PetarDima
Well-known
borismach said:Another vote to 21/50 combo from me.
:_) bm
one more vote.
mike_j
Established
Thanks for all the replies, it's interesting to see the different opinions.
In view of the number of comments I'll give a bit of background. Why only 2 lenses? - well they fit in the SLR holster style soft bag I like to use or, if I don't want the bag, the spare goes in my pocket in a lens wrap. Also with only 2 I don't waste a lot of time lens changing and concentrate on taking pictures. If this was a major trip I might take more gear but I live in the UK and this is just a long weekend with the oldies language class.
I'll be taking the 25mm CV and 50mm Summicron.
In view of the number of comments I'll give a bit of background. Why only 2 lenses? - well they fit in the SLR holster style soft bag I like to use or, if I don't want the bag, the spare goes in my pocket in a lens wrap. Also with only 2 I don't waste a lot of time lens changing and concentrate on taking pictures. If this was a major trip I might take more gear but I live in the UK and this is just a long weekend with the oldies language class.
I'll be taking the 25mm CV and 50mm Summicron.
Andrew3511
Established
Just back from a weekend in Verona and I took just 2 lenses for exactly the same reason, 35 and 50mm summiluxes. I couldn't find my 90mm! Took about 70% with the 35mm and didn't really miss having anything longer. 21/35/50 would have covered everything
like2fiddle
Curious
25 and 50. You're going to want something wide for a trip like this. Your 50 can easily cover the middle ground and it is sharp enough that you can enlarge and crop shots you couldn't get quite close enough to.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Hmmmm......get a Ricoh GX100, the 19mm lens converter, a couple of extra batteries, and 2-3 2GB SD cards. All will fit in a zip lock sandwich bag.
x-ray
Veteran
35 & 90 covers most subjects
JNewell
Leica M Recidivist
x-ray said:35 & 90 covers most subjects
It was the ancient formula from Leitz...it did then and it still can!
cmogi10
Bodhisattva
That's easy, 35 and 75.
drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
Interesting that there are so many "21 and 50" replies. That's a really nice combo, IME. The 50 is such a versatile lens, it can shoot anything; and the 21 is a great wide- used carefully it can do a lot too.
A few years ago, I took a week-long trip out of the country, and I agonized over what gear to take, wanting to cover all the bases I thought I'd need, but wanting to go light. I ended up taking a Leica M3, a 50mm Summicron, a 21mm CV Skopar, and an Olympus XA. This has become a very common kit to carry, whether for a day out or three weeks on the road. 21, 35, and 50. I could even shoot a wedding with this, if I had to.
I know this is a "which two" thread, and there are lots of great answers, none of them wrong; but after a few years of chasing around this question of what lenses for my kit, and reading a million threads of this nature, I have come to the (classically inevitable) conclusion that for me, the best Leica kit is 21-35-50-90. There's a reason these are the most common classic Leica focal lengths. These four lenses and two bodies are by far my most used lenses, and will cover 95% of the pictures many of us will want to shoot. With this in mind, it's perhaps difficult to pick the wrong two of these for a great two lens kit. Depending upon the size of your lenses, bodies, and bag, you might just carry three or even all four. Certainly my 21/50/M body with the Oly XA for a 35 makes for kit that's small enough to go anywhere.
Enjoy these responses, and I hope they give you some more food for thought; and enjoy your trip!
A few years ago, I took a week-long trip out of the country, and I agonized over what gear to take, wanting to cover all the bases I thought I'd need, but wanting to go light. I ended up taking a Leica M3, a 50mm Summicron, a 21mm CV Skopar, and an Olympus XA. This has become a very common kit to carry, whether for a day out or three weeks on the road. 21, 35, and 50. I could even shoot a wedding with this, if I had to.
I know this is a "which two" thread, and there are lots of great answers, none of them wrong; but after a few years of chasing around this question of what lenses for my kit, and reading a million threads of this nature, I have come to the (classically inevitable) conclusion that for me, the best Leica kit is 21-35-50-90. There's a reason these are the most common classic Leica focal lengths. These four lenses and two bodies are by far my most used lenses, and will cover 95% of the pictures many of us will want to shoot. With this in mind, it's perhaps difficult to pick the wrong two of these for a great two lens kit. Depending upon the size of your lenses, bodies, and bag, you might just carry three or even all four. Certainly my 21/50/M body with the Oly XA for a 35 makes for kit that's small enough to go anywhere.
Enjoy these responses, and I hope they give you some more food for thought; and enjoy your trip!
phatnev
Well-known
Id say you should pick up a 28mm and then just take the 28 and 75.
Ara Ghajanian
Established
I'll say 35 and 90.
35 for lanscape, street, candid, general.
90 for tele, portrait
35 for lanscape, street, candid, general.
90 for tele, portrait
windraider
Established
My choice either 28 or 35mm + 90mm.
I find the 28/35mm focal length most versatile as a general walk around lens for landscapes and group snapshots (I assume you'll be in the company of your class?).
Ultra wides usually require careful compositions in these instances, otherwise they look cluttered or not as impactful (though I find them useful in lowlight, interior and squeeze-as-much-of-the-background group type of shots).
A telephoto would be useful in isolating subjects when the need arises.
Focusing the 75 wide-open on the M6 sounds a bit iffy - might as well go for greater reach of the 90mm.
I find the 28/35mm focal length most versatile as a general walk around lens for landscapes and group snapshots (I assume you'll be in the company of your class?).
Ultra wides usually require careful compositions in these instances, otherwise they look cluttered or not as impactful (though I find them useful in lowlight, interior and squeeze-as-much-of-the-background group type of shots).
A telephoto would be useful in isolating subjects when the need arises.
Focusing the 75 wide-open on the M6 sounds a bit iffy - might as well go for greater reach of the 90mm.
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