Only 2 lenses: 35 and 50mm!?!

[bugmenot]

Hello Folks!

For years, I have been using for my style of photography (street, portrait, reportage) only 35 and 50mm on Leica M bodies: (Past: M6+M4 with 35 Cron, 50 Lux; Now: M9+M8+M3: 28/35 Cron, 50 Lux)

What is your experience?

Are there more people who really only use 35 and 50mm?

Especially the street shooters here...

 

[Andy Kibber]

I used 50mm exclusively for years. Now I pretty much only use 35mm. Seems to me if you're going to only use two lenses you should go for two with a bit more space between them. Like 28mm and 50mm or 35mm and 75mm.

 

[jsrockit]

Always been a 35mm fan with 50mm coming a distant second. Lately I've been using 28mm and Zoom even and see the benefits of both. I picked up a 50mm for my M8 so I'll have a 66.5mm now. I think it is good to concenrtrate on one or two focal lengths, but not for forever. Expand a little and you'll see things differently. I never thought I'd want a 90mm lens for the M...but now I do.

 

[Lauffray]

Same as aperture64, I used to like having many lenses, sold all to buy a nice 50 because I was a 50 guy, then discovered 35 and got hooked, never used anthg else since, 50/35 is perfect. I'm a street shooter too

 

[Sparrow]

I carry two bodies with 35 and 50 in cities usually

 

[helmbrecht]

interesting discussion

after years with Nikon SLRs and lenses from 10 to 300mm I ended up with two Leica bodies (M8 M2) and two focal length. 28 and/or 40mm for the M8, 50mm for the M2.

In my bag is still a CV 15mm, but I hardly use it. When I take it out, than as 21mm for the M8 crop.

 

[kshapero]

I could totally live with 35-50 except my 90 is handy at the ball game.

 

[Livesteamer]

I agree mostly. 35 and 50 work well but when I'm on vacation I like my 28 and also my CV 15. Every now and then a 90 but 35 and 50 are great. Joe

 

[back alley]

lately my favourite 2 lens combo is a 21 plus the 40.

 

[35mmdelux]

21/35/75 covers 99% of what I shoot.

 

[fates]

Now that I have a full frame sensor, a 90 is extremely useful for getting in, where I can't physically get close... or don't want to disrupt a scene. I like the way the 135 Hektor renders too. For as cheap as those are it's worth picking one up to try. If you know you're not going be able to get close, they're worth carrying around, and since most people don't use them they are inexpensive on the used market.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

As Andy said, sometimes the FOV difference between 35 and 50 is not enough if no more than two lenses is the game... Not all the time, but some street shooting times things happen close to you, and 35 can be narrow if you have no time to step back, or no space behind you because of walls or people... That's why I prefer a 28... So 28/50 or 35/75 are great pairings IMO, but 35/50 is not bad at all...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[rover]

35 and 50 is a combo which can work with me for all of my shots, mostly, but I tend to shoot with whatever lens is on my body so now I am even questioning why carry an extra.

 

[tbarker13]

I could live with 35 and 75/90 and be happy.
I have to have the longer FLs for portraits.

I do own a 28, but only because of my M8's crop factor. If had full frame, I'd sell the 28.

 

[Bingley]

50 is my go-to focal length. I like 35 for street, but prefer 28 for landscapes or indoors when I want a wider fl. So, if I'm shooting mainly landscapes, I'll leave the 35 at home. Could I live w/ just 50 and 35? It would certainly cover a lot, but there are specific situations in which I'd miss the wider field of view and perspective.

 

[shadowfox]

Whats your experience?
Are there more people who really only use 35 and 50mm?????
Especially the street shooters here...

I didn't know that this is so surprising.
Some of us only use one M-body and one lens.

Like you said, if you need longer lenses, use SLR, it's easier to see with and more comfortable to use.

 

[horosu]

I have used almost exclusively the 50 for a couple of years, tried wider lenses (28, 25, 21) but didn't like the distortion. Added a 35 for those shots you can't get with the 50 and I'm settled. I really am 🙂 ....well, maybe I will try the Zeiss 85/2 for portraits some day.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I use 50 for most of my work, with 35mm and 28mm used occasionally. I have 24mm lenses and 85mm lenses for my SLR systems but not my Leica system; I rarely use them.

 

[Harry Lime]

For many years I've also only shot with a 35 and 50.

When I was in Europe I added a VC 2/28mm. The streets were often much narrower than in the US and with the 35 I simply could not back up as far as I needed to get the shot I wanted.

But for the most part I still only shoot with the 35 and 50

 

[imhere]

I find 35 and 50 the best combo for me 🙂