I got into photography in the mid-60's when there were still raging debates about SLR vs rangefinder and 8-track vs cassette, as well as the timeless Ford vs Chevy. And serious color was transparencies; only snapshooters used color print film.
SLRs were a rising surge of popularity, reveling in telephotos. Wide angle SLR lenses were exotic, large, and expensive. Everyone had a standard 50, 55, or 58mm lens, plus a 135.
My first extra lens was a 105mm Spiratone with a preset diaphragm for my Pentax H3. It was replaced by a 135mm Steinheil. I stuck with Pentax lenses after that.
In 67 I got a used Leica body and new 35mm Summicron, my first wide angle, and the only one for some years. I came to love the 85mm on the Pentax. My usual "street stalker" kit then was the M2 & 35mm on a short strap around my neck, with the Pentax & 85mm on a longer strap hanging below it, both with Tri-X. This was good for fast reaction to varying needs on the street.
I thought of the 35mm as a wide-normal. I never had anything much wider until recent years with the Cosina-Voigtlander gear, and 45mm lenses in medium format. As my view of the world has grown wider, I've come to even more strongly consider 35-40mm as normal, and favor their medium-format equivalents too.
But I certainly don't hesitate to venture forth with only a 25-28mm. There just seems to be a greater involvement or immediacy or intimacy with the subject when you get in good and close!
SLRs were a rising surge of popularity, reveling in telephotos. Wide angle SLR lenses were exotic, large, and expensive. Everyone had a standard 50, 55, or 58mm lens, plus a 135.
My first extra lens was a 105mm Spiratone with a preset diaphragm for my Pentax H3. It was replaced by a 135mm Steinheil. I stuck with Pentax lenses after that.
In 67 I got a used Leica body and new 35mm Summicron, my first wide angle, and the only one for some years. I came to love the 85mm on the Pentax. My usual "street stalker" kit then was the M2 & 35mm on a short strap around my neck, with the Pentax & 85mm on a longer strap hanging below it, both with Tri-X. This was good for fast reaction to varying needs on the street.
I thought of the 35mm as a wide-normal. I never had anything much wider until recent years with the Cosina-Voigtlander gear, and 45mm lenses in medium format. As my view of the world has grown wider, I've come to even more strongly consider 35-40mm as normal, and favor their medium-format equivalents too.
But I certainly don't hesitate to venture forth with only a 25-28mm. There just seems to be a greater involvement or immediacy or intimacy with the subject when you get in good and close!
