Lens selection on a photo-trip. What lenses to carry? When to change?

[PhotoCruiser]

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Mostly i bring the 28mm 1.4 DG HSM ART and the 14mm 1.8 DG HSM ART for most walks and city, or my Q2 28mm and the SL2 with only the 14mm so i don't need to change lens.
I don't need nor want lenses, the only one more i have is the 105mm DG DN Macro ART for macro work and the Sigma 2x Teleconverter if i need 210mm on same lens.
I have also old Leica LTM Lenses from my Leica III and a LTM to L adapter but use them rarely.
But thats me and my way to photograph.
And yes, i understand  that OP has a M and other lenses are used, but focal length is my point.
Chris

 

Edited Sunday at 03:05 PM by PhotoCruiser

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If I'm traveling, I prefer to go with the minimum, even though I'm mentally thinking of what I would need. That said, I have found that my 28 f2 asph and the 75 f1.4, I've got a decent wide-angle with good speed, and for moderate telephoto with excellent speed is the 75 f1.4. To carry multiple lenses invites you to always be changing lenses, rather than utilizing your vision and moving around.

[drew.saunders]

On 10/21/2025 at 4:45 AM, Alexander108 said:

 

My question would be: what do others do when doing a walk through a city?

• Do you take a selection of lenses with you?
• If yes: what lenses?
• If you use one lenses only, which one? (That, of course is a matter of personal preference).
• How deliberately do you take pictures? Do you look at a composition and then select the lens that is appropriate?

 

I have travelled with the following kit in my Domke F5B bag:

Leica M6TTL with Leicavit winder

35mm ASPH Summicron (1st version from c. 2000)

CV 50/1.5 Nokton (1st VM version). One of the 35 or 50 is mounted on the camera, the other in the middle section of the bag.

90/2.8 TEM "fat" and a 24/2.8 in a little pouch I sewed from the end of an old pair of jeans. The 90 and 24 share the same section in the bag, one on top of the other. Somewhere I think I have photos of this setup, if not, maybe I'll take a few and share.

Plus a few rolls of film and the CV zoom finder, but I used to travel with just the Leica 24mm finder. I've even travelled with my SF20D flash on top of the camera, as I tend to take the camera out and have it around my neck. I don't change lenses all that fast, and tend to walk about with the 35 or 50 and use the 24 or 90 for specific subjects, then switch back to the 35 or 50. In cities, it'll be the 24 and 35 getting the most work. I have the absolutely tiny CV 21/4 which is another good urban lens.

Yes, it all fits! However, based on what you've said, and the fact that you have an M11, I'd skip the 90, unless you want to invest in one of the much smaller 90mm lenses. Maybe the 90/4 macro collapsible? Anyway, with 60MP you can crop a whole lot more than I can with film. In your shoes, I might say the 24/50 combo is the best.

If I had to travel with one lens, it'd be the 35/2 or the 50/1.5, however I really like having all four, and the whole package isn't all that heavy. I have other lenses, including a c. 1960 90/2 that's quite heavy, but that set of 4 is my travel kit.

Drew