Lens Choices in the Subways of NYC
- Thread starter JChrome
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benmacphoto
Well-known
I've used 35mm and 50mm.
Mainly 35mm Summilux, though sometimes the 50 works best.
Mainly 35mm Summilux, though sometimes the 50 works best.
Dana B.
Well-known
Not sure about NYC. But on LA subways I've found a 35/2 Nikkor to work well. Or settle for my 50/1.4 Zuiko, which works well for people, but is often tight for the interior architectural drama.
Contarama
Well-known
I've never been street shooting in NYC but if I ever do I will have a 28/2.8 Ais on a titanium FM2.
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
50mm is best for EVERYTHING
Araakii
Well-known
I don't live in NYC but I've shot in the train in Seattle using the 28mm summicron.
Green_Blue
Established
Same for me,
Also on a sidenote, your website is great although I do wonder why you choose to use classical utilitarianism when preference utilitarianism seems to be more suited to a defence of street photography.
jsrockit
Moderator
I use my Fuji X100... AF, high ISO, leaf shutter, and a 35mm equiv lens.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Mostly 28 Cron. I'll likely also shoot my Plaubel 6X9 with a 47/5.6 now that I figured out how to get 1250 ISO. Its basically a 21mm equiv. Got to love a leaf shutter and being able to just leveling the camera and shooting from the chest.
Cal
Cal
rbsinto
Well-known
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Based on what I own, I'd suggest anything from a 28 on down.
peter_n
Veteran
For years I shot with a 40mm but when I sold the Canonet I went with a 35 and very occasionally a 24. I like small lenses for shooting in the subway.
icebear
Veteran
25/2.8 Biogon and 35/2 'cron depends if you are inside the car or on the platforms, sometimes even a 50/2, crop as you shoot not later on 😀.
JChrome
Street Worker
Sorry about that, I had the post slated for release today at 12:30 PM EST but I thought the url would work anyway beforehand (it did for me).
Anyway - it work's now.
And if that doesn't work - here is the full URL -
http://stillthrill.com/2012/08/21/wide-angle-jingle-jangle-lens-choices-for-the-subway/
JChrome
Street Worker
Preference utilitarianism? Never heard of it. I have heard of consequentialism but it has been sometime since I have done any serious studying up on the subject. It was interesting to see all of the responses to my argument. I think it was about 60/40 agree/disagree. Anyway I did make the observation that a lot of the flack I got was from Brits. I think it has to do with all of the News Corp scandals and the fact that London is blanketed in CCTV... but that's just a guess.
JChrome
Street Worker
This sounds amazing!!!! I have shot some medium format on the subway but not extensively because the lenses are slower. If I would shoot higher iso then it would work.... but I would love to have a really wide angle and fast medium format lens but they don't seem to exist.
Any link to your work?
stompyq
Well-known
35mm and lower is what i use. 50mm is a little too narrow. Again depends on what your trying to achieve. I've used many camera lens combinations and currently use a pentax 6x7 with 105mm lens (i thinks thats a 50mm eq). I find that combo a little too narrow unless you want to make straight portraits in a relatively empty subway car.
jsrockit
Moderator
Cal is an analog only type... no digital whatsoever (i.e. no website, no computer).
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I've taken some shots with a Rollei 3.5 wide open (only about 40mm equiv.) relying mostly on good technic, steady hands and waiting for the subway car not to be moving. The quiet leaf shutter makes MF cameras the better choice and the wider the FOV the closer you can get to your subject. That's why the Plaubel is the best camera with a 47/5.6 Super Augulon.
I've shot the Plaubel hand held at night at 1/15 and 1/30th. With a leaf shutter and the ergonomics its a very steady camera.The camera uses a Mamiya Press back that is S-shaped that forms two handles. Since the Plaubel is a 21mm equiv the DOF even wide open is great. Shooting Tri-X at 1250 is basically all I need.
I use Diafine 7+4 to get 1250 outa Tri-X, but know I want denser negatives for wet printing. Go perhaps 1600 ISO if scanning. BTW I get wonderful mids even though the Tri-X is pushed. Kinda looks like Jim Marshall's work where he shot all those rock and rollers with Tri-X at 800 ASA and used Acufine as a developer. The negatives don't look pushed. Also know for best results use minimum agitation. I only perform two gentle inversions per minute. The high lights in this two part contrast compensating developer kinda get a stand development with minimum agitation, but the minimum agitation also cuts contrast and does not wash out the mids.
6x9 in 120 (big negative) means not a lot of enlargement and tight grain, and mucho detail. I'll likely be doing a lot of this work this winter.
BTW IGOR Camera happens to have two Plaubel 69W's. Not sure if you know that this camera offers shifts for perspective control and the VF'er "periscopes" with the movements. Its a kinda rare camera. Bonus is its the easiest MF camera I own to load. Good thing because its only 8 shots on a roll of 120.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I'm an old hippy. Give me the old retro gear. Only have a cell phone because my girlfriend insists, and she pays for it.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The Pentax 105/2.4 is a 54mm equiv. Also this lens has mighty shallow DOF and very smooth OOF. Perhaps not the best for capturing the subway feel of crowds, and all those gritty textures, flacking paint and filth.
Cal
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