geetee1972 Posted July 10, 2017 Share #21 Â Posted July 10, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think it's amazing that you can own all this amazing kit and still refer to a 50mm lens as 'your favourite depth of field'! Â Personally I only own two lenses, a 35mm and a 50mm and when I'm travelling, I only ever take the 50mm. But I do this based on knowing very precisely what I am interested in photographing and why a 50mm lens is therefore the best choice. So, what are you interested in photographing and what makes you think that the 50mm lens will be the best choice/compromise? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted July 10, 2017 Share #22  Posted July 10, 2017 I think it's amazing that you can own all this amazing kit and still refer to a 50mm lens as 'your favourite depth of field'!  Personally I only own two lenses, a 35mm and a 50mm and when I'm travelling, I only ever take the 50mm. But I do this based on knowing very precisely what I am interested in photographing and why a 50mm lens is therefore the best choice. So, what are you interested in photographing and what makes you think that the 50mm lens will be the best choice/compromise? Why does me liking a 50mm focal length have to be so amazing...................why would you even give a monkeys about what focal length I like. I consider myself a creative photographer/artist. I find that I can get amazing photographs with any lens body combination..................., 50mm happens to be my faveriote What's yours??  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted July 10, 2017 Share #23  Posted July 10, 2017 Why does me liking a 50mm focal length have to be so amazing...................why would you even give a monkeys about what focal length I like. I consider myself a creative photographer/artist. I find that I can get amazing photographs with any lens body combination..................., 50mm happens to be my faveriote What's yours??  Neil   Why does me liking a 50mm focal length have to be so amazing...................why would you even give a monkeys about what focal length I like. I consider myself a creative photographer/artist. I find that I can get amazing photographs with any lens body combination..................., 50mm happens to be my faveriote What's yours??  Neil  Wait a minute, I forgot. I actually liked my 120mm lens better last month , but that was then. Seriously though, it doesn't matter, I can capture amazing pictures with anything, its all in the mind :)  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetee1972 Posted July 10, 2017 Share #24  Posted July 10, 2017 Why does me liking a 50mm focal length have to be so amazing...................why would you even give a monkeys about what focal length I like. I consider myself a creative photographer/artist. I find that I can get amazing photographs with any lens body combination..................., 50mm happens to be my faveriote What's yours??  Neil Sorry buddy I think you misunderstood me - I was, I confess, teasing you a little, but only in a playful way. I was initially commenting on your referring to focal length as 'depth of field'. Apologies if this was poorly received. Your original question was to ask for opinion about taking just one lens with you to Japan and whether 50mm was the right choice. I don't believe you can answer that question without first asking what kind of photography you want to create. This does pre-suppose that there are genres of image that one focal length is less well suited to make. I think this is true to a certain degree; for instance most people would agree that you simply cannot do reportage or street photography with a telephoto lens. Of course this is not remotely absolute so it’s debatable as to whether that statement is true in any and all instances. But by and large the idea that your efforts in this genre won’t be any good if you’re not close enough is probably accurate enough to be a guiding principle. 50mm is absolutely my favourite focal length also. It suits what I like to photograph and what I am trying to communicate or convey with my photography, which is, I suppose, a commentary on the nature of our experience as people. I’m broadly speaking a portrait photographer I guess, but I don’t much shoot portraits in the conventional (studio) sense, at least not currently. I’d like to but I don’t have the means or opportunity to do it the way I would want to right now. I’ve no interest in photographing models and it’s hard to find willing volunteers with the time and space needed for studio work, so I focus instead on photographing strangers I meet in the moment I meet them. A 50mm lens is perfect for that and for observing people and life in general where a studio environment would likely suit an 85mm or longer lens. If you were primarily interested in architecture however, I wouldn’t think a 50mm lens is much use as you’re very limited by the field of view and where you can stand in relation to the subject. I’m not saying you can create wonderful architectural shots with a 50mm lens, just that perhaps if you wanted to do this and could only take one lens, maybe there would be a better choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted July 10, 2017 Share #25  Posted July 10, 2017 