Mikewest Posted October 16, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 16, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I'm going to travel in NYC and would like some advice for the M lens that I will take with me (with my leica SL). I have a 21 mm super-elmar, summilux 35 FLE, and Noctilux f1. I would like to bring with me only 2 of them. Which one would you recommend? I usually like street photography. Thank's for the advices Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 Hi Mikewest, Take a look here M lenses advice for travel: only 2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
PCPix Posted October 16, 2018 Share #2 Posted October 16, 2018 Definitely the 21 (tall buildings!) - then which is your favourite for walkabout/street preference out of the 35 and 50? Personally I'd go for the 35, only a stop slower than the Noct and way smaller/lighter/sharper when wide open. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted October 16, 2018 Share #3 Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) The street views of NYC people can be up close, or quite far away (for a wide angle lens). In my 7 visits to NYC, I used focal lengths from 28 to 90mm. Mostly the streets are big, really BIG ( big is BIG ) and the only time I felt an ultrawide lens might be useful is trying to capture the scale of the billboards and lights in Times Square, or the NYSE on Wall St, or Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center. If you think you might want to capture people shots in the subways, a fast lens will be most useful. Now a days, I prefer the simpleness of having only one lens on my M240. It can be for me, quite tiresome being out all day in NYC with heavy camera gear (your SL/Nocti is not for me) My last few visits to NYC, I carried either a 35FLE or a 50APO only, for the whole trip, and did not feel that either was incomplete. But if this is your 1st visit to NYC bring all 3 of your mentioned lenses and then chose the lens for each day's destinations. Edited October 16, 2018 by dugby Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted October 16, 2018 Share #4 Posted October 16, 2018 I'd take just the 21mm and enjoy using it without having the permanent nagging question of which lens to attach. This will also give the freedom of not having to carry (nor choose!) a bag. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsj Posted October 16, 2018 Share #5 Posted October 16, 2018 I visited NYC for the first time this September. I didn't want to think about gear much so I opted to only take my M4 and 35mm Summicron. I didn't miss any other lens the entire week. If I had brought another lens it would have most likely been a 50mm. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted October 16, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 16, 2018 I'd take the 21 and 35. The 21 is my most widely used lens when I'm in NYC. Ernst Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrostl Posted October 16, 2018 Share #7 Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 21 (SEM)/50 (Summilux) is my own two-lens kit. Pretty personal decision, though. Edited October 16, 2018 by astrostl Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted October 16, 2018 Share #8 Posted October 16, 2018 I would take the Summilux and the Noctilux, and then pop the 21mm in my pocket as well because it’s only small and in the grand scale of things won’t make too much difference 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.s. Posted October 16, 2018 Share #9 Posted October 16, 2018 A 50mm lens is my usual walkaround here in NYC (and everywhere else), so that's what I'd bring. In your case, I'd probably go for middle ground and bring only the 35mm. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedro Posted October 16, 2018 Share #10 Posted October 16, 2018 I would bring all three of them, we are talking about, what, a kilogram in total? If weight is a concern just bring the 35 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted October 16, 2018 Share #11 Posted October 16, 2018 I would take 3 lenses but only one camera instead Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnySixteen Posted October 17, 2018 Share #12 Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) Last time in NYC for leisure I brought 21, 35, 50 and 90 and left 3 of 4 in the hotel safe each day before setting out. I used all 4, mostly 35 and 50 but had fun with the 21 and 90 on occasion, glad I brought them all. Here's an example of the 21 and 90 from same rooftop vantage point. Hmm, having trouble attaching images ... Edited October 17, 2018 by SunnySixteen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sml_photo Posted October 17, 2018 Share #13 Posted October 17, 2018 I'd suggest only 1 lens. Pick one of your three. ANY one. Your resulting photos will be fine. (I'd leave the 50 altogether...especially a Noctilux.) 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted October 17, 2018 Share #14 Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) The first time I was in NewYork it was also the first time I started with photography. I did everything with a 50mm, which brought me beautifull results. The need for a wideangle in NewYork is overrated. You’ll get that skyscraper impressions just as well from more normal lenses. I could do with the FLE alone in your case but if you want to add something special for people in the streets I’d bring the F1. The pictures you’ll make with the 21mm might become nice but not very special: the wellknown overviews from the Empire State Building that everyone has from their own trips to NYC, etc. Unless perhaps, the 21mm is the only lens you have there Edited October 17, 2018 by otto.f Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted October 17, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 17, 2018 1 hour ago, otto.f said: The first time I was in NewYork it was also the first time I started with photography. I did everything with a 50mm, which brought me beautifull results. The need for a wideangle in NewYork is overrated. You’ll get that skyscraper impressions just as well from more normal lenses. I could do with the FLE alone in your case but if you want to add something special for people in the streets I’d bring the F1. The pictures you’ll make with the 21mm might become nice but not very special: the wellknown overviews from the Empire State Building that everyone has from their own trips to NYC, etc. Unless perhaps, the 21mm is the only lens you have there I can't imagine anything more restrictive than only using a 50mm lens in NYC. Your style of photography may differ but the opportunities that a 21mm lens brings are significant. Ernst Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted October 17, 2018 Share #16 Posted October 17, 2018 3 minutes ago, Ernstk said: Your style of photography may differ ... Ernst Let's hope so, for you and me! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted October 17, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 17, 2018 1 minute ago, otto.f said: Let's hope so, for you and me! Absolutely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted October 17, 2018 Share #18 Posted October 17, 2018 I would have carried a wide angle for daytime pictures and the Noctilux for nice bokeh shots in the evening and night. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted October 17, 2018 Share #19 Posted October 17, 2018 Based on the need to ask the question and the proliferation of differing advices, maybe you would be better off with a sketch pad and pencil. That way you can emulate any focal length! 😁 Seriously though, consider your own style of photography. What lenses do you mostly use wherever you go. That is what you must take. Restricting your self to a limited range of lenses is just that. A restriction. Suffer for your craft or miss some opportunities. Those who say they don't miss their other lenses are deliberately using blinkered vision to validate their decision. No offense intended, just my POV. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted October 17, 2018 Share #20 Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) The last time I was in NYC I used a 15 Voigtlander, 28 Cron and 50 Lux. But that's me. Frankly any lens used right will enable you to capture some great images in this fantastic city. Edited October 17, 2018 by rramesh Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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