Favorite Lens length

Favorite Lens length

  • 20mm

    Votes: 26 2.4%

  • 24mm

    Votes: 33 3.1%

  • 28mm

    Votes: 80 7.4%

  • 35mm

    Votes: 353 32.7%

  • 40mm

    Votes: 124 11.5%

  • 50mm

    Votes: 400 37.1%

  • 75mm

    Votes: 29 2.7%

  • 90mm

    Votes: 28 2.6%

  • 135mm

    Votes: 5 0.5%
  • Total voters
    1,078
Flyfisher Tom said:
The 50 gives just the right balance of breadth and intimacy.
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Well put. It's also a very versatile focal length. I do, however, have a few 35mm lenses. They hardly see any use, but I have them because occasionally I see some use for it.

They're also lighter than most telephotos, and you have many more choices available, new and old, than the wide-angle focal lengths.
 
The thirty five is my infatuation, For now I have sold off everything but 2 35s and a 90 in 35mm film camera glass. The CV 90 is just a little slow and I hate backing up to frame which I find myself doing sometimes. I always carry 2 bodies, usually with 35s then switch one off to the 90 if the space opens up or I cant get closer. I believe the answer for me this year is to go with another fast 50 and swing a SLR with a 135 or 180 for longer reaches.


My biggest influence were the guys shooting film in Vietnam, One or two Leicas with a Nikon F long lense was the best set up available at any price.
 
75mm seems under-represented in the poll too; anomalously low for the bell curve. Probably, like the 40, it's not a traditional focal length for interchangeable lens 35's. Yet (as a contrarian?) I think it's as way cool in its own way as the 40. 🙂
 
About 80% of all responses favor using lenses with focal lengths 35mm~50mm. All other focal lengths combined account for the remaining 20% of responses. This result should send some strong message to lens distributers to request additonal lenses in such a range.


Raid
 
Hi!

I only have 50ish and 42mm for non-SLR. So, I voted for 50 here.
I like to shoot with 28mm (SLR) more than with 35mm.

Kent
 
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Doug said:
75mm seems under-represented in the poll too; anomalously low for the bell curve. Probably, like the 40, it's not a traditional focal length for interchangeable lens 35's. Yet (as a contrarian?) I think it's as way cool in its own way as the 40. 🙂
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I agree, If I could only have one lens, I would opt for one between 75 - 100 mm. I used my 85 & 100 for years even with multiple lenses longer and shorter. For a WA, I would select a 28mm or even a 24mm. I have an Arsat 16mm which I like muchly but it is not an all purpose lens. 😀
 
I voted for the 20mm, but I really have the 15mm and right now it is my favorite focal length, but I have to admit that it changes all the time. I tend to rediscover certain focal lengths and declare them as my favorite for awhile. The 15 is just so much fun - it's a whole new world out there🙂
 
I originally voted for the 28mm because that's what I used for years with my old Pentax Spotmatics.

However, since getting a Bessa R and the 35/2.5 color skopar I've become accustomed to it.

However (second "however"), since getting the Canon 50/1.8 from Frank S. I have been re-discovering a "new" view of life. I put that in quotes as the only lens I had for a year when I began photographing in the sixties was the 50/1.4 Super Takumar.

Later I aquired a 135/2.5 and decided anyone with more than one lens was a "real" photographer.

Ted
 
i have only 50mm lenses for my Leica - Zorki-Feds , but could / should have sacrificed a pretend Leica or to for a 35m and an 85mm ... but who cares ? If i really need those wode angles , the faithfull Minolta SRs still awaits - and my new ''babies '' are just an escape ..

Curiously , though an Interior Designer needing to take inside record shots , i did invest in 24 / 28 SLR lenses , but find that there is a sense of dee'stortion in a 35mm which isn't there with my 50 mm.

But ASdee is odd in that I find it dee'ficult to alter what is imprinted - so , once the 50 , my sole first lense - 1970s was learned - I can now sense what the camera will ''see'' - and can use both eyes and the field of view is the same .

having said this , I did find an old 100mm Vvitar that has an entirely unintentional softness at f 5.6 and above that gave me dreamy portrait slides !

dee cidely dee
 
i wonder what the answer would be in an SLR forum. given how they like to zoom, perhaps such a question would be moot.
 
35mm on a FED1g and 80mm on a FED2e. Similar on DSLR: 50mm prime (roughly 75mm equivalent) or standard 18-55mm zoom (roughly 28-80mm). For an old Exakta it has to be 35mm and 135mm because there weren't many around 80mm so they're fairly elusive and expensive these days. So how did I vote? 90mm!
 
Favorite Focal Length

Favorite Focal Length

I like the 28mm (21 on M8) because it takes in the same sweep as my eyes.
I like the 50mm (35 on M8) because it frames what I see.
I like the 90mm (75 on M8) because it sees the face I'm focused on with my eyes.

If I could only own one lens it would be a 35 (28 on M8).

Tom
 
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