most of us own a few lenses...

It comes down to several factors. I try to learn the strong points of each FL, and of each lens in the group. Then, I tend to chose the lenses best suited for the particular type of shots I want to do. However, as walk around lenses, I use most often compact lenses with strong universal qualities. In 50mm I would take the Summilux 2 out most of the time, but I will swap it for the DR Summicron if I am thinking of landscape or architecture, and with the C Sonnar or Canon 50/1.2 for portraits. In 35mm I have fallen lately for the Summicron V3 for its out of focus and great grayscale rendering. I will swap it for the 35/2.8 Summaron for landscape or architecture and with 35/1.2 Nokton for the low light. Both the Summicron and the Nokton are also gret for portraits, but the rendering is distinctly different. In 28mm the Summicron is my universal lens, but I will swap it with the 1.9 ultron for landscape. In 21mm I like the rendering of Super Angulon 3.4, but I will often swap it wih the C Zeiss because of AE compatibility and more compact dimensions. The Zeiss ZM line, C Sonnar apart, is great for a more biting, higher contrast look, and generally for colour. I seldom use 90mm lenses, and in this FL I use the V1 and the last Elmarit together with the ZF Planar 85 and Makro Planar 100, according to circumstances.
 
Sometimes it's really hard to decide if I need a 50, 53, 55, 57, 58, or 60. But I eventually settle on a choice.
 
I think it all comes down to your personal preference or the moment. I have a few lenses, but most of them are either 35mm or 50mm. There are a few that I will pick up to shoot much more often due to their characteristics: if I want a classic look, I'll take X, if I need speed I'll take Y, and so on...
 
For the longest Time
It was the 50 (probably always will be)
with around 10% to the 21SA

Now I am Dedicating my Time w/ the 35
Need to Grow & 'see 'differently
Have Fallen hard for the 35 Asph Cron
And am Experimenting With
trying to PUSH Shadow/Light Play with the asph glass

Am Amazed at how WIDE 35 is
Regards-H
 
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helenhill said:
For the longest Time
It was the 50 (probably always will be)
with around 10% to the 21SA

Now I am Dedicating my Time w/ the 35
Need to Grow & 'see 'differently
Have Fallen hard for the 35 Asph Cron
And am Experimenting With
trying to PUSH Shadow/Light Play with the asph glass

Am Amazed at how WIDE 35 is
Regards-H
Click to expand...

helen, is the 40 gone?
 
2/28mm on my Bessa R4m for my 'normal' photography,
4/25mm on my Bessa L for 'street'.
2/24mm or 8/500mm on my digital Pentax (1.5 crop factor).
All other lenses I only use from time to time, when I just feel like it.
 
CV28/3.5 and rokkor 40/2
I like small and old school :)

sometimes I chase my daughter around the house with a cv50/1.5
 
Got a 35 Biogon ZM, a 50mm Summicron, and a 28 Elmarit. But the 35mm is most used. But sometimes I kind of force myself to use the 50mm instead. Just to keeping me from getting to attached to the Biogon.
 
50mm is closest to how I see so I use that most often. I could be pretty content with only that but I do use--in about equal proportions--a 21mm and a 90mm fairly often.
So, to answer your question, yes I do mostly use one favorite with the other lenses coming out occasionally as I perceive the need for a different view.
Rob
 
helenhill said:
For the longest Time
It was the 50 (probably always will be)
with around 10% to the 21SA

Now I am Dedicating my Time w/ the 35
Need to Grow & 'see 'differently
Have Fallen hard for the 35 Asph Cron
And am Experimenting With
trying to PUSH Shadow/Light Play with the asph glass

Am Amazed at how WIDE 35 is
Regards-H
Click to expand...

I just bought the 50 Lux ASPH and I'm amazed at how long the 50mm length is - Really not too amazed but I usually only go up to 50mm for people shots.

To respond to the original thread, I find that 35mm is an ideal single focal length. With that said, I find I need a 28mm or wider for many of the pictures I like to take in cities, especially grafitti.

I think I'm going to take the 28 and 50 on an upcoming trip to Europe, though I'm really tempted to go light and just take the 35 Cron (on full frame).
 
