Could you be happy with only a 35mm lens?

I don't like 35mm as a focal length, so no. I did with just a 28 for a while and that could work, I never get tired of that perspective and can usually make it work. If I had to chose right now though, a 50. Luckily there is no reason to chose 🙂 I'll stick to the 28/2.8 and 50/1.4 combo forever. But I do always only take only one body and one lens with me (unless its unsafe to leave the other lens in say a hotel room).
 
I don't "get" 35mm. Every so often, it comes in useful - such as in cramped spaces, most notably - but more often than not, I find it's just too wide for most of the stuff I shoot. As such, I'm more often than not using a 50mm, and if I'm carrying another lens, it's actually a 135. I find that focal length combo to be much more useful for me right now.

However:
peterm1 said:
About the only thing I would miss in a 35mm most days would be the ability to stop down to f8 and use hyperfocal focusing to get everything from 3m to infinity in focus, which allows one to snap shoot without focusing on the subject.
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I agree with this whole-heartedly. If a 135mm with the depth of field of a 35mm lens existed in LTM, I'd be a very, very happy boy.
 
When I started out in RF, all I had was a 40mm, and I shot with this setup for a number of years. Now I usually pair it with a 21, 28 or 90 when going out with a 2 lens set. But if I had to get rid of everything and settle on one body and lens, I could certainly go back to the 40mm. Strange thing though, I couldn't get used to using a 35mm unless it was on my old M2, but I could get used to the 50mm on any body. 😕
 
I'm coming at this from a different perspective since I'm primarily a DSLR shooter--although my Digilux2 and DP-1 also get a fair bit of use--but I couldn't imagine limiting myself to a single lens. I have something on the order of 40 lenses in the house right now--I've sort of lost count--and I like to play with almost all of them from time to time. I do have my "workhorses" which get the bulk of the use but it's sometimes just fun to throw on something completely different and go out and play...
 
I could, but why would I? Sure do like my 35 2,8 and my J-12 both work well for me. Give up My Canon 50 1.8, not use my CZJ 5cm 1:1,5, stop having my J-8 it's a favorite! Don't know if I would feature choosing only one but having no choose I could be happy with ANY one . (just don't know which one)
 
Would you be content with apple pie as the only dessert ever?
I love apple pie/pancake (or Apfelpfannekuchen), but I also like other types of sweets.
Same with lenses.
 
I think it would depend on where I lived.

In a city, yes. I could live with only a 35 (but would cheat and keep a 50 hidden somewhere).

For the past 8 years I've really only shot with a 35 and 50 and have never felt deprived.

Here and there I have taken the odd snap with a 28 or the old nikkor h.c 1.8/85, but we are talking about a handful of shots out of an ungodly amount of rolls.

In medium format (6x6) I only shoot with an 80mm and occasionally the 150mm.


I have found that limiting my focal lengths has greatly improved my photography, because I learned to 'see' like those two lenses.
 
Just got back from the mountains in New England. Shot with a Nikon F and a CV 40/2 lens only. Truly wonderful. I just shot and shot. Camera was just part of my eye, not in the way.
 
I really like the 28, but for the last 4 yrs. or so, 35 has been the new *normal* for me. A 50 is a distant 3rd choice. If they passed a one-lens-only law tomorrow, I could live with a 35 without too much discomfort.
 
It depends where you go.If you travel in mountains and cities, a wide angle lens is very useful to cover the scenics while a 35mm lens may be sufficient for cities.
 
I'm a fast 50mm shooter.............I couldn't live without them and film.

But if a 35 would be the ONLY lens choice, the Canon f1.5/35 LTM is one of my favorite WA lenses on my Leica M8.

And the "wartime" era Elmar f3.5/35 is another classic super shooting lens............perfect for Slide films 😀

Tom
 
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Vics said:
I recently aquired a 35mm lens for my Leica, and the more I use it, the more I think about welding it on. I love shooting this FL! I'm a bit of a novice yet, but I find myself shooting more pictures of people, which for me is the only worthwhile kind of photo.

I've been a long time fan of Emmanuel Smague, who shoots just MP and Leica 2/35 ASPH. Great shooter. He's on flickr.
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+1 on 35mm lens & welding it on...lol
+1 on Emmanuel Smague's ...his Work is Stellar !!

Best- H
 
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