Travel Lenses - light topic

[ALScott]

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Thanks all.  I have been going to London for 20+ years.  I am as comfortable there as I am anywhere when I am away from home.  My British friends have always made sure I know what and where is safe and what isn't.  I certainly don't feel any less safe there than I do in NYC, Chicago or San Francisco and as with any city I am always extra aware when out and about.  

13 hours ago, Chris W said:

The main tourist areas have been photographed to death.

I don't mind going to those areas for that very reason.  I enjoy looking for something interesting and different to shoot in places like that.  At a minimum, even if I don't shoot a frame, I see it in a different way than I have in the past.

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[David Cantor]

On 8/1/2025 at 4:05 AM, Kiwimac said:

I’d probably take the 35 personally and unless I had something specific in mind for the wide angle, leave that at home. 
 

Just a note of caution. I emigrated from the UK over 20 years ago. However I have friends and family still there, of course. We visit periodically too. 
 

London has changed a great deal over the last few years and is very far from what it was. For example, as recently as July a man was stabbed to death so his Rolex could be stolen. You might think he’d wandered into Tower Hamlets (don’t!!) or somewhere else dodgy. 
 

No. He was in Knightsbridge. The home of Harrods. 
 

So just keep your situational awareness up when wandering with nice cameras etc. 

Interesting. I go to Tower Hamlets with my camera about 90% of the time that I visit London. That is dozens of times over the years. I have never felt unsafe or vulnerable. Before I saw your post I was going to recommend to AL, the Spitalfields (in Tower Hamlets) area as opposed to Central London. The daily blog from Spitalfieldslife.com often throws up some fascinating information about the area, it’s history and people. Dougie Wallace has ‘done’ Knightsbridge and he is a very ‘in yer face’ photographer, not my approach but quite interesting.

David

 

[52K]

On 8/1/2025 at 12:57 AM, lct said:

35 or 50 is a matter of taste but your WATE is a rather slow lens so you may wish to bring a fast lens to complement it. Plenty of choice at Leica and elsewhere. To match the WATE i would be tempted to bring a Summilux 35 or 50 personally but a Summicron could do it if you dont expect to shoot in low light during your trip. Happy snaps

The WATE at f4 is not slow.. and it’s also not important with the ISO capabilities of modern cameras. The wildly different perspective at 16-21mm is actually very cool and has one of the lowest levels of distortion you’ll ever find in a super-wide lens. To that end, used well it is capable of some absolutely stunning images.

the 35 or 50 will compliment it nicely, whichever is your preference.

[lct]

1 hour ago, 52K said:

The WATE at f4 is not slow.. and it’s also not important with the ISO capabilities of modern cameras.

I'm one of the few (or alone here?) to consider ISO as an exposure factor but it can nothing in matter of DoF. Not to say that i don't like my WATE, it is a great lens indeed, but f/4 is slower than f/0.95, f/1, f/1.2, f/1.4, f/2, f/2.2, f/2.4, f/2.5, f/2.8 or f/3.5 lenses if i don't miss any. Just a fact and a good reason to complement such a lens with a faster one when travelling IMHO. YMMV.

[Oxfordian]

On 8/1/2025 at 4:05 AM, Kiwimac said:

I’d probably take the 35 personally and unless I had something specific in mind for the wide angle, leave that at home. 
 

Just a note of caution. I emigrated from the UK over 20 years ago. However I have friends and family still there, of course. We visit periodically too. 
 

London has changed a great deal over the last few years and is very far from what it was. For example, as recently as July a man was stabbed to death so his Rolex could be stolen. You might think he’d wandered into Tower Hamlets (don’t!!) or somewhere else dodgy. 
 

No. He was in Knightsbridge. The home of Harrods. 
 

So just keep your situational awareness up when wandering with nice cameras etc. 

Please don't spread this nonsense.

Yes I know that someone was stabbed in London recently, allegedly for his watch but that has not been officially confirmed, people were also stabbed and robbed elsewhere in the UK but you haven't mentioned those places. Earlier this year someone was stabbed and killed in the town where I live but it hasn't stopped me wearing my watch or carrying my camera.

