Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Focal Length and Fetish
From: Douglas Cooper <douglas@metaversalstudios.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2000 11:44:13 -0500

At 12:01 AM 11/7/00 -0800, you wrote:
>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.


Strange how every eye seems to have its own perspectival preferences.  I 
shot for years with a Hexar, but I never really liked the 35mm focal 
length.  I intend to get either a Summicron or a Canon 35/2 sooner or 
later, if only to find out whether 35 feels somehow better on a Leica.  But 
I've always preferred the 28mm, and the 50.  And, recently, the 
Cosina/Voigtlander 75.  I like the perspectival distortions of a 28, 
perhaps because they're obvious -- you can't pretend that you're not using 
a wide angle.  The 15mm Heliar was just too peculiar for me; the shots I 
liked best had the subject bullseyed in the center, so as to draw the eye 
away from the radical bending.  For a time I enjoyed a 24mm -- a N*k*n 
autofocus -- but even that's beginning to feel too wide.  In large format, 
it's a different story, as you can iron out the perspective.  I'm beginning 
to like wide lenses on my 4x5's:  the 100mm Wide Field Ektar is a 
particular favorite.  I think it really does reflect a personal aesthetic, 
even a style; most of my favorite photographers seem to have restricted 
themselves to one or two focal lengths.

cheers,

DC

Replies: Reply from "Wilber Jeffcoat" <wilber@jeffcoatphotography.com> (Re: [Leica] Focal Length and Fetish)