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i head out more and more without a bag and just the rd1 with 40 attached, no safety net (more lenses in a bag) just an extra battery in my pocket.
i have been thinking about carrying the second rd1 body with another lens attached.
 
rbiemer said:
50mm is closest to how I see so I use that most often.
Click to expand...

how is that though? it does have the same magnification as the human vision, ie if you hold an slr vertically with the other eye open and see through a 50mm lens, things do have the same magnification. But it's narrow!

So I use 50 on medium format, then it has the same magnification and almost the same field of view as my vision. But 50mm medium format lenses are slow!

I cant win :mad:
 
I usually limit myself to stick to 1 lens for 1 roll of film.
and I rotate among my lenses for each roll of film that I finish.

almost equal attention given to each of my lens.
 
24 - 35 - 50 for me for the last 20 years. The 35 sees most use. Every attempt to pair this down to 28 - 50 has been unsucessful so far ...

- N.
 
helenhill said:
still have the 40....:D
Its compactness& STELLAR rendering make it hard to let go
Depends on how much the 35 cron Amazes me
& if I want that Burberry Raincoat....:eek:
Yes very Girly ...i know
Click to expand...

35/2.0 ASPH <-> Burberry Raincoat ... choices ... :eek::D

I left my original M4-P, M7, 21SA, 35 Summilux-M, Noctilux all back in Germany so my lens choices became limited. :) Recently, it is mostly the M4-P (the red one, soon to be sold) and the 40mm M-Rokkor, the 28mm AVENON and occasionaly the 90mm Summicron-M or 135 Elmarit-M.

My IIIf usually takes the 50/3.5 or 35/3.5, 90/4 or 135/4.5. The latter is challening on a Barnack but nevertheless fun to use.

Speaking about the lenses staying in Germany, I hardly miss them ..
 
maddoc said:
35/2.0 ASPH <-> Burberry Raincoat ... choices ... :eek::D

I left my original M4-P, M7, 21SA, 35 Summilux-M, Noctilux all back in Germany so my lens choices became limited. :) Recently, it is mostly the M4-P (the red one, soon to be sold) and the 40mm M-Rokkor, the 28mm AVENON and occasionaly the 90mm Summicron-M or 135 Elmarit-M.

My IIIf usually takes the 50/3.5 or 35/3.5, 90/4 or 135/4.5. The latter is challening on a Barnack but nevertheless fun to use.

Speaking about the lenses staying in Germany, I hardly miss them ..
Click to expand...



WOW Gabor, Mighty Daring of YOU to leave your 35 lux & Nocti
in Germany / once your main standard...though probably Good to shake things up abit :)
40 rokkor is Supreme ... must peek at your 28 avenon
I don't know anything about that lens

Who knows maybe the lenses will play some Magic and Transport You and the Family back to Germany
 
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Nothing exotic (except for the custom Sonnar) or super expensive:
21 (f4 CV)
28 (f3.5 Canon)
35 (f2.8 Summaron)
35 (f3.5 Summaron)
40 (f1.4 CV)
50 (f2 coll Summicron)
50 (f2 Sweenyfied Zeiss Sonnar)
50 (f2 Summar)
50 (f2.5 CV)
50 (f3.5 Elmar)
50 (f3.5 FED)
85 (f2 Canon)
90 (f4 Elmar)
135 (f5.6 Hector)

The widest 5 get 90% of my attention.
 
Spyro said:
how is that though? it does have the same magnification as the human vision, ie if you hold an slr vertically with the other eye open and see through a 50mm lens, things do have the same magnification. But it's narrow!

So I use 50 on medium format, then it has the same magnification and almost the same field of view as my vision. But 50mm medium format lenses are slow!

I cant win :mad:
Click to expand...

The key word there was "I". I wear glasses so I always look through a frame. And while 35mm is probably close to what my field of view is without my glasses, 50 is pretty close to what I see through them.
A 40mm lens might be a better approximation of my FOV but I have not had a chance--nor, frankly, much inclination--to try one yet.
And, waaay back when I was first learning this hobby of mine, I shot with an Argus C-3 then a Pentax K 1000 [both with 50mm lenses] so 50 is how I best relate to the world with a camera. I do use and enjoy other focal lengths but 50 is my main stay.
Rob
 
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