matko
Member
I could not agree more. In my hometown I find it very hard to fill 28mm frame. Some other places just crave for wide...
yanidel
Well-known
As I once read on a forum " 50mm is the focal of the Sunday amateur". So if your trip is not mainly about photography, that will probably do. 
Joke apart, I use a lot more 35mm on trips, it is much more versatile, especially if you want to include buildings or landscapes. And in theory, you can get prety much all 50mm framings by getting a bit closer. Most effective would be probably a two lens combo of 35-75 or 90mm.
Joke apart, I use a lot more 35mm on trips, it is much more versatile, especially if you want to include buildings or landscapes. And in theory, you can get prety much all 50mm framings by getting a bit closer. Most effective would be probably a two lens combo of 35-75 or 90mm.
rbsinto
Well-known
I'm sure many serious photographers have taken a trip with only one lens, and survived.
Why just a couple of weeks ago "Sixty Minutes" did a feature on this very topic, so I know it's possible and not just an urban legend.
However, it begs the question why would you want to?
These academic exercises are fine as learning experiences, but a waste of time and good opportunities when one is on a holiday.
Better to have it and not use it, than need it and not have it.
Why just a couple of weeks ago "Sixty Minutes" did a feature on this very topic, so I know it's possible and not just an urban legend.
However, it begs the question why would you want to?
These academic exercises are fine as learning experiences, but a waste of time and good opportunities when one is on a holiday.
Better to have it and not use it, than need it and not have it.
andredossantos
Well-known
I'm leaving for a week trip tomorrow and bringing only a Rolleiflex with ~50mm equiv. and an SLR with only a 50mm.
The last trip I took I only brought 35mm equivalents.
Multiple focal lengths are not necessary unless you want to bring them! Of course nothing wrong with that, I just prefer to pack light (ie: i'm not forcing myself into an "academic exercise" nor am I trying to teach myself anything).
If this makes me a "Sunday amateur" not serious about photography, whatever! I'm sure I'll be satisfied with what I bring back.
The last trip I took I only brought 35mm equivalents.
Multiple focal lengths are not necessary unless you want to bring them! Of course nothing wrong with that, I just prefer to pack light (ie: i'm not forcing myself into an "academic exercise" nor am I trying to teach myself anything).
If this makes me a "Sunday amateur" not serious about photography, whatever! I'm sure I'll be satisfied with what I bring back.
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Well, if you do, and want a 50, get a Retina for it. Folds up and does not get in the way. Seems to do well in cold weather.
http://www.mwclassic.com/articles/rare_retina/rare_retina.htm
http://www.mwclassic.com/articles/rare_retina/rare_retina.htm
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Of Course!
Of Course!
Once upon a time almost everybody took photos this way. They used fixed lens cameras way back then!
Of Course!
Once upon a time almost everybody took photos this way. They used fixed lens cameras way back then!
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Well I am returning to Cuba in a few weeks (third trip) to work on a personal photo project. I will be gone for 12 days shooting full time with one body / one lens. I will have a similar backup in my suitcase just in case of a mechanical failure.
No academic exercise, no learning experience here. I shoot with one lens because that results in me capturing better images. Others differ and I am not trying to convert them. I just use one lens because it works for me.
rbsinto
Well-known
BTMarcais
Well-known
Same here Helen (although it used to be 35mm for me, not 50. things change...).
And now that I have my S.A., that'll probably get tossed in the bag for the next trip too...
Dean and Wiedo- thanks for the comments on my photos.
Wiedo, this was my 3rd visit to your country. My wife is dutch, and we go back every year or two to see my in-laws, family and friends. (This last trip we brought our then 7month old son as well). I'm happiest with the photos from this last trip, although I have some favorites from the first couple adventures as well. (earlier trips I brought a 21/35/90 Contax G2 setup).
-Brian
besk
Well-known
For small rangefinder cameras where the lenses are very compact, I have found a two lens (normal (50) plus a wide angle (28) )combo to be ideal. But one focal length is the primary lens and the other is "in case."
