cheewai_m6 Posted November 17, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) i've got 3 lenses in my kit at the moment. 35mm cron (1974), 50mm cron (1972) and 90mm cron (1982). in the time i've had this kit, i've taken 5 shots with the 90mm and i want to get rid of it. i never wanted this in the first place.... it's hard to explain. the 35mm, i'm not a fan of either. i've used it a bit, and i'm not a fan of the sharpness, or lack of. the contrast isn't that great either. i do like it's focussing and it's size though. tiny! so i'm most likely going to sell off the 90 and 35 for a 28 cron asph. i really like my 50mm cron and how it renders, bokeh etc... so my kit will just be 50mm and 28mm. i shoot mainly cityscapes, landscapes, architecturals, street (learning), family stuff. has anyone had experience with just these two as a kit and have ever felt as though you really needed something in between like the 35mm? i know it's very difficult to tell someone you need this, and this. but i'm more asking from your experience. money is an issue, and i also like the 28mm cron being a bit smaller and also being a fairly fast lens. can anyone offer their experience or even advice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 17, 2009 Posted November 17, 2009 Hi cheewai_m6, Take a look here your experience with 50mm and 28mm as a kit. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
troyfreund Posted November 17, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 17, 2009 I shoot weddings with an M6TTL and a 28/2, 50/1.4 and 90/2. The large majority of what I shoot is with the 28 and 50. I could do without the 90, but it is good for portraits. I think a 28/50 kit offers you a lot of flexibility and completely support the notion. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted November 17, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 17, 2009 What you ask really is quite difficult -- especially as it isn't entirely clear from what you say whether its the rendering of the 35mm you dislike or the field of view... Well, I'll try and answer anyway. I use only three lenses: a 35/2 (almost all the time), a 50/2 (for when I want significantly less than the 35mm perspective), and a 28/2.8 (for when I want more than the 35mm and greater depth of field). I regard the 35mm as pretty much my standard working lens -- I like its field of view, the working distance I tend to adopt with it, its rendering -- in short everything. I think therefore that my answer to your question is that while a 50 and a 28 is a perfectly plausible working kit, it wouldn't be mine. I would want 'the something in between' -- the 35. I find there to be a quite dramatic difference in the fields of view of the 35mm and 50mm (indeed,under-estimated by many) and would struggle if I only had a 50 and a 28. My personal experience is that the 28 gives me too much foreground -- unless I set out explicitly to use it because the circumstances demand it. On reflection, I am not sure I have answered your question... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted November 17, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 17, 2009 I started with a 50, and a year later, added a 35. The plan was that I'd use the 35 for almost everything. I used it for about a year. Got a lot of good pictures, but never clicked with me. I sold it and got a 28 and am very happy now. 28 and 50 are a great match up. 35 was never wide enough, or tight enough. It was too close to 50 for me to rationalize switching lenses all the time too. I shoot mostly 28 now, though switch to 50 when it's needed. I agree with alun, there is a noticeable FOV difference between 35 and 50, but not enough for me to use both I find 28 the perfect focal length for how I interact with a group of people and shoot them. It's also good for landscape type of things. I use 50 more for single people or inanimate objects. In this way, 35 was always a bit tight for me for groups and getting a sense of the space of an environment, and a bit too wide for single portraits, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 17, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 17, 2009 This is quite ancient now - I complied it years ago, so "current" isn't anymore - but it may help... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Regards, Bill ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/104027-your-experience-with-50mm-and-28mm-as-a-kit/?do=findComment&comment=1120240'>More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted November 17, 2009 I shoot weddings with an M6TTL and a 28/2, 50/1.4 and 90/2. The large majority of what I shoot is with the 28 and 50. I could do without the 90, but it is good for portraits. I think a 28/50 kit offers you a lot of flexibility and completely support the notion. Good luck! thanks, it helps hearing from someone who works with the particular focal lengths i'm thinking of is great! What you ask really is quite difficult -- especially as it isn't entirely clear from what you say whether its the rendering of the 35mm you dislike or the field of view... Well, I'll try and answer anyway. I use only three lenses: a 35/2 (almost all the time), a 50/2 (for when I want significantly less than the 35mm perspective), and a 28/2.8 (for when I want more than the 35mm and greater depth