Multiple lenses of the same focal length

When shooting street, I often carry two bodies, loaded with slide and B&W, or color and B&W and to avoid switching lenses all the time I take duplicate focal lengths. The Hexes are the 'average' size, the Komuras/Acalls most are really small, albeit a bit heavy.

I carry a dirty Billingham with the rucksack straps and a small belt pouch with enough room for a body with lens. Old black military jacket to stuff most of the lenses and film. I look like a homeless man, I guess. When its hot, I take one body two lenses in the belt pouch only and lose the other gear. Goes in the hotel safe, bag and all.

I have been to England in October (Broadstairs and Canterbury, Kent, and London) and most of the luggage I took on the EuroStar was camera gear. 😀

Roger, Stuart Heggie says hi!
 
When on the road I rarely take doubles of any FL, but if shooting the M8 I'll bring 2 28/2.0's. I love that lens on film and on the M8, and will often shoot them side by side. This last time I had the 50/1.4 ASPH, the 28/2.0 on an M7 and the 28/2.0 on the M8. I also shot the G2 with 16. Lens choice depends on the assignment or the place, but I'll always have the 28. I've got four 50's in M mount, and would never shoot anything but the Summilux pre-ASPH in the woods. In town, it's most of the Summilux ASPH, but the Elmar-M or Summicron gets in there too. I love the Summicron for FP4+, and the Elmar-M for color.

When I'm away the stay-at-homes are safely locked up.
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For me, I often consider two things:

1] If the conditions are rough, which lens am I willing to submit to some abuse. I don't like to take a super lens to a windy, sandy place. I'd rather take a Canon (super, but cheaper).

2] If the size is dramatically different and the speed significantly different, I might take two polar opposites, such as the UC Hex 35/2 and CV 35/1.2 One for night, one for day.
Just leave one at the hotel.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Do others carry multiple lenses of the same f.l. when travelling? If so, how often do they change them? And how do they carry them/handle security with the ones they're not carrying?

Cheers,

R.
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I am definitely of the "learn to make use of the camera body / lens / film" that you have in your hand. I don't even own more than one lens of any focal length. I do have a small amount of options. For instance my 28mm lens is a light f3.5 while my 35mm is a faster f2.0. But I only have one or the other while shooting. And I just deal with things like shooting the f3.5 lens indoors.

When I am out shooting, I only have one body with one lens. I may have something else in the car. If so, my camera bag is stored inside a cheap cooler so it is not visible. If I don't have a car, everything except my one body / lens is locked in the hotel safe. If no car and no safe, I will just bring one body / one lens. I never carry a bag when shooting, just a pocket full of film and a spare battery.
 
My RF kit has always been a one of each FL one. My reflex kit, on the other hand, has multiples of several FLs. When traveling by air, I keep it all down to the minimum and what is most suitable to the destination.
Travel kit might also depend on the nature of the trip. Is it to take pictures (for sale later) or to see, enjoy and document. If it is the latter, I might even take a zoom with a weatherproof DSLR and the M8 + one lens as a back up.
Bob
 
CLE-RF said:
Roger, Stuart Heggie says hi!
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Gosh, that's nice. Thanks!

Changing the subject, it's an interesting question as to how one acquires multiple lenses of the same f.l. My main excuse is that I review 'em and when I find one I like I can generally get a good press dscount on it -- though sometimes another lens (or two) will go if the new one replaces them. Then there are lenses which come in 'deals' with cameras: my 50/1.2 Canon was more or less free because I bought it on a Canon 7, then sold the Canon 7 for about what I'd paid for the pair. And a few are unique, such as the Thambar. I'd not want it for my only 90 but equally it does things the Summicron can't.

How have others acquired duplicates?

Cheers,

R.
 
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Well, as written before, I mainly seek for an alternative in form factor or speed. I wanted to have a very compact walk around 50, so I've got the Elmar-M. And I've got quite a good deal on a Nikon 50/1.2 which was too good to pass.

For now, I can resist buying the Sonnar 50. But that's mainly because I don't know, if I get along with the focus shift well. Don't really know what would happen if I'd ever start to review lenses 😀
 
Roger Hicks said:
Then there are lenses which come in 'deals' with cameras: my 50/1.2 Canon was more or less free because I bought it on a Canon 7, then sold the Canon 7 for about what I'd paid for the pair..
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the opposite Roger!....I bought a Canon 7 with 50/1.2 - kept the camera, and sold the lens for the price of the pair! - contrary to popular opinion, I was not impressed at all!.
Dave.
 
