Nikon 35mm f/.8 or 50mm f/1.8?

Ah I've asked this question several times, but I haven't really gotten answers that help. So please help. I like taking pictures of people, like portraits, but I won't go closer than shoulders. I'll most likely be taking half body shots, and full body shots. Also occasionally close up. I've heard the 35mm has a bit of distortion? Does that mean if I did a self portrait, it would be distorted? Also, for the 50mm you can't autofocus (nikon d3100)… Kind of a problem if I need fast shots, but then again I wanna get serious in photography so manual isn't bad either. What do you think?

THe 35mm actually has very little distortion, which is one of the advantages of prime lenses. The problem with it for portraits is that you have to get quite close to the subject to fill the photo with it, which will cause an unfavorable perspective. E. G. The nose will appear to be bigger than it actually is, and the ears especially small. That is a different optical effect than what usually is called distortion.

One can call it "distorted features" of course, but that's rather common language then, not the technical term.

Manual focus is how photographers have been working for decades before there was autofocus, but they had proper focusing screens (which show quite nicely when one is approaching proper focus). These are more powerful tools than the focus indicator dot, which just suddenly pops up when one has focused.
So yeah, it is possible if your subject does not make unanticipated moves.

Just wondering… Do you already have the camera with or without kit lens? If you do, then you could practice manual focusing before you get a lens that will only focus manually.

Or, if you don't have it yet and don't have your heart already sold to Nikon or don't care much about the video capabilities of the D3100, then perhaps Canon or Pentax would be worth a thought. Especially Pentax offers excellent deals, with 50mm/1.4 lenses available for not much more than 50mm/1.8 ones cost for Nikon or Canon.

Here's a head shot with the 35mm

here's an upper body shot with the 35mm

and a more or less full body

Now, to me the distortion is really pronounced on the head shot, still too present on the upper body and acceptable on the full body. IT's up to you really.

Manual focus of any fast prime is tricky wide open, a catz eye focus screen would greatly improve matters.