of field). I regard the 35mm as pretty much my standard working lens -- I like its field of view, the working distance I tend to adopt with it, its rendering -- in short everything. I think therefore that my answer to your question is that while a 50 and a 28 is a perfectly plausible working kit, it wouldn't be mine. I would want 'the something in between' -- the 35. I find there to be a quite dramatic difference in the fields of view of the 35mm and 50mm (indeed,under-estimated by many) and would struggle if I only had a 50 and a 28. My personal experience is that the 28 gives me too much foreground -- unless I set out explicitly to use it because the circumstances demand it. On reflection, I am not sure I have answered your question... well i know it's very difficult to give an answer, but your experience YOUR point of view is what i was after, and you gave it very well. it helps me decide for myself from your experience. I started with a 50, and a year later, added a 35. The plan was that I'd use the 35 for almost everything. I used it for about a year. Got a lot of good pictures, but never clicked with me. I sold it and got a 28 and am very happy now. 28 and 50 are a great match up. 35 was never wide enough, or tight enough. It was too close to 50 for me to rationalize switching lenses all the time too. I shoot mostly 28 now, though switch to 50 when it's needed. I agree with alun, there is a noticeable FOV difference between 35 and 50, but not enough for me to use both I find 28 the perfect focal length for how I interact with a group of people and shoot them. It's also good for landscape type of things. I use 50 more for single people or inanimate objects. In this way, 35 was always a bit tight for me for groups and getting a sense of the space of an environment, and a bit too wide for single portraits, etc. i think i'm feeling a lot like you are. although i haven't shot with a 28, my feeling with the 35mm is it's a bit too tight, but too wide for portraits. i took some shots in the city of a new bridge which is quite a 'busy' bridge, there are structural members that poke out in all directions. the lens just didn't define each member well, it looked a bit 'loose'. it was focussed properly, it wasn't sharp. the colours were flat. i was shooting fuji superia 200. colours are so bright on this film with the 50mm. there was no punch with any aspect about this lense. everything looked so flat and disappointing. has anyone had experience with any of the lenses i mentioned in the first post? hard to find info on old lenses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted November 17, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've used a 28 + 50 combination for years - firstly Nikon now Leica. Tried a few 35s but never got on with them. I use the VC 25mm now which is great with the 50mm but a bit slow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 17, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 17, 2009 You haven't mentioned whether you're using a full frame or cropped frame camera, which will make quite a difference to this question. I use a 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux aspherical almost exclusively as a kit with my M8 and it copes with 95 percent of my requirements when combined with a degree of 'foot zooming'. The other 5 percent is covered with a Voigtlander 15/4.5 and a 90 Summicron aspherical. I have a Voigtlander 35/1.2 Nokton but it gets used as a single lens kit for ultra low light shooting in areas where tripods fear to tread. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted November 18, 2009 full frame, this is on an m6, and some day an m9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirdwheel Posted November 18, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 18, 2009 i've got 3 lenses in my kit at the moment. 35mm cron (1974), 50mm cron (1972) and 90mm cron (1982). in the time i've had this kit, i've taken 5 shots with the 90mm and i want to get rid of it. i never wanted this in the first place.... it's hard to explain. the 35mm, i'm not a fan of either. i've used it a bit, and i'm not a fan of the sharpness, or lack of. the contrast isn't that great either. i do like it's focussing and it's size though. tiny! so i'm most likely going to sell off the 90 and 35 for a 28 cron asph. i really like my 50mm cron and how it renders, bokeh etc... so my kit will just be 50mm and 28mm. i shoot mainly cityscapes, landscapes, architecturals, street (learning), family stuff. has anyone had experience with just these two as a kit and have ever felt as though you really needed something in between like the 35mm? i know it's very difficult to tell someone you need this, and this. but i'm more asking from your experience. money is an issue, and i also like the 28mm cron being a bit smaller and also being a fairly fast lens. can anyone offer their experience or even advice? For me, if I can only have one lens, it will just be my 50mm - either my Summilux 50mm pre-asph F/1.4 or my Noctilux 50mm F1 which I got recently. I guess what I am saying is that I can make do with only one lens - 50mm. Shot with my Summilux 500 F/1.4 and Leica MP: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/104027-your-experience-with-50mm-and-28mm-as-a-kit/?do=findComment&comment=1120901'>More sharing options...
