mardi gras lens choices

[scjohn]

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I am heading to New Orleans for the mardi gras. Day parades, night parades. Big crowds and people photos. I understand it will be a zoo. A 2 lens situation. Which 2? I am thinking 35 lux and 50 nocti. I can zone focus both when needed but open them up too. eI have a 21 2.8, 50 lux and 90 2.0 I do not expect to use or even take to the streets given the "keep it simple" philosophy I am going with. I have a voightlander 15 too but it seems far too slow.

 

Any suggestions would be welcome. I have not shot a wild street party before.

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[Bo_Lorentzen]

probably focus on one lens..? the 35mm maybe.?

 

.

[andybarton]

I suspect that zone focussing a Nocti is defeating the object.

 

Are you going to be in the thick of it, right in the crowd? If so, the 35 will probably suit you better.

 

Are you using two bodies?

[j_lir]

id say the 21, 35, and noctilux.

 

2 bodies would be best.

 

it's a great time.

 

make sure you're @ frenchman & charters to hang out.

 

it's one of my favorite parties!

[Ecar]

I'd use the 21 for close quarters and the 35 Lux for the rest.

As Andy says, zone focussing the Nocti defeats the whole purpose IMO.

Two bodies would be best, but not absolutely necessary if you only have 2 lenses and can swap them quickly. If you go with the above combo, I suspect you'll be using the 35 for 80% of your shots: I'd leave the 21 finder on the camera at all times.

[yanidel]

If you intend to take shots of girls throwing beads from the balconies, a 90mm will be needed

[brill64]

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a small flash would be handy to have in your bag..

[noah_addis]

I'd go with the 21/2.8, 35/1.4, 90/2. But I'm biased, that's my current travel kit and it works well for me.

 

The 21 will be helpful if you're in the thick of things, it works great close-up in a crowd. The 35 will be good for low-light and the 90 for portraits or picking details out of a crowd.

 

Have fun.

[KM-25]

As Tweeted by a well known Magnum shooter last week:

 

"For street shooting I usually just carry one camera and one lens,usually 35, but sometimes a 28.Working now with the D700 and testing the M9"

[jklotz]

Whatever you decide on, keep it well tucked away. Burbon Street is notorious for pick pocketers.

[giordano]

I'd go with the 21/2.8, 35/1.4, 90/2. But I'm biased, that's my current travel kit and it works well for me.

 

Perfect!

[Double Negative]

For general in-the-crowd action and what-not, the 21mm, hands-down. Set it to hyperfocal with a reasonably fast shutter speed and don't even peep the VF except to frame. There's enough action going on all around you. You have to be faster.

 

For more controlled shooting, the 35mm is probably your best bet.

 

Though being able to isolate item(s) of interest (hehe) from a very busy background, the Noctilux might not be a bad idea. Will be especially useful as the evening approaches. But it's large and heavy. Totally your call on this one. I think you could pull off some amazing stuff with it there.

 

90mm? Nah. Too many people, too crowded and you'll probably be less than steady enough to hold it most of the time.

[scjohn]

I really appreciate all of your advice. I agree with the "one lens and make it the 35" concept. I am not thinking of zone focusing the nocti. Instead, I thought I could use it to "isolate" in a crowd more effectively and artistically that I coud the 90.

 

The 21 is a good choice too.

 

Sadly, I don't have two bodies just the m9 with an m8 backup. I don't plan to carry both, however, because the crop factor will make the issues moot... although I did think of using the 35 on the m9 and the nocti on the m8 for effective 75mm or so at 1.0... "naked woman throwing beads from porch, say hellow to my little friend"

[Anguish]

35 on M9, 50 on M8

[!Nomad64]

I'd say a 50 and a 90. With all the crowd it's likely you won't get that close to the parades, therefore the 50 should cover enough of panoramic views, whilst the 90 should help to isolate single persons.

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[noah_addis]

...

Sadly, I don't have two bodies just the m9 with an m8 backup. I don't plan to carry both, however, because the crop factor will make the issues moot... although I did think of using the 35 on the m9 and the nocti on the m8 for effective 75mm or so at 1.0...

 

In that case you're on the right track. I'd take the 35/1.4 for the M9, the Noct for the M8. I wouldn't bother with switching lenses in such a situation.

 

I'd still bring the 21. It will serve dual purposes. First, you can go really wide on the M9 and second, if your M9 goes down for some reason you'll still have an effective 28mm for your M8. Otherwise you'll be stuck with a 50 as your widest lens (35mm on M8).

[Chipkahn]

I am from New Orleans and will be going back to Mardi Gras too. I will actually be riding in a parade on a float one evening. For my M9 what lenses should I take for taking pictures of the crowd below?

[W4Leica]

I would just bring 50 nocti as only lens and mobilize yourself as zoom. Thus your loss at right moments will be limited. Also if available, bring a PS camera as back up. W

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[250swb]

I think an ultra wide lens like a 21mm will be like using a scatter gun approach so I wouldn't bother. A 28mm would give the opportunity to crop images to a 35mm view without losing much image quality, and a 50mm would allow a 75mm style crop, so for crowd work a 28 and a 50, in effect four lenses from two. For backup and anything else a zoom P&S camera (like a Canon G11) is a great idea as in a small package you get a flash, telephoto lens and image stabilisation.

 

Steve

[MarkM6]

... mobilize yourself as zoom...

 

Mobilize? In the thick of the crowd? Worse; what if he's drunk?