Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/15

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Use just a 50mm, are you nuts???????
From: D Khong <dkhong@pacific.net.sg>
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 06:25:02 +0000

I also heard that Henri Cartier Bresson used a 50mm leitz lens almost all
the time.  I have seen many pics of him with his screwmount leica.

Dan K.

At 02:17 PM 15/4/98 -0400, you wrote:
>David Hamilton found fame and fortune only shooting with a 50, and a Minolta
>of all things.  not sure what he's using on his current work.
>
>Stephen Gandy
>
>
>
>BIRKEY, DUANE wrote:
>
>> Disclaimer:  This isn't directed at anyone in particular.
>>
>> But selling everything and shooting with just a 50 or a 85 for that
>> matter, you either have to be nuts or you must have a very limited vision
>> or want to shoot very limited subject material.
>>
>> I know, some say it's a great way to learn photography, and my students
>> I'm mentoring are using Nikkormats and 50's. (but's that's because that's
>> all we have to offer) But......I look at their contact sheets and think
>> to myself, this would have been better with a 85, a 135, a 20, a 35 or a
>> 200 etc. etc.
>>
>> I went to downtown Quito this past week to photograph the Good Friday
>> processions,  I brought three zooms a 17-35, 28-70 and 70-200.  I would
>> have gotten very few good images with just a 50mm,  I used every bit of
>> the range as it was unbelievably crowded and I was shooting from within
>> the procession itself which was slightly less crowded than the
>> sardinelike jampacked sidewalks. One photographer was using one body with
>> one lens, a 20mm, another photographer was shooting with just a 24 and a
>> 105.  Both commented that in hindsight they should have done what I did
>> and brought zooms, but they were trying to keep it simple.
>>
>> If you can't compose with a 50, a 17mm or a 200mm probably won't  make
>> you a better photographer.  But my experience is that there are just too
>> many subjects and situations that are better served by lenses other than
>> a 50.  Sure you can shoot portraits with a 50, but the background usually
>> looks better with an 85 or longer.  Yes you could take general detail
>> photos of buildings with a 50, but forget about overall shots which are
>> better served by a 20 or 24 or specific details that need something
>> longer.   A 50 1.4 is a nice general lens, but doesn't focus close enough
>> for macro shots and a 50 macro is usually to slow for available light.
>> If you want to isolate a face in the crowd, a 200 does a far better job
>> than a 50.
>>
>> The key is to realize how each lens works in practice, how it changes
>> perspective, how it changes the appearance of the background, how it
>> isolates the subject or puts it into context and how they each have
>> different depth of field.
>>
>> And you can't learn that with just a 50 since you need something to
>> compare it with.  A M-series 3 lens kit like a  35 (24 or 28) , 50 and 90
>> works for many situations.  That's what my M-kit is but I don't carry it
>> all that often as I know much of what I'm planning on shooting will
>> require something outside of that range (I'm saving for a 21mm ASPH but
>> the 200 is going to be hard to do without).   I started photography with
>> a 24, a 50 and a 70-210 and for me, that was a great way to learn.
>>
>> Shooting with just a 50, IMHO you got to be nuts or a serious
>> photographic masochist.  But hey, it's your choice and if it makes you
>> happy.................do it.   If I was going to work with one lens and
>> one camera,  I'd choose a 4 x5,  a 90 and a 210 (I can't bring myself to
>> choose one lens).  That way I would have narrowed down my subject matter
>> to still lifes and landscapes.  You can do close-ups and crop like crazy
>> and no one is ever going to expect you to do portraits or photograph
>> their wedding.
>>
>> I'll get off my soapbox and get back to mounting slides...........
>>
>> Duane Birkey
>>
>> HCJB World Radio
>> Quito Ecuador
>
>
>
>