35mm shooters: 18mm, 21mm, or 24mm as your single WA lens?

[Mr.Q]

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I shoot mostly 35mm but like to carry a wide-angle lens for those occasional landscape, architecture, group shots, etc. My current choice is the 21 SEM.

 

What focal length do you prefer, and why?

(remember, only one FL, which excludes the WATE)

[jrp]

21mm is a good length for architecture / landscapes as it gives a little extra breathing room for correcting parallels.

[spydrxx]

If I was doing digital, of course I'd shorten the FL, but for film (on Leica bodies) I stick with 35. I use 28, 20  and 17on my non-Leica bodies.

[michaelwj]

I mate my 35mm with a 21mm. It's the original Leica wide, 18/24mm are both a bit too modern for me

[otho]

21 CV Ultron f/1.8. Many shoots in my trips, often in bad light. Like it a lot, sharp and very good quality lens. Only weight and vignette level at f/1.8 are little disadvantages.

[FrozenInTime]

Used many 21mm lenses over the years : 

Currently just the ZM 21/4,5 because of it's small size, sharpness and lack of distortion ( great on film and B&W ) 

When it comes to digital, I will instead stitch a couple of 28mm frames.

[jim0266]

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Have a VC 21, but that FL is a bit too wide for my taste. 35 is also my FL of choice. Settled on the ZM 25/2.8. Feel like I can use this lens as an ultra wide and still get into a crowd of people without it feeling like it distorting the scene. 25-35-50 feels like a nice range.

[EoinC]

I have recently returned to the Land of Wide (I spent years shooting a Canon F1N with a 17mm as my only lens), and have a SA 21 f/3.4, thanks to GaryB in NZ. It is a fabulous lens, both on my M6 and my Monochrom 246.

[pgk]

I shoot mostly 35mm but like to carry a wide-angle lens for those occasional landscape, architecture, group shots, etc. My current choice is the 21 SEM.

 

21mm SEM (+35mm Summilux + 75mm Summicron) as a carry around set.This covers an awful lot.

[jdlaing]

WATE

[pico]

You have not lived until you have used the Voightlander 10mm.

.

[Mr.Q]

21mm seems to be overwhelmingly popular so far. Please keep the posts coming.

[tsleica]

WATE..!

[tobey bilek]

24 3.8 ASPH in combination with 35 2.0 ASPH would be my set.

 

Also have 28 2.8 ASPH and 21 2.8 Elmarit

[AZach]

24 3.8 ASPH in combination with 35 2.0 ASPH would be my set.

 

+1

[Fotofanatiker]

I love 24mm, I find it much easier to handle than anything wider as it still gives me a natural look. The 24mm Summilux consequently is one of my favourite lenses (which is a bit silly to say as I only have 3)...

[Xavier]

For me, 21.

It has been one of my preferred focal length for quite a few years, and before I get a RF camera.

I use the 21/2.8 ZM Biogon, but would love something more compact (at the cost of max aperture) if it was possible to find one that does not have severe issues on digital sensors. I expect to end up with a 21 SEM.

[Martin B]

21 CV Ultron f/1.8. Many shoots in my trips, often in bad light. Like it a lot, sharp and very good quality lens. Only weight and vignette level at f/1.8 are little disadvantages.

 

Same for me - I am using the CV 21/1.8 both on my M cameras and on my A7R. Use it in combination with my 35/2 version IV.

[Ronazle]

My minimum travel kit is a M9 with one lens. That one lens is usually a 35mm Cron; when I expand to my larger traveling kit I add a 50mm (usually a F:3.5 Heliar collapsible) and an 18mm F:4 Distagon. These three pretty much cover anything I encounter. Given my experiences, the 18mm is the perfect second WA. Regards, Ron

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Hallo,

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[AlanT]

21 SEM is my choice - coupled with my M246, I find it simply amazingly sharp and distortion free with careful use.  I simply love it.