40mm lens is it the perfect inbetweeny

[Huss]

F/1.9. Not too fast, not too slow. Just right.

Exactly. 1.8 is for show offs. 2.0 is for masochists.

 

[GregY]

Huss: "Exactly. 1.8 is for show offs. 2.0 is for masochists."

.....what does that make 2.8? ....... or 5.6 (in 28mm).

 

[craigclu]

When I added a CL body a few years back, I put a Voigtlander Nokton 40 ƒ1.4 on it. It gave me an appreciation for the focal length and had me adding the ƒ1.2 APO 40 which has similar results with a bit "harsher" edge to it. For the things I use M bodies for, the critical framing isn't an issue and I'm enjoying the results from both lenses (though the CL body has the 40 frame lines).

 

[vcolas]

I'm in a love/hate relationship with 40mm. I, by any means, prefer the 35 focal, I feel more comfy and even though it´s a small difference I feel something wrong when put a 40 in my camera (apart from the frameline issues).
BUT, Nokton 1.4 is a marvelous lens (love it in BW, amazing prints) , and let´s say, 3 of my top 5 all time favourite photos have been done with this focal and lens...

 

[Huss]

Huss: "Exactly. 1.8 is for show offs. 2.0 is for masochists."

.....what does that make 2.8? ....... or 5.6 (in 28mm).

2.8 is for connoisseurs. 5.6 is for bohemians. And 1.2 is for cavemen.

 

[GregY]

Seasons best wishes to the bohemian..... may the sun always be at your back

 

[Huss]

Seasons best wishes to the bohemian..... may the sun always be at your back

Backatcha Greg!

 

[KerrKid]

I’m on vacation and taking pix with my Pentax Zoom 90WR. I set the lens to 40mm for a number of shots and really like that focal length.

 

[grat]

Exactly. 1.8 is for show offs. 2.0 is for masochists.

What does that make the fairly common 50mm f/1.7?

 

[awty]

As long as they are sharp from f4 to f11, the other apertures are for indulgence.

 

[moggi1964]

My Yashica Minister 700 has a 45mm F/1.7 lens on it.

My MPP MkVII has a 150mm F/4.5 lens on it (45mm equivalent).

My Mamiya C3 has an 80mm F/2.8 lens on it (44mm equivalent).

My unknown brand half plate has an 8" F/8 lens on it (44mm equivalent I THINK)

I do use an adapted 50mm Takumar on my M4/3 but that doesn't count.

 

[Huss]

What does that make the fairly common 50mm f/1.7?

Those are for mavericks.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Only 40mm I own and use is Hexanon 40mm f/1.8 and I like it quite well. I don't normally crop my images and liked the focal length quite well. No much incentive to get another since the other 35mm systems I actively use is Olympus OM and Leica M. Olympus 40mm is not that common and I'm quite confortable with the 50mm Zuikos I got. For Leica, since the cameras I own don't have a 40mm framelines (and since like I mention, not usually crop or modify my images) not really encouraged to get a focal lens which my camera doesnt have a framelines.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

What does that make the fairly common 50mm f/1.7?

Showoff wannabe?

 

[MattKing]

Those are for mavericks.

How many do you own?

 

[awty]

My Voigtlander 40mm turned up today, nice little lens with nice luggy bits to focus and set aperture, everything is smooth. Be able to hang out with the cool kids.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I usually use 50mm exclusively but started liking the 40mm after I bought a Rollei 35. Maybe its because the camera is so small and unintrusive that I dont mind getting a little bit closer but the focal length really works for me and the camera is a joy to use.

I had two, and they spend more time inRollei repair shops in in my hands.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I prefer a 40mm for a one lens outing. 40 mm was most often selected for consumer fix lens rangefinders in the 1960s because of its flexibility. When I owned a MP I utilized the undersized 35 frame line to more accurately frame with the 40mm.

I have a collapsible 50/2 and Hex 50/2 but the Rokkor CLE 40/2 is on the M5 most often. If I want to zone focus I use a cron 35/2 (1969) type 2. BTW the Rokkor 40 CLE has better ergonomics and optics than my 35/2. The two are equal from f/5.6 to f/16.

 

[Renato Tonelli]

40mm has become my ‘normal’ focal length lens.
I discovered this when I started using the Rollei 35. Over the years I bought 40mm lenses for the Pentax, both Leica M and LTM.

 

[Huss]

How many do you own?

One! Minolta 50 1.7. Never used as I have the 58 1.2 on my XK most of the time.

 

[Huss]

My Voigtlander 40mm turned up today, nice little lens with nice luggy bits to focus and set aperture, everything is smooth. Be able to hang out with the cool kids.
View attachment 325280

Nice! Super lens on film.

 

[Huss]

I prefer a 40mm for a one lens outing. 40 mm was most often selected for consumer fix lens rangefinders in the 1960s because of its flexibility. When I owned a MP I utilized the undersized 35 frame line to more accurately frame with the 40mm.

I have a collapsible 50/2 and Hex 50/2 but the Rokkor CLE 40/2 is on the M5 most often. If I want to zone focus I use a cron 35/2 (1969) type 2. BTW the Rokkor 40 CLE has better ergonomics and optics than my 35/2. The two are equal from f/5.6 to f/16.

Sweet! The silver M5 has such a bauhaus design look. Black lens looks great on it.

 

[Radost]

IMHO 40mm is so much better than 50 and 35. So much easier to design I guess. I have 6-7 50mm and they are all superb.
And they look different enough to make mediocre picture appealing.
In fact apart from my 50mm Minolta/Sony lens I have only 40mm. I dont own a single 35. I go from 40 to 28 No need for anything in between for me.

 

[Timo Schön]

I had two, and they spend more time inRollei repair shops in in my hands.

That is unfortunate. I bought mine via some sort of austrian ebay 1.5 years ago. It had spent the last 20ish years in a drawer with the cover on. Even the battery still works. Until now it did not have any issues but maybe that is just luck. Are reliability issues common with these cameras?

 

[Radost]

IMHO 40mm is so much better than 50 and 35. So much easier to design I guess. I have 6-7 50mm and they are all superb.
And they look different enough to make mediocre picture appealing.
In fact apart from my 50mm Minolta/Sony lens I have only 40mm. I dont own a single 35. I go from 40 to 28 No need for anything in between for me.

I meant “I have 6-7 40mm and they are all superb”