesting.

That said, you probably shouldn’t shoot a wedding with a 20mm lens. 20mm is the beginning of ultra wide, so there’s a bit of distortion. I only used it for atmosphere shots.

It did get me thinking though. I want my images to stand out. The portraits that I’ve taken with my 20mm are vastly superior to the ones I take with my Sigma 35mm f/2. Granted, some shots are ruined by the distortion. But other shots stand out because they were shot with intent.

Shot with a7iii and 20mm f/1.8 G lens.

The 20mm is a bit further than I want to go for continuous shooting. I think the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master lens is my path forward. The distortion doesn’t seem to be as pronounced as the 20, but it should be much closer to the look that I want.

Additionally, the image quality of the G Master line is top notch and I’ve wanted one for a while.

So that’s it. After years of celebrating the 35mm focal length, I think I’m moving on.