Most Versatile Focal Length

[yanidel]

I think there is a general misunderstanding on the famous Capa sentence "If you picture is not god enough, you are not close enough". He wasn't referring to distance to the subject, but distance to the action. It was aimed to war correspondants that would not go in the frontline under enemy fire and take pictures of the field after the battle. Capa would go with the first soldiers, that is why many of his pictures are so impressive, "good enough," as he said. Whatever focal he would have used could have made great pictures.

 

[kevin m]

He wasn't referring to distance to the subject, but distance to the action.

You mean like photoshop "action(s)?" That would make sense, because the only way to know if your picture is any good is to blow it up to 100% and check every pixel. 😛

 

[jody36]

I use mainly a 50 even on my dlsr got a 50 prime but i like the 40 best.

 

[mirrored]

50mm: best versatility for different dof/oof. You can use it forming telephoto looking pictures or pictures like a wide feeling with different compositions and steps.

 

[Nh3]

There is no ideal focal length, the same way that there is no ideal camera, lens, film etc... Photography is all about intelligent compromise.

As long as a photographer knows exactly what his doing, equipment such as lenses turn into simple tools, like screwdriver heads. The moment equipment start dictating what you photograph, you need to stop and reevaluate your orientation. The reason is quite simple. the only motivating factor and reward comes in pictures, not feeling cameras and pressing shutter, or focusing. So, if you don't like your photos and they're secondary to your equipment interest then you would live a perpetually dissatisfied life in regards to your photography hobby. And soon you'll have a collection and you'll spend more time selling and buying gear than actually making photos.