Picking a lens for the street

[Rob-F]

If you can find one, get the CV 28/3.5. This is my primary street lens. It very well built, small and gives wonderful images in both color and black and white.

28mm is a challenge but I find it's the perfect length for street work.

Yes, I agree, the 28mm should be considered. While the 35mm is definitely an excellent street lens, the 28mm gives more of a "you are there" look. And the OP did say he likes to work in close.

I own the CV 25/4, 28/3.5, and 35/2.5. I'd say the 25 is too wide for street work most of the time. With such a wide lens, there is a tendency to include extraneous detail at the edges that is not part of what caught our eye to make us want the picture. That goes double for a 21mm (again: most of the time--not always).

One benefit of a 35mm lens is that the width it covers is the same as the camera to subject distance. That makes it easy to know intuitively what the picture will cover, almost without looking in the finder. One benefit of the 28mm for street work, is its greater DOF. And I often need that wider angle of view.

 

[Marc G.]

just a thought... why not consider CV 15mm/4.5 and a 28? advantage of the 15 is that you can take snap shots more quickly, no need to focus at that depth of field...

from specsheet point of view its pretty much twice the focal length and if you want to stay a little away then get a 50 and it still fits in so theres enough space for longer focal lengths..

yet I'm trying to cure my GAS, else I would already have that CV

 

[Bingley]

Another vote for the CV Skopar 35/2.5 for street work. As close to a perfect lens as you will find for this use. The Skopar 28/3.5 is also a superb lens, but for street you can fill the frame from about 10 ft away w/a 35, while w/ a 28 you need to move in even closer to fill the frame, which is too close for (my) comfort. YMMV. This was taken w/ the Skopar 35/2.5:


Scratchers by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[ramosa]

in terms of field of view, i'd recommend a 35mm or 50mm. these are the classic two focal lengths for street photography. (some greats use 28mm, too, but that IMO would be a tough FOV to start on.) as others have suggested, choosing between a 35mm and a 50mm really comes down to personal taste and how you, as a photographer, see. i greatly prefer a 35mm if i'm in a large urban city (where people are naturally quite close to you), but would prefer a 50mm in smaller towns (where people are more distant). that said, if i had to chose one, i would definitely take a 35mm.

 

[Richard G]

SimonSawSunlight who is an ace of the street on here uses 35mm lens almost exclusively. I quite like a 25 for the zone focus and great depth of field. The tiny 25 Colour Skopar is ridiculously small on the M5. Mitigates the size of the M5. I think it's a great combination. But the sensible thing is a 35. I would have agreed with Stewart about the 50, years ago, and before he made such a disparaging comment about the beautiful apex of the M film lineage.

 

[BillBingham2]

iLC,

A lot depends upon your style of shooting streets and all.

Let me start by saying my FAVORITE WIDE ANGLE RF LENS OF ALL TIMES is the CV 25/4 Skopar. It was my main lens even when I switch from Leica to Nikon rangefinder. The new M mount version has coupled focusing which can be handy in low light though I prefer the Snapshot version for pure street stuff. I do not remember enough about the viewfinder on the M5 to say if it is close enough coverage edge to edge but I bet you would be fine.

Keep in mind that one of the best street photographs or all time used an M4 with a 28mm lens and no external finder. The M4 and the M5 have the same finder magnification so you might want to open the search up to a 28/3.5 Skopar if you can find one. I never owned a CV 28 though when I switched to a S3 I wish I had.

You do not need lens speed for street shooting, smaller glass is much better IMHO.

Good luck and keep us in the loop as to what way you go and your results.

B2

 

[Marc G.]

but sometimes.. being able to isolate a subject can be good, especially when streets are very busy and the other stuff draws away attention

 

[ileicacameras]

Well thanks for all the advice, I sure am glad I asked you guys.
In the end I went for the skopar 35. Bingley's shot was a great help (and image).

Though I am tempted to go wider, I decided to stick to the consensus 35mm size for now. Maybe I'll pick up a cheap wider lens in the future and if I like it I'll invest in one, but this is down the track. I've always thought it's better to shoot happily all day with the lens you have than to wish for one you don't.

It's ordered and now I have to settle in and wait for it to wing it's way over here to Australia. As soon as I get out and develop some prints I'll take you all on a tour of my crazy home town Fremantle.

Again, thanks for all the input.

 

[ramosa]

a 35mm is a good place to start. good luck--and, indeed, let us know how it goes ...