Your favorite street walk-around lens?

[drjoke]

I have 15mm and 40mm. I go to random places (my GF's decisions) but carry a camera with me all the time.

If you don't know ahead of time where you will end up and don't have the luxery of carrying a camera bag, what is your favorite lens? With my lenses, I always wish I had the other one with me. I think it is about half-and-half that I prefer each lens.

I think I may be happier with something in between, probably 18mm, 21mm, 25mm, 35mm that I will keep on my camera most of time. What do you all think?

 

[gb hill]

I enjoy the 25/4 on my bessa L. It's dedicated to that camera body. I just bought a bessa R and yesterday evening I went about with the J-3, 50/1.5 and even though I haven't seen the results yet, I really felt comfortable with this fast lens & ttl metering on this camera. I do wan't to get a good 35mm lens to use on this camera, and then I think i'll be done for a long while with RF gear.

 

[Glenn2]

Recently I've been using both the 15mm and 40mm CV lenses on my M4's. They're small and easy to pack, One lives on the camera, while the other is in a jacket pocket. No need to bother with a camera bag. I enjoy using the 15mm for street photos, and switch to the Nokton when the 15mm is too wide or light is too dim for its f/4.5

I also own 21mm SA, 35mm Lux, and 50mm Cron, but am enjoying the 15 and 40 for walk around minimalist kit.

A couple of recent shots with 15 and 40......

Glenn

 

[willie_901]

My 35/2 Biogon.

 

[RayPA]

I usually "know" where I'm going. 😉 And have several different kits. But I get the idea. I this situation I would go with a fast 35mm that's a good compromise between size and speed: Ultron 35/1.7.

 

[kmack]

I like the Schneider 135mm Xenar f4.5 on my Crown. Fairly fast glass on a 4x5, even wide open it is just sharp enough from corner to corner. It is my favorite and most capable lens under just about any conditions.

 

[nightfly]

Depends on how you see.

I like the CV 28/3.5 when I'm walking around during daylight and I'm going to be somewhere crowded. If it's going to get dark or if I'm going somewhere less dense, I'll switch a 35mm summicron.

For me a 40 is a little too narrow and I don't think I would be able to use anything wider than 25mm to good effect. Often I have trouble filling the frame with a 28 but it's a nice challenge. So your split wouldn't work for me.

 

[back alley]

is there a reason you can't carry a bag?

 

[Huck Finn]

Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar. Very compact. Doesn't flare under any circumstances. The balance between tonality & resolution is great for shooting people. Colors are well saturated.

 

[BillBingham2]

I'd go with a 25/4. Keep a handkerchief in your pocket to place under your camera when you need to steady on a scratchy surface for long exposures. My M6 kit is a 15/40/105 and then the 25 comes along on an L. While I would love to have her a bit faster, the size of the f4 is IMHO, perfect. So, not being able to break the laws of physics, I work with it.

I think the 25 is the perfect in-between lens for a 15/40 kit.

B2 (;->

 

[back alley]

if i HAD to pick one lens then the 35 wins, hands down.

thank goodness i don't have to restrict myself.

sometimes i like a 28 and i really like the 25 but the 21 was fun before when i had one. i'm liking my 50 sonnar too.

 

[Gid]

M8 with a 35 and R-D1 with a 35 or 50. If I take both cameras then the M8 has a 35 and the R-D1 has a 50. This equates to a 50 and 75 approximately. Very occasionally I'll stick a 21 on and very, very occasionally a 90.

 

[Steve Litt]

40mm Summicron C on RD- 1(60mm fov).One lens one camera suits me.For film 50mm Summicron on M2 is just right.

Regards
Steve

 

[jky]

35mm or 40mm
... although I'm contemplating a 24/25mm.

 

[oscroft]

I think my favourite is the CV 25/4 on a Bessa-L, but I often go out with a Bessa-R and CV 35/2.5. And if I'm not out specifically taking photos, I'll have an Olympus XA (with 35/2.8) in a bag or a pocket.

 

[alan davus]

I find my CV 35 Nokton is becoming a semi permanent attachment to my M6 ttl and the 28, 50 and 90 Hex lenses share the Hexar rf. For a strolling about, shoot what comes session, generally just one camera and lens will suffice and that will be the 35mm.

 

[AusDLK]

Easy. My Tri-Elmar.

 

[fishtek]

The 35/2.5 CV Skopar goes along when I want to tote just the body/lens combo. To be honest, though, because the body and 3 lenses is so small a kit, If I'm gonna use the RF, I'll take 'em all. A small shoulder bag does the trick, and shouldn't be objectionable to carry, or for your GF to tolerate.

Best!
Don

 

[anhtu]

Add my vote for the 35mm Summicron. I use it on my CL for street.

 

[wlewisiii]

If I have no idea what I might be photographing, it will be the Canon/Serenar 50/1.8. If I know I'll be predominately indoors, I might swap out and use my Canon 35/1.8 instead, though I'm still learning that lens.

William