I think I am the odd man out here. I often travel with more than one choice in a focal length and like to be able to choose the image qualities based, in part, on lens design. I really start the "what do I need in the bag" question by asking, "what are my anticipated subjects?" Since I do a lot of portraiture, the answer is going to be different if I am headed to a someone's wedding, than it would be if I were photographing a someone's mother. But if I'm photographing someone's mother at the wedding? Well then the Summitar may just wind up in the bag.

Recently a friend got married and to the extent there was a style theme to there was more than a nod to the 1940's and 50's (small band versions of big band tunes, American songbook -- you get the idea). It was great to be able to choose lenses from that era for my snapshots. My gifts will be of a piece with the bride and groom's other choices and I'll bet that they won't even be able to pinpoint why. All the more poignant because the bride's father was gravely ill with a brain tumor and I have a picture of him dancing with his baby girl all grown up.

I have wound up with focal-length multiples for any number of reasons. Sometimes it is being impressed with the look of photos I see from a photographer whose work I admire. Sometimes it is because (e.g. a recent modern Sonnar purchase) the lens simply does things that my other lenses don't do when used wide open. Sometimes I have had a glancing curiosity about how a lens performs and a good deal comes up. Sometimes it is just curiosity (I have a 52/1.8 Helios acquired for that reason). I love making pictures, but I have come to terms with the fact that I am a bit of a gear-head. Now excuse me -- it's a foggy morning in central Vermont with desaturated colors and an insulated Sunday quiet settled on the land. I am off to take some pictures with a . . . Summaron. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Ben Marks
 
I ran into my Kyoei Acall 35/3.5 for little money on that auction site and was the only bidder. Just happened to acquire it when in an adventurous mood one day.

As I shot it I was impressed with its sixties color rendering and its build quality.
Since then I have found more Acalls and Komuras at really reasonable prices and loved them all. My vintage kit now consists of M3:28-35-Canon 50/1.2-80-135. My modern kit is M6:28-35-50-50/1.2-90.

I feel decadent having two sets, but I cannot get myself to part with them.
 
I am going to a short trip next weekend, one of the larger cities in Japan, and will bring my M7 + 50mm Elmar red-scale + Noctilux. The Elmar for daytime (very light and small) and the Noctilux for night time. The Noctilux fits nicely in my messenger back together with film, small map and other things. 🙂
 
Benjamin Marks said:
I think I am the odd man out here. I often travel with more than one choice in a focal length and like to be able to choose the image qualities based, in part, on lens design. I really start the "what do I need in the bag" question by asking, "what are my anticipated subjects?" Since I do a lot of portraiture, the answer is going to be different if I am headed to a someone's wedding, than it would be if I were photographing a someone's mother. But if I'm photographing someone's mother at the wedding? Well then the Summitar may just wind up in the bag.

Recently a friend got married and to the extent there was a style theme to there was more than a nod to the 1940's and 50's (small band versions of big band tunes, American songbook -- you get the idea). It was great to be able to choose lenses from that era for my snapshots. My gifts will be of a piece with the bride and groom's other choices and I'll bet that they won't even be able to pinpoint why. All the more poignant because the bride's father was gravely ill with a brain tumor and I have a picture of him dancing with his baby girl all grown up.

I have wound up with focal-length multiples for any number of reasons. Sometimes it is being impressed with the look of photos I see from a photographer whose work I admire. Sometimes it is because (e.g. a recent modern Sonnar purchase) the lens simply does things that my other lenses don't do when used wide open. Sometimes I have had a glancing curiosity about how a lens performs and a good deal comes up. Sometimes it is just curiosity (I have a 52/1.8 Helios acquired for that reason). I love making pictures, but I have come to terms with the fact that I am a bit of a gear-head. Now excuse me -- it's a foggy morning in central Vermont with desaturated colors and an insulated Sunday quiet settled on the land. I am off to take some pictures with a . . . Summaron. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Ben Marks
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@ Ben: No, I don't think you are the odd man out. I select lenses for particular jobs. It's just that when you're traveling, and don't know what's coming up, how much weight do you want to carry (or worry about in the car or the hotel room)?

@CLE-RF: You have my full sympathy. Why do you think I have so many (Nikon F fit) Vivitar Series 1s?

