Which lens should I get:43 or 50?

boilerdoc2

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I have the 80 and 150 and they are superb. To complete a basic package should I look for a 43 or the 50mm? Shoot people and landscapes. Can't afford both. Will the swing up polarizer work on both? Thanks in advance for your help.
Boilerdoc
 
I believe this is a decision on which other people can´t help you much...

I did struckle with the same question until last week (i also have the 80+150). I chose the 43mm. I like to shoot landscapes as well, but the 43mm will get most used on so called street photography.

From my experience with shooting 24mm (on 35mm photography) i knew i far more often would have liked wider field of view rather than narrower. When looking at the horizontal field of views, 43mm equals 22,5mm and 50mm equals 25,5mm.

It definately wasn´t an easy desicion! With my very little experience so far with the 43mm i think i made the right choice for me :)

Niko
 
If you get the 50, there will always be a situation where you wish you could go that little bit wider! With the 43 at least you know that's as wide as it gets with this camera. Both lenses are superb so there's no qualitative choice. The 43 was one of the reasons I bought a Mamiya 7 in the first place, although at the time the 50 wasn't around.

snowy
 
The question is whether in 35mm format, you prefer the 21 or 24mm focal length. Both are stellar lenses in terms of optical quality. The 50mm can be used without an external viewfinder by using the M7's outer edge in its viewfinder. The 43mm definitely needs an external viewfinder.

Either lens will be a great choice. The 43mm requires more discipline and skill to use to avoid distortions and converging lines, simply as a result of its wider perspective. 21mm or 24mm in 35mm format, which perspective is more natural to your own eye?
 
Once you will have choosen and bought your lens, I'd be very interesting if you can later on tell us if you think you made the right choice.
I also have the 80mm and though I can not afford yet buying another lens, I still have the same question than you.
 
Thanks for all the help. This is a great forum! I now have the 43 and what an awesome set up. God, I hate it that no one is supporting medium format RFs anymore. Boilerdoc
 
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