Traveling to Hawaii with 1 lens...what to pick?

I had a good trip to Maui in 2014. Took a Voigtlander 75mm/2.5 on a Leotax. That single lens worked well for me, but I've always been a slightly long user.

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Hi,

You might as well have my tuppence worth; if you've never been there before then I think one lens might be a disadvantage.

Looking at what others say about the destination I'd go for a wide like 28mm and if you like to pick out detail then the 50 or 90mm. Whatever you take you'll want another unless you are a dyed in the wool 50mm user.

Regards, David

PS FWIW, when I don't know the scene I'm going to I take a zoom. When I return to places I know and visit a lot the Olympus XA or its like are all I take. (EDIT) The XA because of the weight & size and the viewfinder. It has no equal in digital...
 
I'd normally gives a slight edge to the 35, but with the Canon P vf being so much better for 50, stick to that. I don't think I could compose 35mm shots well with it.
 
City or country? If Maui, go wider. If Oahu, there’s city traffic & more historic landmarks. Other islands: views and jungle. I just returned from a chill week in Hana, mostly shot 21mm.

kB formerly of HI
 
retinax said:
I'd normally gives a slight edge to the 35, but with the Canon P vf being so much better for 50, stick to that. I don't think I could compose 35mm shots well with it.
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Oh really? Why is it better for 50? Just the frame-line layout?
 
bjorke said:
City or country? If Maui, go wider. If Oahu, there's city traffic & more historic landmarks. Other islands: views and jungle. I just returned from a chill week in Hana, mostly shot 21mm.

kB formerly of HI
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Oahu. Thanks for the input
 
Personally, I like to take a 28mm or 35mm on the camera and sneak a 50mm or 90mm into my wife's purse. That way "I" only brought one lens. ��
 
It takes time to familiarize oneself with a new focal length, even when the jump is only from 50mm to 35mm. Perhaps an important vacation is not the best time to do so. But as others have said, how much weight and bulk would another rangefinder lens entail? I would suggest bringing a 35, but sticking to the 50 for most shooting.
If I had to take only two lenses on a trip, it would be the 28 and 50. If one lens, the 35, but that focal length has always seemed to me to be an unsatisfactory compromise, and one that usually isn't necessary. Speaking only for myself, of course!
 
robbeiflex said:
Personally, I like to take a 28mm or 35mm on the camera and sneak a 50mm or 90mm into my wife's purse. That way "I" only brought one lens. í*½í¸�
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Touché! I might need to do this. ;)

The thing came way faster than expected...and it's TINY!
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Retro-Grouch said:
It takes time to familiarize oneself with a new focal length, even when the jump is only from 50mm to 35mm. Perhaps an important vacation is not the best time to do so. But as others have said, how much weight and bulk would another rangefinder lens entail? I would suggest bringing a 35, but sticking to the 50 for most shooting.
If I had to take only two lenses on a trip, it would be the 28 and 50. If one lens, the 35, but that focal length has always seemed to me to be an unsatisfactory compromise, and one that usually isn't necessary. Speaking only for myself, of course!
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I agree. Honestly, I think I am still familiarizing myself again with 50mm as I used the FujiFilm x100 for so long.

For using 28mm on the Canon P I would need a 28mm viewfinder, right? Any recommendations in the event I ever try that out?
 
Alas said:
Oh really? Why is it better for 50? Just the frame-line layout?
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The magnification. One can't see the whole frame at once, the eye needs to move around a lot and be very close to the eyepiece anyway. I think if you're very good with visualising the scene in your mind, it's no big deal. Of course it's much better than no 35mm finder, so I'm complaining about a luxury problem. I have a Canon 7 too, and that's better for 35mm.
But you have the camera and can look through it, if it's not a problem for you, great!
I'm jealous of your trip, enjoy!
 
Congrats on the 35mm lens! on infinity, close up.
Compare views to 50mm. It's truly a only lil wider..
Enjoy.
p.s. If you had a Rollei there is NO lens interchangeability.
Yes other models.
 
leicapixie said:
Congrats on the 35mm lens! on infinity, close up.
Compare views to 50mm. It's truly a only lil wider..
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Well, a 35 captures twice the area that a 50 captures at the same distances - to me that's quite a difference. But it doesn't require a totally different way of composing like a serious wide angle.
 
For my shooting style and personal taste, the difference between 35mm and 50mm is too close for me to carry both lenses.

When I go wider or go longer, I like to go 1/2 the focal length for wider and 2x the focal length for longer. For example, with a 50mm lens, I like to go 25mm for wider and 100mm for longer. With a 35mm, I like to go 18mm for wider and 70mm for longer.
 
Alas said:
For using 28mm on the Canon P I would need a 28mm viewfinder, right? Any recommendations in the event I ever try that out?
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Voigtlander made a very nice metal finder. They also made a mini 28/35 finder but it's become an expensive cult item which also is not so POV-friendly as the larger finder.

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Flickr
 
LTM glass is so small, I'd bring two. Your 35 and a 15mm.

If it was just one, a 35 on the P.

But the 15 and finder is a very small addition (first generation).

B2
 
I second the Voigtlander 28mm finder. Recently discontinued, however, but available used and like-new on that auction site we all know and hate. Expect to pay about $300 for one; I know because I just dropped and destroyed the one I had (don't ask). You will be better off with a brightline finder such as this. Being able to see outside the frame is a real advantage.
 
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