[Leica] "standard lens"

["Gib Robinson" <robinson@sfsu.edu>]

Although history doesn't support the 35mm lens as the M "standard" lens; the
35mm Summicron is certainly MY personal standard for a number of the reasons
already mentioned by others. For me it's the easiest and quickest lens to
focus, the easiest to carry, and hands-down the most flexible all-purpose M
lens. When I bought my first M (an M2 which I've had for 33 years) it came
with a 50mm DR Summicron. I asked a friend to pick up a 35mm lens in Germany
and in two weeks I was backpacking in the Sierras with that lens. Even
before I got the slides back (Kodachrome II) I realized I had a superb
combination of camera and lens for outdoor work. It's wonderful for shooting
large landscapes and reasonable for closer work at f/16 on a tripod with
lots of build-in depth of field at smaller apertures. But it's also a
functional portrait lens for times when you're sitting next to someone and
want to photograph without interrupting the flow of conversation. I often
shoot half-body portraits at times like that so I get arm and hand gestures,
posture, etc. as well as facial expression. And once I've focused the lens,
I can rest the body of the M on my chest in "portrait" orientation, wrap my
left hand around the "trigger" end of the body and shoot quietly without
using the viewer. I can handhold it at low speeds (30th or less) and get
acceptably sharp photos with fine-grain film. With a 50mm the focus is too
critical to work without the viewer and you need more shutter speed.
Anything wider than a 35mm introduces other limitations. Although I use a
28mm for shooting street "portraits" without using the viewer, photos taken
with the 28mm tend to show some distortion if I'm in the middle of a group
and people's hands and arms are too close to the lens. There's rarely a time
I notice anything unnatural about a 35mm shot. If I could only take one lens
for an M, no question it would be a 35mm. In fact, I can't imagine any other
combination of body and lens I would rather carry. It's an exquisite tool.
In my view the Hallmark of Leica design, and certainly my "standard" M lens.
My first love. . . and probably my last great romance (photographically
speaking).  For me, beyond compare. Irreplaceable.