Going to Iraq....MP + 35 or 50?

Going to Iraq....MP + 35 or 50?

  • 35mm Summilux Pre-Asph

    Votes: 126 67.0%

  • 50mm Summilum ASPH

    Votes: 62 33.0%
  • Total voters
    188
jan normandale said:
Ade-oh, it's not the hostility it's the incredulity at the OP. The owner of one of the most expensive Leica's around would ask a basically irresolvable question about choosing either a 35 or 50 mm lens.
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Having been a member of this site for a couple of years or thereabouts I'm no longer in any way surprised by the vacuousness of some of the 'Should I do this? Should I do that? What lens should I buy?' posts which appear here; which often seem to me to be entirely designed to show off the fact that someone owns this or that camera or lens. I'd also point out how many members list their equipment as part of their 'signature'. I simply find it odd that this person has been singled out for opprobrium in this way.
 
I have not snickered at the OP's remarks; I am concerned about the Iraqi people and the Nation. Leave them be. I really don't care if someone takes along a Leica or a Nikon or any other brand of camera. Have these people thought about what they are doing over there?
 
jan normandale said:
The owner of one of the most expensive Leica's around would ask a basically irresolvable question about choosing either a 35 or 50 mm lens.
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And how does this differ from any one of the navel-gazing posts dealing with camera straps, bags or chrome/black dilemmas? The responses to these questions are generally met with civil (and sometimes oddly, over-enthusiastic) responses.

This comment is not directed at Jan -- it's more of a general observation. The nature in which some people dog-piled on with the snide remarks seems pretty p-netty to me. If you think that the original post is a waste of your time, well ... then quit wasting your time in reading/responding to this post. My .02.
 
Ade-oh said:
Having been a member of this site for a couple of years or thereabouts I'm no longer in any way surprised by the vacuousness of some of the 'Should I do this? Should I do that? What lens should I buy?' posts which appear here; which often seem to me to be entirely designed to show off the fact that someone owns this or that camera or lens. I'd also point out how many members list their equipment as part of their 'signature'. I simply find it odd that this person has been singled out for opprobrium in this way.
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It's not the OP I'm s******ing at. It's all of us dumb posters who keep answering him. 😛

/T
 
Ade-oh said:
This whole website is full of people - who I kind of assume should know better - asking similarly trivial questions. Why jump on this one?
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Just happened to be first really stupid one I have read over the last couple of days. If you have the competance to use an MP properly why ask what lenses you should need to take to a war zone.From personal experience you would endanger the lives of those around you if you are stupid enough to need to ask such questions on this forum. Been using Ms for 30 years after I became a 'Former' service man.
 
I'd take a Summicron 50mm f2 with a BW UV filter on it, and maybe 2-3 spare filters.

50mm is really a very convenient focal length, and the results look like they come from a persons point of view. The summicron is fast enough yet small enough and also not so expensive in case it gets damaged somehow. The UV filters will protect it against sand and you may find yourself cleaning the filter between pictures with whatever you can grab including clothes... Might get a little scratched up, hence taking a few.
 
parsec1 said:
Just happened to be first really stupid one I have read over the last couple of days. If you have the competance to use an MP properly why ask what lenses you should need to take to a war zone.From personal experience you would endanger the lives of those around you if you are stupid enough to need to ask such questions on this forum. Been using Ms for 30 years after I became a 'Former' service man.
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Please don't take it as a personal attack but I think you may be over reacting. The guys just asking what other people would do - trying to get some different points of view. It's nothing to do with stupidity and it doesn't mean anyone is endangering anyone elses life.

Relax.
 
fdigital said:
Please don't take it as a personal attack but I think you may be over reacting. The guys just asking what other people would do - trying to get some different points of view. It's nothing to do with stupidity and it doesn't mean anyone is endangering anyone elses life.

Relax.
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Its a war zone......relax... you must be kidding. there are places I go to in England where I wouldn't relax let alone Iraq
 
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Take the 35 1.4, it is a good compromise between taking a 28 and 50.
I think that you are correct. The more I travel, the more I only use one lens. Take a second (m3 ?) body. I have more body failures than anything else. Also consider a Rollei 35 S. I carry one when I travel and shoot Tri-x or Fuji Neopan 400. Has a slick light meter, is small, but gives a full frame 35mm negative, and has a 40mm 2.8 lens.

I think that your decision on film is also wise, as well as minimum battery power.

Sounds like a great
 
Although I am nothing more than a Spastic Rookie I prefer my Lux 50. I know the wider 35 allows for better street shooting and landscapes but the 50 is universal. If your going to pick one it has to be a 50. The number of once in a lifetime shots I blew in Hong Kong this past year with my 50 is mind-blowing. I am a legend in my dreams, literally, with that damn MP.

