Lens kit for Manhattan

[luigi bertolotti]

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My best pictures of buildings of NY were taken (years ago...M4...) with the SA 21... And I have firm in my mind that you MUST take such a focal (or shorter) in almost any city environment... with the due care to compose, you can always find the way to catch interesting images.

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[Adrian Lord]

A most apposite thread - I too am in Manhattan for a week from Saturday.

 

I'm taking: summaron 35 2.8 LTM collapsible

 

and probably 2 x 50s - summitar 2.0 and Nocti f1.

 

Now, if I were sensible, I'd take the 50 lux ASPH and in effect combine both 50s in one package. But I am not sensible and too romantic.

[james.liam]

Put a Ricoh GR in your pocket for the 28mm, and just take the 50 Lux.

[billo101]

31SEM and 75AA, no other.

 

 

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[Guest Marc G.]

28/50... you got a wide angle and a fast lens for picking out details or people shots. I wouldnt carry more. Other lenses just distract you

[Reddotcamera]

21mm, 28mm and 50mm would be my choices.

 

Many will argue in favor of the 35mm over the 28mm. I will play devil's advocate and say that if you like the 35mm focal length, you will also like the 28mm. The 28 gives you everything the 35 does with a bit more width (more of a good thing).

 

28mm is about as wide as you can go without seeing elongated distortion near the edges of the frame. Most lenses 24mm or wider will produce egg shaped heads of people near the frame edges.

 

The 21mm is nice for tight interiors, as long as you are careful with placement of your human subjects within the frame.

[KM-25]

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If I had to hop on a plane tomorrow I would take the only Leica body and I have and will ever need with the only lenses I need, an M3 with a 35 1.4 Nokton and 50 lux asph. Of course in the other side of my bag would be my Xpan and 45. Film would be my standard Tmax 400....no better round the world RF kit in my opinion...

[Ted Lemon]

Take the 35 and 50. Pick one in the morning, leave the other behind.

 

Spot on!

[250swb]

The idea of going somewhere new always flags up in my mind the watch words 'be safe'. No not from mugging, but safe from your own expectations. I would always take a wider lens than normal as a 'safety' lens, because you can always compose the picture as you would normally and then crop if its too wide when you get home. So a 28 can be cropped to 35 without unduly affecting image quality, then a jump to 50 because a 50 can be cropped to 75, notwithstanding the 28 and 50 frames may be perfect anyway. Then fill in with one other maybe, maybe a 21, maybe a 90, but make it either the one you instinctively feel you want to take if that isn't already covered, or a wild card to add some excitement.

 

Steve

[ckone77]

Hi there, I would take just two lenses, the 28 for wide angle and the 50 Summilux.

If you like wider angle then take the 21; it really depends on your style - I always take the 28-35-50 tri-Elmar, as I don't like changing lenses, if I would stick to one lens, I would take a 35.

Most important: just walk, enjoy NY and shoot what you see; don't think in technical terms like which lens should I take...

Tell us your choice...

Chris

[dgc]

One of the reasons I bought into Leica was the compactness of the system. I can fit 3 of my lenses into a nifty lowepro CSC case, which is not too burdensome and allows me the option of using 4 lenses. I suppose this gives me the security of being prepared for most eventualities; but this is probably a lack of confidence and inexperience having come from dSLR and 2x zoom lens system.

While in Liverpool recently I was mainly using my 28 and 90 and only occasionally the 21 & 50. Surprisingly, I found myself using the 90 a lot more than I thought I would; this is a great lens.

If I had your set up I would take the 21, 28 and 75; but then probably try and find space in my luggage for the 35 !

 

David

[erlingmm]

For street, the wide angles are most useful. But if you go on top of Rockefeller Center (best viewpoint over Manhattan, and no glass fence on top level), you will appreciate at least 50mm or longer. I would say bring 3 lenses, carry 2, depending on purpose.

[ivohula]

Just returned after one week in Manhattan. Having almost all focal lengths at my disposal, the 35 Lux quickly became the go to focal length - 55% of shots. It just happened naturally. All buildings and people crowd you. Second most used lens - 30% - was 24 Lux. Used where 35 was too tight. The large apertures were needed to shoot at night, inside stores and monuments/historical buildings. My WATE was used only 7% of time, in places that are super tight, like Wall Street and 9/11 monument. My 90Cron also used 8% just to isolate something, now and then.

 

Never touched my 28, 50, or my 135. At home, I rely on my 50 Lux a lot.

[gberger]

My daughter and her husband live in Manhattan, and he's an avid photographer (unfortunately, of the Nikon ilk), She has a CM.

 

He swears by the 35.. and of course, hers is a 40mm.

 

They've been photographing Manhattan for over 20 years, and I've seen their photos. Based on that singular datum point, the 35mm appears to be ideal.

 

Just a thought.

[!Nomad64]

 

Personally, out of your collection, I would go for 21, 35, 50. If you can carry an extra go for the 28 too, but probably overkill. If you want a 2 lens kit I think you will find 21 and 35 cover everything, even better on two bodies.

 

 

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