IWC Doppel Posted July 25, 2012 Share #1  Posted July 25, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am off to a classic car show this evening, I would appreciate thoughts on which lens to take. I am thinking 28 or 35, but also considering 24. (I could take 21 or 50 as well but suspect not ?)  I only take one lens out when I shoot, so make the decision before I go  Any advice greatly apprecaited Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 25, 2012 Posted July 25, 2012 Hi IWC Doppel, Take a look here Pictures of Cars - Which lens ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ellie Posted July 25, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted July 25, 2012 I like to think of a wide angle lens for enlarging the foreground object as opposed to compressing the background with a longer lens. A wide angle distorts the perspective and could look nice.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlet Posted July 25, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted July 25, 2012 For me it would be a 50. It's the best focal length ever for everything. Â Honestly only you can decide. But why only bring one? If you're driving there you can always keep those heavy lenses in the car for freedom of choice once there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 25, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted July 25, 2012 28 or 35 assuming you want to get the whole car in the frame (cars are usually quite close to each other at such events), but you might want the 50 to take some nice detail shots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted July 25, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted July 25, 2012 I agree, why go to the trouble of getting there and then leave all but one lens behind? Take them all. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 25, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted July 25, 2012 And if the cars are being driven on some sort of parade a long lens like a 135 might be handy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted July 25, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted July 25, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) 50 and a w/a: Often the only way you'll be able to shoot the car without people in the way will be with a w/a up close. However, that could distort the image, sometimes nicely, and sometimes terrible. Bite the bullet and bring two lenses. Better yet, two bodies with different lenses on each Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinnfell Posted July 25, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted July 25, 2012 I would use anything from 35 to 75 depending on how close you are able to get and how busy the background is. Â In order to get a whole car in the picture with wide angle (and not too much else) you need to move so close that it would look really distorted. If you look at promo and advertising shots, these are usually shot with a normal or slight tele. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted July 25, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted July 25, 2012 Having shot a lot of shows, my advice would be to take along a two lens kit. One wide and one short tele (or long standard... hell; 75 is perfect). Â 24mm might be a little too wide if you want to avoid excessive distortion, but 28mm is fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted July 25, 2012 Share #10 Â Posted July 25, 2012 I am off to a classic car show this evening, I would appreciate thoughts on which lens to take. You're just kidding, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share #11  Posted July 25, 2012 Thanks guys,  No I wasn't kidding , I value other peoples opinions as I have only shot my Leica at cars a few times. I did use a 28mm about 12m ago (but on my M8) and liked it but I thought it worth seeking oppinions.  Plus perspective and car's is 'everything' in many ways, I see lots of magazine shots that are dreadful and some that are fanastic for perspective  I have a number with an M6, Velvia and a 35 Summicron, but that was when the lens options was erm, 35mm only.  I think I will take two lenses, my 28 or 35 and my little 50 Elmar-M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haroldp Posted July 25, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted July 25, 2012 If you can, a polarizing filter is useful for shiny paint and glass. Â ... H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismon Posted July 25, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted July 25, 2012 I've always preferred something 180 or longer for car portraits. It helps to isolate the vehicle from a distracting backround. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jto555 Posted July 25, 2012 Share #14 Â Posted July 25, 2012 Don't forget that if the public have access to the cars they will walk in front of you, so you might be better off with a wide. Also a polarising filter to control reflections might help. Â Â Enjoy the show, and post pix!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted July 25, 2012 Share #15 Â Posted July 25, 2012 Since it's evening, fast glass may be a consideration as important as focal length. Unless you can use a tripod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share #16  Posted July 25, 2012 Since it's evening, fast glass may be a consideration as important as focal length. Unless you can use a tripod.   My 28 is a Summicron and both my 35's are Summiluxes, obvioulsy my Elmar is the slwest at F2.8. It's either a 35 and the 50 Elmar or the 28. I think I am gonna try my 35 Summilux Aspherical and the little Elmar  I rarely use a tripod (Virtually never tbh) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 25, 2012 Share #17  Posted July 25, 2012 Classic cars are some of my favorite subjects. We have shows around here almost every weekend at strip malls and diner parking lots, plus a couple of major auctions and one very large annual concours d'elegance. Everything said so far is great advice, except for the polarizer. It works fine for reflections off glass, but not so much for reflections on metallic surfaces. I've made a number of unintentional self-portraits  Lens choice depends more on what sort of depiction you want than the proximity to the cars or how big a crowd there is. Unless it's a concours on private grounds and you've got a pass to photograph before it opens to the public, you are likely to get something or someone in your shots that you don't want. That's even truer with a Leica unless you really have the frame lines behavior at various distances down pat in your head. Photoshop is your friend  The tricky thing about using a wide angle is that to reduce distortion you really need to center the car vertically in the frame (shooting landscape format) and keep the camera level on all axes. That means getting down low, and if possible using tripod. A waist-level or right-angle finder is nice too.  And finally, consider moving in close for shots of details, like the dash, hubcaps, hood ornaments, lights etc. I find that they often turn out to be more interesting shots than those where I try to get the entire car in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted July 25, 2012 Share #18  Posted July 25, 2012 Depends how much space you have. It's good to avoid background clutter. A slightly longer faster lens like a 50 will help, but you may not have enough space -- or there may be too many people in front of you. Then again, sometimes having the whole scene complete with spectators can work, too. Or you can get close and use the w/a to get the whole car in. If you must take just one lens, I'd go with the 35, but why not pop the 24 and the 50 into a waist pouch?  Here's one from the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart with the X1 and 35mm lens. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/184364-pictures-of-cars-which-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2071628'>More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 25, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted July 25, 2012 Take a long lens and shoot details At a public show your main problem will be people getting in the shot with a wide lens. Other than that take photos of the owners. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share #20  Posted July 25, 2012 Enjoyed the 35, probably take the 28 next time. All straight out of the camera Jpg, I'll process and post a few tomorrow, top 35, bottom two 50 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/184364-pictures-of-cars-which-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2071719'>More sharing options...
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