Which SINGLE fixed/ prime lens would you take on a family vacation

[dugby]

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I just returned from 2 weeks in western China (Chengdu), using just my 35LUX FLE on M240.

 

Being on the go all the time, if I had multiple lenses, I know I would either drop or misplace a lens, or lose a lens cap, or mount cap.

 

As it happened, on 3 occasions I thought I did lose my FLE lens cap, now have developed a routine, that it must alway go in the same pocket.

 

 

It was a great relief not having to bother with lens changes. Though I wished I had my Voigtlander 75mm Color Heliar 2.5 (the best travel tele lens) for the day we went to the Pandas.

 

As Chengdu only gets 2 hours of sunshine per day (cloudy all other times), I found the following two things:

1) to utilise f5.6, I often had to shoot with ISO 2000/2500 in the daytime. thankfully the M240 coped.

2) f1.4 was very handy for many daytime outdoor scenes

 

just for the record "CHENGDU is dark in the daytime"

[philipus]

If you could bring only one focal length lens on a family vacation overseas, which would it be and why? Please assume that the vacation will be to a place that unites family members and is also quite scenic, neither being a primary subject. Please assume that here will be occasions for only portraits, only scenic pics and some combo thereof. Many thanks for your thoughts, which no doubt will help me on my upcoming trip!

 

Adam, my take on one-lens questions is that the answer will always come down to preference. I have often reflected over the fact that the vast majority of people who reply to such questions will suggest 35mm or wider. I suspect what makes wider focal lengths the popular recommendation is that one-lens questions usually will involve a very broad and varied range of subjects including landscape photography, which somehow, it appears to be felt, must be photographed using wider lenses. In reality these questions are all about how one personally sees and prefers to portray the world.

 

Personally, I have never really liked 35mm. While I have it, it is not my most used focal length, even in cramped indoors surroundings. I do know it is very popular together with 28, but imho these focal lengths are in many instances excellent ways to create un-dynamic images. The large majority of the photographs I come across are non-descript and un-engaging. There are naturally exceptions to this where the photographer has been close enough to the subject/action to obtain an interesting image even with a wider focal length. My feelings about these focal lengths are a result of my preference for tighter shots, even in landscape and other settings (such as architecture) where wider lenses tend to be the norm (I'm not a Saul Leiter fan for nothing). So, while I did post a photograph shot with a 2,8cm lens earlier in the thread, were I to reply to the question my answer would very confidently be "50mm" and in my case the Summilux Asph, which I love on film. Over the years I have found that this focal length, regardless of the subject-matter, produces images that please me.

 

Nevertheless, I would never take just one lens when travelling on vacation. Good points have been made about the size and weight of M lenses and the need for insurance all of which I agree with. It would only be when I go on city trips for a few days (usually on business) that I would bring only one lens, a 50 naturally. However, that that is usually an exception; for instance I am currently on a weeklong business trip in Italy and while I considered bringing only a 50 (but which one? Oh, the choices) I ended up going with the classic 35-50-90 combination.

 

Philip

[piblondin]

I would bring a 50mm Summicron. It's small, fast to focus and is my favorite focal length. Keep in mind that I only shoot people and have pretty much no interest in landscapes and buildings, where a 35 or 28 would be more suitable.

[skinnfell]

35mm hands down.

 

for vacation, the way I see it, context is just as important as faces.

[MarkP]

For my more 'serious' photography I usually take a 28 and 50 with me as 35 never seems to be right - either too wide or long enough.

 

However, for a single focal length lens for more casual 'family' photography I would take the 1.4/35 Summilux as it's so versatile, but I may consider the 2.0/40 Summicron if I want something really compact. If there will be plenty of light and I want more options then the 28-35-50 MATE Is a great option but I think the OP was asking about a single FL lens.

 

For many years I had a Contax T3 with it's fixed 35mm lens as my take anywhere and everywhere camera - perfect!

[jdlaing]

35mm

[A miller]

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Many thanks for the posts.

