35mm ramblings

[Olaf_ZG]

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I have always considered myself more a 50mm guy than 35mm. It started with the Contax G where the planar was my favorite lens, and now with the M, a 50mm is mostly glued on it.

In the past I have had a VL35/1.4 sc, which was nice but sometimes too much of an effect, a summicron asph, which I did not enjoy in its rendering and even the SL apo which was too perfect. All has been sold, 50mm remained.

Now, I just came back from my holidays in which I took the m8 with a 28mm and a 50mm. I noticed myself using the 28mm mostly, as the 50mm was too tight (being 65mm on the m8). The 28mm is basically a 35mm on the m8.

For my m’s (m8/m9), I hoped a three lens setup would do: 24, 28 and 50, but somehow the 35mm as a daily carry on the m9 is rather attractive. Damn me. Maybe I should really learn the 28 f/l instead of adding 35mm.

Curious how many people don’t have a 35mm…

[LocalHero1953]

I have four 35mm lenses: W Nikkor 3.5cm/2.5 (LTM), Summaron 3.5cm/2.8 (LTM), Summilux-M 35 pre-asph and Apo-Summilux-SL 35mm. 
(In the past I have also had Summilux-M FLE and Summicron-M).

I like 35mm.

[farnz]

5 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I have always considered myself more a 50mm guy than 35mm. It started with the Contax G where the planar was my favorite lens, and now with the M, a 50mm is mostly glued on it.

In the past I have had a VL35/1.4 sc, which was nice but sometimes too much of an effect, a summicron asph, which I did not enjoy in its rendering and even the SL apo which was too perfect. All has been sold, 50mm remained.

Now, I just came back from my holidays in which I took the m8 with a 28mm and a 50mm. I noticed myself using the 28mm mostly, as the 50mm was too tight (being 65mm on the m8). The 28mm is basically a 35mm on the m8.

For my m’s (m8/m9), I hoped a three lens setup would do: 24, 28 and 50, but somehow the 35mm as a daily carry on the m9 is rather attractive. Damn me. Maybe I should really learn the 28 f/l instead of adding 35mm.

Curious how many people don’t have a 35mm…

It sounds like the MATE (28/4, 35/4, and 50/4) Medium Angle Tri-Elmar might be the lens for you, Olaf.

Pete.

[Olaf_ZG]

1 hour ago, farnz said:

It sounds like the MATE (28/4, 35/4, and 50/4) Medium Angle Tri-Elmar might be the lens for you, Olaf.

Pete.

It would, except for the f4. As my current M’s are ccd based, the more light I can catch, the better 😎

[lct]

50mm is my favorite FL too but i always bring a 35mm and a 75mm or 90mm in my bag. Old habit from the eighties when i used to bring an M4-2 with compact 35/2, 50/2 and 90/2.8 lenses in a tiny Leica combination case. Why 35 instead of 28 or wider? Because i find its perspective more natural at distances i shoot portraits.

[Jeff S]

I like both 35 and 50, depending on circumstances and mood.  The 28 Summicron ASPH was also a favorite on the cropped sensor M8.2 (along with a 50). But the 28 sat mostly unused* after moving to “full frame” M’s, switching to 35, while 50 remains a favorite (never bonded with 75 frame lines or M lenses).

* To be traded for the SL 28-70
 

 

Edited July 20 by Jeff S

[spydrxx]

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I'd never be without a 35, having owned one for over 50 years. While I have a 28 also, 35 is my most often go-to lens. I think you should go with that which you are most familiar and make the best of it. GAS sometimes changes the equation though, and it is usually only resolved by giving in to the impulse. If done, it does require some effort and time to get fully acquainted with the new lens, but having a kit which covers all of your needs and desires is really great. Your having used a VL 35/1.4 which was too sharp suggests perhaps going with a Summaron or even an older Canon 35 LTM with a LTM->M adapter. 

[Ray Vonn]

I found 35 neither wide or long enough. Using a rangefinder and shooting manually helped but it’s only really been used if taking just the one lens out instead of a preferred 28/50 combination. On that basis, there’s been no practical need for more than one 35 combination in my ‘arsenal’.

[didier]

I have always seen myself as a 50 guy. And I own a bunch of 50s. Had a 2/28 I sold a long time ago already. I used to shoot more than 70% of my pics with a 50. I like the 75 as well. I hadn't had a 35 for a long time.