London is fundamentally a safe space, everyday there are thousands of people wandering the streets with a camera, high end brands like Nikon's, Canon's and Sony's with huge lenses strapped to their chest as they walk around without an issue. In February I walked the street of London by day and well into the evening carrying either my Nikon or my Q3 and whilst wearing a Rolex - no issues at all.

Sadly people do get robbed whilst in our capital city, phones and wallets are the usual items nicked as they are easy to move on, but people also get robbed in other capital cities around the world. In this respect London is no worse than many other places across the globe, anyone who has been affected by such action have my sympathies.

Your comments about areas within London are uncalled for, Tower Hamlets which may have been a part of London to avoid in decades gone by is now very much an area that people flock to as it has gone through massive regeneration in recent years.

But like every town and city in the UK caution is a sensible watch word and in the event that you don't feel comfortable in your surroundings, put your gear away and get back to an area where you do feel comfortable.

And just to make you aware I worked in South and East London for nigh on 40 years until taking retirement a few years ago, yes we had some issues in that time not least the IRA and Terrorist bombings, but not the way that you are portraying London. 

[3D-Kraft.com]

It's interesting to see all this advice without clarifying which subjects the TO prefers to photograph. When it comes to city skylines, the WATE is certainly not a bad choice. If versatility is important, I'd rather take a 28mm lens than a boring 35mm. If portraits or details and bokeh are also important, maybe a 75mm lens.

For a two-lens setup, I'd probably go for a 28mm and a 75mm lens.

[Kiwimac]

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4 hours ago, Oxfordian said:

Please don't spread this nonsense.

Yes I know that someone was stabbed in London recently, allegedly for his watch but that has not been officially confirmed, people were also stabbed and robbed elsewhere in the UK but you haven't mentioned those places. Earlier this year someone was stabbed and killed in the town where I live but it hasn't stopped me wearing my watch or carrying my camera.

London is fundamentally a safe space, everyday there are thousands of people wandering the streets with a camera, high end brands like Nikon's, Canon's and Sony's with huge lenses strapped to their chest as they walk around without an issue. In February I walked the street of London by day and well into the evening carrying either my Nikon or my Q3 and whilst wearing a Rolex - no issues at all.

Sadly people do get robbed whilst in our capital city, phones and wallets are the usual items nicked as they are easy to move on, but people also get robbed in other capital cities around the world. In this respect London is no worse than many other places across the globe, anyone who has been affected by such action have my sympathies.

Your comments about areas within London are uncalled for, Tower Hamlets which may have been a part of London to avoid in decades gone by is now very much an area that people flock to as it has gone through massive regeneration in recent years.

But like every town and city in the UK caution is a sensible watch word and in the event that you don't feel comfortable in your surroundings, put your gear away and get back to an area where you do feel comfortable.

And just to make you aware I worked in South and East London for nigh on 40 years until taking retirement a few years ago, yes we had some issues in that time not least the IRA and Terrorist bombings, but not the way that you are portraying London. 

I was born a 40 minute tube ride from the centre of London and lived there 40 years. 
 

My opinion differs from yours. 

[pippy]

14 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

I was born a 40 minute tube ride from the centre of London and lived there 40 years. 
 

My opinion differs from yours. 

I live in London and 18 mins by either train or metro from the city-centre. I have lived in the city for the past 38 years and counting. Perhaps three or four times each week I will head in to the centre of town with one or two digi-M cameras and, from there, head off to visit places in any and all quarters of the town; the good the bad and the ugly (including Tower Hamlets). The only people who 'notice' my camera(s) are other Leica users (who are more numerous in this town than might be imagined).

My opinion - and, clearly, that of most others who live here - is very different from yours.

As far as the OP's question goes (although a bit late to the party) I'd second Ecar's sentiment in post #15 and say take the 35mm and have fun.

Philip.

