wlaidlaw Posted October 18, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 18, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) My wife and I have just booked a 4 day trip to Berlin from 15th December. My wife will want to visit the shops and Christmas Market and I will probably trail along for some of that. Given that my all day carrying capacity is both age and arthritis limited, I have decided to leave the SL and 24-90 at home and take my M240 instead plus just one lens and a lightish one at that. It will be a Summicron but 28, 35, 40 or 50? For those with recent experience of Berlin, which would be the most useful lens. I slightly feel that taking the 35 is a somewhat wimpish compromise but maybe a sensible one nevertheless. It will be very interesting to see how Berlin has changed. My last visit there was on a long week-end trip from college in Switzerland in 1964. East Berlin at that time, still showed massive war time damage, with piles of salvaged bricks in bomb sites remaining apparent and I cannot say that two 18 year olds in an old Auto Union 1000 coupe, were welcomed by the vopos at Checkpoint Charlie, with open arms. I think we were only allowed through, as we were able to show them we had tickets for "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" by Kurt Weill at the Staatsoper. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here 1 camera + 1 lens trip to Berlin in mid December. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted October 18, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 18, 2016 Hi Wilson, I would say the 35 would be the most useful all rounder lens, or possibly the 28 if you want to concentrate more on architecture shots. My only visit to Berlin was for the One Challenge a few years ago, but it's (another) city I really want to return to. I found the east side far more interesting and pleasant to wander around. Here's a few of my photos Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265644-1-camera-1-lens-trip-to-berlin-in-mid-december/?do=findComment&comment=3131152'>More sharing options...
jmahto Posted October 18, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 18, 2016 I like 28mm cron ASPH for travel. It is wide enough for buildings and super sharp stopped down. It is also good when shot wide open for late evening/night city shots due to huge DOF at a distance. Although it is far from portrait lens, it works with people shots across the table (with just enough out of focus city background for context). It is also good with slow shutter speed all the way to 1/15 sec hand held (try to do that with 35 or 50mm). A really versatile lens in my opinion. I feel that narrower DOF of 35mm and 50mm (at similar apertures and distance compared to 28mm) is actually a disadvantage in city shoot. I know some people feel very comfortable with 35 or 50mm angle of view but it doesn't suit me. Of course sometimes you need longer length too. For that my travel companion to 28mm is 90mm. .. and do enjoy the trip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 18, 2016 Share #4 Posted October 18, 2016 I agree on a 28. I would pair it with the Heliar 75 and Super Elmar 18. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ricoh Posted October 18, 2016 Share #5 Posted October 18, 2016 It depends, doesn't it, on the type of photography you're into. Street - 35 or 28 if you like smelling the street. General street-view, architectural stuff, again the 35. The 28 is so light (latest Elmarit) it would be a shame not to pack it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted October 19, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 19, 2016 +1 for the 28 summicron. its a great city lens that does not disappoint. i have found it useful to at least pack a polariser for it (or whichever lens you finally decide on)! the Lee rf75 graduated neutral density filter system is also very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted October 19, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I agree on a 28. I would pair it with the Heliar 75 and Super Elmar 18. One lens Jaap. If I was going to take multi lenses, I might as well take the SL and zoom. The idea is not to take a camera bag but only the Neoprene cover. I have never really clicked with the 75mm lens length other than taking technical photos. Maybe because I have a less than stellar 75 Summarit. For a longer lens, I much prefer my 90/2.8 Elmarit-M but I am not taking it. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmay Posted October 19, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 19, 2016 28mm. I walked about Berlin with an S and used mainly a 30mm. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 19, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 19, 2016 I'd take either a 35 or 28mm Skopar, both small enough to just about make the 240 pocketable (in a large pocket). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted October 19, 2016 I'd take either a 35 or 28mm Skopar, both small enough to just about make the 240 pocketable (in a large pocket). Steve, My 35 Skopar is a paper weight. Not really even good enough to use on film, although as it is the only LTM 35mm lens I have, I have done so occasionally. I am not buying any new lenses at the moment, having just bought a 11619 special edition 1999 year LTM chrome Summicron 50mm/2. I also bought a quite expensive Rayqual LTM to M adapter ring, as the supplied ring was a cut away one, which brought up the "no lens mounted" on my M240 and M to SL adapter. I was disappointed that the Rayqual, given its price of £50, did not have coding pits milled in it, like all the cheap Chinese adapters have and I had to fiddle around with a template plus trial and error to mark the 100001 code on. The Summicron is mainly to use on my Reid & Sigrist III and Leica IIF. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 19, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 19, 2016 If ONE only is the must... 28 is the lens for towns, imho: but BERLIN, in THESE days, makes me think of a choice that is smarter again : go to Berlin lensless, order NOW the new Summaron 28 5,6 at Leica Store Berlin, pick up it when you arrive... and post pics and feedback of the lens when you come back... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 19, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 19, 2016 One lens Jaap. If I was going to take multi lenses, I might as well take the SL and zoom. The idea is not to take a camera bag but only the Neoprene cover. I have never really clicked with the 75mm lens length other than taking technical photos. Maybe because I have a less than stellar 75 Summarit. For a longer lens, I much prefer my 90/2.8 Elmarit-M but I am not taking it. Wilson In that case, Wilson, I'm with Luigi. Or, alternately, do you happen to own a Q? Sounds pretty ideal for the use you intend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted October 19, 2016 If ONE only is the must... 28 is the lens for towns, imho: but BERLIN, in THESE days, makes me think of a choice that is smarter again : go to Berlin lensless, order NOW the new Summaron 28 5,6 at Leica Store Berlin, pick up it when you arrive... and post pics and feedback of the lens when you come back... I could go one further and take my f60 pinhole M "lens" I am not a big fan of slow lenses except for large format and even then my Graflex actually has an 80mm f2.8 Tessar on it. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted October 19, 2016 In that case, Wilson, I'm with Luigi. Or, alternately, do you happen to own a Q? Sounds pretty ideal for the use you intend. Jaap, No Q. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 19, 2016 Share #15 Posted October 19, 2016 I'm pretty certain that the shots above were with a 35 Skopar (I know I added some vignette/blur to the first image). Wilson, you know the 35 makes sense! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted October 19, 2016 I'm pretty certain that the shots above were with a 35 Skopar (I know I added some vignette/blur to the first image). Wilson, you know the 35 makes sense! James, I don't need to add blur with my 35 Skopar, it does it all by itself Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Bedford Posted October 19, 2016 Share #17 Posted October 19, 2016 I shoot almost everything that isn't a special portrait with my 35mm Summarit. I'd be more than happy to stick to just that for everything, so 35mm is what I'd take if I were going to Berlin. I find that the less I take away on a trip, the greater my enjoyment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingSand Posted October 19, 2016 Share #18 Posted October 19, 2016 You can still track the city, especially the eastern parts, for war time damage. I was there in August, and it is pretty evident. In some cases it deliberately isn't repaired, instead it is part of the urban design. There's plenty of indirect war time (and reunification) damage, too, but you need to know what and where.Follow the Spree or one of the canals in any direction, and you'll want the 28. Go into the narrower streets of Wilmersdorf, Kreuzberg or Moabit, you'd want the 35. Go to the markets, you probably want a 50 or 75 for people photography. In any case, take something reasonably fast, the light in Berlin in December can be a bit dull and grey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted October 19, 2016 I think I will go for the 28 ASPH and crop where required to get tighter framing. I might change my mind before I go. I have a trip to Myanmar before that in November for a classic car rally from Chiang Rai just into Thailand finishing at Yangon two weeks later. I am taking the SL and 24-90 for that and my Reid and Sigrist III with 50 series V Summicron LTM lens and lots of Fomapan 200 film. I was just hunting in my cupboards for the filmsafe bag I bought years ago. Whereas airport x-rays in western countries are supposed not to fog film, I am not sure the same applies to the less than well maintained equipment in other parts of the world. When we went through security in a small airport in India some time ago, the bags were going through the security scanner in their usual fits and jerks but when I got round the other side of the security area, I could see that the screen was either not switched on or broken and the operator had his back to it in any case, chatting to one of his colleagues. He was just leaning to one side and pressing the conveyer belt switch every few seconds. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted October 19, 2016 Share #20 Posted October 19, 2016 My 35 pancake is tack sharp - and a good choice for Berlin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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