@Gabor: Yes, but it's only a short trip to one place -- and I think I'd be happier with just the 35/1.4 than with ultra-fast and slow 35s or 50s. When it's one individual lens, be it Noctilux or Elmar, size and weight don't worry me all that much. When it's two or more lenses of the same f.l., even if together they weigh less than e.g. the Noctilux, I still resent the bulk & weight so I'll carry just one (almost invariably the faster/fastest except with 21mm) when I'm travelling.

Cheers,

R.
 
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I have multiple lenses for the same focal length because I am always curious to find out if I can get something different. My favorite lens always has been a 50mm lens. For many years I was using only old lenses, but more recently, I have been tying out modern lenses. I often take with me on a one day trip 2-3 50mm lenses plus a wide angle lens and maybe a short tele. Among the 50mm lenses I may have a Zeiss Jena 5cm 1,5 and a Heliar 5cm 3.5 or a Summicron rigid 50mm 2.0. It is great to have access to many different variations of same focal length lenses, but it can become quite a costly hobby in the end.

Of course, I also make use of the options in lenses to take along the more common and less expensive lenses if it is raining or we are close to water and sand and wind.
 
Roger,

I have thought about bringing only my 35 Summilux pre-ASPH but 50mm is more my preferred focal length .... I could also only bring my 50/2.0 M-Hexanon but then would miss the Noctilux ....

Cheers,

Gabor
 
I'm finding the simpler I keep things, the better things are for me.
I've been doing a lot of portrait work lately with some local actors/actresses in community theater.
At first, I was taking lots of lenses (think I took 3 50s to one of the first shoots), but quickly found they were getting in the way of my photography. It's working much better for me to just take a couple lenses - 90 percent of the shots come from a combination of an M8 with a 50 pre-asph lux and a D300 with an 85/1.4.
In turn, that's actually led me to sell a few of my duplicate FLs. Just wasn't using them enough for me to want to keep them.
 
I can certainly understand the above comment (I'm lying).

So if anyone feels the need to sell a 1953 J-3 because it is a duplicate focal length and goes unused, be sure to let me know first....
 
I have a positively foolish array of lenses in some focal lengths:

50mm:
Canon f/1.2, f/1.5, f/1.8, f/3.5 collapsible
Leica f/2 Summicron Rigid, f/2.8 Elmar classic
Nikkor f/1.4, f/2
Voigtlander f/1.5, f/2.5

35mm:
Canon f/2.8
Konica f/2 UC-Hexanon
Leica f/2.8 Summaron
Voigtlander f/1.2, f/2.5

28mm:
Canon f/2.8, f/3.5
Minolta f/2.8
Voigtlander f/3.5

Plus a 21/3.4 SA, Canon 25/3.5 and CV 15/4.

How did that happen, you ask? Partly (mostly?) plain old GAS. Partly an appreciation foe some of the vintage lenses as fne objects, apart from their use as photgraphic tools. Partly the desire to see the different looks that different lenses impart (Sonnars, Tessars, etc.) Partly stumbling across a lens too cheap to pass up.

And partly to have the right lens for different situations. For example, the Canon 35/2.8 is nice on my R-D1 in sunlight as I don't get blown highlights. But the Nokton 35/1.2 is a superb lens if I'm at an indoor event where lighting might be dim. If I had a 35/1.4 Summilux, I might get rid of most of my other 35s; but maybe not. 😉

If I'm going on a trip, The only redundancy I'll bring is a fast lens, in addition to the smaller lenses in several focal lengths.

How do I choose which to bring in each length? Depends on the focus of the outing. If I'm bringing a 50mm because I'm expecting to shoot portraits, then I'll bring a Nikkor or Canon Sonnar-type. Indoor general-purpose is the Summicron. Indoor low light is the Nokton. Outdoor lanscape it's the Summicron, or the Skopar if I need compactness above all. For all of the above, it's the Summicron.

Carrying 4-5 lenses on a trip is no big deal, as these are mostly pretty small. Airport security is not an issue I've had trouble with for photo gear.

Ari
 
With Minolta SR - mostly retired these days , it would be a 50 f2 Rokkor [ light and compact ]or the f 1.4 Rokkor if available light is an issue .
The M 8 sports a Fed 50 3.5 collapsible because it has a unique [ to me ] ' sparkle ' with colour , and the dreamy Summitar which can be pushed wide open at a pinch .
My 35mm CV color scopar now performs sole near 50 on the M 8 .
 
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