Do you rotate your lenses around?

[raid]

I used the M9 with a 35mm Summilux and the E-PL1 with a Zeiss Planar 45/.2 almost all of the time during a trip to Europe. I got used to this set-up.

Before the trip, I used almost exclusively the M8 with a 50mm Summicron and the M9 with the 35mm Su,,ilux ... for months!

I benefit from keeping the same lenses by learning each time more about how some cameras work together with some lenses, but I lose on "getting some fresh air" by trying out other lenses.

Having M 4/3 cameras or some of the newer SONY cameras with interchangeable lenses, or using a Leica M240 or similar, all these new cameras encourage extra fun with older lenses that you have stashed at home from the SLR times.

Yesterday, I decided to play it "unsafe", and I grabbed the original Nokton 5cm/1.5 (for the Voigtlaender Prominent), and I used Amedeo's adapters Prominent to Contax and then Contax to M with the M8. I could have used a new version of the Nokton, but I did not. I also had the M9 with the Zeiss 45/2 Planar.

Do you also often rotate lenses to get a fresh feeling in your photography, or do you aim at "clinical perfection" with specific lenses?


Amedeo makes wonderful adapters, as many of you have already experienced. I am waiting for his latest proto-type adapter for Rolleiflex QBM 50/1.4 Zeiss Planar to M. It will be exciting then to try the lens out on the M8 and M9.



Thanks for your feedback.

[If I have posted this thread in the wrong forum, please move it accordingly]

 

[DNG]

my main camera is a Fuji X, but, I have a few lenses in M42, and Nikon mount.
For a film camera, I stick with a Nikon, Had an FE, but replace it with an FE2 or FM3a.

So, I do rotate lenses, and the Nikon I buy to fill out my Film needs first.
I have a 24 and 50 in Nikkor glass now, and plan on a 85/1.8 or 105/1.8 next.. Then I can sell my Restored J9 in a Keiv mount...
since the Nikon 85 or 105 can work on my Fuji also.

For me, it is more for the crop factor than for a fresh feeling..So, I guess I am in the clinical side mostly...Though that does not change my inspiration.

 

[raid]

The Nikkor 105/1.8 should be an awesome lens. I have the 105/2.5 Sonnar design version Nikkor. It should be lighter and less costly than the 105/12.8.

 

[Godfrey]

My answer is both yes and no ... I must be an Elf.

In general, I tend to settle on using specific lenses with specific cameras, even when the lenses interchange between the cameras without even the need for an adapter. For instance, I tend to use the Nokton 50/1.5 or 'Lux 35 v2 with the M-P most of the time where I tend to use the Color Skopar 50 or Color Skopar 35 with the M4-2, and the M-Rokkor 40 with the CL. I just get comfortable with a particular lens or couple of lenses on a given camera and prefer using just that setup with it most of the time.

The lenses I use less frequently get swapped between different cameras more often. For instance, the Elmar-M 24 and Summarit-M 75 are both recent acquisitions; so far I've tried them on the M4-2, M-P, and CL. Perhaps they just haven't 'settled' onto a particular camera yet.

And then ... Every so often, I just get the notion of sticking a lens I don't normally use on a particular body onto it and go out shooting to see what it does.

G

 

[Argenticien]

I've got four adapters for my a7: Canon FD, M42 (via m42-->K and K-->NEX), Minolta MC/MD, and LTM. I have gaps in focal length in various mounts so that drives the choice, presuming a reasonably small bag where I'll carry only one family of lenses. If I want ultra-wide, must carry FD as I have a 20 only in that. If I want fast portrait, must carry Minolta as I have 85/1.x only in that. Etc. Then I pack the 28, 35, 50, etc. of the family this determined, and so those get a rotation. Sometimes I will never get round to shooting the 20 or 85 or whatever that I thought I needed and which drove the choice, but when I use the 28 or 50 of that family, I find myself thinking 'why don't I take this out more often?' So much good, affordable glass and so little time. Minolta MC is my go-to choice most times, though

--Dave

 

[Roger Hicks]

Do you rotate your lenses around?

Dear Raid,

Normally only to put them on the camera and take them off (1/4 turn each way)...

If a lens is giving the effect I want, why would I want another?

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

I've got four adapters for my a7: Canon FD, M42 (via m42-->K and K-->NEX), Minolta MC/MD, and LTM. I have gaps in focal length in various mounts so that drives the choice, presuming a reasonably small bag where I'll carry only one family of lenses. If I want ultra-wide, must carry FD as I have a 20 only in that. If I want fast portrait, must carry Minolta as I have 85/1.x only in that. Etc. Then I pack the 28, 35, 50, etc. of the family this determined, and so those get a rotation. Sometimes I will never get round to shooting the 20 or 85 or whatever that I thought I needed and which drove the choice, but when I use the 28 or 50 of that family, I find myself thinking 'why don't I take this out more often?' So much good, affordable glass and so little time. Minolta MC is my go-to choice most times, though

--Dave

Hi Dave,

How sharp is the Canon FD 20mm lens on the NEX? Do you notice lack of sharpness as compared with using the lens on a film camera? I use the FD 17/4.

