rcusick Posted May 25, 2021 Share #1 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I've tended to favor lenses that inspire me to take photos. They're often lenses with character and those that live up to the barnak philosophy of being "lite". My favorite today is the 28mm summaron. What's yours? Edited May 25, 2021 by rcusick 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 25, 2021 Posted May 25, 2021 Hi rcusick, Take a look here Lenses that inspire you to take photos. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaeger Posted May 25, 2021 Share #2 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) To me... a unique model would inspire me to take photos. Any lens doesn't matter. Edited May 25, 2021 by jaeger 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcusick Posted May 25, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted May 25, 2021 I'm married and she won't model..... 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted May 25, 2021 Share #4 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) Hello Rcusick, Welcome to the Forum, I would agree with Jaeger that it is the subject material that is the driving force in wanting to take a photo. Having said that I would say that a 35mm lens is the easiest lens to take photos with. A 35mm lens can do pretty much everything. A 90mm lens is the best lens to teach a person about photography & how to take photos. And it is a great lens to take a wide variety of photos. A 135mm lens creates very nice photos. It reaches those places a 90mm lens can't quite get to with that pleasant mild compression that can't be gotten with a 90mm lens. A special look. 28mm & wider, as well as 50mm & 75mm lenses are angles of coverage that I don't find to be very interesting. So, that's it for me: A 35mm lens along with a 90mm lens & certainly a 135mm lens. All on an M3. Best Regards, Michael Edited May 25, 2021 by Michael Geschlecht 1 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted May 25, 2021 Share #5 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) For me it will be the currently mounted lens. I rarely travel with a bag of choices. Having said that, my favorite is the Summicron 28. Second would be the Summilux 50. Edited May 25, 2021 by rramesh 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted May 25, 2021 Share #6 Posted May 25, 2021 My two favorite lenses are the 35 and 50 mm Summilux pre-ASPH. I like to handle them, they look cool, and I love to see the pictures afterwards. You never know 100% how the result will be with such old lenses, but usually it is a positive surprise. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobram Posted May 25, 2021 Share #7 Posted May 25, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Summicron 28 and Skopar 21. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted May 25, 2021 Share #8 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) On any M: VC 15mm, Elmarit 24, Summilux75. On the Monochrome 1: Summicron 35 iv. On the SL: APO-Elmarit 180 and APO-Telyt 280/4.0 Edited May 25, 2021 by otto.f Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
capo di tutti capi Posted May 25, 2021 Share #9 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) When I had one inexpensive camera. Which is not a pity to break. I brought a lot of photographs. Now. Too much focus for my camera. It is not right. I need to look more around. Not on the camera or lenses. Edited May 25, 2021 by capo di tutti capi 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiggiGun Posted May 25, 2021 Share #10 Posted May 25, 2021 For me, the "process" is different: first I try to be clear about my objectif: Travel, Portrait, Landscape, Architecture. Then 2. question is about weight. 3. question about fstop etc. This means I have not ONE preferred lens. I have preferred lenses depending on the photographic contexte. However, If I take a look on the Metadata of more then 1000 images, my most used (without surprise) is the Summilux-M f2.0/35mm ASPH. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
T25UFO Posted May 25, 2021 Share #11 Posted May 25, 2021 The retro version of 50mm APO. I just love the old design focusing ring and everything about this lens feels just right. A 75mm Noctilux or 90mm Summilux would inspire me to explore wide open photography . . . and maybe frustrate me as well with all the out of focus images. Sadly (or thankfully) I can't afford either! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cboy Posted May 25, 2021 Share #12 Posted May 25, 2021 Imho im in the view that a lens is just tool to take inspiring photos, and some camera / lens combinations are more conducive to a style of photography that allows the equipment to not get the way in the joy of taking photos. Some lens / camera combos are more generalised for multiple genres, which is why its used more often and favoured by the photographer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted May 25, 2021 Share #13 Posted May 25, 2021 8 hours ago, rcusick said: What's yours? The subject. I have favourite lenses but they are not what create inspiration. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
didier Posted May 25, 2021 Share #14 Posted May 25, 2021 One of the main reason I use and love using Leica Ms is the simplicity of a very efficient design. The Joy to use a M+Lens is important, so using Lenses I feel at ease with is important. It increases my pleasure and thus my ability to make better photos. I switched from M(240) to M10M mainly because of the pleasure to use the camera. As well as of the body, a well designed Lens is part of the experience. It really depends on the situation, but most of the Time I use the APO-50. i happen to use heavier lenses if they conccur to my goal (lux 75, noct 50), but most of the time I choose among apo 50, ‘lux 35 and ‘cron 75 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted May 25, 2021 Share #15 Posted May 25, 2021 Subject, then composition and lighting, then camera and lens. The lens is an enabler, nt an end in itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee S Posted May 25, 2021 Share #16 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) I do love my little Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 ii. It has a wide apeture, ‘character’ wide open, I can make it flare for artistic purposes and sharp enough and well behaved stopped down. All this versatility in tiny package, plus it looks great makes me want to go shoot. Edited May 25, 2021 by Lee S 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 25, 2021 Share #17 Posted May 25, 2021 I'm not at all keen on the idea that photography is about demonstrating lenses, or that one lens is so superior or distinctive that it's the sole reason to use it. That said there is one area where the subject and the lens can be transformative for each other, so I'll vote for a pinhole as my 'inspiring' lens. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted May 25, 2021 Share #18 Posted May 25, 2021 Most used lens is the 50 Summicron, but, the 1953 Summitar is the lens that motivates me to explore the possibilities of what it can do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaeger Posted May 25, 2021 Share #19 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, rcusick said: I'm married and she won't model..... That's the issue of trust. Edited May 25, 2021 by jaeger Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted May 25, 2021 Share #20 Posted May 25, 2021 I don't think I've been inspired by a lens to take photos. A newly acquired lens I certainly want to unveil its capabilities and nuances, and that involves using it, but outside of that, lenses don't inspire me to take photos, subjects and situations do. I imagine a gear head though, might be inspired by a lens to take photos. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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