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

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.
 
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>
 
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.
 
back alley said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.:)
 
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back alley said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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.
 
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
 
back alley said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
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
 
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...
 
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