3 years ago I got the APO 35 and used it along with my 50s. Love the rendering (clarity and bokeh), and got a little used to the FL. Then my wife (lucky me  ) bought me the Steel-Rim reedition by the end of 2023. I use it a lot, as I like its 'character', especially on B&W. I must admit it is probably the Lens I used most in the past year.

I think adding a focal length gave me another perspective, and now I switch more easily between 35 and 50.

[Jeff S]

51 minutes ago, didier said:

I think adding a focal length gave me another perspective, and now I switch more easily between 35 and 50.

Well, technically, your feet provided a different perspective. 😉

[costa43]

23 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

For my m’s (m8/m9), I hoped a three lens setup would do: 24, 28 and 50, but somehow the 35mm as a daily carry on the m9 is rather attractive. Damn me. Maybe I should really learn the 28 f/l instead of adding 35mm.

Adding a 35mm would also give you close to your favourite focal length of 50 on the M8, with the added bonus of not having to stop down as much to get everything in focus. Something I’ve found quite nice in the past. 
 

I think once you get one if these itches Olaf, it’s only a matter of time before you scratch it. Save time and order that 35mm pronto!😁

 

[Crem]

On 7/19/2025 at 11:23 PM, Olaf_ZG said:

I have always considered myself more a 50mm guy than 35mm. It started with the Contax G where the planar was my favorite lens, and now with the M, a 50mm is mostly glued on it.

In the past I have had a VL35/1.4 sc, which was nice but sometimes too much of an effect, a summicron asph, which I did not enjoy in its rendering and even the SL apo which was too perfect. All has been sold, 50mm remained.

Now, I just came back from my holidays in which I took the m8 with a 28mm and a 50mm. I noticed myself using the 28mm mostly, as the 50mm was too tight (being 65mm on the m8). The 28mm is basically a 35mm on the m8.

For my m’s (m8/m9), I hoped a three lens setup would do: 24, 28 and 50, but somehow the 35mm as a daily carry on the m9 is rather attractive. Damn me. Maybe I should really learn the 28 f/l instead of adding 35mm.

Curious how many people don’t have a 35mm…

I avoided 35mm for a number of years. Focusing instead on 28 and 50. Ironically, I now shoot 35 probably 95% of the time. I have no problem with cropping so in a pinch a 35 can become something like a 40 - 50. It's my one lens one body focal length for documentary and street. I think a lot of it comes down to personality. I really dislike lens changes so 28 + 50 means I bring two bodies. I like having less choice with one body and a 35.

[pgk]

12 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Well, technically, your feet provided a different perspective. 😉

Indeed and perhaps the 35mm should be known as the 'Shanks' Pony' lens ..... . Its not too wide to matter if you close up on the subect a bit, and it also allows you to move back from the subject because it isn't too long either. Neither 28 nor 50 lenses are quite as versatile because the effect of changing subject distance can be more obvious as perspective shifts more when using either of them and moving. Hence why a combination of 35mm and your feet are so versatile.

[MAFORLIFE]

16 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Well, technically, your feet provided a different perspective. 😉

Are you saying a 21mm could be used to take the same photos as 75mm as long as one can move their feet ? 

[ApoVision]

No, you stay in the same place and just crop the 21mm shot 

[Jeff S]

16 minutes ago, MAFORLIFE said:

Are you saying a 21mm could be used to take the same photos as 75mm as long as one can move their feet ? 

No, focal length changes DOF (and angle of view). But perspective remains the same with same camera/subject position, regardless of focal length or cropping.  Once one changes position, perspective (relationship between near and far objects) changes (as does field of view). 

Edited July 21 by Jeff S

[didier]

2 hours ago, Jeff S said:

But perspective remains the same with same camera/subject position

I used the word 'perspective' in a general sense (maybe this is about a bad translation from French), not only about geometry, but also speaking about looking at the world a bit differently, and thus having a different way to take pictures

[LocalHero1953]

‘Perspective’ is a trigger word on this forum. Best avoided. 

[Jeff S]

34 minutes ago, didier said:

I used the word 'perspective' in a general sense (maybe this is about a bad translation from French), not only about geometry, but also speaking about looking at the world a bit differently, and thus having a different way to take pictures

I know… hence smile and wink.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lct]

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Edited July 21 by lct