[Leica] How did 50mm become the "normal" lens for 35mm cameras?

[Douglas Barry]

According to my list, I have a Halina 35X somewhere in the attic with a 
45mm, a couple of Kodak Retinette 1s with 45mms, and a Yashica Minister also 
with a 45mm.

Douglas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Bridge" <abridge683 at fastmail.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 10:45 PM
Subject: [Leica] How did 50mm become the "normal" lens for 35mm cameras?


> Let me back up a moment.
>
> I was taught that a “normal” lens is one whose focal length matches the 
> diagonal of the film/sensor frame.
>
> For 35mm film as shot by, say, a Leica M6, that turns out to be 43mm - 
> midway between a wide 35mm lens and a 50mm lens which I have sometimes 
> seen called a “short telephoto” perhaps even by B&H.
>
> Now as I remember from my cinema days 35mm movies are shot at the same 
> aspect ratio as still but have different dimensions since they are shot 
> with the long edge running across the film instead of the short edge as is 
> the case for full frame 35mm film photography (except, I’m guessing, 
> half-frame 35mm but now I’m totally out of school having never seen one of 
> these cameras.
>
> That’s where I’m coming from. And wondering why we don’t see more 
> 40-something focal length lenses. I know that there 48’s out there? Nikon 
> maybe from the old days? Mark Rabiner, you talked about this at some 
> point, I think.
>
> Thanks
>
> Adam
>
>
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