I really shouldn't say that....I couldn't love a human child more than that camera. (Name what movie that comes from, Gents...think Hair-brush) Anybody else drinking? LOL. The old-school film loading thing caused me some carnage for a few rolls. Never again.

Listak-Spastic Rookie.
MP
Lux 35/50
 
this has been an interesting albeit goofy thread, going to prove that only the photog can adequately call the 35/50 shot. The 35 pre-asph and the 50 cron are small enough to take both. Even HBC travelled with more than one lens.

Photography in war zones is not simply about the firefight. There is a human dimension as well. My younger brother did two tours in IRAQ as combat medic. He took a single P/S and brought back some interesting fotos -- nothing like the acuity of a Leica but interesting none-the-less.

Take care -- Paul {U.S.Army 74'}
 
Don't many of the threads on RFF involve questions that can't be answered? I don't think we should expect to find objective truth here - whether or not the subjective answers we provide hold any real worth, I don't think we should criticize each other for finding some value in them. Otherwise, why do we even visit these boards?
 
My previous comment on this thread was made under the incorrect assumption that the OP was to be working as a professional photographer in some capacity in Iraq. Clearly this was my mistake. If the OP is to be embarking on a personal project whilst humping around all the gear he needs to perform his actual job then I can certainly see the sense of taking a very much reduced camera kit. Or simply giving onself a single lens project.

I only ever use two lenses with my RF kit, the 50mm and the 35mm ( though I do own a 28mm which is usually used on the M8) If I were forced to pick only one then it would be the 50mm...its an easy choice for me, I'm an observer, voyeur even but put simply I get the biggest proportion of hits with the 50mm. Maybe this is the simplest way of trying to work out which lens to take...unless you really want to test yourself by taking the lens you get the least hits with😉
 
From a practical point of view the 35/1.4 pre ASPH requires the Series VII drop in filter which fits into the lens shade. Less dust protection IMHO. I think the 35 offers more versatility if one lens is the desired choice. However i would take a backup body.
 
The sand comment depends on where you are going to work. Reportage? Military (boot work or HQ work)? Official matters? I was there in 06-07 and had no problems keeping my camera clean, but I was also very very careful. Bring ziplok bags for everything in you kit that you plan on taking into the field. Keep them available, and keep all your cleaning supplies sealed in one. As for the lens selection, it also depends on your work-- mingling with the locals? Go for the 50. Panoramic views form your helicopter? Take the 35.

Good luck!
 
naos said:
To ease some of the curiousty I unintentionally caused I think an explanation is in order:

I am in the Military, but this project is in no way Government or Media sponsored. It is strictly a personal endeavor. I didn't want to reveal what I do for a living because I don't want politics regarding the war to get involved on a topic relating to 35mm. Because of my occupational specialty (sorry no details), I think I will be in a unique position to take some excellent reportage style photos of subjects that would otherwise be unavailable to the general media.

As I stated in a previous I'd like to only carry one body and lens because I like to travel light (I already have enough military issue to carry around on a daily basis.)

I will be sending exposed rolls and notes to my developer on a bi-weekly/monthly period. I don't intend to review any of the photo's I take until I return next year; although I've instructed my developer to contact me if any of the frames come up with abnormalities.

After my return I plan on creating a single photobook/story + camera set for my future grand children detailing tidbits about Iraq and the war, as well as some info on the camera and lens I used. In a world becoming more and more digitized, I want to pass on something that is defiantly NOT digital. Of course I will also share some photos write a user review for RFF.

I wouldn't call my MP disposable, but I do have contingency plans in place should the MP or lens kick the bucket.

My apologies to those who took my initial post the wrong way. I just wanted some help deciding which lens to take as well some practical advice.
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In the light of the above, I understand a lot more, including even the 'one camera, one lens', though it's not a route I'd take myself. Sod's Law states that if you carry a second camera as backup, the MP will function faultlessly for the whole tour -- you can safely ignore the doomsayers who predict that it will be a pile of scrap in a week -- but that if you don't, it'll pack up at the beginning of the most interesting and unrepeatable series of pictures you've never taken. How much weight and space is another body with a body cap? Or a second lens? If you say "Too much," we can only respect your decision; but I'd still urge you to re-think.

If you are determined to do 'one camera, one lens', do you not have a favourite among the lenses you own?

Finally, it sounds like a fascinating idea not to review the pics for a year, and I admire your patience!

Good luck and (as we say in France) bonne courage.

Cheers,

Roger
 
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