35 or 50?

35 or 50?

  • 35mm

    Votes: 292 53.0%

  • 50mm

    Votes: 259 47.0%
  • Total voters
    551
I thought the forum had a strict policy against posting Sophie's-Choice polls.

"But they're both my children! How can I choose?"

50 ?

35 ?

...Oh the horror!
 
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i love reading these 35 or 50 threads if only b/c there is someone who says something about the experience of using one in a way that is fresh to me, with that said here's my contribution:


I have a 28 on my film nikon right now and it's physically more work to get good/fresh compositions. On a digi compact (with 28 equiv) I can just twist my hand or wrist around quickly and see the framing easily. Also I can put my camera right up onto my subjects easily and check framing. With my camera to my eye I have to lean my body around or crouch down all weird to get those same angles.

With longer lenses framing (for me) is more about lining up your subjects and backgrounds relative to your position. This is more usually placing your feet in the right spot. Crouching with a 50 and shooting under your subject for ex. just doesn't do as much as with a 28.

My leica usu has a 50.... And I'm learning to get into weird body positions lately with the 28 on my film nikon. Add in the close focus limit to the harder-to-whip-around-eye level viewing means 35 is the widest I care to go with the leica.

Also I love my summarit 50 bunches, and my 35 color skopar is pretty utilitarian.
But there are tons of neat tricks with a 35 that can't be done with a 50, so the utility is worth it.
For ex. the distance you are from your subject is the size of the long side of the frame!! awesome! neet!
 
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Like most of you, it would hurt to give up one, fortunately we don't have to, but the game says pick one and I would have to pick the 50, if for no other reason than it is on the camera most of the time, but many times I pick the 35 as my favorite shots.
 
For me, 50mm is my choice about 75% of the time, and then comes the mighty 35mm focal length. When I first got into the M-system, however, my opinion was switched, using 35mm about 75% of the time, 50mm the rest. I think I just found that 50mm is more my style and can generally get everything I want out of my photos from a nice 50.
 
ChrisN said:
If you had to settle for just one lens, would it be a 35mm or a 50mm?
Click to expand...

Neither. I always settle for just one lens. And it is a 28mm. Being close to the people I am photographing just works better for me.

Playa de Este, Havana

torso-legs-man-at-beach.jpg
 
Hrmm. I know it's a weaselly answer, but it kinda depends on the close-focusability. 35 is more versatile, and if I could get close enough, it would make up for the relative lacking in subject isolation.
 
Of the two choices, I voted 35, since it is closer to the lens I would use if I were to only use one lens. My real choice is a 40.

Gary
 
In the old days when I had a film M2 my preferred lens was 50mm but now I have a M9 I seem to be using 35mm more and more. Nothing to do with the switch to digital, maybe more related to getting older!
 
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