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M9 35mm vs 28mm when you are 50mm shooter


vk2109

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Hello

 

I know this might look like non sense, but wondering for those using a 50mm lens as

their primary lens on the M9 ( ie they are 50mm instead of 35mm) if they would prefer

to 35mm or 28mm on the wide end ? i see a lot of 35/50/90 and just wondering about a 28/50/90 setup.... I mainly use a 50 lux and as a wider lens to have I was debating among other : elmarit 28 asph, 35 summarit or a used 35 cron (IV)

 

Thanks a lot

 

Vadim

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Hello

 

I know this might look like non sense, but wondering for those using a 50mm lens as

their primary lens on the M9 ( ie they are 50mm instead of 35mm) if they would prefer

to 35mm or 28mm on the wide end ? i see a lot of 35/50/90 and just wondering about a 28/50/90 setup.... I mainly use a 50 lux and as a wider lens to have I was debating among other : elmarit 28 asph, 35 summarit or a used 35 cron (IV)

 

Thanks a lot

 

Vadim

 

If I need to go wide from 50mm I prefer to go much wider. 35mm is too close.

I have used a 28mm ASPH elmarit and its excellent. Can strongly recommended.

Personally I use a 25mm f2.8 Zeiss Biogon for when I need wide.

Still, 50mm is on the camera 90% of the time.

 

Agree with the 90mm.

 

rgds

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I have a 35, 50 and a 90 and I feel as though the 35 is too close to the 50. I love the 35, but I'm strongly considering selling it and getting a wider lens as I find I don't use it that much because I just keep the 50 on.

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I'm also a native 50 guy - I like the discipline

 

35 gives me the extra space I sometimes need and use it pretty often - if I'm carrying a bag I can't imagine not throwing one in

 

28 is 99% for specialized situations as a paid professional - interiors, exteriors...

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IMO, there's more than enough of a difference between 35mm and 50mm to make both worthwhile. 28mm is another good focal length as there are framelines for it (unlike say, a 21mm or 25mm). But they're pretty close to the limits of the VF. If you wear glasses or like using a magnifier when shooting, stick with 35mm.

 

If you want to only buy ONE lens, might as well go for the 28mm as you'll have the widest span of focal lengths, and there will be plenty of difference between all three.

 

I'd say look through the VF and diddle the preview lever and see which feels "better" to you. Can't go wrong with any of them, really.

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I reckon this question could apply just the same to film M users (we also have full frame 'sensors') so here goes.

 

I have 24, 28, 35, and 50 for my R, and 25, 35, 50 for my M.

 

I posted on another thread that a good general purpose two lens kit, from my experience and preference, was a 35 and 90 (if I carry the 50 as well it gets the least use).

 

If I take a 50 and another lens, it tends to be one of the wider ones than the 35.

 

So, if you're preference for most general shooting is the 50, I'd suggest the 28 would suit you better for when you want to reach for something wider.

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I was always a 50s guy, but with the M9 I feel myself moving to a 35. I guess I'm getting bolder and more comfortable working closer.

 

The other factor for me is that I'm really enjoying using an external finder and zone focusing. Much easier with a 35. Even more so with a 28.

 

I do agree with the above that 35 and 50 are too close. If 50 were to remain my main lens, I'd go wide to 28 or even 24/25.

 

John

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I was always a 50s guy, but with the M9 I feel myself moving to a 35. I guess I'm getting bolder and more comfortable working closer.

 

The other factor for me is that I'm really enjoying using an external finder and zone focusing. Much easier with a 35. Even more so with a 28.

 

I do agree with the above that 35 and 50 are too close. If 50 were to remain my main lens, I'd go wide to 28 or even 24/25.

 

John

 

I am a 50mm guy, but the 35mm lux being £1,000 more then the 50mm put paid to any slight thoughts :)

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In my humble opinion 35mm and 50mm are very different lens.

