Question about 60mm size

[Lynn Ross]

I just recently brought the 40mm 1.4 I really like the lens but being that I have read that the 35 to 50 mm range is better for street photo graphing ... do any of you find it (60) to be to much for doing this kind of endeavor...
I want to purchase the 21 f/4 I know that it will be a nice addition to my small lens collection
Please help the helpless 🙂

Lynn Ross

 

[rvaubel]

I just recently brought the 40mm 1.4 I really like the lens but being that I have read that the 35 to 50 mm range is better for street photo graphing ... do any of you find it (60) to be to much for doing this kind of endeavor...
I want to purchase the 21 f/4 I know that it will be a nice addition to my small lens collection
Please help the helpless 🙂

Lynn Ross

You ought to do something about that typeface.

The 40mm/F1.4 Nokton has got to be the greatest value out there. The difference between 40mm and 35mm is not particularly significent until you become true fruitcake (like most of us on this forum)

Get the 21mmF4. Another great value and a much different lens from what you got. Its slow but with wide angle you can hand hold down to 1/8 sec or so. Anyway if will be a great contrast to your fast 40mm F1.4

I can't think of a better pair of lenses to get started with in the world of rangefinder photography. Have fun!

Rex

 

[Jim Watts]

I think most people regard a 35 - 50mm on full frame 35mm film to be the ideal street photography lens. My favourite is the 35mm, but peoples mileage varies with quite a few prefering wider angles of view. To get the equivalent field of view of a 35mm on an RD-1 though you would need a 23mm lens, so a 21mm (32mm equivalent) would be close. Or consider a 24/25mm (37/38mm equivalent). You can just about get away using the whole of the frame area of the RD-1 viewfinder to frame. The VC 25mm Snapshot Skopar is an excellent quality cheap choice for street photos on the RD-1, F4 and not rangefinder coupled, but small a quick to use if you can work within its limitations.

 

[Lynn Ross]

Ok! Rex I'll do something about the typeface I won't copy paste from word processing anymore Ha! Thanks for your reply, the only thing is the 1.5 crop factor gives me a 60 mm lens which is 10 mm longer than a 50 ... don't get me wrong I like the lens and the pictures that I'm getting knock the socks of all the canon lenses in that range (the 50 1.4 might be close)
I just wanted someones thoughts on the 60 range that this lens gives and if they like it or if they don't like it for street photoing

And Jim thanks for your reply also both those lenses are on my list but the 21 I'm leaning toward because of the coupling ... I guess! just right now I need all the help that I can get with this new idea of shooting ...
Lynn

 

[Terao]

40 and 21 will be a good combo, have done a lot of thinking (too much thinking, not enough shooting!) on this as well. Currently I'm using my 12mm a lot, but the 40 comes everywhere with me as well and is ideal when I spot detail in a street scene that I want to capture. Also does the job in landscapes. The 12 is great, but far too wide at times, even on the R-D1 - I'm constantly aware of keeping it straight and level, and you have to be careful of verticals too close to the edge of the frame.

I think the 21 would end up as the default lens for my shooting style with the 12 in the bag for perspective and widescreen landscapes.

The 40 is there for low light, picking out detail in a scene and perhaps a spot of portraiture although the 75 is on the list for that..

Too many great lenses that aren't too expensive! Damn you Voigtlander 🙂 And we haven't even got to see what they reveal @ Photokina yet ;(

 

[pfogle]

FWIW, I started out with the 40mm and the 28 Ultron, but now nearly always shoot either 21mm or ... well, if fact, it's nearly always the 21. Then the 12mm for the special wide shots 🙂

I sold the 40, bought a 50 (love it, but rarely use it) and I have a bunch of 35s (why???) which I almost never use. Life is strange...

 

[Lynn Ross]

Thanks Terao, your answer is helpful the 40 is more for low light for you! That gives me more of an idea for usage...

Phil, now that's the kind of answer I understand ... after going through all the lenses in the canon line I understand having, liking and not using
I believe that the 21 is getting closer to my door. 🙂
Lynn

 

[rvaubel]

Lynn

Although I recommended the 21mm/4.0, also consider the CV28mm/1.9 if you like low light. With the crop factor this lens is a slightly wide normal lens. It's also an incrediable value.

When I first answered your question, I didn't notice I was in the RD1 thread and thought I was talking full frame. Well I have an RD1 too and the funny thing is I use my 40mm a lot more on the epson than I did on a full frame film camera. I never yould have thought that I would have become so enamored of a "60mm" lens. But there you go, sometimes there's no accountin'

Rex

 

[dabevalem]

well, it looks I'm suffering from the same disease... since I mounted my nokton 1.4 I rarely change it ... when traveling my preferred luggage is nokton1.4 and heliar 15 but each time I mount the 15... I miss the 40...

I also have a ultron 28 but the size of the 40 is really a plus (IMO).

s.

 

[J. Borger]

Do not believe everything you read ...... if the 40 Nokton works for you for streetphotography why go wider? Because wide angles are trendy judging Magnumphotographers or because Winogrand used a 28mm??
Well HCB used 50mm, Kertesz 50-55 mmm, Calahan and Eugene Smith often used even longer.
I think you should use what you are comfortable with ..... i do not get significant different pictures when mounting a 50mm or 35mm on the R-D1 ... it's just a matter of a few steps forward or backward (if that is possible where you shoot!).
I have a 21mm .. i feel very uncomfortable using it in the street (unless at places where people expect to be photographed .... like events) ..... because you have to stick the camera up to peoples noses if you do not want to end up with a half empty cluttered image.

Just my 2 cents ..

 

[Steve Litt]

Hi
Since I got my RD1 my lens of choice has been my 40mm Summicron.Like Rex I didnt use it much with film prefering 50mm.Somehow the RD1 and 40mm combo suits me for everyday and street photography I think its got a lot to do with compactness and I love the 35mm frame inside the Rd1 s 100% Viewfinder with just enough space around so I can watch what is about to come into view.Probably why my M2 always feels right with 50mm.I like wider for being able to preset focus and use DOF but with the RD1 my 28mm often stays in the bag (or at home) I havent yet felt the need to go wider.
Regards
Steve

 

[Lynn Ross]

Thanks to the last posters on this question ... I'm liking what J. Borger had to say about the 21 and getting in someone's face too intense but interesting. and also the fact that not buying into all the hype that the wide lenses are getting makes sense ...

Rex thanks again for you response to this and I like that you like the 60 affect on the RD-1 ....

dabevalem your thoughts on this are making me rethink that I might already have a good lens and haven't explored it enough yet!

Steve, thanks for your reply also you and the others may have saved me some money (at least today) 🙂 I'm just a nut for lenses! love to have, I guess! like others have said they sit in the bag and don't get used, so maybe wait for awhile then see how my mood goes
Thanks to all
Take care
Lynn Ross