Herr Barnack Posted January 20, 2021 Share #1 Posted January 20, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) here are the thoughts of two photographers on 28mm vs. 35mm for documentary photography. There is nothing "wrong" with the 35mm; for some reason, the 28mm focal length produces images that are more three dimensional looking to my eye. For that reason, I am drawn to the 28mm focal length. I think of my 28mm Elmarit as my documentary lens and my 35mm Summicron as my all-arounder. https://emulsive.org/articles/sharing-my-contact-sheets-india-snapshots-all-xa-all-colour?utm_source=EMULSIVE+Daily+and+Weekly+Newsletters&utm_campaign=e7c973b9ea-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c4b55b017a-e7c973b9ea-174834361 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 20, 2021 Posted January 20, 2021 Hi Herr Barnack, Take a look here 28mm vs 35mm for telling a story. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaeger Posted January 20, 2021 Share #2 Posted January 20, 2021 Every lens is a teller, it depends on how close between you and your subjects usually. I used 24mm when I am in a tight restaurant, bar, night club (3-8 feet) etc... 35mm in 6-12 feet away etc.. I use a 200mm when my subject is 25 feet away. They all tell stories, no lies. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narsuitus Posted January 20, 2021 Share #3 Posted January 20, 2021 9 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said: I think of my 28mm Elmarit as my documentary lens and my 35mm Summicron as my all-arounder. I think of my 28mm as my landscape lens and my 35mm as my all-arounder and documentary lens. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted January 21, 2021 Quote Every lens is a teller, it depends on how close between you and your subjects usually... Very true. I have tried to use a 50mm lens for street photography at street fairs, farmer's markets and outdoor festivals and it just doesn't work. If I am in the 6-9 feet distance range from my subjects, people will invariably wander aimlessly between me and my subject, killing my composition. After a short experimentation with a 50mm lens that proved futile, I went back to my 28mm so I could get close to my subjects, fill the frame lines and not leave the wanderers any room to wander in to my images. A 50mm does work in the right situation, such as a concert where attendees are seated and not wandering around. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted January 21, 2021 Share #5 Posted January 21, 2021 42 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said: Very true. I have tried to use a 50mm lens for street photography at street fairs, farmer's markets and outdoor festivals and it just doesn't work. If I am in the 6-9 feet distance range from my subjects, people will invariably wander aimlessly between me and my subject, killing my composition. After a short experimentation with a 50mm lens that proved futile, I went back to my 28mm so I could get close to my subjects, fill the frame lines and not leave the wanderers any room to wander in to my images. A 50mm does work in the right situation, such as a concert where attendees are seated and not wandering around. You’re doing it wrong. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted January 21, 2021 17 minutes ago, jdlaing said: You’re doing it wrong. I tried pepper spray which did clear out the wanderers, but their screaming left my subjects with less than optimal facial expressions. 3 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Vonn Posted January 21, 2021 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) I love my 35mm lens, using a rangefinder was the first time I learned to use one propery or effectively. However, if you're going to be telling a story, it's 28mm everytime for loads of reasons, including better ensuring the subject and surrounds are captured, as well as 'cropability' (yes, I know that's not a word, but you know what I mean). As far as I can see, all available lenses for the M mount are super. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted January 21, 2021 Share #8 Posted January 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Herr Barnack said: I tried pepper spray which did clear out the wanderers, but their screaming left my subjects with less than optimal facial expressions. Now THAT’S a story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted January 21, 2021 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2021 I prefer a 35 on my M, but 28 on an SLR. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted January 21, 2021 Share #10 Posted January 21, 2021 For serious story-telling, I mostly use a 21mm. With a 35 as a "normal" lens. See various examples in these issues: http://www.coloradoseen.com/2017/ The built-in 28mm lines are bogus. But I do sometimes carry a different body wiht 28 external finder. And pair a 28 with a 75. Nice change-up. