Visit to Rome - what two lenses to carry?

[Rick]

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I think that it has already been decided that the perfect travel lens is the 35 Lux. I'm not sure if it is necessary to argue this because it is a universal truth, of course.

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[jgmb]

Given your considerable arsenal of lenses... easy decision: take your 24mm and 90mm.

 

Use the 24 for architecture, vistas and interior shots. Wide-angle is essential for the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Coliseum, monuments, etc.

 

Use the 90 for small details, portraits, and to isolate close-ups where bokeh is desired.

 

I traveled throughout Italy with only a 28mm and 90mm... I never missed any other focal length. In fact, for travel photography, 28mm is my "normal lens". Lightweight, easy to focus and I never have to back up to fit more in the frame. Of course your eye and shooting style may be different.

 

Have a great trip!

[svenning]

Dear jgmb,

Okay - I will bring the 90mm Elmarit-R instead og the 135mm Elmarit-R.

Thank you all for your supporting suggestions.

All the best - Svenning, Denmark

[stunsworth]

The 24mm may 'fit more in' the frame, but does that means they're better photographs? I lived in a similar city - Paris - and used an M6/35mm lens 90% of the time.

[ndjambrose]

The 24mm may 'fit more in' the frame, but does that means they're better photographs? ...

 

Good observation. The real purpose of an ultra wide angle is to add depth, not width. Wide angles are best used close to the subject and generally wouldn't be my first choice for street/city photography. Anything wider than 28mm starts to look boring, especially if the intent is to 'fit it all' in the frame.

[myshkine]

Everything in Rome is narrow, streets, buildings, views. I frequently shoot there. I only have a Summicron 50, and more than often I wished I had a 35 or a 28, nothing longer than 50 anyway.

[zeitz]

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I was in Rome in April. I brought an M8 with four lenses: 15mm (21 equivalent), 28 f2 (35 equivalent), 50 f1.4 (65 equivalent) and 75 f2 (90 equivalent). I only brought the 50 f1.4 because I do not have a 28 f1.4; I knew I would need my highest speed lens and indeed I did. I used the 15mm far more than I thought I would have. If I had a 28 high speed lens, I would have gone with 15, 28, and 75. I don't see how to get to two lenses for Rome.

 

I do only use low ISOs, so depending on your film in R Leica (?) you might be satisfying with f2 as the fastest lens.

[jgmb]

The 24mm may 'fit more in' the frame, but does that means they're better photographs?

 

Of course not, just as a 35mm doesn't necessarily take better photographs. Better photographs are made by photographers, not lenses. But focal length is a tool chosen for different purposes. There is a reason architecture is mostly shot with wide-angle lenses especially interior shots. Inside the Pantheon, I'd rather have a 24mm than a 35mm.

 

The real purpose of an ultra wide angle is to add depth, not width. Wide angles are best used close to the subject and generally wouldn't be my first choice for street/city photography. Anything wider than 28mm starts to look boring, especially if the intent is to 'fit it all' in the frame.

 

Good point. Depth of field is another key advantage of wide-angle in addition to frame width, and I often use a wide angle up close to the subject for dynamic composition. Ultra wide angle requires skill in framing to avoid "boring" photos. Granted 35mm is a popular choice for 'street photography', but the original poster plans to take only two lenses. He did not state what his intended subject matter will be or his style of photography, but his 24mm is very versatile for architecture, cityscapes and up close. Plus it allows the option to crop down to 35 or 50 later if desired.

[dickgrafixstop]

given your selection, I'd take the 24 and the 60 macro. If you were to add a third lens,

I'd add the fastest one you have regardless of focal length.

[Guest malland]

These threads are usually pointless, everyone offers a different suggestion and the OP usually decides upon something different yet again!

"Pointless" is an understatement. Reminds of my favorite thread of this nature, in which the poster asked, "I'm going to Cracow, what film should I bring?"

 

—Mitch/Paris

Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP)

[LeicaBraz]

Suggest you ask your local priest.

[MarkP]

I think that it has already been decided that the perfect travel lens is the 35 Lux. I'm not sure if it is necessary to argue this because it is a universal truth, of course.

 

Rick,

Indeed this is a universal truth (we await the onslaught from the 28 & 50 brigades). I am travelling in Europe now and completely agree with you about the 35 Lux which is by far my most versatile lens, and is getting the most use. If I had to travel with only one lens this would be it.

 

However the 21 & 50 Lux's both get a fair bit of use, the latter more than I expected. I have a 75 which I tend not to take out with me as it's used so infrequently, and I wouldn't use a 90.

 

Really need the fast lenses with the limited winter light (esp. using available light indooors) but could do without their weight (mainly the 21)...everything is a compromise

 

Mark

[cheewai_m6]

i did a 3 month europe trip with 28 elmarit and 50 cron. perfect for what i wanted.

