Venice with M9 which lens

[wooferdog]

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I'm very excited, spending time over the Christmas period in Venice. I want to go light , lens in pockets etc So , which ones to take ?

 

I would appreciate advice from those who have been there , your most used lens

 

I'm thinking 24 , 35 , 90

 

Thanks

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[Guest roey]

I took 4 lenses with me: 21, 28, 50, 90. Looking through the images that I have kept: 50% were shot with the 21mm, another 35% were taken with the 28mm, the rest were shot with the 50mm--not a single one with the 90mm.

 

Of course, it depends on your type of photography. My normal lens is the 28mm. I rarely use the 21mm, but I found that to be my favorite lens to use in Venice.

[kaiwing]

I would take 28mm and 50mm.

[MarkP]

Personal preferences of course...

 

Having looked through my recent Venice photographs (Jan 2011) I used:

 

1.4/21 ASPH, 2.8/28, and 1.4/50 ASPH if I took out 3 lenses,

2.8/28 and 1.4/50 ASPH if I took out 2 lenses,

 

but I frequently went out with just one lens...1.4/35 FLE, still the best all-rounder for a fast travel lens.

 

I think there could also be a good argument for using just 21 & 35.

 

Pics from Venice:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/172936-venice-grand-canal-aka-gondolas-gondolas.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/173396-venice-canals.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/173971-venice-3-a.html

 

Enjoy your trip

 

Mark

[muddyT]

I took 21/2.8, 35/1.2, 50/1.5, 50/1, 90/2.8 with M9, ended up using mostly 35/1.2 and 50/1:D

[lars_bergquist]

Leica have just published a new 'M system book' which also has some striking pictures from Venice, made by Magnum photographer Alex Maioli. He used a wide range of lenses of course – that was part of his mission – but the one he used most seems to have been the current 35mm Summilux.

 

I have never been to Venice, but my mainstay lens in any new city is a 35mm. Your mileage may vary, but my advice is to use the lens you always use most, as a basis for your kit.

 

Serious photographers do develop a way of seeing and composing that fits one specific focal length. Use it. I don't know if David Douglas Duncan ever went to Venice, but if he did, his mainstay lens with his IIIc was a 1.4 50mm Nikkor. Mine would be the 35mm Summilux. The rest follows naturally.

 

The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

[cbretteville]

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Last year during One Challenge week end I mostly used 35s, second was a 50. A 24 is challenging as streets are narrow, unless falling lines and wide angle distortion is your thing. I didn't use the 90 I brought, but wish I had.

Carl

[jaapv]

What are you going to shoot? Street? People and portraits? Architecture?Views and vistas? Inside shots? Little coffee bars? Take the lenses you would take visiting any city, and take the lenses you are used to and like using. None of us can look inside your head.

[asmith]

Venice is a photographer's paradise. You could shut your eyes an snap away with any M lens and be sure of interesting images. Well nearly.

Alwyn

[pgk]

of your choice, the 35.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello wooferdog,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

I've been to Venice & found a 35/2 on a full frame M alone just fine. But then I use a 35/2 for 90% of all the pictures I take. I have used lenses of many different focal lengths & find a 35/2 most often fits my personal view of the World. If it were me I might also take a 90 or 135 but maybe not dependent upon how much I was willing to trade the spontanety of 1 camea, 1 lens, 1 light meter & a small strong table tripod w/ large ball head & cable release & rigid lens hood for the added bulk/bother which comes w/ also carrying, changing & storing a 90 or 135.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[wda]

wooferdog, if you have a 21mm lens, take it. It would be much more useful than a 90mm. Failing that, consider a 50mm to go with your 24mm; much more useful than a 90mm if you are keen to travel light.

[Fgcm]

I suggest to bring 28 and 50.

90 is useless in Venice.

I was there a couple of weeks ago. I used 50 most of The time.

Have a nice time in Venice.

Fgcm

[Fgcm]

Do not foget to check tidal forecast: Città di Venezia - Istituzione Centro Previsioni e Segnalazioni Maree

 

In case of very high tide, bring your boots, because water rises over the street level.

Very nice to see, but only if you can keep your feet warm and dry.

 

Enjoy Venice

 

Fgcm

[gyoung]

When I was there I used 21/2.8,28/1.9,35/2,50/1.4 and 90/2.8, but you might not work like I do. Thats pretty much my minimum kit allthough I might leave out the 28 if I'm feeling fragile

 

And two cameras M6 and M3, but which cameras isn't really relevan!

 

Gerry

[wooferdog]

Thank you all for your input , the feel seems to be around the 35/50 spot and a little wider

 

I do have an old 21 pre asph , so I'll take that as well

 

Again thanks to all

[asmith]

I think Venice is the most beautiful thing ever created by humans: try to arrive by train; walk out of the ordinary looking station and be astonished.

Alwyn

[wda]

+1

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Hallo,

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[bocaburger]

The last time I was in Venice I had the M9 and 21/2.8 pre-ASPH, 35/2 v.4, 50/2 11919 and "Thin" 90/2.8. The skies were bald much of the time, so I ended up using the 50 and 90 more than the 35, and I only took 2 or 3 shots with the 21. So as you can see, not everyone prefers the wider lenses all the time (nonwithstanding the ability to crop), nor does everyone consider a 90mm "useless" in Venice (in fact it's great for isolating things like ceramic tiles and other small motifs). It all comes down to your choice of subjects and your creative vision. However, if you feel comfortable selecting your lenses based on a forum consensus, far be it from me to try talking you out of it. Whatever lens(es) you have with you, you will find something beautiful in Venice to photograph with them.

 

I would caution you about carrying lenses in your pockets as you mention. They don't call them pickpockets for nothing I prefer a small bag with a zipper and a velcro flap, shoulder strap and waistbelt, which I can swing around in front when I'm in a crowd.

[JWW]

I was in Venice in Oct and took the M9 with the new 35 mm Summilux and 50mm Summilux ASPH. Most used was the 35mm. In a few places, I did wish for a wide angle lens. It was sunny and clear which created very high contrast images due to sunlit buildings and dark shadowed waterways.