Sorry buddy I think you misunderstood me - I was, I confess, teasing you a little, but only in a playful way. I was initially commenting on your referring to focal length as 'depth of field'. Apologies if this was poorly received. Your original question was to ask for opinion about taking just one lens with you to Japan and whether 50mm was the right choice. I don't believe you can answer that question without first asking what kind of photography you want to create. This does pre-suppose that there are genres of image that one focal length is less well suited to make. I think this is true to a certain degree; for instance most people would agree that you simply cannot do reportage or street photography with a telephoto lens. Of course this is not remotely absolute so it’s debatable as to whether that statement is true in any and all instances. But by and large the idea that your efforts in this genre won’t be any good if you’re not close enough is probably accurate enough to be a guiding principle. 50mm is absolutely my favourite focal length also. It suits what I like to photograph and what I am trying to communicate or convey with my photography, which is, I suppose, a commentary on the nature of our experience as people. I’m broadly speaking a portrait photographer I guess, but I don’t much shoot portraits in the conventional (studio) sense, at least not currently. I’d like to but I don’t have the means or opportunity to do it the way I would want to right now. I’ve no interest in photographing models and it’s hard to find willing volunteers with the time and space needed for studio work, so I focus instead on photographing strangers I meet in the moment I meet them. A 50mm lens is perfect for that and for observing people and life in general where a studio environment would likely suit an 85mm or longer lens. If you were primarily interested in architecture however, I wouldn’t think a 50mm lens is much use as you’re very limited by the field of view and where you can stand in relation to the subject. I’m not saying you can create wonderful architectural shots with a 50mm lens, just that perhaps if you wanted to do this and could only take one lens, maybe there would be a better choice. Gary I was in Kyoto and Osaka in 2014, I think I was using a M9 then and most of the shots were taken with my Noctilux or 21mm lux (I loved that 21mm lux). My thinking is if I'm only taking one lens "which I am" Then I can stitch if I want to go wider which is easier than trying to get closer. Japan is a lovely place in the world for photography and for just about everything else.........I will look forward to sharing my pictures with everyone when I get back.  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetee1972 Posted July 10, 2017 Share #26  Posted July 10, 2017  Japan is a lovely place in the world for photography and for just about everything else  I don't have many regrets but not visiting Japan (at the time when I was deep into karate training) is one of them. There's nothing stopping me now of course but the opportunity to connect with the country when I felt more of a meaningful connection with that country has passed by already.  21mm is very wide indeed; personally I cannot comprehend how to use a 21mm focal length lens but that is me expressing my own limitation and not that of the focal length. It's not even that I am not interested in landscape (though the kind of landscape work I like is unconventional, for example, I really admire Don McCullin's landscape work), just that even when trying to think about shooting landscape I feel 35mm is more than wide enough.  What do you use a 21mm for then that you cannot use other (longer) focal lengths for?  p.s. it's Greg not Gary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sillbeers15 Posted July 12, 2017 Share #27 Â Posted July 12, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) What do you use a 21mm for then that you cannot use other (longer) focal lengths for? Â p.s. it's Greg not Gary. 21mm wide can be applied to more than just landscape photography. It is good for interior architecture, portraits, street,....when combined with a fast lens like 21 lux, you can create very dramatic prospective to capture viewer's attention. Especially when you go down low to take worm's eye view or and front objects appear much larger than rear... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted July 12, 2017 Share #28  Posted July 12, 2017  ..........why would you even give a monkeys about what focal length I like. ..... Then how can we inform/educate you of what you are missing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted July 12, 2017 Share #29  Posted July 12, 2017 21mm wide can be applied to more than just landscape photography. It is good for interior architecture, portraits, street,....when combined with a fast lens like 21 lux, you can create very dramatic prospective to capture viewer's attention. Especially when you go down low to take worm's eye view or and front objects appear much larger than rear...  Following up on Sillbeers15's point, here's a doggie portrait somewhat illustrating his comment. (Voigtlander 21mm 1.8)  Rob 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/274058-from-one-extream-to-another/?do=findComment&comment=3313863'>More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted July 12, 2017 Share #30  Posted July 12, 2017 What do you use a 21mm for then that you cannot use other (longer) focal lengths for?   