 

I will respond to my own nearly year and a half old post, which importantly was focused on a family vacation ( in contrast with a business vacation).

 

In cases in which I force myself to bring only one lens, I have developed the following general rule of thumb:

 

For family vacations in which the family will be the predominant subjects, I will take a fast 50mm. Case in point is a trip to Jerusalem last month for my son's Bar Mitzvah. It was all about family, e.g, consecutive BBQs at in-laws and wife's siblings and the ceremony at the westerm Wall, with some strolls through the old markets and tightly framed landscapes mixed in. The combo: MM and 50mm lux asph. No regrets at all and would do it again. (NB: will in due course be sharing some of the non-family keepers in the forum, probably in series format so as not to clutter; so please stay tuned and let me know what you think)

 

For family vacas in which scenery or architecture will be a major - though not predominant - focus, my single lens will be a fast 35mm.

 

For family vacas in which family will be subjects only in the minority of shots, a 28mm, with speed preferred but not critical.

 

There are of course exceptions to this, which mainly will manifest by breaking the one lens requirement and bringing at least one other lens along with the lens fitting into the above applicable category.

[Numbers]

35mm - no doubt :-)

[freitz]

I am still a new Leica user but I went through a similar debate when I wanted to shoot exclusively with one lens after switching from a FF Canon setup with a backup suitcase full of gear.

 

I went with the 35mm FLE 1.4 and here is why.

 

Good enough for portraits can always crop. Lens is tack sharp, I liked the colors and contrast. Bokeh was pleasing. Landscapes look amazing. I always found that while traveling I like isolating people but not so much as where you can not see the environment that they are in.

 

To sum it up, a 35mm was a do everything lens for me. I could shoot people, landscape, city scape, street shooting, indoor shooting, it hit everything on the head. While the 50 Summilux can also do those things I found it a bit tight for a all in one kit.

 

I hope this helps.

[spydrxx]

I'd take an old 35mm Summaron/2.8 as my first choice. My 2nd choice would be an old red scale collapsible 50/3.5. Over the years I've used lots of others, and each has its advantages and disadvantages...but personally I'd keep it really simple.

[wda]

A 50mm Summicron, the first lens I bought, nearly fifty years ago.

[Theodor Heinrichsohn]

M240 with 1st Summicron 50/2 collapsible, or latest 50/2.8 collapsible.

Really Right Stuff pocket tripod with ball head ( L bracket on M 240 and quick

release on tripod)

Teddy

[pico]

I no longer have a family largely to having outlived them all. Life has become an everyday metaphysical reality. So should I use s lens that always focuses beyond infinity in order to cover Depth of Possibility?

[algrove]

Wow, is it snowing up there already?

[NZDavid]

I no longer have a family largely to having outlived them all. Life has become an everyday metaphysical reality. So should I use s lens that always focuses beyond infinity in order to cover Depth of Possibility?

 

Just don't get a retrofocus lens. A perspective lens may prove useful. Does focusing up close make for wider-angle vision longterm?

[topoxforddoc]

A 35 summilux of whichever flavour floats your boat. I have small 35 pre-asph lux - perfect as a carry around with my M9. Fast enough to use at night time too.

[freitz]

35!!

[bocaburger]

Addressing the question as strictly hypothetical, I would go with a 35. But in reality, if space or lens-changing was that huge of an issue I would opt for something like a VLux4 or its Panny clone with its 24-600 equivalent constant f/2.8 and image stabilization. My wife has one, it's very small, light, and the IQ is surprisingly good.

[snooper]

Unfortunately, experience shows that the only "single lens" you'll need during your trip will be the one you left at home...

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Peter H]

.............. But in reality, if space or lens-changing was that huge of an issue....................

 

Sorry to take this completely off-topic for a moment, but may I ask if anyone has noticed this increasingly popular tendency to insert "of" redundantly in this way? Any ideas how or when it started?

 

(No offence intended I assure you.)