Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>>>> Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 00:20:32 +0100 From: "Alan Hull" <hull@telia.com> Subject: Re: [Leica]Why a 35mm lens? Message-ID: <200011070621.HAA10357@d1o915.telia.com> References: > From: John Collier > find that I use an M body with a 35 lens for about 99% of my shooting. I - - --------------------- John and others. I find it interesting that so many luggers seem to prefer the 35mm lens. When I was starting out in photography the most common advice was ... Fill the frame. Followed by ... but do not get too close because of perspective distortion. May I ask those luggers who use the 35mm (or shorter) lens MORE than any other, if they can explain why they do so. For instance, is it ease of use or do you actually like the results. For me, I find that anything less than 50mm is an "in your face " style. TIA Alan <<<<< I think most photographers these days would say that 35 is the most versatile focal length. It doesn't distort too much close in and is wide enough for use in cramped quarters. And you can get fast 35's. Also it is a bit like the 24 in that you can control the wide-angleness of it quite well - - make it straight or zoomy, so to speak. Also, we've got used to the distortion of wideangles these days and the "true perspective" of the 50 doesn't seem to be much of a feature anymore. I certainly wouldn't class the 35 as a wideangle, but as a short standard. However, I have felt the need more recently for a longer lens (you can't always stand close enough to take a snap) and have just purchased a 50 which hasn't arrived yet. I feel that will complete my line up. Useful for slightly more relaxed, discreet photography, when someone knows you're photographing them, say, but you don't want to intrude on them too much. Of course what happens next is that someone always walks right between you and your subject at the "decisive moment"! So far my use has been about 60/40 for the 35/24 - I'll be interested to see what the 50 does to this balance. Since I'm too damn lazy to change lenses it'll probably throw everything out. I'm looking forward to using the 24/50 combo and keeping the 35 in the bag for when it gets darker. Still, like the deadman, if I had to choose just one lens, it would be the 35. Although I could get along fine with only any one of these three. have I gone on enough? Rob. Robert Appleby V. Bellentani 36 41100 MO Italy tel. (+39) 059 303436 mob. (+39) 0348 336 7990