I hate changing lenses - so one lens stays on the camera for almost everything but the other is kept in the bag "just in case" it is REALLY needed for the situation at hand.
On my last trip of 2 1/2 weeks to Belarus, the VC 28/3.5 never came off the camera but the 50 was always there if really needed.
I hate changing lenses - so one lens stays on the camera for almost everything but the other is kept in the bag "just in case" it is REALLY needed for the situation at hand.
On my last trip of 2 1/2 weeks to Belarus, the VC 28/3.5 never came off the camera but the 50 was always there if really needed.
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zerobuttons
Well-known
On travels where I´m not at liberty to use too much time fiddling around with lens swithching, I use my Konica Hexar RF with a Hexanon 50/2.0 and nothing else, except a lot of Ektar 100 (usually).
If I go abroad and can foresee that I will have the time to look around for better angles, lens switching etc., I bring two lenses: 35 and 90.
Using my regular travel kit - the Hexar RF with 50/2.0 has learnt me a lot about placing yourself relative to the subject you want to capture.
If I go abroad and can foresee that I will have the time to look around for better angles, lens switching etc., I bring two lenses: 35 and 90.
Using my regular travel kit - the Hexar RF with 50/2.0 has learnt me a lot about placing yourself relative to the subject you want to capture.
edodo
Well-known
50mm is the best and only lens (in 135 format) for creating the most idiomatic and the most powerful shots imho.
WA and tele can lead to great results but not as only lens.
Otherwise the 50mm can do it all!
WA and tele can lead to great results but not as only lens.
Otherwise the 50mm can do it all!
Krosya
Konicaze
Not just a vacation - whole life. My grandfather used his camera with a 50mm lens nearly 50 years before getting just one more lens - a 35mm one. And his photos are awsome. Sometimes I look at my collection of lenses and cameras and wonder - why in the world do I have all this? Doesnt make me any better photographer, just a more confused one, i think. Oh well, it's still nice to have all the toys to play with.....
Ccoppola82
Well-known
I love 50s. I did a wedding with my favorite canon lens, the 35L in my canon system and found myself cropping a lot of the photos. I figured, why waste the sensor? Get the 50 and no need for cropping. I oddly found that I love the 50mm on my leicas though, so it wasn’t all that much of a surprise when I wanted one for my canon system.
I liked the 28/50 combo when I was on vacation also.
I liked the 28/50 combo when I was on vacation also.
DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
If I owned only a 50, I would travel with it. One size fits all, problem solved. As it is I have 16 Nikon lenses, so it's a no-deal. I've always found the 35 to be not quite wide enough for my eye and the 50 too limiting for my view of things, so I'd pack a 28.
These days I get about in Asia with a D700, a 28 and 85, hoods, UVs and a (rarely used) polariser. That's it. For many years I shot with a 28-85, but last month it finally rendered up the spirit, and given its advanced age I won't have it repaired or replace it. I'll make do with my two primes.
If I had to take a third lens, it would be a Micro Nikkor 60. A fourth, a 180.
The problem for me with threads such as these, is that most posts raise points/make arguments that make good sense. In the end, it all boils down to what suits the traveler best. Me, it's 28 and 85.
I traveled throughout Southeast Asia with a Nikkormat FT2 and a 50/2 Nikkormat in 1993 and did a repeat journey with this kit in 2006 (the latter was my last entirely film project). During both journeys I shot thousands of color slides - the film I carried with me weighed much more than the camera kit. In the '90s, one could still make good money from stock, and my 'standard lens shots' (largely portraits of Asian women working at traditional occupations) sold enough to pay my airfares. The (very few) landscapes/town scenes I shot have been long forgotten. So if your shooting tend to these, the 50 may not be your best choice. Nowadays, stock has hit rock bottom anyway, so all this is really nostalgia, for what it's worth.
Yes, let's travel with our camera(s), and one (or more) lenses. But enjoy the journey, the new cultures, the experiences. Look, see, learn - and make images along the way, as you go.
