Two lens kit travel combo

[Leicaec421]

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I travel with 35 cron vs + 50 Lux ASPH...

 

 

Pretty much all situations are covered, and they are very easy to carry.

[jimleicam3]

Just leaving Ireland and the 35 mm was my most used.

[ljsegil]

New guy here, very much enjoying this thread. In

a similar predicament. Traveling to Spain and

Portugal later this year, planning to shoot film

with a Zeiss Ikon ZI Rangefinder. Leaning towards

a three lens kit. I’m thinking of carrying a 21/2.8,

35/1.4, and 75/2.0. However,to keep me cogitating

endlessly, I have options that are possible. I

could go with the two lens theme of this thread and

go 35/75, but I imagine that the 21will give me

opportunities for photos that I could not make

otherwise, which does raise the question of a

wide two lens kit of the 21 with the 35. And to

complicate matters, I can also use a 25/2.8, 40/2.8,

50/1.4, 85/2.0, 90/2.8, and the 135/3.4 (it’s nice

to have generous and trusting friends). Anyway

that opens up all sorts of spacing possibilities

as well as the dread temptation to carry a fourth

or even a fifth lump of lovely glass. Of note, the

ZI has framelines for the 85mm lens but the

75mm lens will require use of an EVF(have it).,

the 90mm I think can skate by with the 85mm

framelines. Against the 85mm is that it takes

58mm filters, while the 75 and 35 mm lenses

share 49mm filters (21 takes 46mm so it only

requires a step up ring). Coincedentally, and

temptingly, the 135mm lens also takes 49mm

and the 90mm 46mm filters. The 50/1.4 is a

freak and uses 43mm filters, but again a step

up ring cures that malady. So I am thinking

that an EVF for the 75/2.0 willl perhaps be a

lesser evil than a second set of large filters

for the 85/2.0. I also find the 21/35/75 spacing

to be harmonious, while 21/35/90 seems

jarring. That could be ameliorated by substituting

the 50/1.4 for the 35/1.4, but the 35 is my most

favored optic and I think perhaps a more useful

focal length in the cities and countrysides of

the Iberian peninsula than 50mm. And lurking

in the back of my feeble mind is the thouught

of the 135/3.4 with its seemingly fated 49mm

filter size, superb spacing from the 75mm—but

would I use it? It is never mentioned in this

thread, but it would make for a very odd two

lens kit, but it seems a natural for a four lens

outfit, 21/35/75/135, but do people use this

focal length while touring? It does make lovely

images. Finally, to get my head spinning even

faster, the 35/50 combination was mentioned

frequently in this thread. It raises all sorts of

possibilities for 2,3,4,and 5 lens combinations.

Now my head really hurts. Anubody that would

care to address any of my questions would

be warmly welcomed. And I do realize that

these are nice problems to have.

Larry

[jaapv]

Zeiss Ikon? EVF?

[a.noctilux]

Jaap,

 

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ljsegil,

Welcome

Very difficult to read this thin column writing

I gave up

[onasj]

For general travel with three lenses, I prefer 28-50-90 or 21-35-75. Apertures depends on weight and bulk restrictions, with lux-noct-cron and SEM-lux-noct being the ultimate sets in terms of capability. That said, cron-cron(APO)-summarit and SEM-cron-summarit are optically superb, small, and light.

[Ronazle]

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For daily use I have an M8 with 50mm and 21mm lenses. My prefered three lens travel kit (M-9): 18mm, 35mm, 90mm (sometimes I add a 50mm making the "kit" far to big. Unless I make the effort, I never use my 28mm Elmarit ASPH - I probably should sell it. Regards, Ron

Edited May 22, 2018 by Ronazle

[jaapv]

Jaap,

 

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ljsegil,

Welcome

Very difficult to read this thin column writing

I gave up

Ah-missed that. EVF= Electronic View Finder.

[jmr237]

Larry, I have had the best results with travel photography when I avoid the temptation to over complicate the situation. Two lenses at most. The tradition combinations of 28/50 or 35/75 are popular for a reason. Getting wider or longer and you’re getting into focal lengths that—at least for most of us—represent the tails of the distribution. Wider and longer lenses also take more skill to use effectively. Many people report that, after returning from a trip, they never took most lenses out of the bag.