Edited August 19 by pippy

[David Cantor]

14 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

I was born a 40 minute tube ride from the centre of London and lived there 40 years. 
 

My opinion differs from yours. 

I think that you are being too adamant in your opinions. In October I'm staging a small exhibition - Location: TOWER HAMLETS, imagery: 90% taken in TOWER HAMLETS. This London Borough is almost certainly the most ethnically diverse in the UK that's one of the things that make it so special. Some areas such as Spitalfields, Columbia Flower Market (Sunday morning) and Victoria Market are vibrant and wonderful places to visit with a camera and offer a change from bland uniformity elsewhere. There are parts that I wouldn't visit simply because they hold no interest. A blanket "don't" is quite misguided and in my opinion out-dated. Incidentally, I was born in London and could get to Tower Hamlets on my bike in less time than your ride on the Tube

For anyone thinking of visiting London, this excellent website offers some interesting suggestions including the East End Sunday Market Walk:  

 https://mylondonwalks.com 

Edited August 19 by David Cantor

[pippy]

On 8/1/2025 at 10:33 AM, T25UFO said:

...London is the greatest city in the world...

Have you never been to Edinburgh, T25UFO???

😸

Philip.

[pippy]

2 hours ago, David Cantor said:

...In October I'm staging a small exhibition - Location: TOWER HAMLETS, imagery: 90% taken in TOWER HAMLETS...

Apologies in advance for going off-topic but...

Would you mind letting us know, David, where and when your upcoming exhibition might be viewed? I suspect it would be of interest to many forumites.

Philip.

[S Maclean]

i would walkl around with the 35 lux. specailly if it’s the close focus version.  If it is one lens on camera that one is more flexible for street, urban architecture etc, and still allows for good portraits (cropped or not)

Outside of the aperture benefits though, if you out in the tri elmar you don’t need either a 35 or 50.

[Ecar]

3 hours ago, David Cantor said:

In October I'm staging a small exhibition - Location: TOWER HAMLETS, imagery: 90% taken in TOWER HAMLETS.

Would love to see that if I'm around!

3 hours ago, David Cantor said:

Some areas such as Spitalfields, Columbia Flower Market (Sunday morning) and Victoria Market are vibrant and wonderful places to visit with a camera and offer a change from bland uniformity elsewhere. There are parts that I wouldn't visit simply because they hold no interest. A blanket "don't" is quite misguided and in my opinion out-dated.

+1. As a "frequent tourist" in London, I've visited the area (including a late-evening walk through several estates of little photographic interest) a few times recently. Always carried valuable Leica gear. Never had a problem. 

[T25UFO]

1 hour ago, pippy said:

Have you never been to Edinburgh, T25UFO???

😸

Philip.

Yup, been there, done that 😀

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[T25UFO]

And another . . .

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[David Cantor]

1 hour ago, pippy said:

Apologies in advance for going off-topic but...

Would you mind letting us know, David, where and when your upcoming exhibition might be viewed? I suspect it would be of interest to many forumites.

Philip.

Hi Pippy, I plan to post something nearer the date but in the meantime, here are some details: https://davidcantor.weebly.com/exhibition.html

David

[Chris W]

On 8/18/2025 at 10:52 PM, Kiwimac said:

I was born a 40 minute tube ride from the centre of London and lived there 40 years. 

That was 20 years ago - you said it yourself.

[burchyk]

Would rather pair a wide-angle with a 50mm not 35mm.

I prefer busy areas outside of central/soho if only to make my photos look a bit less like tourist snaps.

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[ALScott]

I took the WATE and 50.  It was a great combo.  Easy to carry and gave two vastly different options.  Will post some pics here in a bit.

[ALScott]

Trip went great.  I wasn't robbed, beaten or stabbed.  In all honesty one of my British friends did have his backpack stolen while we were having a pint after dinner.  It was on the ground amongst 5 of us and somehow they got it with no one noticing.  They all live there and took it in stride and shared stories of how it's happened to them.  Still, love London.  

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