I have lost interest in 50mm primes for 135 film.

[Ko.Fe.]

I would like to switch one day from DSLR to digital Leica RF, but one reason why I'm not in the rush is my 50 1.2 lens which I use on FF DSLR. I like it for portraits and for reportage. It is most used lens on FF digital for me.

But this is what happened lately.
I've got Color Skopar 25mm f4 for my M4-2. And it became my most used lens on film. It allows me to be close, yet to show a lot what is around.
Couple of weeks ago I took my DSLR with 50mm lens on it and went to take picture from charity, fun event for our local community message board. And... I wasn't able to frame with it. I was stubborn to use 50mm lens after I spend few weeks with 25mm lens. 😱, it became so narrow.

And now I have my most expensive (Elmar-M) lens for my M4-2 which I acquired just one month ago sitting of the shelf for "just in case", because it is 50mm. I'm not sure if even new old 35mm lens (haven't got it yet) is going to work for me as it was before I didn't have 25mm lens.
I want to keep my M4-2 because it is real joy to use, but with Voigtlander 25mm VF it is kind of bulky...

 

[daveleo]

If you like getting close to what you are framing, 50mm (for me) has always been too "tele". It pushes me further back than I want to be physically.
I also feel the exagerated perspective of a "wide" lens, used up close, makes up a bit for printing a 3D world onto a 2d plane. (Please let's skip the distance / pespective topic).

 

[Livesteamer]

This happens and it's OK. A different season of life. I got a CV 25 this year and it is a wonderful lens. Enjoy. Joe

 

[froyd]

I would give a 35 a try.

I'm with Dave: the 50 is now my tele, and once or twice a year the 90 is my super tele.

The 21 is my standard wide, and 35 is my normal.

 

[taemo]

sounds like the 25mm skopar is working well for you as your general lens, keep using it and just bring out the 50mm once you need something longer or feeling a different perspective.

I found 21 and 25 too wide for myself and finding 28mm to be perfect, however 50mm is still my overall favourite focal length.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I've just looked back closely and 35mm lens (Color Skopar 35 PII) was mostly on M4-2, while 50mm lenses were on the shelf most of the time even if I went through several of them, just to try and see the difference. I have tried four 50mm this year and after couple of rolls I was not motivated to use any of them anymore.

I have perfect J-3 on FED-2 and it looks like it is good enough if I want 50mm. I'm getting very good prints from this J-3.
I also have 90 f4 good, old, coated Elmar and used it only three times so far...

It looks like it is time for me to start to try different 35mm lenses, while using 25mm as main. 🙂
But good 35-ones are more expensive comparing to 50mm lenses. So I have to sell Elmar-M 50 to be able to try some 35mm lenses I want to try...

 

[Huss]

I want to keep my M4-2 because it is real joy to use, but with Voigtlander 25mm VF it is kind of bulky...

You need a Minolta CLE. Tiny, fantastic cameras, and the entire VF covers the 25mm view. No need for 'bulky' Voigtlander external VFs (even though I think they are very small and the metal ones are delightfully made)

 

[presspass]

Until I started using rangefinders again about 15 years ago, I never shot 50s. I didn't even have one for the Nikons or, later, the EOS system. But when it comes to rangefinders, the 50 seems to suit me. I do use wider - 35 and 21 especially - and longer, up to 500. When I go out with a short set of lenses - 21, 35, 75, and 135, I always miss the 50. I've tried 25s and can rarely connect with them, but if that's what works for you, you should stick with it.

 

[leicapixie]

My most used lens on my M3 and M6 is the 50mm Collapsible Summicron f2.
I find it a perfect match for my vision.
It can be wide and yet a short tele!
I see use of wides and super wides(25mm down) too distorted.
A 28mm can have great perspective and wild geometry.
Wider is not needed by me!
The 35mm is a perfect match to the 50mm and onto the 90mm.
Look at the frames..
The 35mm long equals the 50mm short..
Yep! Figger it out..
Super wides are best served by SLR/DSLR viewing.
Minute differences in position have great bearing on ultimate moment.
Use of auxiliary viewfinders on an M, is simply not for me!
I hate using a DSLR while using a Film M.
Neither is well served.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

You need a Minolta CLE. Tiny, fantastic cameras, and the entire VF covers the 25mm view. No need for 'bulky' Voigtlander external VFs (even though I think they are very small and the metal ones are delightfully made)

Thank you for the info!

Would M4-P full VF window be equal to 25mm as well?

I have plastic 35mm VF, looks like I need at least to get metal one, before trying another camera.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Edit: Looks like the vf Magnification on the CLE is 0.58, the M4P is 0.72. So I would assume not.

 

[Huss]

Thank you for the info!

Would M4-P full VF window be equal to 25mm as well?

I have plastic 35mm VF, looks like I need at least to get metal one, before trying another camera.

1/ No
2/ The metal Voigtlander VFs are sooo much nicer than the plastic ones (I have both - the plastic ones came 'free' with some of the lenses). What is nice is you can choose black or chrome to match your camera.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

OK! I'll try to switch from plastic to black metal VF first.

And if I'll continue to keep Elmar-M 50 on the self, I'll let it go and use money from it for some fancy 35mm lens, which I'm more likely to use.

 

[michaelwj]

Thank you for the info!

Would M4-P full VF window be equal to 25mm as well?

I have plastic 35mm VF, looks like I need at least to get metal one, before trying another camera.

I'll add "but not far off" to the no above. I can easily see the whole 28mm lines, plus a bit extra, so I'd guess it was 27-26mm or so. Give it a try and see for a roll.
Otherwise a 0.58vf Leica? Not a cheap option though, but isn't there a bessa with a wide vf?

I recently sold a 50 cron because it felt too cramped, 35 is my preferred, but I also like a 21 for wide. Although the external vf is bulky, the package is still smaller than an SLR wide angle package.

 

[presspass]

If you really want the best 25 viewfinder, go with a Zeiss. It may cost as much as your lens, so if you can't afford it, don't EVER look through one.

 

[Addy101]

Why not get a 28mm lens? Ideal focallength IMHO.
Re. 50mm, just use it again for a while and you will get used to it again. The only thing with 50mm (and 35mm) is that it is so common that something like a 25mm looks exotic....

 

[Huss]

If you really want the best 25 viewfinder, go with a Zeiss. It may cost as much as your lens, so if you can't afford it, don't EVER look through one.

I have a Zeiss 18mm finder, and honestly I do not see any difference in quality of image compared to my metal CV ones (21/25, 28, 35).
Seeing CV makes the Zeiss lenses, maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[ferider]

Why not get a 28mm lens? Ideal focallength IMHO.

That's what I thought too - my favorite, period. If you like 25 and 35 - try a 28. Some great lenses out there, and no problem with your m4-2 (or a CLE for that matter).

 

[btgc]

Such periods are just normal, latching into something.

I have 25-50 zoom and to me it still appears as one of most useful things I can mount on SLR. Shoot it wide, short throw and see it in regular FOV.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

M4-2 I have doesn't have 28 framelines. GW used 28mm on M4 with external VF, I was watching him on old video from youtube. And I like his photography.

My Konica off-road is 28mm. I don't know... I want to use 25mm which I like for some time and I want to try some more 35mm. Where are four I want to try 🙂.

In 28mm it is one FSU, plenty of old and new Made in Japan and few Leica made.
For me somehow it is only interesting to get made in Canada 28mm with made in Canada M4-P and nothing else, because Canadian 28 is expensive. So, I'll try bunch of 35mm, while using of 25mm and maybe at one day I'll switch to only 28mm on M4-P instead of M4-2...