50 composition and discipline

35 action and motion

50 is more static, 35 is more dynamic

With a 50mm 2 steps back, with 35 mm you are part of a story.

In conclusion: 2 fantastic lens for your Leica.

 

Ps: Sorry for my broken English.

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It's entirely dependent on each person's shooting preference(s). I happen to like the 28mm focal length in general, but that's tempered by some inconvenience on the M9 (as it was on film bodies) due to the difficulty seeing the entire 28mm frame in one glance (I wear glasses). I have always preferred a separate finder for the 28, which is also an inconvenience. So for the most part, I carry a 28 only when I'm trying to go so minimalist it's my widest lens. Otherwise, I much prefer a 35 and a 21.

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i use 50 most of the same, have a 90, 35, and 21. i tend to use the 35 when i only want to carry one lens and not sure whether i will want a wa to capture groups of people or something a bit tighter. in other words, it has become an all purpose compromise between 50 and 28 -- the 35 cron that use is still a great lens, make no mistake.

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In my humble opinion 35mm and 50mm are very different lens.

50 composition and discipline

35 action and motion

50 is more static, 35 is more dynamic

With a 50mm 2 steps back, with 35 mm you are part of a story.

In conclusion: 2 fantastic lens for your Leica.

 

Ps: Sorry for my broken English.

 

Why would you not be part of a story with a 50 mm ? see example

L1003165-2-L.jpg

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nice web site -- you build it yourself or is it a pre-packaged one and if so who? looking to build a site and can't quite figure who to use

 

Thank for your kind comment.

I used smugmug.com but customized the layout myself by adding here and there some CSS code I found otherwise it would be the flat smugmug site.

For each feature you can find some code here SmugMug Customization - Digital Grin Photography Forum

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50 is my staple focal length, both the lux ASPH and the Nocti.

I have a small light 35 lux pre-ASPH and it's my sometime landscape and family portrait lens, it's very light so I don't think about it. I do wish for a 28 lux. The 28/1.4 is the only reason I keep going back to Nikon. Ok, and the 300/2.8.

I do own a 90 elmarit, which is nice, but somewhat unspectacular, I miss my 135 APO. Need to get one of those again, I used that much more than I realized, just never professionally. For work it's just the 50 and 35 really and they differentiate enough to justify the costs, yes, even the Noct.

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There are really two ways to read the question:

 

• If 50mm is my primary f.o.v., do I want to own a 35?

• If 50mm is my primary f.o.v., do I carry both in my bag?

 

First question: 35 and 50mm are both 'standard lenses', one a little shorter than the format diagonal, the other a little bit longer. 35 is a convenient standard for urban environments and indoors, 50 for the great outdoors – I used it for 95% of my shots when backpacking up above the treeline in Lapland. The two lengths are so different that it is foolish to say they are 'too close to ech other'. They are in fact very different – in 'mood' or 'attitude'.

 

Second question: Both in the bag at the same time? Normally, no. I know beforehand if I'm going to shoot in Stockholm or in Lapland. But I do cherish both my 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE and my 50mm Summilux ASPH.

 

The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

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IMHO I'm a 50mm shooter. 90% of my shots. Forget the 28mm for street photography. The 35mm is my option. I use it just when I'm in the action and the 50mm when I'm seeing the action. The 28 mm is very easy to use but the results are poor comparing it with the perfection and sobriety of a 50mm. I have the 28 and the 35. Now the 28 is just for my m8 and the 35 for the m9. IMHO. A 28mm is too wide for street but nice for landscape.

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Hi

 

If you can afford get all the lenses 12, 15, to 5cm...

I pack four bodies with comb of lenses e.g. 24, 28, 35, 40mm, the last when street shooting on crowded city centres. Carry one to hand with 1st pressure taken up...

Or get one (or both) of the tri-Elmars.

Try other shooting styles, pick the one you can be most comfortable with, practice with adjecent lenses look at photos critically.

 

Noel

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