If you could only have ONE lens..35mm or 50mm???

[scheimfluger_77]

50/1.4 SMC Takumar forever

For years and years the only camera I had (& still do) is a Pentax Spotmatic w/50mm f1.4 lens, purchased new in 1971. I was often frustrated at not having a 35mm, but the limitation forced me to concentrate on the essentials in the composition. As a result I reached a point where I could capture just about anything with that lens. Wide open it's a stunner for portraits.

Steve

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

5cms Leitz Wetzlar

 

[Pumalite]

For years and years the only camera I had (& still do) is a Pentax Spotmatic w/50mm f1.4 lens, purchased new in 1971. I was often frustrated at not having a 35mm, but the limitation forced me to concentrate on the essentials in the composition. As a result I reached a point where I could capture just about anything with that lens. Wide open it's a stunner for portraits.

Steve

I confirm the quality of the Super-Multi-Coated Takumars. Myself; I have 3 50mm f/1.4 and 5 Spotmatics. Add to that 135mm f/3.5 Super Takumar and 200mm Super Takumar. Mine are the "radiation" old ones.

 

[agphotography]

Despite my earlier posted affinity for the 35mm focal length, I will happily say that I do still enjoy the 50mm focal length as well.

I recently just started to dabble in the Nikon film world and I have an F3 with the 50 f/2 H (AI'd) as my only lens. It seems to have a very special look to it on B&W film. I like that.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

5cms Leitz Wetzlar

Why am I not surprised at your answer... But the $64,000 question is, WHICH Leica 50mm would you prefer?

 

[mopar_guy]

If you only had one lens on a 35 mm camera

I guess that I cannot buy into the What if on this question because all of my 35 mm cameras are SLRs with bayonet mounts and I can change lenses.

 

[georg16nik]

Leitz Elmar 1:3,5 50mm

 

[MikeTime]

Just been on a two week holiday to Poltava, Ukraine. Lots of thought about what lenses to bring. 28, 35, 50 and 85 was the result.

On most days I took two: 28/50, 35/85, some other combo's. The days I took the camera with one lens? 35...

Oh, the camera was the D700... :confused: I decided against taking one of my film slrs as well. Almost 600 images, getting it back to 400 probbly...

 

[flatulent1]

I dunno.

24mm has been my most-used lens for the last 18 months or thereabouts, I've always been a wide-angle kinda guy. So I'm tempted to say 35mm, but I have almost no experience with this focal length, though I have a few of them.

My least-used lens, historically, is the sad and lonely 50. Recently somebody convinced me I ought to shake up my photography by shooting something different, so I've pulled out my 50s and am going to shoot with them exclusively for the next year. I was quite disconcerted by the tight framing I got when I first tried to shoot with one a few weeks ago, but by the end of the day I was enjoying myself, forcing myself to see differently. I may even go so far as to acquire a 50mm Macro.

Next year, 135!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I guess that I cannot buy into the What if on this question because all of my 35 mm cameras are SLRs with bayonet mounts and I can change lenses.

A little Loctite will fix that.