lct Posted January 13, 2012 Share #61 Posted January 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) HCB used to say that he used three lenses "for his job" (35/50/90 if memory serves) but he said also that he preferred the 50mm by far. The famous Gare St Lazare was a crop indeed. Henry was behind a fence and he said that he could not see anything. But all his philosophy was to take unretouched image as you know. The famous "decisive moment". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Hi lct, Take a look here Erwin Puts' three-lens choice. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
zlatkob Posted January 13, 2012 Share #62 Posted January 13, 2012 Robert Frank, 50mm I'm pretty sure Robert Frank used several lenses for his well known work. It looks like 35 and 50 and occasionally a telephoto, likely a 90. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted January 13, 2012 Share #63 Posted January 13, 2012 "HCB: I think with the 50 mm you can cover a large number of things. Sometimes, especially for landscape, you need a 90 mm because it cuts all the foreground which is not that interesting. But this you don’t decide beforehand…I’m going to work with such a lens..no. It depends on the subject. The subject guides you, it’s there. Your frame, you see it, it’s a recognition of a certain geometrical order, as well as of the subject." interview with Henri Cartier-Bresson from the Candid Recordings audio of Famous Photographers Tell How, 1958 You can hear the audio recording at: http://tedbarron.com/BWF-June-2009/23-Henri-Cartier-Bresson.mp3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallyvision Posted January 13, 2012 Share #64 Posted January 13, 2012 You may be assured that whoever the great photographer, he/she chose the equipment that would produce the image envisioned. Period. Tis not the fiddle but the fiddler, makes the music. Wally Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted January 14, 2012 Share #65 Posted January 14, 2012 I am building a small lens collection to find ones I bond with on my M8 I will then sell on thE ones that I end up not using or binding with, I have stuck with Leica as they are more easily to sell in and if you buy at fair prices look after then sell at fair prices the experience will hopefully not be financially detrimental One question is if I end up with lenses on my M8 that I like, can I risk selling the ones I don't before ultimately getting a 9. Or should I be brave and tuck away a few at the edges until I do (I am sure I will keep my 35, which is 47 on my M8 and when I pick up a nice 50!keep that) But if I don't bond with say a 24mm should I hold into it until I ultimately get a 9 I hope to have no more than 4 lenses and hopefully only 3, I am a firm believer in really bonding knowing them and working around. Numerous photographers like the fact your not confused but have to really work the Leica as a camera and find hidden qualities and techniques that would be missed with three menu buttons and a broad range zoom. Any thoughts from the more learned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith Posted January 14, 2012 Share #66 Posted January 14, 2012 The M8 and the M9 are quite different. For example, my most used lens on the M8 was the 28 but I find I don't use it at all on the M9. You need to think quite carefully if you plan to move to a M9. On the 9 I find I use mainly 35 and 50 with occasional use of wider and rarely anything longer. For me, 21,35,50 is an ideal set on the 9, but your ideal may well be quite different. Alwyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 14, 2012 Share #67 Posted January 14, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes matter of tastes mainly. I use 21, 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 and 135 on both crop and FF cameras but i find 24 less handy with full frame and i need a magnifier (in fact the goggles of the Elmarit-M 135/2.8) to use a 135 with the M8.2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted January 14, 2012 Share #68 Posted January 14, 2012 What I find interesting about this is that fact that everyone has different opinions .... both about this and what is the 'fundamental focal length' that represents what we all see.... which seems to oscillate between 35 and 90mm We clearly all 'see' the world in a different way and what one person perceives as a 'natural' or pleasing perspective is different from his neighbours........ For some of us sub 35mm looks unnatural and unpleasant and for others nothing except 50mm will do..... Personally, 90mm seems to depict exactly what my mind remembers seeing when I took the photo and 50mm looks odd....... but paradoxically indoors and for true outdoor landscapes 18mm seems to catch what I saw....... Perception and visual memory are curious things and we are all tainted by our own idiosyncratic neurophysiology.... For each of us the choice is different ..... and no amount of scientific and optical argument can rationalise what is basically an innate variable instinct...... So at the end of the day, both Puts and Pico are right ....or maybe thats too much beer on a saturday night mellowing my opinions... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted January 15, 2012 Share #69 Posted January 15, 2012 Wine makes me ponder differently than beer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted January 15, 2012 Share #70 Posted January 15, 2012 My choices for a three-lens set? Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 All have the same basic diameter and are quite compact. All have 46mm filter threads, making filter sharing easy. All are at the top of their game and work equally well on film or digital bodies. All 6-bit coded, of course. I have this set myself, as well as the Tele-Elmar-M 135mm f/4 lens as an optional fourth. Those are my top 3 as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 15, 2012 Share #71 Posted January 15, 2012 So at the end of the day, both Puts and Pico are right No. I would rather everyone think that Puts is right and I am wrong. That is the specific association I wish with the gentleman Puts. He's a critic, not a creator. WTF does he really know about taking pictures? Nothing. After he achieves his Guggenheim grant, I will make no comment. But I'll pounce upon his Leica sycophantis until then. Oh - My Guggenheim? It's coming should I live so long which seems unlikely now. