h00ligan wrote:
I too would take the m9 + summilux 35 for fantasy gear.
Right now it would be a toss up, 5d2 +35L or 5d2 + 24-105
Good choices, the 5D mkI and the 35L is what I used when I was staying in new york a few years ago.
Short of using the m system, it was one of the most unobtrusive combos I've used. Great for street photos.
I'm surprised how much more popular the 35mm focal length is in this thread. I'm still a 50 guy when it comes to single lens. Oddly, I've also been experimenting with single lens use in the 75-85 range.
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm surprised how much more popular the 35mm focal length is in this thread. I'm still a 50 guy when it comes to single lens. Oddly, I've also been experimenting with single lens use in the 75-85 range.
Maybe it's because you can easily crop or step closer with a wider lens, but it's more of a hassle to step back (if you're indoors for example) or stitch images for a wider AOV.
I've never really liked 50 mm on the 3:2 ratio sensor, but I love 100 mm on 6x7. The wide-ish 3:2 format makes me want to crop images sideways very often, and then 50 mm becomes a tad too long.
I'm more surprised that no one has made the usual comment about the idea of only one lens being stupid.
Yeah, lately I've been stepping away from 50mm although I used to be only that focal length. I think it just goes in phases of sometimes I want to shooter wider, sometimes normal, sometimes long.
Makten wrote:
Maybe it's because you can easily crop or step closer with a wider lens, but it's more of a hassle to step back (if you're indoors for example) or stitch images for a wider AOV.
I've never really liked 50 mm on the 3:2 ratio sensor, but I love 100 mm on 6x7. The wide-ish 3:2 format makes me want to crop images sideways very often, and then 50 mm becomes a tad too long.
I'm more surprised that no one has made the usual comment about the idea of only one lens being stupid.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I understand that 35mm tends to be the most popular. I just thought that 50mm would have a little more of a showing.
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm surprised how much more popular the 35mm focal length is in this thread. I'm still a 50 guy when it comes to single lens. Oddly, I've also been experimenting with single lens use in the 75-85 range.
I have noticed that 99% of my photos are taken with either the 50 or the 35. I am actually always torn between these two, unable to decide which one to take along. So I guess I am a 35/50 guy
I will say though, that my favorite shot of my last trip was taken with an 85mm F1.4. I had to shoot from a moving train so I needed as high a shutter speed as possible. But I still wanted high image sharpness and detail with as little CA as possible.
Yet if I had a 70-200 F2.8 (way too big and heavy to carry on a week long backpacking) or even the 85 F2.8, it would have not been as sharp as I wanted since the 85 1.4 at F2.8 is far sharper than a 85 F2.8 or 70-200 F2.8 at it's max aperture.
edwardkaraa wrote:
I have noticed that 99% of my photos are taken with either the 50 or the 35. I am actually always torn between these two, unable to decide which one to take along. So I guess I am a 35/50 guy
the vast majority of my photos are actually taken in the 70-85mm range which corresponds to my (narrow?) way of seeing the world. i also shoot 35mm a lot though and it's easier to make a 35mm do the job of an 85mm than the reverse. i never liked the 50mm perspective, it is just a compromise on both ends. surprisingly, i actually really enjoy using ~42mm and ~58mm lenses, weird.
sebboh wrote:
the vast majority of my photos are actually taken in the 70-85mm range which corresponds to my (narrow?) way of seeing the world. i also shoot 35mm a lot though and it's easier to make a 35mm do the job of an 85mm than the reverse. i never liked the 50mm perspective, it is just a compromise on both ends. surprisingly, i actually really enjoy using ~42mm and ~58mm lenses, weird.
I think the 50mm perspective being very neutral gives more importance to the composition and content. Some photographers are known to have used this FL exclusively, notably HCB and Robert Capa. The 35mm produces a more interesting perspective for sure, and the wider angle makes life easier. As for the 70-85mm range, it used to be my favorite range but I found out that it gets boring quickly, as it is too easy to produce nice results by isolating the subject. My style has shifted towards showing more of the surroundings rather than cropping closely. My 85 and 135 ZA have seen very little use in the past 3 years and I have yet to use my new ZM 85, patiently waiting for his turn for over a month
For anything? A900 and 24-105D. The size advantage of the petite 24-105 more than makes up for its weak performance wide open and/or at 24mm. And it's quite good at f8.
From what I own? A700 and 16-50 (the 24-105 just isn't wide enough on APS-C) although if I was going to travel regularly I'd acquire a A65 and the ZA 16-80 which is pretty much the best combo of size & performance in the Sony line, I could easily live with the disadvantages of the A65 vs the A77 for the smaller, lighter body if chosen purely for travel.
edwardkaraa wrote:
I think the 50mm perspective being very neutral gives more importance to the composition and content. Some photographers are known to have used this FL exclusively, notably HCB and Robert Capa. The 35mm produces a more interesting perspective for sure, and the wider angle makes life easier. As for the 70-85mm range, it used to be my favorite range but I found out that it gets boring quickly, as it is too easy to produce nice results by isolating the subject. My style has shifted towards showing more of the surroundings rather than cropping closely.
i always hear 50mm is neutral and natural, but i think it's hogwash. it's just as wide as is easy to build a fast double gauss lens for slr. 42mm is much more natural - when i see a shot with a 42mm i don't have to move to take it, if i have a 50mm i have to take a step back.
i feel the same way about portraits, 85mm seems to tight to me, i want to be able shoot portraits from the same distance that i interact with people from (i also like to show some of their environment). to do this 58-75mm works much better for me.
Last summer I took the 60D and 15-85 IS (with the C/Y 50/1.4, but hardly used it). I got pretty terrific results, only wishing for better detail and tonal transitions than the APS-C is capable of.
I'm with Jim and Fr3d on this -- next year for travel will probably be the 1Ds2 (or even 1D2) and 28-300L IS for most versatility (this would be great for video too, if I get a 5D2 by then).
If I were restricted to only one focal length (hopefully never! ) from the gear I own, I would take the Samyang 35/1.4 with the 1Ds2, although I prefer AF, especially when I'm on the move.
My top choices would be:
5D2 with 28-300L IS
1Ds2 with 28-300L IS
60D wiht 15-85 IS
S100 (to travel really light and carefree)
I really thought I was going to prefer 24/50 to 35, but mostly I just find it a hassle. So I'm probably selling my 24/50 lenses..and picking up an 85. 35/85 for me is a good walk around combo..but ultimately if I was vacationing away from the boot of my car, I'd take the zoom I think. It's 'good enough, and versatile.
This all totally depends on where I'm going..but say, trip back home (haven't been since 2007)...I'm not going with one lens, 35 and 24-105 would be enough.
In general I would think an f4 zoom with is or equiv and a fast prime is probably anyone would ever 'need' for a general trip...obviously not talking about specifics like safari etc.
Not a zoom fan but at the insistence of a cognoscenti, bought the Nikkor 24-70 two years ago, as it turned out a damned sharp copy. It has become my big ass travel lens for a D700 ever since.
Depend on how much room I have for camera gear, I usually consider the following options:
Sony A900 with Zeiss 24-70/2,8 ZA (Nikon D700 with 24-70/2.8 for the past three two years);
Leica M9 with 35 Summilux ASPH;
Leica X1.
For business travel where I couldn't take DSLR or Leica M, I found that Leica X1 is very capable.
) from the gear I own, I would take the Samyang 35/1.4 with the 1Ds2, although I prefer AF, especially when I'm on the move.