What lenses to take..again!

[Jennifer]

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My current favourite two lens combo for travelling light (though my gender permits me to be fickle and so it might change in the blink of an eye ) is my Elmarit 28 and my APO-Summicron 50. The Elmarit because it's wide, super small, super light and super sharp and the APO 50 because it's simply errr ...... super. If I was taking a third lens it'd be my 21 SEM. I know none are particularly fast, but I've found the APO 50 is more than fine for me in all but very poor light situations. If I felt I really needed a faster lens I'd probably substitute the APO 50 for my Lux of similar FL, though it'd be with a heavy heart. If I was restricted to one lens for this sort of trip I suppose it'd be sensible to take the Lux 35 FLE though atm, for some unfathomable reason, I don't find 35mm a very satisfying FL. However, sense aside, I'd probably say to hell with it, pop the APO 50 on the camera and leave the rest at home.

[MarkP]

After reading these suggestions, my selection has been finalized.

 

So? Your original choice?

[fursan]

Hi Jennifer.

 

I have decided on max 2 lenses or to hell with it and just put my 50 and walk out the door.

 

Thank you kindly , and have a super day today and better ones after that.

 

Best.

My current favourite two lens combo for travelling light (though my gender permits me to be fickle and so it might change in the blink of an eye ) is my Elmarit 28 and my APO-Summicron 50. The Elmarit because it's wide, super small, super light and super sharp and the APO 50 because it's simply errr ...... super. If I was taking a third lens it'd be my 21 SEM. I know none are particularly fast, but I've found the APO 50 is more than fine for me in all but very poor light situations. If I felt I really needed a faster lens I'd probably substitute the APO 50 for my Lux of similar FL, though it'd be with a heavy heart. If I was restricted to one lens for this sort of trip I suppose it'd be sensible to take the Lux 35 FLE though atm, for some unfathomable reason, I don't find 35mm a very satisfying FL. However, sense aside, I'd probably say to hell with it, pop the APO 50 on the camera and leave the rest at home.

 

[Jennifer]

Hi Jennifer.

 

I have decided on max 2 lenses or to hell with it and just put my 50 and walk out the door.

 

Thank you kindly , and have a super day today and better ones after that.

 

Best.

 

 

You know you could possibly do a lot worse than do precisely that, take the 50 and leave the rest.

 

It might seem somewhat ironic from somebody who owns 8 Leica lenses, but I do sometimes think that a plethora of lenses from which to choose is more curse than a blessing. Many of us, and I'm the worst culprit, seem to agonise over which of our lenses to take/use and, as a result, probably never learn how to use one of them really well. I do sometimes think that the limitations of always using the same lens may actually act as a boon to creativity. Perhaps Cartier-Bresson had the right idea?

[LeicaPassion]

I do sometimes think that the limitations of always using the same lens may actually act as a boon to creativity. Perhaps Cartier-Bresson had the right idea?

[LeicaPassion]

Absolutely. With one lens on the camera, in my case 28 or 50, a new photographic world emerges. One just needs to be receptive.

[semi-ambivalent]

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One just needs to be receptive.

This.

 

The hell with Bresson's 'hunting' business. Most of my best images have come to me. You have to open your eyes that little bit more than is usual.

 

s-a

[enboe]

May I inquire what types of photos you prefer to take?  Trying to reverse-engineer, I would offer the following thoughts:

 

28 - buildings and street scenes, country scenics, full-length people lens for small to medium groups

35 - single or few people with some of their environment included

50 - single-person lens, headshot or waist-up.  Starts to exclude the environment.  You have a fast one, so this is good for low light

90/4 - is this the Macro lens?  If so, then yes for close-ups.  If not, then go to the 2.8.  A portrait lens, and a marginal mini-telephoto if you wish to photograph things at a distance.

90/2.8 - A portrait lens, and a marginal mini-telephoto if you wish to photograph things at a distance.

 

You have an excellent stable, but may wish to add a backup body, just in case.  Are you assured access to electrical power for charging?  If yes, then maybe add a Sony RX100iii to your kit.  Very small and capable.  If power is at risk, and you don't mind shooting film, add a used M film body to your kit.  Find a body that has been recently serviced, or is at least well sorted out.  A good clean M2 or M6 would be my recommendation.

 

If I were putting together a kit based purely on articles I have read, I would go with the ME/50 and an M6/28.  The telephoto is not as important with a rangefinder, and shooting within conversational distances helps to build trust with your subjects.

 

Safe travels.

[fursan]

Mark, it shall be the 28/50 with the X100S thrown in; hopefully not to be taken out.

 

Best.

 

So? Your original choice?

[fursan]

enboe. Thanks for the detailed reply.

 

For this trip, I shall be mostly into country scenes, buildings and street and the people.

 

My wife has the RX100 iii, but she is taking it to Tibet. I shall be at lower altitudes and moving around different parts of the country. The X100S has served me well previously as a fully functional cam and as a spare thing to have; just in case.

 

Thank you so much for your response.