Jump to content

Best lens combination for travel?


Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The classical M2 globetrotter kit was 35 + 90mm. Translated into M8 terms, that would be 28 + 75. That is still a very useable 'universal' outfit. It is applicable anywhere and covers just about everything.

 

The old man from the Age of the M2

 

I agree with you Lars. 35 on the M4 and 90 in the pocket. I can count on my fingers the number of times in 37 years of travel with this kit when I really needed my 50.

 

These days I go with 21, 35 and 90 on my M8... but its not the same. Still, as tempted as I am to change to 28 and 75 crons, the money I'll save by being patient and not buying a 28 and a 75 will nearly pay for a FF M9.

 

Not nearly as old of a man from the age of the M2R (my first almost new Leica!)

Link to post
Share on other sites

You will find a lot of praise for this lens on the forum, I guess there is no need to repeat it here. If you need it, take it. Would you consider taking only this lens when you travel? Only you can decide.

 

I am a one lens a day person mostly, so there will be days when I carry only this one, and enjoy it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

...more lens will give more variety of photo

 

...and more scope for missing the shot by having the "wrong" lens mounted, or no lens at all.

 

Less is more. I would rather learn to use one lens to the best of my ability and the best of it's capability than I would learn to juggle.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Yet another vote for an M8 with 24 (2.8 in my case, but the 1.4 would be fabulous) and the 50 Summilux (ASPH or Pre depending of preference).

 

Used this combo on a 4 week trip last year.......so compact vs what you see some people dragging around. With image quality equal to anything this side of medium format.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Besides, changing lenses alone won't give your photos variety. Changing up subject matter, shooting distance, angles, etc., will give you variety even with one (or two) lenses.

 

I'd argue that being able to swap between a wide angle and a telephoto can offer some nice variety to your images. Particularly if you don't always have the freedom to move closer to your subject. A telephoto also gives you a stronger option for detail shots.

 

If traveling light, my current kit would be a 28 summicron and 90 summicron.

Link to post
Share on other sites

On the question of the 18 Elmar - I had one for a month and basically decided I needed the extra wideness of the 15 more than I needed the extra f/stop of the 18. But then, I've preferred a 20/21 to a 24 for 30 years, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

For me the Leica M is primarily about compactness and weight, and I am generally shedding my fast-but-big lenses (e.g. 90 f/2) because if I really wanted to carry lenses that heavy, I'd have stuck with SLRs. Way back in my ill-spent youth I saw a fellow college student's M kit - M2 with chrome 21 f/3.4, 35 f/2, 90 TE(fat) f/2.8. The closest I can come to that size package with the M8 is the 15/28/90 combo I described.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ultimately depends on what you feel is compact. When compared to my SLR set up, taking an M8 and 4 lenses is no sweat. If I wanted to be compact within the M-Rangefinder experience, here's what I'd consdier:

 

CV 15 heliar

CV 28 f/3.5 color skopar

Leica 50 mm f/2.8 elmar

Small 75 or 90 lens (CV or tele-elmarit)

 

That would be a discreet, multi-focal length package....Alternatively, the most compact, and great low light package for me would be:

 

M8 and Summilux 35 mm f/1.4 asph

Link to post
Share on other sites

Regarding the 18/3.8. I use the 12mm CV a lot, and needed something between that and my 28mm. I debated between the CV15, a 21mm and the 18/3.8. The numerical average between 12 and 28 would be 20mm; so I took the plunge and settled for the 18/3.8. It is too new to me to report on, but I like wider lenses. Roger

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...