I shot a multi-year construction project with 21 mm lenses.  Started with the 21 SX and M9, finished up with 21 SEM.  It captured the feeling of being in a dense grid of scaffolding, and the light that you get when a building is roofless.  So the 21 is kinda immersive.  Here's one example:  L5002463 by scott kirkpatrick, on Flickr  and another:  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted July 12, 2017 Share #31 Â Posted July 12, 2017 Following up on Sillbeers15's point, here's a doggie portrait somewhat illustrating his comment. (Voigtlander 21mm 1.8) Â Rob RopoYou really need to pay attention to your backgrounds as well. Looks like a slipper sticking out of your dogs ear. Â Â Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted July 12, 2017 Share #32  Posted July 12, 2017 Then how can we inform/educate you of what you are missing. hahahahaha  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetee1972 Posted July 12, 2017 Share #33 Â Posted July 12, 2017 21mm wide can be applied to more than just landscape photography. It is good for interior architecture, portraits, street,....when combined with a fast lens like 21 lux, you can create very dramatic prospective to capture viewer's attention. Especially when you go down low to take worm's eye view or and front objects appear much larger than rear... Â A 21mm for portraiture or caricature? Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alib Posted July 12, 2017 Share #34  Posted July 12, 2017 Most of the time 50mm works fine for me too... mostly the APO but sometimes an old Noctilux. 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/274058-from-one-extream-to-another/?do=findComment&comment=3313980'>More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 24, 2017 Share #35  Posted October 24, 2017 Most of the time 50mm works fine for me too... mostly the APO but sometimes an old Noctilux. Very nice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 24, 2017 Share #36  Posted October 24, 2017 For those of you that know that bloke Neil Williams, you will know that he likes everything in the fast lane, he likes to lug DSLR's with M bodies and also 8x10's all on the same trip, shooting film and digital from sunrise to sunset.  Well F@ck it, my next trip is 7 days to Japan in November and I m going naked (not literary) but I am just going to take my SL and Noctilux 0.95 and that's it, no tripod, no wide angle or telephoto lenses just SL plus Noctilux.......................... 50mm is my favorite depth of field, if I want to go wide I can stitch 3 or 5 frames together to get everything in, If I want to get close I can use my feet....................what do you think??  Just think about it. The Noctilux is the best performing lens at night (that's why its called the lens of the night), its amazing stopped down and on the SL it is so so easy to nail focus. Comments thoughts  Neil Well here we are, less than a month to go until we touch down in Osaka, and my plan is a mess. I have since sold my SL (I miss my SL )............I bought a TL2 to replace the SL but I just cant get myself to do it. Hotels are booked, car rental is booked and my S007 battries are on charge.............I've decided to take Leica's flagship with me and rent a car to carry it........That's why I'm a Chevron Companyman we can react to a change in the plan at any time I've goggled the sh!t out of Osaka and Kyoto and while we are there we will be going to see these places to hopefully get some nice autumn landscapes; Miyama (美山) Mount Ibuki…need to take the coast road Koya-san, go from Osaka or Nara Mount Yoshino near Nara Ise 2 hours from Osaka near Toba Biwako Valley, Japan, Shodoshima Island  Nuk is taking her Sony a7 plus a few lenses, I did offer her the TL2 but she declined  Pictures to follow  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erudolph Posted October 24, 2017 Share #37  Posted October 24, 2017 I missed what happened between you and the TL2. Did you not like it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 24, 2017 Share #38  Posted October 24, 2017 I missed what happened between you and the TL2. Did you not like it? I like it very much............I just like the files I get out of the S007 better. The TL2 is a keeper just not something I want to take to japan to shoot the autumn colors  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickness Posted October 24, 2017 Share #39  Posted October 24, 2017 For those of you that know that bloke Neil Williams, you will know that he likes everything in the fast lane, he likes to lug DSLR's with M bodies and also 8x10's all on the same trip, shooting film and digital from sunrise to sunset. Comments thoughts  Neil   Here's how you spell "extreme" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 24, 2017 Share #40  Posted October 24, 2017 Here's how you spell "extreme"  No I like to spell it extream...............its the other side of extreme, if you ken what I mean  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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