another gear related 'which would you do' question...

[Trius]

Of those choices, I'd go 25 & 50 most days, 35 & 90 others. While 35 & 50 are really quite different in feel to me, they still are close enough that they don't seem to fit the "cover the range" goal that I think you're going for.

Just to mix it up, though, I sometimes carry two of the same fixed lens RF, with different films loaded.

 

[rover]

How about carrying the 4 lenses and no bodies?

 

[back alley]

How about carrying the 4 lenses and no bodies?

a novel approach, indeed...

 

[FrankS]

Hi Joe, if you're normally taking a camera and 2 lenses, but unsure of the combination to choose, maybe just take all 4. Those 2 extra lenses aren't oing to add too much weight to the kit. You mentioned that you carry your kit in a bag, so can you find room for a just couple more lenses in it? That way you've got it all covered. You'll be a complete photographer, in a hybred sort of way. Not that there's anything wrong with that. <Jerry Seinfeld reference>

 

[back alley]

i might as well carry both cameras then also if i were to carry all 4 lenses.
and it's not all that heavy, i carried everything last week when i was on holiday in the mountains.
i just like the idea of a smaller kit for everyday, a camera with mounted lens is ideal really, very simple, but as i do use a small bag i thought i'd add the second lens as well.

 

[peterc]

in a hybred sort of way.

Or he could just go high bred and have one of the servants carry everything for him and hand him what he needs.

Peter

 

[rover]

i might as well carry both cameras then also if i were to carry all 4 lenses.
and it's not all that heavy, i carried everything last week when i was on holiday in the mountains.
i just like the idea of a smaller kit for everyday, a camera with mounted lens is ideal really, very simple, but as i do use a small bag i thought i'd add the second lens as well.

The answer to your next pondering then is.... Domke F2 😉.

Funny, when I carry a small kit, camera and 2 lenses I always ending up using just one of them. I think I took 3 to New York a few weeks back, I shot with a 35 to start with, switched to a 28 for a little while, then jumped back to the 35 for the rest of the day. Could have left the 50 home, probably should have left the 28 home too.

 

[FrankS]

Or Domke 803/ Saffroto clone.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I carry with and switch between two lenses: a wide angle (be it a 35 or a 28) and the 90mm 'cron. With the wides I have to get close. With the long one, I must walk away (to get closer). Whatever it is in between close and far, I solve with a few steps.

 

[back alley]

i also have 2 mclassic bags so that's not the concern.
although i want one of the copy f802 bags. (that's smaller than f803, correct?)

maybe i should just use the domke gripper strap that i have and carry the zi with 35 and an extra roll of film in my pocket...

joe

 

[amateriat]

Like I said: all-or-next-to-nothing. Joe, your main kit sounds not all that dissimilar from mine – a pair of identical or near-identical bodies, and three or four lenses. My kit stays ready in the bag for either work-related shoots or that spontaneous out-of-household experience that can take hold at any time. When I'm not feeling quite so photo-centric, I just pick one camera, usually with one lens (my only choice in the case of my fixed-lens choices). In my gunslinging SLR days, my options were Travel Heavy or Travel Light (the latter usually with my only "light" choice back then, a Konica Hexar AF); now the choice is Travel Light or Travel Lighter.


- Barrett


P.S. I just had a mild epiphany regarding my own setup. Once in a while, when grabbing a single Hexar, I bounce back-and-forth between the 28 and 50. I had also decided against buying a 35 in the past because of my feeling it being "too close" to the 28 to warrant the cost. Now I'm re-thinking this a bit, and might take a closer look at, say, the current version of C-V's 35mm f/2.5 as a potential "and-one" lens for just this purpose. (Yikes...I've misplaced my GAS mask...)

So...just take your 35, and enjoy.🙂

 

[raid]

for the everyday short outings, be they photo related or just going for groceries or walking the dog, i always take a camera.
i have enough small camera bags to keep set up kits at the ready.

to make up a kit i have been going with my 2 black lenses and the black body and my 2 silver lenses with the silver body.
this is silly, i know.

how would you do it?

body with 35 & 90
body with 25 & 50
body with 50 & 90
or...

which combinations would you make?

joe

feel free to ignore this thread if it seems silly to you.

Joe: The choice of lenses depends on the objects you usually take photos of. I must have a 50mm lens with me or I feel "naked". Something important will be missing for me. As an answer toyour question, I would have the 50mm lens on one camera and a 35mm on the other, with the 25mm and the 90mm lenses put inside the camera bag for occasional use when needed.

For example, I used a Rokkor 28mm lens yesterday while being out of the home with the family, followed by portraits inside the home with the Canon 90mm lens.
Today I used the J-3 (50mm lens) outside the home, and I am
planning to use a Nikkor 105mm lens for portraits at home today.


If I travel light, the 50mm is sufficient.


Raid

 

[telenous]

I am with those who find the 35 + 50 an apt combination for most circumstances. In fact, when I go out on daylight, it's just the 50, and when night-time, it's just the 35. But from shooting each one on its own, it is not unusual that I chance upon something that is better suited for the other lens. Having both with me would take care of these situations. I haver never felt the need for other lenses (not even my 75) while street shooting.

 

[back alley]

alkis,
it makes sense that the 35 or 50 are the ones best suited for street, i rarely use the 90 for anything, let alone for street shooting.

is the 35 your widest lens? i quite like the 25 for street shooting myself but i do usually carry the 50 along with it.
maybe i'll try the 50 solo for awhile.
i may need a smaller bag😉

joe

 

[telenous]

alkis,
it makes sense that the 35 or 50 are the ones best suited for street, i rarely use the 90 for anything, let alone for street shooting.

is the 35 your widest lens? i quite like the 25 for street shooting myself but i do usually carry the 50 along with it.
maybe i'll try the 50 solo for awhile.
i may need a smaller bag😉

joe

Joe,

Indeed the 35 is the widest lens I have. Even that I only use for low light stuff, otherwise it's the 50 since its mild tele effect allows critical distance from people on the street. I tried a 28 lens on my SLR some time ago and it felt terribly ackward in my hands. I had problem getting close to people and most of my photos were uninteresting because of that. Of course, others do wonders with a 28 or a 25. All in all, it boils down to personal shooting style; I think the two lens combp should contain one normal (the 50) and whatever it is that one means by wide-angle.

Best,
Alkis

 

[tedwhite]

For me, it depends on what I'm going to be doing with cameras that day. If I'm going out on a job then there's a whole bunch of stuff in the car, ranging from Bessa R, to Spotmatics with 8 lenses, a Pentax digital SLR (that accepts all my great Takumar glass), a Rolleiflex, etc.

However, if I'm just going to wander around, I take one camera with one lens. Invariably, it's the Bessa R with the 35/2.5. The nice thing about striding forth of a day with one camera/one lens is that it eliminates pondering lens choices, and especially with the Bessa R, being a screwmount beast, it eliminates wasting valuable time "screwing around," trying to change lenses in a hurry. Also, I don't like being burdened down with camera bags or pockets full of lenses and extra bodies when merely going for a stroll. I particularly like the Bessa R because of its small size. Fits into most jacket pockets.

As someone said earlier, with a single camera/lens, either step forward or back up a few feet.

Ted

 

[back alley]

considering that i shoot the same area over and over i could really get away with one camera and a 35mm lens.

i like the 25 because of the view and i have little problem getting close. the 50 does feel like a short tele to me.
the 90 is nice to have 'in case'.

but i could live with a 35 alone...