if you have only one lens

[furbs]

I recommend a 35mm Summicron for its versatility, though the 50mm would be preferable if you plan on doing mostly portraits and want more control of DOF. Otherwise, just go with the 35 and crop in post. There's a reason the RX1R and X100s only come with 35mm (equivalent) lenses...

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

35mm, best allrounder ever.

 

[ktmrider]

Both Great

Both Great

Hard choice which gets asked over and over. I am returning to the USAtomorrow after two weeks in Peru. I brought the M6 with 21/35/90 and a X100. The 21 never left the bag and I used the 35 on the M6 99 percent of the time. Of course, there was not a choise on the X100.

Next trip in Sept is to Scotland to hike 175 miles. I am tentatively planning on one camera and one lens to keep it as light as possible and I have rediscovered film so no digital on the next trip. So, either M6 or M2 body with 50 Sumicron and Ektar 100.

Guess only you can decide as both focal lengths really work for me. Funny thing is I did not care for either when I was doing it for a living-carried a 24 and 85 which covered 90 percent of my photography unless shooting sports then added either 180 or 300.

 

[helen.HH]

Dear Helen,

Same here. Maybe 30 years of 35 Summilux has pretty much given way to the 50 C-Sonnar for the last two or three years.

But of course I'm older than you... (This is regardless of your actual age, which I do not know. Ladies are ALWAYS younger than men).

Cheers,
R.

Ahhh Roger, so now I see how Frances fell in Love with You...
A True Gent & smooth talker... Sweetness 😉

 

[squareshooter]

I knew a fellow who was crazy about his 30mm lens on a film Yashica 35mm. I do not know anybody else who ever HAD a 30mm lens. It is really for you to decide depending on how you work and what you like.

 

[Carterofmars]

SUMMICRON 35mm f2.

 

[ferider]

They are both great.

Your 35 has one advantage: it's "faster". Meaning easier to hand-hold with 400 ASA down to 1/8th or so, a typical traveling situation for me. Portraits in a restaurant, for example, etc.

 

[tbarker13]

For me it used to be a 35. But these days, I find myself gravitating to the 50.
I am using a 50 rigid summicron for pretty much everything right now.

 

[grapejohnson]

when i'm not sure what i'm going to be encountering, which is most of the time, i use a 28, and almost always am glad i mounted it, although sometimes if i'm kind of far away, taking a picture of someone on a porch or something, i'd wish i'd used a 50. 40 is also a perfect "mount it and forget it" lens because it's even more versatile than 28. not a big fan of 35, even though 28 isn't that far off
i dunno. you really just have to try them out. i never thought i'd like 28mm until i tried it

 

[mansio]

thx for all the input guys. will be rolling this new film roll with 50mm and see how it goes.
I am indeed trying out to choose which focal length is better. but I am actually more interested in everyone's input.
as mentioned it will takes months for me to decide given the pace with film. so chat away