An excellent (if somewhat dated) thread, seemingly revived by some divine act, like the return of Lazarus. I somehow missed it in 2010, this time I'll follow with interest.
These days I get about in Asia with a D700, a 28 and 85, hoods, UVs and a (rarely used) polariser. That's it. For many years I shot with a 28-85, but last month it finally rendered up the spirit, and given its advanced age I won't have it repaired or replace it. I'll make do with my two primes.
If I had to take a third lens, it would be a Micro Nikkor 60. A fourth, a 180.
The problem for me with threads such as these, is that most posts raise points/make arguments that make good sense. In the end, it all boils down to what suits the traveler best. Me, it's 28 and 85.
I traveled throughout Southeast Asia with a Nikkormat FT2 and a 50/2 Nikkormat in 1993 and did a repeat journey with this kit in 2006 (the latter was my last entirely film project). During both journeys I shot thousands of color slides - the film I carried with me weighed much more than the camera kit. In the '90s, one could still make good money from stock, and my 'standard lens shots' (largely portraits of Asian women working at traditional occupations) sold enough to pay my airfares. The (very few) landscapes/town scenes I shot have been long forgotten. So if your shooting tend to these, the 50 may not be your best choice. Nowadays, stock has hit rock bottom anyway, so all this is really nostalgia, for what it's worth.
Yes, let's travel with our camera(s), and one (or more) lenses. But enjoy the journey, the new cultures, the experiences. Look, see, learn - and make images along the way, as you go.
An excellent (if somewhat dated) thread, seemingly revived by some divine act, like the return of Lazarus. I somehow missed it in 2010, this time I'll follow with interest.
CMur12
Veteran
In 135 format, 85mm and 28mm are my favorite focal lengths, as well. I do the vast majority of my work with these two focal lengths.
As to the OP's original question, I can speak to it in terms of being limited to a single focal length. I have traveled and lived abroad using compact fixed-lens RFs. I simply thought/visualized in terms of the focal length I had and, as such, didn't feel lacking.
- Murray
As to the OP's original question, I can speak to it in terms of being limited to a single focal length. I have traveled and lived abroad using compact fixed-lens RFs. I simply thought/visualized in terms of the focal length I had and, as such, didn't feel lacking.
- Murray
muser53
MUSER53
Why not? HCB spent the vast majority of his career shooting with a 50.
Gerry Winogrand rarely saw the need for anything other than a 28 and Ralph Gibson pretty much was a 50 shooter as well. Can't do much better than that!
Gerry Winogrand rarely saw the need for anything other than a 28 and Ralph Gibson pretty much was a 50 shooter as well. Can't do much better than that!
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
Heh, 8 year old thread... Interesting topic though
I backpacked through Europe for about 5 months a few years ago and shot basically the whole trip with a Voigtlander Nokton 25mm (50mm equivalent on Micro Four Thirds). Thoroughly enjoyed it and took a lot of photos I'm still very fond of.
I backpacked through Europe for about 5 months a few years ago and shot basically the whole trip with a Voigtlander Nokton 25mm (50mm equivalent on Micro Four Thirds). Thoroughly enjoyed it and took a lot of photos I'm still very fond of.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
If a 35mm lens only yes, why not?
If a 50mm lens only I might leave the camera home.
I am not nostalgic for when I owned but one lens - a 50mm...
Chris
If a 50mm lens only I might leave the camera home.
I am not nostalgic for when I owned but one lens - a 50mm...
Chris
raid
Dad Photographer
This thread started in 2010.
It got restarted today!
It is perfectly fine to travel with only one lens, and it is OK (for myself) to use the 50mm lens then. The classic images from the past often were taken with a 50mm lens. It forces you to think more before creating an image, I think.
It got restarted today!
It is perfectly fine to travel with only one lens, and it is OK (for myself) to use the 50mm lens then. The classic images from the past often were taken with a 50mm lens. It forces you to think more before creating an image, I think.