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Third lens travel


dawnsemd

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I know others will disagree, but 50 and 75 are very close. I'd go for the 21, but likely with a 35 and 75, or just with a 50, skipping the 35. It all depends on how much you want to carry - a 21 is likely to weigh less than a 75. 35-50-75 is a very tight spread - I'd never be able to choose!

 

Like everyone though, I have my own (strong) opinions, and prefer wides on RF cameras. For me, once I get longer than a 50 (probably a 35) an RF is not the right tool for the job. I feel that's getting into TTL viewing range. I also believe less is more, and can't even imagine carrying more than 2 lenses - with any compromise, you have to miss out somewhere. and I'll miss out on the long lens shots.

 

Cheers,

Michael

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75 is only a modest "crop" from a 50 FOV. I have both, but seldom use a 75. However, a 21 is significantly different than a 35 in angle of view. It takes practice to use a 21 effectively, and also to judge the frame extent compared to the normal viewfinder. I usually carry a 21 finder to clip on.

For flexibility I'd suggest a 21, but a 75 is easier to work with, and helps train one to frame a subject closer.

 

edit: I see Michael beat my post. I agree about an RF being better with wide lenses, but I find 90 about the transition where I prefer an SLR. But I've also taken to using a 20mm more on a reflex than a 21 with Leica, as framing is easier. But that requires taking a second body for very wide and tele lenses. So traveling light a small 21 is handy. Look at the super Elmar.

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Thanks for your insights. I am leaning towards the super elmar its reasonably priced i guess i will need a evf visoflex or dedicated 21? . I was intrigued by some 75 photos from india but during my trip to shanghai a few months ago 35 was not wide enough, going to morrocco soon

 

Thanks

 

Dawn

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I would go longer before going wider. However, if I were to have gone wider before having gone longer, I think I would believe I had made the best choice - not out of a desire to consider myself a good chooser, but because wide is beautiful.

Sorry to our international audience for the tricky tenses :)

Sorry to the op for probably not advancing his decision process.

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I have with m 240 35/1.4 and apo 50. Looking for third lens debating between 21/3.4 and 75 apo. I use rf no evf. Extensive international travel. Any advice, other lens?

Both - my 'current lenses' set up is exactly this: 21/3.4, 35/1.4, 50/1.4 & 75/2. But as you need to use a viewfinder for the 21, the 75 is a 'simpler' first choice.

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Whatever happened to LiveView? While it is not always so convenient without the EVF, framing is possible using the screen. However, I would opt for a longer lens because generally it gets more use than a 21mm (for me), which is quite tricky to use successfully, shots on the fly excepting. It calls for good use of foreground objects and alignment skills.

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I have with m 240 35/1.4 and apo 50. Looking for third lens debating between 21/3.4 and 75 apo. I use rf no evf. Extensive international travel. Any advice, other lens?

50 and 75 are not far apart in FOV and if the 50 APO is worth it's price, cropping to a 75mm FOV shouldn't cause an issue.  I would definitely go with a 21.  And if you don't want the EVF (I can't blame you!) there are tons of used 21mm finders out there for reasonable money. 

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A bit of background:  A year ago I moved from Nikon to an M240 M-P for my holiday camera.  Previously I carried a Nikon body with integrated grip and three large pro zoom lenses (I know, I know).  The last trip with all this weight almost killed me.

 

Therefore, I also am in the process of selecting the best system for international holidays, which I am able to do with more frequency since retirement.  Reducing bulk/weight/gadgets/general stuff has become a priority as I may walk as much as 10 miles/day and use a lot of crowded public transportation.

 

After three weeks in the UK and two weeks in France I find that for the sort of stuff I photograph and the way I prefer to do it, a more or less doubling of focal lengths works well.

 

Thus, a 28, a 50, and a 90 seem to be the hot setup for me.  I might think about adding a 21 but don't like LV or add on finders, and would prefer to limit myself to three lenses.  Cathedral interiors exempted, I generally photograph in bright daylight and am currently ok with modest maximum aperture lenses, although that is subject to further evaluation.

 

Next trip in March will be with a Tri Elmar 28-35-50 and a 90 Macro, which I am hopeful will be the last equipment version for a while.

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I am an avid traveller and would say that I use my 35 mm and 50 mm ASPH Summiluxes about 90% of the time.  I also have 24 mm Elmar and 90 mm Summarit lenses where the latter gets used more in rural and open environments and the former in tighter urban environments such as in cities.  If travel takes you more to cities and you enjoy photographing buildings, I suggest the 21 mm SEM or 24 mm Elmar.  If in open environments, I suggest a light weight 90 mm lens such as the Summarit or Macro-Elmar (f4), or a good used 90 mm Elmarit M; I feel that the 75 mm lens is too close to the 50 mm lens. 

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I'll never go without my M9-P and 21SEM and have found it practical in every city and vast landscapes. It never disappoints and I used it extensively on a trip to central Asia and it was ideal in Hong Kong.   Results are very good.  You do need the viewfinder, and especially in bright sunshine or dark environments such as places of worship.   My problem is that I purchased a Leica Q in the hope that I could carry one camera only to India in December.  I'm also well into retirement and kit weight is a priority factor.  Unfortunately I don't think that taking the Q only is a good idea now.  I do need autofocus for some fleeting events and high ISO for poor lighting situations.  I found I never used my 90 summicron and it is too heavy, but a 75 f2.5  produced excellent results and was useful for about 10% of shots in India last time.  

The decision is yours but you may need to reconsider, and compromise on your framing methods. 

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I would suggest the 21mm Super Elmar; it will come in handy when you are in tight interiors, and will give a unique perspective to landscape shots. 

 

I have the Super Elmar and am extremely pleased with it.  This lens is so small and light; it is razor sharp, contrasty and has beautiful color rendition.  Distortion is not a big issue with the 21/3.4 - you can cause distortion but you have to make a conscious effort to do so.  At f/3.4 I view it as a medium speed lens and have not found myself wanting for a larger maximum aperture. 

 

The 21 Super Elmar  will do things that your 35/1.4 cannot; if you have any inclination to wide angle photography, this lens is a must have.

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I own the same lenses that you do, the 35/1.4 FLE and 50/2 APO. I sold the 21/3/4 and 90/2. Out of those two I used the 21mm most for travel, but it was far behind the 35mm and 50mm focal lengths. Its a different take, but I used the money to purchase a second body albiet an a7rII, and I have the Batis 25mm and 85mm lenses on order. I'd rather carry the a7rII with 25/2 and the M240 with the 50/2 as a pair than be switching lenses all the time.

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For a three lens travel kit I almost always go with the APO 50 & 21 SEM, then either my Elmarit 28 or Lux 35. I've developed a preference for the 28mm FL but if I'm likely to need that extra speed it'll be the 35mm. I can't be doing with long heavy lenses when travelling these days so the 75 Lux and 90 APO stay at home.

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