Shoot or risk a swap ?

[rbsinto]

being a street-shooter, I always carry three cameras with wide, medium and long lenses attached, so this situation wouldn't have been a problem for me.
I had the same situation occur last summer here in Toronto, and got the shot. At the time I was carrying two Nikon rangefinders with 21 and 35, and a motorized Nikon F with a 180 2.8 for "reach". In this case the 180 was perfect.

 

[cam]

i always go for it -- regardless. the shot, i mean.

perhaps it's because i rarely step out with more than one lens, but that's me. the whole KISS principle. and i try get the best shot i can t with what i have (hough i did vote to quickly swap since another lens was, in this hypothetical situation, available....)

treat every shot as if it were a shot in a lifetime -- shoot now, obsess later.

 

[reuno]

I'll take time to swap, drink a beer then ask the couple to do it again... just like Doisneau did.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

If I had to make a snap judgment like that I'd probably take the shot first. That way I at least have 'a' picture of something I wanted. I've lost many moments because I was trying to focus too precisely even when I was stopped down.
As to the changing lenses question, I still use LTM lenses so the decision is already made on my behalf. Especially since I'm so slow and clumsy when it comes to changing lenses.

 

[white.elephant]

Get the shot, accept the framing your current lens givews you, and only after you have one frame think about options. "Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."

 

[yanidel]

I always shoot 35mm, so I wouldn't have this problem. Does anyone use 90mm for street photography?

I do, though it is usually not the lens I have on my camera. I find it great for some situations, I would say I have been using it 15-20% of times lately.

 

[Bike Tourist]

A good argument for putting on the 50mm and leaving it on.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

A good argument for putting on the 50mm and leaving it on.

I like the sounds of that. But then again, I'm biased for my favorite focal length.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

These days - most would pull the zoom p&s from the shirt pocket, frame precisely, shoot, then revue their masterpiece on that cute little rear tv screen!
Dave.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'd photograph the kiss, then ask them to dress up as marines and put up a flag (again).

No, one camera, one lens, and make the best photo you can on the day.

 

[kmerenkov]

You know, it happened to me yesterday.
I had 35 on my camera, camera in my hands, and -- I don't know why, it was not intended -- I just passed by, watching and thinking "this is photographable"...
then I regretted of course.

 

[rbsinto]

I'd photograph the kiss, then ask them to dress up as marines and put up a flag (again).

No, one camera, one lens, and make the best photo you can on the day.

As an occasional exercise in self-disipline, I can understand doing this, but to limit onesself as a matter of course, to carrying only one lens and one body and then basically having to make the best of it regardless of the photographic circumstances, to me, makes no sense at all.
I want to get the shot with the most appropriate focal length I can, so I'd never dream of walking around with anything less than three bodies with lenses attached.
Better to schlepp it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'd never dream of walking around with anything less than three bodies with lenses attached.

I understand.

We clearly have very different ways of working.

If I set out to the covered market at dawn I have a fair idea of what camera, lens, and film is going to work. I do not want extra cameras just in case.

And if I have made the wrong choice of what to take this time I can go back later with something slightly different and likely see the 'same' photo.

I really do understand what you're saying, and your commitment to the photo to carry three complete cameras.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

As an occasional exercise in self-disipline, I can understand doing this, but to limit onesself as a matter of course, to carrying only one lens and one body and then basically having to make the best of it regardless of the photoghraphic circumstances, to me, makes no sense at all.
I want to get the shot with the most appropriate focal length I can, so I'd never dream of walking around with anything less than three bodies with lenses attached.
Better to schlepp it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Each to his own!.....but personaly - if I felt the need to have three bodies and lenses hanging around my person, I would consider the dreaded zoom! I hear modern ones are quite good?
Dave.

 

[helen.HH]

JUST SHOOT....You may be Surprised

Best to You- H

 

[rbsinto]

Each to his own!.....but personaly - if I felt the need to have three bodies and lenses hanging around my person, I would consider the dreaded zoom! I hear modern ones are quite good?
Dave.

Dave,
When I'm shooting with my SLRs I carry either primes ( usually 24/ 35/ 105 or 180 ) or zooms (17~28 / 35~105 / 80~200 , with the last two being quality 2.8 constant aperture lenses). In the case of the zooms, I still carry three bodies and lenses because I like the bright finder images with the fast lenses as well as the option of really shallow depth of field when I need it, features one doesn't get with those slow 28~200 or 28~300 unilenses.
And when I'm shooting with my rangefinders, I carry 21, 35 and 85 or 105 lenses, or substitute an SLR with a 180 for the last two, for more reach.
I've been doing this for the last twenty or twenty five years so for me, it's just business as usual, and I'd be uncomfortable without the options.
There is no "right answer" to this question, just what's right or best for a particular person. And these options are right for me.

 

[johannielscom]

Never walk round with the 90mm mounted. Change to it when the situation requires, then change back to the 35 or 50 after.

That's the only sensible thing to do, and even better would be to raise the camera with the 35mm already mounted.

 

[Larky]

Stick with the 90, remember you have the ability to move instead of changing lenses. Also, the 90mm will (in my opinion) frame the point of the photograph better, the kiss.

Who cares about the building? Buildings are about as passionate as a can of soup.