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stray cat Posted January 21, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 21, 2021 51 minutes ago, adan said: For serious story-telling, I mostly use a 21mm. With a 35 as a "normal" lens. See various examples in these issues: http://www.coloradoseen.com/2017/ The built-in 28mm lines are bogus. But I do sometimes carry a different body wiht 28 external finder. And pair a 28 with a 75. Nice change-up. Great, involving story-telling images in the link, especially the Shalanda Smith ones - thanks Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Posted January 21, 2021 Share #12 Posted January 21, 2021 One lens only: 35mm for storytelling, environmental portraits, PJ, documentary, street and whatever you want. This the way! In my case, the 28mm never hooked me. Please, all 28mm shooters out there forgive me, but I always thought the 28mm was a bad (for me of course) compromise between a 21/24 and a 35. I had a 28mm Nikon for a while, it was my first M lens ever, but they didn't last. I rather prefer 21 + 35 combo than a single 28mm, it just doesn't work. Too tight to be a 21, and two wide to be a 35 😂 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted January 21, 2021 Share #13 Posted January 21, 2021 Who wants to get close to anyone in the street these days? 5 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted January 21, 2021 Share #14 Posted January 21, 2021 35mm on Leica M is my sweet spot field of view, so I have dozen of 35 lenses with more or less characters I took time to study With thousands of slides, my view is "35mm", and sometimes, it pays to have this in my mind's eyes 😀 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! M5, Summicron 35, Kodachrome 64 seen here at time 35mm = 28mm with M8 😉 ... already seen here 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! M5, Summicron 35, Kodachrome 64 seen here at time 35mm = 28mm with M8 😉 ... already seen here ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/317196-28mm-vs-35mm-for-telling-a-story/?do=findComment&comment=4122402'>More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted January 22, 2021 Share #15 Posted January 22, 2021 On 1/21/2021 at 5:54 AM, adan said: For serious story-telling, I mostly use a 21mm. With a 35 as a "normal" lens. See various examples in these issues: http://www.coloradoseen.com/2017/ The built-in 28mm lines are bogus. But I do sometimes carry a different body wiht 28 external finder. And pair a 28 with a 75. Nice change-up. Remarkable! I'm exactly the same. 35mm (both Summaron 2.8 and 'Lux pre asph) was my standard lens until I got my Elmarit M 2.8/21. I'm not sure why but I found myself using it more and more. It wasn't a deliberate choice, it just felt so natural and the field of view completely gelled with me. For me, the 21mm epitomises what rangefinder photography is about. Today, I was out in Edinburgh with my M-P and 35 'Lux. It struck me that the 35 felt way too long and I was kicking myself for not having taken the 21mm with me too. Lesson learned... Ernst Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Posted January 22, 2021 Share #16 Posted January 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, Ernstk said: For me, the 21mm epitomises what rangefinder photography is about. Interesting sentence. I'm starting feeling the same. 35mm is my "normal" in RF, and the 21mm it's the perfect compliment. IMHO, 21mm-50mm range, it's where the M magic happens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted January 22, 2021 Share #17 Posted January 22, 2021 1 minute ago, Dennis said: Interesting sentence. I'm starting feeling the same. 35mm is my "normal" in RF, and the 21mm it's the perfect compliment. IMHO, 21mm-50mm range, it's where the M magic happens Completely agree. Except I have no love for the 50mm but I hear what you're saying. The M8 is good in this respect as it has 24mm framelines. When I use the 21mm on my M-P 240, I've learned to 'see' with the entire viewfinder and with practice, it becomes very accurate. I certainly don't feel any need for an external finder. Ernst Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted January 22, 2021 Share #18 Posted January 22, 2021 5 minutes ago, Steven said: This photographer from the LFI gallery has been using almost exclusively the 21mm 3,4 for almost 30 years. M6 to M10P, and I love his photos. It's growing on me, and the 3,4 's rendering is gorgeous. https://lfi-online.de/ceemes/en/gallery/Tunc-Ugurdag-476984.html Great photos! The perspective and as you say, the rendering from the Super Angulon are lovely. The French photographer Jeanloup Sieff used the 21/3.4 Super Angulon for fashion and erotic photography. His work was remarkable and you can see some of it here... http://www.artnet.com/artists/jeanloup-sieff/ Ernst Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Posted January 22, 2021 Share #19 Posted January 22, 2021 1 minute ago, Steven said: This photographer from the LFI gallery has been using almost exclusively the 21mm 3,4 for almost 30 years. M6 to M10P, and I love his photos. It's growing on me, and the 3,4 's rendering is gorgeous. https://lfi-online.de/ceemes/en/gallery/Tunc-Ugurdag-476984.html The 21mm is fantastic. Checking the gallery you linked, this picture, specially https://lfi-online.de/ceemes/en/gallery/Tunc-Ugurdag/Untitled-1244775.html impressed me a lot; I remember it browsing a while ago for 21mm SEM shots. It looks like 28mm FL, but it feels like 21mm. Now I understand what the lack of distortion (perspective) the SEM is capable of. Amazing! 2 minutes ago, Ernstk said: Completely agree. Except I have no love for the 50mm but I hear what you're saying. I own the 50 Cron, but I don't use it as expected. 35mm is my reference. And the 21 is on the list 🙂 I'm sure that a 21 SEM is a lens that you don't regret or sell when you buy it. I just read good things about it. Last day, I thought about this: my M10 w/ a 35, and a brand new M10-R w/ a 21SEM. Such a fantastic combo kit would be... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted January 22, 2021 Share #20 Posted January 22, 2021 Jeanloup Sieff's website with some exceptional images, most of them taken with the Super Angulon 21/3.4... https://www.jeanloupsieff.com/photos.php Ernst 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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