What's _YOUR_ RF Focal Length?

What's _YOUR_ RF Focal Length?

  • Wider

    Votes: 12 1.8%

  • 25

    Votes: 16 2.4%

  • 28

    Votes: 39 6.0%

  • 35

    Votes: 218 33.3%

  • 40

    Votes: 95 14.5%

  • 50

    Votes: 259 39.6%

  • 60

    Votes: 1 0.2%

  • 75

    Votes: 6 0.9%

  • 85

    Votes: 2 0.3%

  • 90

    Votes: 5 0.8%

  • Longer

    Votes: 1 0.2%
  • Total voters
    654
I only have a 50/2 for my rangefinder right now but I've never learned to see with it, intuitively, the way I can with a 35. 28 is a very tough FL to shoot, and I'm in awe of folks who use it really well. 24 I actually find much easier than 28. Maybe I should get a 25 Biogon, instead of the 35 that I've set my eye on...
 
I like the CV25 LTM for its focus click stops at 3, 1.5, 1m. No looking at the camera or lens required. Just zone focus & shoot for a general walk-around lens. I don't have any other lenses like that but would appreciate wides with this feature.
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robert wilson
 
I use an RD1 and my regular FL is the 28mm, either CV f2 Ultron or the tiny f3.5 Color-skopar. Recently bought a CV 40mm F1.4 SC Nokton and have been trying that out. Have to say that despite the excellent quality of the lens I just don't feel the FL is right for me and so it's gonna be sold.
 
When I walk down the street, or where ever I am with my camera, I find that when I see something I want to shoot, the 28mm is almost always the best focal length. If I use a 35mm lens I always have to back up to get everything in the frame that I want to include and then the perspective is different than what first attracted my eye.. Of course there are those times when you are a bit farther away and then I use a 35mm. I also use the 21mm for some things. 95% of the time it’s a 28mm for me.
 
Kinda like developers - started with D76, tried a bunch, came back to D76. Started with a 50 kit lens on my first SLR, tried this focal length and that, back to the 50.
 
I initially fell in love with 35mm when I got my summaron 35 f2.8. It allowed me to go close to the subject as it focuses down to 0.7m. Then after I got my cron 50 dr, I could go even closer to my subjects with frame filling shots and that made me a 50 convert. I am searching for a 50mm lens that give a unique signature now.
 
I'm mainly a 28mm guy.
But lately I'm trying to reeducate myself into the 35mm realm with a new CV Notkon 35/1.2.
 
50mm for most of my work, 35mm for some. This isn't just with rangefinders, its my use pattern with my SLRs as well. When I shoot medium format, I use the 80mm standard lens 90% of the time.
 
40mm is the king, very natural and I dont have feeling that I lost something, just like with 50mm. also on square i have 75mm which is nearlly same FL.
 
If I have to choose one and only one lens to walk around with, then I guess it would be a 50mm (FOV). However, I've walked around with other focal lengths just fine. Problem is, if I'm shooting something specific, like cars, I want a 35 FOV. I could certainly get by with just a 35mm and 50mm FOV lenses.

(I have an M8 and an M2, which causes me to have to stress FOV above)
 
I used to shoot only with a 35mm lens but then I forced myself to use 50mm for three months. Since then has 50mm been my preferred FL.
 
semilog said:
I only have a 50/2 for my rangefinder right now but I've never learned to see with it, intuitively, the way I can with a 35. 28 is a very tough FL to shoot, and I'm in awe of folks who use it really well. 24 I actually find much easier than 28. Maybe I should get a 25 Biogon, instead of the 35 that I've set my eye on...
Click to expand...

HCB complained that America required a 35mm lens more than he liked. It makes sense if you think about the width roads in old Europe and other places that weren't built around cars.
 
Well lets see, I just purchased a Canon 35mm F-2 off the classified's which means for the first time ever I'll have more then one lense of a particular focal length for a given system/format so I guess that make my RF focal length 35mm.
 
PKR said:
HCB complained that America required a 35mm lens more than he liked. It makes sense if you think about the width roads in old Europe and other places that weren't built around cars.
Click to expand...

I'd think in the crowded conditions of Europe a wideagle would be better than a 50.
 
I feel like I have had more success with a 50mm but 35mm just feels right to me, hopefully I get the hang of it and improve.
 
I have a Canon 50/1.8 and a CV 35/2.5 - but after I bought the CV Ultron 28/1.9 last year it's still on my Bessa R.
 
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