Only two focal lengths allowed...

[wlewisiii]

50 (or equivalent) is what I use 80% of the time. 28 is my preferred wide.

 

[raydm6]

35 & 50.

 

[santino]

Probably 50 (85%) and 28 (15%). But I eventually could use a 90 instead of the 50.

 

[brian steinberger]

40mm and 85mm.

 

[Shab]

RF: 21mm and 35mm
SLR: 24mm and 50mm

 

[Erik van Straten]

35mm and 50mm.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

35mm and 50mm.

Ditto!

All the best,
Mike

 

[sjones]

50 and another 50 for backup.

 

[Noserider]

I used to consider these exercises, and actually did them in the 90's when I was a news photographer. I would 'limit' myself either in the day or the week, and try to do all my regular assignments with my choices, but I usually had access to other gear at the office. I found either a 35 and a 300 or a 28 and a 135. Most of the week's work consisted of the 'grip and grin' style of shooting so the 28 or 35 would be a solid choice over a 50 since those assignments often had 5-8+people in frame. The longer lens choice would mostly cover the sports which was always a potion of the week, with the 135 for the indoor sport season and 300 for the outdoor, with the added coverage of a fast 135 for nice portraits or candids. The fast 300 could do the indoor sports and also was excellent as a candid or 'wild art' collection lens.

I considered these exercises valuable, since the choices would form the core of gear I would pack normally. The bag would always have at least one flash, perhaps another back-up body or a body dedicated to the longer lens(s), several old 100ft cans holding 8-10 rolls of mostly B&W, one or two filters. I would round out the lens selection with a light 50mm 1.8, and usually a 24mm which was my standard wide angle, with perhaps a fast 85 instead of the 135mm, or even a fast 400mm with converters for the longer distance sports coverage.

 

[Rayt]

I read in an interview that Sam Abell early on wanted to challenge himself by using only two focal lengths a 28mm and a 90mm. Good thing he stuck with it.

 

[Evergreen States]

35 & 50mm

 

[x-ray]

Definitely my 35mm Summicron V1 and 75 Summilux.

 

[Timmyjoe]

28mm & 85mm

 

[CP93]

35 and 200. I find that I use the extremes of my zooms a lot.

But that’s just for purposes of this post; I’m not giving up my macro, my 9mm, etc.

 

[rulnacco]

If we're talking SLRs, 28 & 105.

Leica M? 35 & 90. (The 35 would be a 28--if I owned one, and had a .72 viewfinder with 28 frames, neither of which currently pertains.)

 

[oldwino]

I used to be 28 to, but lately I’ve warmed up to a 35/75 (or 85 if using a SLR) duo. If you shoot a lot of 75/85, the 35 seems quite wide.

 

[wayben]

35 and 75. If I could sneak in a third it would be 21.

 

[wlewisiii]

50 (or equivalent) is what I use 80% of the time. 28 is my preferred wide.

35 and 75. If I could sneak in a third it would be 21.

Sneak in a third? Easy. I always have my Elmar 90/4 in my bag with my 28 with a 50 on my 240. That combo is what is for me.

 

[wlewisiii]

Thinking further on this topic, I've been looking at W-Nikkor 35/2.5 S-mount lenses on E-Prey for my Nikon S-2 rangefinder. Realistically, I probably should be looking at a W-Nikkor 28/3.5 instead given what I use on every other camera system I have. I'll need a to find the little extra bit for the zoom finder but still, it the view I like.

Carrying a 28 & 105 with a 50 mounted when I go out with my S-2 would make a lot of sense to me.

 

[skahde]

For quite some time I walked along with a 35 mm on my Nikon FE2 and a 180 mm ED in my backpack. Loved the 180 mm so I couldn't leave it at home. Nowadays I prefer 28 mm plus 50 mm and sneak in a 90 mm that rarely sees any use.