Old European Cities: 25mm/50mm or 35mm?

Old European Cities: 25mm/50mm or 35mm?

  • Total voters
    133
I voted 25/50.. But my real choice would have been 25/35 or 25/40 or all three 25/35/50. The reason is that in the historical areas of European cities, the streets are really narrow, a lot of times I remember using my 35 more like I would use a 50. The 50 ended up being the short tele. There were times I could not back up far enough and what I had was a 28 as the widest 🙁. The light inside a lot of the buildings in the older sections is pretty dim as well, fast lens comes in handy.

But if u are not planning to go into the older sections then straight up 25/50 or just a 35 should just work fine.

Gary
 
When I had my M6TTL, I used to take an Elnmarit-M 28mm/f2.8, Canon 35mm/f2.8, Summicron-M 50mm/f2 and an Elmar 90mmf4. Including a load of film, my wallet and mobile phone, it all fitted very comfortably into a Billingham Hadley.

These days, I carry a Nikon F6+Battery Pack, 24/35/50 and 85 AF-D primes and film / phone, etc in a slightly larger but still very comfortable Crumpler Ben's Pizza XL.

Unless you're lugging MF or LF kit, I don't subscribe to the minimalist approach - but I wouldn't douible up on a focal length. Take the lenses that give you the results you like best.
 
If i took two lenses, it would be the 21 / 35 combo: Apart from medium format fixed lens cameras the 35 would always be my first choice lens. I don't even own a 75, 90 or 135 for Leica M anymore.

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21mm f4 CV Leica MP
 
Of the lenses you listed, the 35/1.2 is the one I choose again and again. But photographing an urban area really requires a superwide. I'd take the 35 as your normal and then something really wide like a 21 or 15.

The C/V 15 Heliar is small, light and fits in a pocket. Just sayin'.
 
For my rangefinders, I have 90/45/35/28/21 lenses. I do not have a 50mm or a 25mm. However, if I only had the lenses listed by the original poster, I would take the 50/25 as my first choice and either one of the 35mm only lenses as second choice.

On the other hand, if I could select lenses from my personal inventory, my Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 ZM would be my one-lens only solution; the 35/21 would be my two-lens solution; and the 35/21/90 would be my three-lens solution. If I were also going to shoot landscapes, I would add a second body with a 28mm lens.
 
In France I carried a CV 25; CV 28; CV 35; and a 50mm Collapsible Summicron. I took no more than two pictures with the 50mm; over 20 rolls with the three CV lenses. They are small enough that I can carry them easily and unobtrusively in my travel vest. If I were only going to bring two lenses they would be 25 and 35. A 25 is almost always wide enough and 35 makes a good normal lens. I have added a CV 21, and next time I go I'll probably add it to my bag. If three lenses, then 21-25-35, or 25-28-35.
 
The medium is also a factor. Will you process and print your own work? If so, you can get by with a more widely spaced set. Some years ago, we spent three weeks in the Czech Republic, mostly in Prague with a knowledgeable citizen as a guide. I shot black and white film with a rangefinder camera and three of the lightest lenses I have - 28mm 2.8, 50mm f 2.0, and a 90mm f2.8. That set covered everything and was quite portable - a factor when walking a lot.
 
I would take along all 3 lenses. They are small in size. If you want to use only one lens, I would pick the 35mm/2 or 50mm lens. The 50mm lens may require you to move around a little bit more than with the 35mm lens.
 
As this question was asked over 7 years ago, is there any feedback from the original poster what he decided and what he thought of his final choice after returning from the trip? (no, I did not read every post)
 
Sparrow said:
12mm ... good in really tight places
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21mm ... good it tight places for the less sociable
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35mm for general purpose
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50mm is almost a telephoto in town
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If it's a one-shot deal I'd carry a 35 and a 50 without question ... sorry for the colour, SWMBO insists on colour in the summer
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This.

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Bob Michaels said:
As this question was asked over 7 years ago, is there any feedback from the original poster what he decided and what he thought of his final choice after returning from the trip? (no, I did not read every post)
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Based on the images of Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, and Portugal on his website, it looks like he took the 50 & 25. However, I emailed him to ask that he post his final decision.
 
narsuitus said:
Based on the images of Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, and Portugal on his website, it looks like he took the 50 & 25. However, I emailed him to ask that he post his final decision.
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I did end up taking all 3 ZM lenses (25/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/2.0) and left the CV 35/1.2 at home, but mostly used the 25 and 50.
 
@kxl

Thanks for responding.

Hope you and your family are in good health.

Even though you cannot travel like you once did, please do not abandon your fans here at RFF.
 
kxl said:
I did end up taking all 3 ZM lenses (25/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/2.0) and left the CV 35/1.2 at home, but mostly used the 25 and 50.
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I saw the thread a single day before my trip to a city. To be honest, I voted for the 35/2, but got insecure on this choice after reading some posts. I ended up with the same focal length as you did (25/35/50) and used 25mm and 50mm the most, too.
 
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