Re: Natural Focal Lengths

[Arnold Don Abravanel <arniea@ibm.net>]

I have used a 40mm w/ M5. It came off of a CL. The only difficulty is that
the veiw finders view is a little hard to get used to.

Arnold

At 09:40 AM 12/27/96 -0700, you wrote:
>LUGs,
>
>Someone made the comment of the natural focal lengths being between 35mm and
>50mm. I agree with this comment. Actually, the most natural focal length may
>be 40mm for general photography. Leica used to make a 40mm Summicron and
>Zeiss made the 45mm Tessar. I find the other focal lengths less useful on my
>M camera. However, I often will carry the 90mm lens for situations when I
>want to photograph without being obtrusive or, rarely, for portraits. I have
>a 135mm lens, an Elmar, but use it as a poor man's telephoto. A 180mm lens
>would be better, but I would have to carry an SLR.
>
>Carrying an M camera with only two lenses is liberating. Leica advocates
>carrying only the 35mm and 90mm. I find the 35mm/50mm combination more
>useful. In particular, indoors and in Europe, the 35mm is a must. True,
>Leica makes a 28mm lens, which covers what a person can see with both eyes
>open, but it is a big and expensive lens. Also, I am always worried about
>perspective and people's noses being recorded not in true proportion to
>other features. I don't want to worry about such things while taking
>pictures. For this reason, I am now also sticking to the 35/50mm combination.
>
>If I can find a 40mm Summicron in good condition and at reasonable price, I
>will probably buy one.
>
>Best of Light,
>
>chris
>
>ps. I am now in Southern California (Newport Beach) where the sun just
>stopped shining.
>
>
>
Arnold Don Abravanel
arniea@loop.com