help me select lens

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fwellers

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Still building my hypothetical new system.
So now that you fine people have helped me decide on a rangefinder in the other thread, can you help me decide on a lens ?

I don't think I'll be able to afford 2 lenses right away.
Currently I only use 2 lenses on my D90 ( 1.5 crop ). A 35mm f/2 ( 52mm equiv ), which is on the camera almost all the time, and a 50mm f/1.8( 75mm equiv ) that I use occasionally and for portraits.

I mostly shoot:
general
general landscape
street
portrait.

If I need to go with just one lens at first, it can be no longer than 50mm ( normal FOV ). I think I would like to try a 35 or 40mm, but I don't know if that would be too wide for some situations. Would those be a bit too wide for flattering portraits ? Or would they make people just way to small for street type shooting unless I get within 2 feet of the person ?

I'm thinking the 50 or 40 would be the best one to start with, and then get either a 35 or 28 down the road.

Any suggestions there ?

As far as which model, that's another question all together. I guess I have more homework ahead. It seems that Planar, Sonnar and Nokton are the main 3 and they have renderings in most of my intended focal lengths. What would be the best way to decide on that ?

Oh yea, I forgot. Size is a pretty big issue for me. My D90 really gets used a lot more since I stuck that little 35mm f/2 on it. I like small !!

Thanks for any tips and advice, I appreciate it.
 
I'm old school about this - there is nothing that a normal lens - 50mm in this case - and the "two foot zoom" can't shoot. Other lenses are nice, but since you're new to film, I'd strongly advise trying a 50mm lens first. Once you have spent a considerable amount of time learning what it can and cant do for you - and I'd advise a year or so - only then look into a wider or longer lens.

The ZM 50/2 Planar is an excellent lens that would suit you well.

Hope this helps,

William
 
Personally, 35/50 are too close. You'll probably find that you're happier with one than the other -- for me, ir's 35 (on film) -- but you'll do better to buy one or the other and start shooting with it, them buy the other if you're constantly trying to get more in, or fond that you're having to go uncomfortably close.

I'd buy the cheapest half-decent 50 you can find, as a starter: a Jupiter 50/2, say. After a few weeks you'll know if you need a wider angle or more speed (or of course both; my standard lens on film is 35/1.4), or indeed more sharpness or higher contrast.

A little bit of experiment is worth more than all the advice on the forum.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
Double Negative:
Thanks. I bet there is some good value in a FL that takes up the whole frame!! I think 25mm is too wide for my only lens, definitely a good consideration for the second one though !

Wlewisiii:
Wise advice indeed. I remember reading advice like that in a thread somewhere about primes vs zooms. I decided to take it, removed my zoom and stuck a 35mm prime on, and haven't looked back yet. Still getting used to it.
If I did what you said with the 50mm that would be very close to what I already am used to with the 35mm on the crop body. Can't really complain about that Focal length. I have been leaning toward the Planar so far, but the views are so wide and varied I think.

Roger Hicks:
Thanks for the advice. However I am not interested in buying any glass that will wind up forgotten someday. I like fast glass and will always go for the best lens I can afford ( the I can afford part being key.) :). I would hope that with good glass like ZM, I can get most of my $$ back in resale should I choose poorly or change my tastes someday.

philipp.leser:
Yea I was wondering about that 40mm. That FL isn't too popular as far as I can tell in the Nikon digital world, so I have not read much about it, definitely I haven't used it. Sort of splits the difference between the 35 and 50 and could be what the Dr. ordered. I'll try and find a good bunch of images take with it to see. Oh btw, you have any ? :):)
 
fwellers said:
...I am not interested in buying any glass that will wind up forgotten someday...
Click to expand...

Point fully taken but I am not sure you have the choice. Once you try something -- anything -- you know where it falls short. Alternatively, you can spend a fortune on the best you can buy -- and find out you made the wrong choice, in which case it may 'wind up forgotten' or sold on. As you say, you should see a fair bit of your money back on poor choices. That's as true of a Jupiter as a 21/1.4 Summilux, except that you'll lose less on the Jupiter.

If you don't even know what focal length(s) you want, you may (or may not) have quite a long way to go before you find what suits you best. I prefer 35mm (on film) and my wife prefers 50mm. If I can't predict what my wife of 27 years (bar 6 weeks) would prefer, how can anyone predict what a stranger will prefer?

Tashi delek,

R.
 
Last edited:
I hae a ZI, and for me the best combination of lenses for the ZI are:

- ZM 21mm f2.8 or f4.5 (with ext. inder) - unless you have the $$$ for the Summilux
- ZM 35mm/2.0
- ZM 50mm Planar or Sonnar
- ZM 85mm (2.0 or 4.0 depending on budget)

I would only take 3 of the 4 lenses with me at any one time, alternating between the 35 and the 50.
 
For film. Go the 50 route. If you can find a nice used Nokton 1.5/50 you should be quite happy with combo of speed, sharpness and, low price. The down side is it is a bit large compared to some of the slower (more expensive) lenses.
 
The mix you want to shoot points to a 50mm fl. The best universal 50mm M lens on the market is the Planar ZM, it is so flare resistant that you could use it without a hood, but take away the UV filter if shooting straight into the sun. It is extremely sharp at any aperture, so you can adjust the film for a different rendering , for example chromogenics for portraiture, and slides or traditional B&W for the street and landscape. The next lens you should probably get is a 28mm. Go to flickr and look up the M mount group - you can select any lens and see the shots people have posted to get a better idea.
 
Man what a great bunch of responses so quickly. This really is a prolific forum. :) Thank you !

For now, I am hearing what I thought I'd hear, which is sort of also what I wanted to hear. ( small wonder ha ? ) , which is to head for a 50mm Planar.

Ok for now. On to another thread. The hard one, about how I am going to learn to develop, or will I go the Costco route, what are the costs, how to file and organize all of that.

Probably should have done that part first, but I do like the equipment !!!
 
Instead of the Planar, consider the M-Hexanon 50/2. A tiny bit worse in resolution and flare, but better build quality and about $100 cheaper.

A Nokton 40/1.4 would be my choice for just one affordable (<$300), modern lens. More compact than most 50/2s and a stop faster, yet much cheaper than a modern 35/1.4 or 35/2. The 35mm framelines on the ZI are a smidge more than 100% of the Nokton 40's coverage.
 
well, looks like I'm not done yet. No problem. It's actually a good problem to have. Thanks Bruin, that Nokton sounds good. I've heard some stuff about it already. Gonna hve to go check it out.

Thanks again Double. The flikr group is great ! One stop shopping. :))

I am amazed at the choices. So many more choices than the Nikon digital. I am starting to feel like a kid in an expensive candy store.
 
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