 

[Martin Carone Santos]

Never go to street with more than one extra lens. The usual pairs can be elmars 35/90, 35/50, 50/90. Or any of these along with Summaron 28.

 

[PrestonR]

Nope, I find that I like normal focal lengths. All of my cameras have fixed lenses, except my pentax slr... And I only have one lens for that.

At the end of the day, I find I don't care for juggling lenses around.

 

[Rob-F]

I use my M-mount lenses on both digital and film bodies. I use my Nikon mount lenses on both film and Digital Nikon bodies. But I don't have Fuji or Sony (etc.) bodies to try my M or Nikon mount lenses, and I think that may be what Raid means. So I'm not sure I'm eligible to vote!

 

[raid]

I meant that I often get stuck on using the same lenses over and over while I could switch to other lenses.

 

[Kate-the-Great]

Yes and no.

For a long time I shot with a complete kit of lenses (24 / 50 / 100 was my favorite) but I've been moving more in the direction of sticking with one focal length for a few years, starting with shooting a GW690 in 2012-2013 and moving to R-D1 with single lens in 2013, then X-E1 and single lens alongside my View Camera 2014-now.

The decisive moment in my "single lens" experience was in June, when the Nikkor 17-35 I use with my EOS M Viewcamera broke the day before a big trip and I found myself using almost exclusively my 5D with the 40mm and enjoying every minute of the experience. I brought along my X-E1 with a Serenar 28mm, which gave the same equivalent view as the 40 on the 5D and was nice for snapshots from the car. I think I used my 20mm Nikkor maybe 4 times in 10 days on the 5D, all for architectural interiors. So now I added an Olympus E-300 4/3 DSLR to make the 20mm the same FOV as my other camera/lens combos so that lovely lens doesn't go to waste.

So, in a sense I do rotate lenses in that each of the three I use have different character wide-open, but they're all the same (equivalent) view on the bodies I've matched them with- and I only use one lens with each camera.

Really, my intention now is to match the lenses and rotate different cameras to have a choice of sensor- like switching films.

Oly E-300 will be converted to monochrome sensor for B&W, where the smooth gradations yet limited DR of the CCD will be right at home.

X-E1's sensor makes images that to me are a lot like C-41 film, enormous highlight detail and very malleable in editing but needs a lot of work to get colors right.

5D's sensor feels like using E-6 film to me, limited DR but beautifully subtle gradations and gorgeous colors and clarity with minimal post-processing if exposed just so.

 

[Rob-F]

I meant that I often get stuck on using the same lenses over and over while I could switch to other lenses.

Oh, I see. Well, I'm famous for changing lenses all the time, at least when using primes. Every third shot seems to want another focal length. I'm pleased that zoom lenses have improved in recent times. Using zooms on the Nikons, at least some of the time, saves time and trouble with little loss in quality. I like my 28-105, and my 24-85. On the Leicas, I tried a Tri-Elmar, but didn't like shooting with it. So on the Leicas, I just use primes, and change lenses as needed. If I have to use just one lens, it is a 28, 35, or 40mm.

 

[Rob-F]

When I recall that Mike Todd needed only four lenses for Todd-AO (Oklahoma, Around the world in 80 days), I wonder why I bring all the focal lengths I do at times! His four were: the 120 degree, 12.5mm "Bugeye;" a 64 degree lens; one of 48 degree coverage; and one 37 degree lens.

 

[kiemchacsu]

Well, I just decided to trade my 6-years in operation 35mm Summicron IV to take the 35mm Summaron as a challenge.

Actually I like the idea to try different lenses.

 

[nikon_sam]

All the time...unless it's a fixed lens camera I'll carry 4, 5 or 6 lenses for most events...
if street shooting maybe less...

 

[Doug]

I use only one lens on one camera for a roll or two (or the digital equivalent batch), then I often switch to a different lens for the next batch. Recently I've been on a trend toward angles of view narrower than "normal", say between 50-75mm or equivalent. But this was interrupted by the RFF 40mm lens thread and I dug out my 40 Nokton and 40 Rokkor for a trial on the M240.

 

[Rob-F]

All the time...unless it's a fixed lens camera I'll carry 4, 5 or 6 lenses for most events...
if street shooting maybe less...

Yeah, that sounds like me.

 

[Richard G]

Never go to street with more than one extra lens. The usual pairs can be elmars 35/90, 35/50, 50/90. Or any of these along with Summaron 28.

A lot of sympathy for this approach. Two lenses. And Elmars at that, light and compact. The Elmar M 50 is almost glued to my M9. The other 50, a black Summicron, is glued to my Monochrom. And the little 28 Elmarit is the other lens if it's not a 35, which more and more often it isn't.

 

[mcfingon]

I voted that I rotate lenses Raid, but my frequency of rotation is usually low. I have had the 50 Sonnar-C on the M3 for more than a year, but have drifted to a 35 Biogon on my M2 body, which I bought specifically for that lens. I have recently bought a 90 M-Rokkor which is small enough to carry on my motorbike with either camera/lens combo. My speed of rotation may increase. I used to teach that a lens you couldn't be bothered carrying with you was no use 🙂