RE: [Leica]Why a 35mm lens?

["Alan Hull" <hull@telia.com>]

Thank you for the insight regarding the personal choice of 35mm over
50mm.  For reasons I explain below, I was considering changing my first
choice 50mm to my never used 35mm and wondered why so many luggers
seemed to prefer it.

The change was prompted by my frustration caused by my very poor
success rate in taking candid fotos of my three year old daughter.  She
is a typical active toddler and her movements are totally random and
unpredictable.  The results show, I'm ashamed to say, about half of
each roll to be out of focus, and the problem is getting worse. 
Naturally, these fotos are the ones my wife examines more than any
other and I am getting embarassed by my failure rate.

So I thought "zone focus" and change to a 35mm lens to increase DOF. 
Which of course is nonsense as DOF has nothing to do with focal length.
 Anyway I put the 35mm lens on the M2 and was fiddling with it while
reading the LUG responses.  Lo and Behold the lens focussing tab moved
as smooth as silk.  I tried the 50mm again and it was so stiff and
JERKY in comparision that it was obvious what the problem is.  The 50mm
needs oiling.  Time to get the vaseline out.

Thanks again.  I will use the 35mm for the next few weeks at least. 
Never even had it on the camera before and I will be interested if it
changes my style.  

Alan