Who shoots mainly with a 50 or a 35?

[Godfrey]

Just think it over. I´m very serious. 50 years experience. Think about your pictures, not about your lenses.

Erik.

I do tend to agree with you, Erik, despite that I most often carry two lenses. I always end up working with just one lens the vast majority of the time, and reach for the other only when i see a special circumstance where whatever other lens i have does something special.

Sometimes that other lens is a long and sometimes it's a short. Whim at the moment of packing usually determines the carry... 🙂

I never sweat that I'm going to miss some great shot. There is an infinite number of grest shots to do with any lens.

G

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Okay, it’s my turn 🙂

Who shoots mainly with a 50 or a 35? I shoot mainly with a 50 or 35.

I have several cameras and more lenses than I need. I have long zooms, ultra-wide, macros, fast, slow, primes in a multitude of ranges; I got a lotta stuff. Now, I'm not bragging about how much stuff I have, it's just how I choose to spend my money. On the flip side, I don't own a car, motorcycle, boat, or bike; I don't have a big house with a swimming pool... I wear my clothes until they wear out before buying new - I drink inexpensive wine - the list of what I don't have or do is long.

Getting back to lenses: I like to force myself challenge myself to use many different focal length lenses but when all is said and done I always go back to the 50mm & 35mm focal length. And, for the record when I go out I usually take two lenses and only use one of the two the whole day. I use a backpack to carry my gear and the added weight of one lens is no big deal. If I used a shoulder bag I would probably be a one lens guy.

All the best,
Mike

 

[Pioneer]

For my Dutch friend and any others, here is my plan: I will leave Ely, NV, in the morning heading west with the sun behind me. I will arrive in Fallon around noon, it is a 250 mile run (400 KM) across a high speed road through high desert. I will drive back from Fallon to Ely, with the sun behind me. I will do this three times. OK, now for my Dutch friend and any others who like to kibbitz, Day One - Amotal, Day Two - Bertele, Day Three - CZJ 5cm f/1.5. X2D with XCD 55V all days and possibly the Pixii for B&W.

US 50 across Nevada is named The Loneliest Road in America (U.S. Route 50 in Nevada - Wikipedia). This is the road I will travel. I first crossed it in '82 on a '67 BMW R69S on a coast to coast trip from Connecticut to California and have been back a number of times, each way, because of the stark, high desert beauty. The weather will be in the comfortable 70's during the day. On the 29th there is a full moon so evening desert shots will be possible for a few nights.

Like it or not, this is my plan. And I'm sticking to it. ;o)

Enjoy your drive. Been up and down that highway many, many times. I lived just south of Austin, Nevada for many years and it can be be very lonely.

 

[boojum]

Enjoy your drive. Been up and down that highway many, many times. I lived just south of Austin, Nevada for many years and it can be be very lonely.

Yes, the beauty is the vast openness of the valleys between the ranges. When the sun strikes them these valleys are amazing. The whole ride, out to Fallon and back, is great. And having lived there you know why I am making a two day drive each way to get there. A beautiful and unique section of this vast country. I'll give a little toot on the horn for you when I pass through Austin, each time. ;o)

 

[Pál_K]

What I have learned from this thread is that people are different and like different things. No surprise.

My choice of lens is dictated by two facts:

1. I am lazy.
2. I like to travel light.

So, whether on a walk or a trip, I will take one camera and one lens. Usually that lens is a "normal" lens because:

1. Those are the lenses I have the most of.
2. They are relatively inexpensive.
3. The manufacturer usually designs their normal lens to be optically excellent.

Am I missing some shots? Probably. Maybe I'll make a note of it and come back a different day when I'm using a different lens.

I bought a 135mm M-mount Hektor some years ago because I admired the smoothness and workmanship on the lens and it was very inexpensive. The M3 was designed to accomodate it, so I bought it to see what I could do; it would be a different experience. With it, I made many nice shots in a railroad yard and other places. The 135mm Hektor required a different approach to making photos, but it was fun and the results were good.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

50mm (use it for street portraits also because I don't need to switch to a 75mm or 90mm) & 35mm for street & not bad for portraits. (Rule of thumb I read 35mm 3 people (I use it for two) 50mm 2 people (but I use it for one) 75/90 for one) Don't want to start and argument because I don't always adhere to this rule of thumb. It is just a starting point.

 

[boojum]

Consider that not all trips have the same purpose. Likewise, we can't all love the same woman. The problems are different and unique. Your problem - you in general - may not be my problem. Therefore your - you in general - solution may not be my solution. Why must this be explained?

 

[qqphotos]

Depends on the project. currently 35mm because it lets me frame a doorway from a city sidewalk. 50mm is too tight for that without stepping into the street. For other stuff, other lenses.

 

[Pioneer]

Most of my life I have used a 50mm lens but lately I have been flirting with a couple of 24mm lenses.

I am not sure why and I don't think I am getting better pictures. That may happen later, or maybe not. Right now I am just enjoying the view.