 

Even at two lenses, I’ve found it’s a hassle to change lenses in the field and slow down the group or your partner while you change lenses. There’s a big difference between the theoretical mental analysis of which lenses to bring versus the reality of being out in the real world in a travel situation. Taking too many lenses complicates your mental clarify and ability to visualize your intended result. Skilled and experienced photographers can transcend that, but for most of us amateurs, our ability to create a focused vision (and hence increased chance for good results by intention instead of luck) will be greatly aided by reducing focal length indecision. My best results from travel photography were on a trip to Japan when I only took a 50mm. Sure I missed some shots, but the limited choice helped me better imagine the potential images in front of me and take action accordingly.

[bcdano]

I go with the 2 body / 2 lens kit. 35FLE + ME and the 50APO + M246 . For travel it is far from ideal with the added weight and different batteries... it’s just that the 246 is too bloody good to leave at home and each Lens has redeeming qualities on the respective body. Otherwise my ‘antiquated’ M-E with the 35FLE is all I realistically need - when the CCD & FLE combo delivers it does so in spades. And the B&W conversions work

[sblutter]

Figure out which sorts of shots you're drawn to - match your kit to that

[bocaburger]

2-lens kit:  21/35.  At least with digital.  I find about 80% of my travel shots are with the 35, the remainder with a 21.  I can crop a 35 shot to 50, 75, or even 90mm FOV for the few times I would actually use one of those lenses.  That said I still travel with more than 2 lenses, as my travel lenses are the lightest in the bunch:  CV 15mm V1, CV 21/4, 35/2 V4, 50/2 tabbed, 90 T-E thin.  

[ljsegil]

Thank you all for the replies.   I  have some time  yet to see how i perform with the various lenses  and combinations thereof.    I will be shooting film if that effects folks' advice.

Best,  Larry

[indergaard]

Totally depends on what type of place I'm going to. I have four travel friendly primes that I use: 24mm Elmar-M 3.8, 35 Summicron-M ASPH, 50 Lux ASPH, 90 Macro-Elmar-M.

 

I usually travel with 3 lenses, since mine are all fairly small and light weight. 24/35/90, 24/50/90 or even 35/50/90.

 

If I absolutely had to choose two, I would probably choose a 35/90 combination. With that combination I can literally cover anything with my style of shooting.

[newnew]

I usually take 3 lenses with me for travel and carry only one or two for the daily "sorties". These days I carry 24 Elmarit , 50 Summilux and a 90 Elmarit , which could also be replaced by the 75 Summilux , depending on the destination. But in terms of priority a wide angle and a long would be my choices.  From the 3 lens pool,the 50 could be replaced by a 35 , as a day lens for the general purpose for a light sortie. However, a wide in the 24 or 21 would be a miss for the landscapes.

[robert blu]

Yes, two lens kit it's simple and effective. For me for sure 35 and 50 (summicron) but now I have that 28 Summaron...so it will be for a few months 28 and 50...

robert

[lexontario]

Going to Italy in a few weeks. I'm taking 21mm f3.4, 28mm f2.8, and 50 APO

I want to get pics from all 3 lenses, This will help me decide for next trip what to take

[Peter_S]

One lens only: 35mm.
Two lenses: 24/25mm and 50mm.


 

[micxc]

24/50 for me.

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Hallo,

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[ljsegil]

Now getting tempted by the simplicity of only taking the 35/1.4. What sort of percentage of shots (mixed city, street, and landscape settings) might be missed without anything wider or longer? Which added capability might be more advantageous in a two lens kit? It seems to me that the moderately wide 35mm lens would be a more versatile focal length than 50mm in such situations if carrying only one lens. Other opinions?

Covering all bases with a three lens 25/35/75 kit is still tempting, but is it more likely to aid my results, or muddle my efforts on a daily basis, compared to the less fiddly one (35, 50) or two (21/35, 25/50, 35/75, ?/?) lens options?

Thank you all for joining in my thought experiments.

Larry