I was using the 40 on my Bessa R3m, but since I got a ZI, I can't get off the 50. I have a 35 and a 90, but the 50 just seems to be a fit for my eye most of the time.
I think it depends the most on what you like to shoot the most. If you like street and portraits, you'll tend towards a 50mm. If you like landscapes, you'll trend toward 35mm.
I have always (until maybe a year ago) used a 28 and 85 combination, ignoring the 50 except for slr macro. Lately I have been doing lots of portraits and find I like to work close with the 50 compared to a 75 or 90. So I voted for 50. For scenics, crowds, etc., I prefer a 25 or 35.
Have a pre asph 35mm lux and a 50mm cron ,Im always slightly disapointed if Ive had to use the 35,I feel as if Ive cheated,will one day buy a 50mmmlux pre asph and be a very happy bunny.
I use 50mm and 35mm with a 28mm as backup when needed or as a '35' on the M8. I like to keep things simple so as not to overload my meagre brain. I'm better using wide angles on SLR cameras primarily for work.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm restricting myself too much but I find I focus on things better with less kit and therefore less options. Work is different as the final image must fulfill a clients brief so I need the options...plus using zooms helps in that regard.
I'm typically a wide-ish person and the 35mm has been my primary lens on the Leica. However, lately, I got hold of a Nikon F3 and have been shooting with that for a change and I find my standard lens on the SLR is becoming the 20mm
You don't state what format. I can assume rangefinder because it's RFF. So I can't answer the poll. I use 35mm through 4x5 rengefinders and prefer normal focal length lenses most of the time, 60%+...
In RF I've only got 28, 35, and 50. I prefer the 28. However, if I switch to my Pentax DSLR, then I've got 28, 35, 50, 55, 50 macro, 105, 135, 200, and 300. And that's not counting the digital lenses. Recently, I've been using the 105/2.8 and loving it.
I used to have a 35mm Summicron-ASPH, but I couldn't get used to it. Traded it in for a brand new 50mm Summilux-M pre-ASPH and never regretted it (plus the 50mm summilux pre-asph is a fantastic lens on its own). The 35mm aspherical summicron is technically an exceptional lens, but it was not for me. I "see" things better with 50mm.
I started with a 40 'cron and love that lens and focal length. However, since borrowing my friend's 25mm snapshot skopar I've found that using an RF is even easier than before. I basically only do street shooting and tend to work fairly close, and if I prefocus on 2m then everything from 3-3.5ft to infinity will be in focus. Super easy for those quick shots, saves precious milliseconds. I recently went back to the 40 and I found myself fiddling a bit too much with the focus for my taste. Maybe I just need to get used to it again, but I think I want something wider. I'm looking into a 28 (25, though great, is just a touch wide for me).
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