Who shoots with two standard lenses ?

[yanidel]

I have been using almost exclusively 35mm + 50mm (actually 60mm) for the last 6 months but I feel a growing frustration. Indeed, a lone standard lens can cover most situations in street photography with some footwork but usually I start with one, then as I switch I might go on with the other one. In other words, a situational change of lens often leads me no to revert to the previous lens. So when reviewing my pictures, I often feel a lack of homogeneity on a given day (dof, rendering) since I get long series of shots with one or another lens.

So I am considering a definitive change to 75mm. By doing so, I would force myself to always revert to 35mm once a scene where a needed 75mm close up is over.

I'd like to read about your experiences with shooting street photography with two standard lenses in your kit. By standard lens, I mean a 28mm, 35mm or 50mm focal. How many of you use mainly combos of the kind 28mm + 50mm or 35mm + 50mm and how do you deal the switches ? Is one of the lenses your main one or do you just go with the flow and use whatever is on unless a switch is absolutely needed ?

 

[shenkerian]

I've used exclusively a 35 and a 50 for the past three years. I keep one mounted for months at a time and switch mostly as an exercise for myself. I'm definitely more comfortable with my 50, probably because I used it for a year before I added the 35.

 

[ferider]

Not for street but for events with people, I find 2 lenses really only work well with two bodies, yanidel.

You have a good excuse to get a second M9 🙂

 

[thomasw_]

I shoot my 50s exclusively by themselves; the 50 mm FL strikes a chord with how I compose. But with a 35 I use a 75. I get what I want out of these 3 FLs. The 35/75 pairing is very effective; there is little RF work you can't do with this combination.

 

[le vrai rdu]

I mostly shoot with a 35 and a 50 and wll, they are quite different, but, when I am not really close to the subject, they tend do feel a bit the same sometimes 😀

 

[filmfan]

I shoot two lenses: 35mm and 50mm

 

[Rob-F]

I think there is a lot to be said for using two lenses that are far apart enough that it is completely obvious, at a glance, which one is needed. I'd say 35 and 75 are ideal for that. There was a time when I had only 35 and 90, and so I did everything with those two. But 35 and 90 are just a little too far apart; 35 and 75 will make a better set.

 

[DNG]

I typically take my 50 or my 35... But I only take one with me... it forces me to zoom with my feet, and look for images that will work with whatever FL I take.
I have a 28 also... but it stays at home more these days.

Today our family went to a park to walk...I thought.. you know exercise me, wife, kid and dog. But, son wanted to play on a park climbing apparatus. And. he wanted the dog to go on(in) with him. 😱. Glad I had the 50 on today... it was a perfect FL from where I was literally sitting 😀, I could then aim and shoot without getting up! 🙂. Yup, the Dog and Son where on a small bridge on the climbing apparatus. I have a 70LB Golden BTW.

 

[pggunn]

Not for street but for events with people, I find 2 lenses really only work well with two bodies, yanidel.

You have a good excuse to get a second M9 🙂

I agree - two bodies, two lenses. I always have a 50 on one and either a 28 or 100 on the other. A small bag holds the extra lens, either the 28 or 100 depending on what I'm shooting at the moment, along with a dozen or so rolls of film. That's what works best for me. Your mileage, methods, may vary, but you'll still reach your intended destination!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Having different focal lengths available for shooting is one thing, and having different focal lengths available for changing lenses before shooting, makes no difference in the studio, but in the street... It's a huge difference...

I tend to have one camera in my hand with one focal length (moderate wide) and another camera hanging from my shoulder with a different focal length (short tele), but even if one of my cameras is inside a small bag to hide it, taking it out and shooting it is much, much faster than changing lenses...

I accept other members' opinions on just one body for street shooting, because we all use the same word for lots of different things: street is a word that holds totally different situations requiring totally different attitudes and speed from the photographer... In the street we can relax and walk, and have enough time to see and photograph a fallen tree in a park, or an old native store's facade in an exotic trip... But in the street we can also find smiling children running near us, and right in the next second a passionate kiss by the end of the block...

With one focal length we can't do the same we can with more than that...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[cmdrzed]

I have 2 bodies and consistently shoot 21 and 40. I have two 50's but don't normally take them with me.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

About shooting with two standard lenses, yes, I carry two standard lenses and even three or four: I use cameras loaded with different films for harsh and soft light and for f/11 and f/1.4 to be ready for very different DOF... To be exact 28, 35, 40 and 50.

Cheers

 

[ramosa]

i was in your shoes once--or almost. my first two lenses were 28mm and 50mm--and i was pondering what to do. i pondered wider (i.e., 18mm) or longer (90mm). i went wider, which was a mistake. i should have gone longer. if you can, it'd a big benefit if you can play with a 75mm--and also a 90mm. (i don't live near a store that carries any of the lenses, so didn't have the opportunity then.) i recommend this because you actually may like the bigger step past the 50mm--to 90mm. finally having had the chance to play with a few lenses in a leica shop, i know a 90mm is definitely my next purchase--as the 75mm is too close to the 50mm for me.

 

[stompyq]

I shoot a 15mm CV and a 50mm (right now the ZM Planar). I can't figure out why people shoot 35mm and 50mm? The FL are so close. Unless it's b/c of unique optical character?? Really, I have no issues with which FL to choose since they are so far apart. If at all I've wated to go even wider than the 15mm. The 50mm is perfect since i can acheuive anything the 35mm/75mm FL does just by using my feet.

 

[kino eye]

I've always shot with just a 40mm and find 95% of the time its all I need.

 

[back alley]

if we continue this conversation i may be down to one lens soon...

but really, with rangefinders, most lenses are close to normal.
i like the 28/35 combo as they are close but different enough to give me that stretch if i need it and 35 is very close to my normal vision.

and with the rd1, the 15 is like a 21 which at times is exactly the way i see.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I shoot a 15mm CV and a 50mm (right now the ZM Planar). I can't figure out why people shoot 35mm and 50mm? The FL are so close. Unless it's b/c of unique optical character?? Really, I have no issues with which FL to choose since they are so far apart. If at all I've wated to go even wider than the 15mm. The 50mm is perfect since i can acheuive anything the 35mm/75mm FL does just by using my feet.

I find myself carrying everyday 28 & 35 & 40 & 50 because those are my most used focal lengths, and I use them on different bodies, for different films and kinds of light, and for extremely different depth of field apertures.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[cnphoto]

Not for street but for events with people, I find 2 lenses really only work well with two bodies, yanidel.

You have a good excuse to get a second M9 🙂

OR! Grab an M8/M8.2 and mount the 60mm (making it a 80mm more or less) then have the perfect 2 body combo (35 + 80/75).

 

[gshybrid]

I've enjoyed your blog for a while now. My favorite shots are with your 60 hex... I wonder what 75 could replace it?

 

[Stephen G]

I have found best luck lately setting out with 1 camera, 1 lens.
Theres nothing technical to think about, and its easy to tag the photos when I get home.
Just see the image, compose and shoot.
I shoot on M8.
At home in NYC, I have been going with 50mm pretty heavily, especially when shooting outdoors street exclusively. Allows me to get closer, like your 60mm on M9.

When I think I will be doing some indoors as well, I set out with the 35mm instead.
Often 35mm is still too tight indoors on M8.

I should probably think about a 25mm as a complement to the 15/35/50 I have now. Or replace the 35 with a 28 and go 15/28/50.