Which lens for Bessa R2M street shooting?

[timothyd]

Hey,
I am considerably new to rangefinders, bought my first (Bessa R2M) less than a year ago. I love it. I have been using a 35/2.5 color skopar. I am primarily doing street shooting, and have found that I always wish my photos were closer up. I am not yet brave enough to get up in peoples faces etc.
So I am considering adding a second lens for those times when I want to take a closer picture, but can't get as close as I need to. Is a 50 a big enough difference? Which 50 lens would you recommend and why?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Timothy,

To me, 50mm is different enough, but equally, I find 35/75 a fine combination.

If you're going for a 50 and don't need speed, both the Voigtländer 50/2.5 and the Summarit 50/2.5 are wonderfully compact and have 'spur' focusing (like most 35/2.5 Color Skopars, only more elegantly fitted than a crude spar).

Cheers,

Roger

 

[payasam]

Agree that a 50 will probably be different enough.

 

[rxmd]

Just try out if the 50 works for you. Spend $20 on an Industar-61, arguably the rangefinder lens with the best price/performance ratio. If it doesn't work for you, you won't be losing money, and if it does, the lens itself is rather good and a keeper.

 

[morgan]

I second the above suggestion on the I-61. It's what I started with and it's a great lens that can be had for next to nothing. If you're happy with the speed of your 35, then the I-61 would work well to see if you like 50's.

 

[back alley]

maybe set the framelines on your camera to 50 and walk around with it for awhile.

the cv 50/2.5 is a good lens, very solid.

 

[mdspace]

"Nokton 50"

Give me the frame that I like for street and people photography. The 1.5 give you many options for different conditions of light. 😉