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vk2109 Posted January 15, 2012 Share #72 Posted January 15, 2012 I feel like 1 lens like a 50mm (or 35 mm for some) can do all you need.... 50Lux Asph and my M9 is my travel setting...that's it ! no need to worry about switching lens. It does 99.9% of the work...the 0.01% are cases where you wish to have another lens but it forces you to think and better compose ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted January 15, 2012 Share #73 Posted January 15, 2012 No. I would rather everyone think that Puts is right and I am wrong. That is the specific association I wish with the gentleman Puts. He's a critic, not a creator. WTF does he really know about taking pictures? Nothing. After he achieves his Guggenheim grant, I will make no comment. But I'll pounce upon his Leica sycophantis until then. Oh - My Guggenheim? It's coming should I live so long which seems unlikely now. . I don't think you realise how little anyone cares. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billib Posted January 15, 2012 Share #74 Posted January 15, 2012 Did I miss the choice of focal lengths by Erwin ? I'd be shocked if he didn't say 35,50,90 ? If you scroll down and read the "General Conclusions" section of the link I've provided you'll find Mr. Puts really prefers an M3 with a 50mm a 90mm and a 135mm. Imagine that. Summilux1.4/50 asph Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephan_w Posted January 15, 2012 Share #75 Posted January 15, 2012 I have all lenses, but for daily use on the M9 I like 18, 50 and 75 mm for the M-System, and a dslr for all longer lenses. For me counts the overall performance eye-body-lens and the overall light situation, the longer focal lens is, the better light must be for focussing correctly. Sometimes the handling is important as well. For a light traveling bag in good light I would choose other lenses (Elmar 50, Elmarit 90) than for a portraiture session (75 lux, 50 lux). Etc. A lens-body combo is a tool like a screw-driver, good to have the right one if you need it. This will not stop you to work when you don't have the right tool, but it makes work easier and results better. IMHO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2012 Share #76 Posted January 15, 2012 I don't think you realise how little anyone cares. Hi John, Don't care about 90% of pico's posts but very much about the other 10%. There are people continuously chatting about buying a super expensive lens every month, or other ( >1, <3) taking the forum for a shrink's couch. ( One being good for the economy, the other for the forum-co-person). Hey, take it easy! There are many wonderful people here from all over the the world (and all over Manchester) and always everybody's right. Question here being, what I think about Erwin Puts' writing. Well, whadeyethink ? (OK: his writing grows geometrically to the number of good prime lenses existing, so if EP was a forum-co-person =-Mitmensch- it would be tough for me, since I generally don't have more than 3 people on my ignore list. A list longer than that would give me reason to think; not about the others but about how to spend my time). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted January 15, 2012 Share #77 Posted January 15, 2012 Hi Tri, No one is infallible. So, Mr Puts makes errors from time to time. But he is passionate about what he does; he is informed; sometimes wrong; but interesting and provocative. I enjoy his writing. It informs and challenges. Pico can be interesting, but when he is simply pointlessly rude, some one needs to say stop it. There has not been a single redeeming feature of his contribution in this thread. By all means take issue with what Erwin has to say. But some stupid attack on his ability as a photographer is meaningless. As is Pico's underlying bragging about his own skills. Who gives a toss? The discussion is about a three lens option. Not about how good Pico is as a picture snapper compared to Erwin Puts. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2012 Share #78 Posted January 15, 2012 Hi John, A three lens option works best with 2 bodies imo. I updated my M8 in 2009, learned my lesson and will not buy a 2nd M9 in 2012, unless there will be a 0.85 and no M10 in September. Cheers, Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted January 15, 2012 Share #79 Posted January 15, 2012 Elementary statistics now shows that all photographers starting with P are clueless & will fail (or have already done so) - this includes myself obviously. Yes we are all fallible. SJ (Stephen) Picken Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted January 16, 2012 Share #80 Posted January 16, 2012 Well, totally agree on the 75 Cron, great performer in a compact form factor, and a nicer complement to a M body that a 90mm IMO. I also love my 35 (chrome) Lux ASPH.....so much that I see no reason to trade-up to the FLE. I have always been more comfortable with the 24mm focal length, never particularly liked 21mm. I find my 24 2.8 ASPH a stunning lens, so once again have no interest in trading up to the latest design. So, there is my 3 lens kit. I absolutely love my 50 Lux ASPH and it would be my single lens kit, however I find a 2 lens kit the best way to shoot with a M, in my case the 35/75 is the preferred kit. BTW I also find the 24-35-75 a more versatile kit for either a M9, or M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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