[ejd]

I have just set out on a four month trip with an M7, a 35 f2, and a 50 f2.8. Reason tells me this is perfectly OK, but I have had moments of anxiety, many occasioned by wandering through Tokyo camera shops.

 

Should I have brought the M8 along as well? Should I buy another one here -- or maybe go for an M9? Slightly extravagant, perhaps. What about a micro 4/3 camera, or a Sony Nex? Or a Panasonic LX5? How about some more lenses? A Nikkor 105 f2.5 in leica screw mount for 19,000 yen that I saw the other day, perhaps, or a 25mm Skopar? I wouldn't want my snapshots compromised by inadequate gear!

 

So far I have kept my money in my pocket, and I hope it stays there.

 

PS -- I think this post crossed in the ether with Cheewai_M6's very encouraging message above!

[svenning]

Dear Malland,

 

You call my question to the leica Forum for pointless (!)

 

Well - I personally learn a lot from this Leica Forum - and I would believe a Leica Forum member like yourself with more than 1.446 postings could contribute better from your great knowledge & experience than calling a question pointless? And please don't be angry with me - I just believe that no question in a Leica Forum is pointless. We all seek help from the best photographers :-))

 

And reading through the different postings to my question - there are good lessons to be learned from my pointless question - for example:

 

andybarton (16.857 postings): He suggest me to carry a 24mm and a 50mm.

bocaburger: He warns me about the weight of the leica R-equipment. He even had to leave some of his camera equipment in the hotel safe due to the heavy weight.

farnz: Suggested to bring along the fastest lens.

daveleo: Warned about focal lenghts longer than 90mm.

myshkine: Warned about bringing anything longer than 50mm.

RickLeica: Stated that the 35mm Summilux is the perfect travel lens.

stunsworth: He used a 35mm lens 90% of the time when he were in Paris.

jgmb: stated that 28mm is his standard travel lens.

MarkP: Bring along the fastest lenses.

earleygallery: Suggested me to bring along a 400 mm Telyt - just to be different.

 

I would like to thank all the Leica Forum members for giving me their kind advices.

 

All the best - Svenning, Denmark

[Guest malland]

...and I would believe a Leica Forum member like yourself with more than 1.446 postings could contribute better from your great knowledge & experience than calling a question pointless?...

Du verkar snabb att attackera ...(as close as I can get to Danish).

 

The question is pointless because recommendations of what lenses to use in Rome are meaningless when no one knows what sort of photography you want to or like to do. Also, you're not going to need different lenses in Rome as opposed to Copenhagen or Tokyo, although you will on, say, an African safari.

 

Also, if someone recommends using a certain focal length, it matters little whether he or she has 2,000 posts or 3 posts. That my favorite focal lengths are 21mm, 28mm and 40mm is not relevant or interesting for someone else, who may hate my type of photography. On the other hand, if one sees a certain picture, one may be interested with what focal length was used.

 

Gott Nytt År!

 

—Mitch/Paris

Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project

[elgenper]

OK, let´s try to restore peace by irritating both of you....

 

Of course Svenning is right; even if an experienced shooter doesn´t have to ask about what gear to take, opinions from those experienced shooters can be quite helpful.

 

And, of course Mitch is right; choice of lenses is so personal that one has to take the final decision all by himself.

 

Also, in most cases good photographers come home with good images even if circumstances force them to use gear they might not have chosen if there had been alternatives.

 

I used to own an old book by a photographer called Erwin Fieger, with city shots - every one of them made with a Visoflex and a 200 mm Telyt (I think it was from London, but I´m not sure). In the preface he simply stated that this was the only lens he owned at the time. And indeed, the results were ´different´ from most street shooting. But, he did come home with material for a book.

 

Personally, if I were going to any city (even Stockholm, where I live), I would take my Summicrons 35 and 75 for the M9, plus a DLux4 as backup - because that´s what I use for everything nowadays. But that´s me (and I fear I wouldn´t be able to put a book together afterwards.... )

[RobertJRB]

I can only speak for my own choise. Last time I was in rome I only used a 24mm and 35mm. I found 24mm more than wide enough for most use, and the 35 perfect for street shots.

 

Looking back a longer lens like a 90mm would be nice to capture some details. I got one with me but left it in the hotel most of the time.

 

I was there in juli/ august in 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) . Way to hot to change or carry a lens. This time its okey to carry 3 lenses and I would do so.

 

24 as wide, 35 or 50 as standard (depends on your personal favorite) and a 90 for the details.

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[Rick]

Robert, was that 2009? I was there at the end of July through the first of August and it was that hot! I think I shot the whole city with just my M8+28cron with strap around my neck, a pair of sandals, shorts and light linen collared shirt. I was looking constantly for water fountains to drench myself with. I don't recall seeing you.