Nikon DX 35mm f1.8 vs FX 50mm1.4?

I have a D80 (DX) and D800 (FX) bodies. I'm thinking of buying the 35mm f1.8 and putting it on the D80 body vs buying the 50mm 1, 4 FX lens. Then for my D800 I would have a wide angle and a telephote lens. Is this a bad idea? I'm not a profesional amd wondering what I might be losing out on with this idea. Than k you

If I had both FX and DX bodies, I wouldn't even waste my time buying DX lenses. Just get something you can use for both - FX lens. Otherwise, you will just have too much stuff to lug around, and waste money duplicating lenses. If you're looking for an inexpensive prime lense, the 50mm 1.8 AF-S is an FX lens for around $200. Or, get the 50mm f 1.4 since you mentioned that in your question. It will work on both bodies, as any FX lens will.

For the (crop sensor) D80, you will indeed get a normal/standard lens (35mm) and a short telephoto (50mm). For the (full frame) D800, you only will get a normal/standard lens (50mm). The 35mm will not work with it.

What you will get are two normal/standard lenses, same angle of view. If you already have the 18-55mm kit lens for the D80, getting the 50mm f/1.4 would be good and enough for the D800. You won't need the slower 35mm on the D80 anymore and the 18-55mm kit lens will make it more versatile as a backup camera.

I'm looking at getting back into film (and perhaps eventually going to FX digital) and I'm coming up with the same issue.

With telephotos it's easy, just buy FX lenses and they will only be slightly more expensive and heavier than the DX lenses.

But when you get to a normal DX focal length (35mm), you either have to buy a huge and expensive 35mm FX lens or a light and cheap DX lens that won't work on your FX body. It's even worse with wide angle, as a $1500 huge ultra wide angle FX lens will provide less than stunning results on DX.

I've already got a 35mm f/1.8 on DX, and I love it and am keeping it for that body only. The view angle is much better for every day general purpose photography. Then I'm going to get the 50mm f/1.8 that I can use on both bodies. The wide angle solution will have to wait, but I will probably only buy it for FX.