peter_n Posted November 18, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 18, 2009 My main two lens kit is a 35 & 75, but when I think the situation requires it (i.e. I'm going to be in a bit tighter) I use a 28 & 50 and I strongly recommend both combinations, they really work for me. My personal choice for 28 is the Konica Hexanon and I use mostly a Summilux for the 50. Your two choices go very well together! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted November 18, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 18, 2009 I used to have 50 + 28 as a traveling kit (and let my 35 at home) but hardly used the 28mm because I wear glasses and the 28mm framelines were hard to see (0.72x VF). Since then I have sold the 28 and bought a 21/3.4. So now my set-up is 21-35-50-90 and I don't feel that I miss any FL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted November 18, 2009 it seems 28mm and 50mm is quite common and quite a good combination. i shall run with this combo. now raising funds is another story. i think i will go with the 28 summicron asph. compact is good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted November 18, 2009 For me, if I can only have one lens, it will just be my 50mm - either my Summilux 50mm pre-asph F/1.4 or my Noctilux 50mm F1 which I got recently. I guess what I am saying is that I can make do with only one lens - 50mm. Shot with my Summilux 500 F/1.4 and Leica MP: love the bokeh on the old lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted November 18, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 18, 2009 The Summicron ASPH is a great lens. There are some very nice cheaper options too. I should say that I verified my wants on an SLR first - I already knew I liked the 28+50 combo by the time I moved there on RF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfgang Esslinger Posted November 18, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 18, 2009 I use 2.8/28 + 1.4/50 most of the time (with an M7). I wish I had bought the 28 cron because I like to shoot in the (almost) dark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpkoester Posted November 19, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 19, 2009 I use 2.8/28 + 1.4/50 most of the time (with an M7). I wish I had bought the 28 cron because I like to shoot in the (almost) dark. I also use an Elmarit 28 and Summilux 50 ASPH with my M9 and I have an Summaron 35 and Summicron 50 for my M3. The cron also works great on my M9! With the M3 I used the 35mm more often than the 50mm. I think it had to do with the small size of the 35 Summaron which I liked a lot. And the M3 looks great with a small goggled lens ;-) On the M9 - I own it for two months including a longer trip to Florida - I use the 50mm much more than the 28. This is due to the fact the lux being the greatest lens I've owned. Maybe I'm not ready for 28mm. You have to be more "in the scene" to accommodate for the wider 28mm ;-) In my opinion 35mm lenses give you more freedom than the 50mm however, it's not as challenging as an 28mm lens and therefore easier to get used to. On the other hand I decided not to use the 35mm on the M9. I fear I would sell the 28 and get a 35mm cron or lux if I use the 35mm on the M9. I decided to give the 28 Elmarit a few more months as it is such a small lens, you can take it with you everywhere! I think in the long run a 28mm is of much better use together with a 50 than a 35mm plus a 50mm. ciao tpk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted November 20, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 20, 2009 The focal lengths you want in your kit will be determined by the subject matter you photograph, and how you photograph them. Therefore, lens selection is a question that each image maker must answer on his/her own. I used to use the 50/1.4 most of all; that was until I took a workshop and learned how to really use the 28/2 for documentary & street photography. Now I use the 28/2 the most; it has sort of become my allaround lens. IMHO, a 28mm and a 50mm would be a great two lens kit - you can do alot with those two focal lengths. I would use extreme caution in selling off any lens that will fit a Leica M camera. I sold my CV 35/1.2 Nokton because "I wasn't using it" - and I came to regret doing so. Now my rule is anything that fits my MP never gets sold or traded! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalus Posted November 20, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 20, 2009 I have been using the 50 Lux ASPH and the 24 Elmar and find this combination great. Lux for all round and the 24 for wide scenics and landscapes. I reckon I wish I had the 28 Summicron but it's way too pricey IMO and I don't shoot in anything but daylight. The Elmar is a nice alternative, and just a little more than half the cost of the 28 Summicron. I also have a virtually new 135 Telyt APO but have just listed it on Ebay because I have a deposit down for the M9 to go along with my MP body, and need to offset the cost of the M9 with the sale of the 135, which is a SUPER lens but one that I have just attached to the camera a couple times. Anyone else out there like and use the 24 Elmar? Rarely see mention of it on the Forum and kinda curious what others think of this lens. I know it's relatively slow... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoanMarianne Posted January 8, 2010 Share #20 Posted January 8, 2010 This seems an ideal combination; especially for black-and-white workers who do their own darkroom work. Thus the 28mm will also take in the 35mm frame coverage and negs shot with the 50mm can, if necessary, be cropped in the enlarger without significant loss of definition, to the 75-90mm frames' coverage. The more lenses you carry the slower you work but the point in having an interchangeable lens camera is to have more than one lens. A maximum of two will slow you down least of all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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