Re: [Leica] Focal Length Perspective

[Joe Berenbaum <joe-b@dircon.co.uk>]

At 09:33 15/12/97 -0600, you wrote:
>I've been following the discussion about preferences among various focal
>lengths and I continue to feel that in the 35mm format using transparency
>film, a medium telephoto is the most natural perspective.
>I've found the 28mm lens to be like all-weather tires.  Jack of all
>trades>and master of none.  I spent a year photographing Western Europe
>where a>wide angle lens is crucial and much preferred the perspective of >
the 24mm>to the 28mm.  I haven't had the opportunity to try the 21mm
>Elmarit-M.
>Bud Cook

I do find these observations on different focal length preferences
interesting. I've found in my own case it is easy to get into fixed
thinking about the different focal lengths that has little to do with the
angle of view or apparent prespective, real usefulness of the lens in
question, or whatever else, and everything to do with the preconceptions of
the thinker (in this case, me). For example, I have had a strange prejudice
against 35mm lenses for a couple of years, and have avoided using them. I
knew all along this didn't make much sense since there was a time what I
only used 35mm lenses and got many good images with them. Recently I've
been very keen on the 28mm focal length as a wide angle lens for the M
system. I've even made a point of getting a couple of pocketable compacts
with 28mm lenses. Actually these work extremely well for me.

But what I've realised quite recently is that the different focal lengths
available for the M cameras from 20mm to 135mm, disregarding the viewfinder
or focusing and handling considerations, all have huge potential for me to
make pictures with, and when I find myself thinking I don't like a
particular focal length, I can usefully try to stretch my thinking to
accomodate it and benefit considerably in more ideas and more picture
possibilities. The example of my recent dislike of 35mm lenses is a good
one for me- 35mm is a very useful focal length for a Leica M camera and I
now intend to use mine again- a lot. The very things I saw as problems- not
quite wide enough to include a lot of the subject, shots often look like
standard lens shots- can be assets if I look at them with an open mind, ie
I can get twice as much in as with a 50 and still avoid the wideangle look
in many shots- how very convenient! It's all a question of how I look at
it. I think I've accidentally stumbled across some of Freeman Patterson's
"unblocking" principles. FWIW...