what is your ideal two lens out fit?

[james_.1]

Why never take your lenses off? He just has an aversion to it?

Maybe he feels he misses the right framing of a shot if fiddling the

changing? I don't get it, could you explain his rationale? Thanks.

[richard_hoag1]

For travel and/or if space is tight the Tri-Elmar and 90/f2.8 on an

M6 .72 is hard to beat. If you need more speed try experimenting with

different film ASA. Modern film, B&W and color, up to ASA 800 is

remarkable compared to what was available just five years ago.

[virgil]

James,I don't get it either!

 

<p>

 

He uses only one film too,T-max400 nothing else.He says that 6 M

bodies with lenses attached weighs about the same as a 2 nikon and

zooms outfit,so I don't think it's a weight thing.He is very fussy

about dirt,so maybe by never changing lenses he won't get dirt behind

the lens? He also says,and I think this does stand true,if he has the

lenses attached then he never has to worry about changing lenses(on

the back and the top of each body he has the focal length of the lens

painted)and with the same film in all 6 cameras this would be a very

quick way of working.

 

<p>

 

I have to say that he never has ALL 6 cameras around his neck,he

selects 3 at the most for that particular shooting situation and

leaves the others in a bag close by.

[virgil]

...and he uses all the best,fastest glass,soooooo,I reckon he carries

around about £30,000 maybe £40,000(50 or 60 thousand $us?)worth of

gear around all day!

[mikep1]

I left the "Nikon SLR/slew of lenses/backpack" camp about 2 years

ago, having resided there for 30 years. I purchased a used M6 and a

couple of old lenses - 35 and 90. Since then I also bought an M2

and sold those two lenses. I now have the 24mm ASPH lens, the

current 50 f2, and the current 90 f2.8. I find that I have

gravitated to the lens that, in my SLR days I never even owned...the

50! I find that it works best for me at least 75% of the time. I

love taking pictures in churches/cathedrals and sometimes use the 24

for that sort of interior work. I use the 90 once in a while. Many

times I go out shooting with just the camera and the mounted 50.

 

<p>

 

So I'd say that in a 2 lens set up, the 50 is a "must have" and some

sort of wide angle would be the other choice - for me a 28 or 24.

But I could easily go with a one (50mm) lens outfit!

[thomas_nutter]

You can do any assignment with a 28 and a 90.

[gary_huie]

I would go 35/90 first or 21/35 depending on what I am doing. 35/90

will cover just about any general situation. 21/35 for situations

where shooting situations are tight, such as shooting in the confines

of some of those European cities.

[iván]

Hi, Greg:

 

<p>

 

I have "seen" you here long enough to know that this is a typical

hundred-posting/no-answer question . . .!

 

<p>

 

The best choice will depend upon what you do with your lenses. And

that you don't tell. And for the same tasks it will still depend upon

personal preferences/experience.

 

<p>

 

If you want one more answer: 50mm f2 + 90mm f2.8 (according to my

personal preferences/experience, of course . . .)

 

<p>

 

Regards

 

<p>

 

-Iván

[james_.1]

Hey Virgil,

 

<p>

 

Hey whatever works for your friend! Must be a need thing. Anyway,

for me, the 35/75 luxes seem to be my choice now that I have had

more time to think about it. The 35 seems unbeatable for an all-

around lens. The 75's reach, shile not quite as much as the 90,

seems to be good especially with the speedy f/1.4. So there you go,

35/75 f/1.4's and you're set for life! Unless you want that

noctilux then I'd certainly understand!

[david11]

Greg, I frequently carry the 35/75 2 lens combo. That being said, I

often travel with a single lens; this mandates an exercise in

composition with one focal length only. The benefits of doing so are

well worth the loss of other focal lengths because it strengthens my

ability to "see". I would recommend this exercise regardless of what

focal lengths you purchase.

[paul_chefurka1]

The two single focal length lenses that see the most use in my kit

are the 35/1.4 and the 50/2.0. I've used the 35/90 combo a lot as

well, and it works fine for me.

 

<p>

 

My most-used lens by far, though, is the Tri-Elmar. I usually team

it up with a 90 for an all-around daylight setup.

 

<p>

 

Despite its imaging capabilities, I've never been able to get

comfortable with the 75 due to a combination of the framelines, the

size and the stiff focus. So as attractive as the 35/75 combo sounds

on paper, it's way down on my list.

 

<p>

 

I can definitely see the attraction of a 28/50 kit, especially if

they're both Summicrons.

[john_elder1]

35cron and 90tele! 35cron is my standard lens.Although I have

28,35,50 and 90, 90% of my street photography is done with the 35cron.

The 35 was also my first purchase and is fabulous!

[russell_brooks]

35 (your choice) and 90 (prefer lighter weight elmar) . the 75 is

just too big/heavy -- a f2.5 would work well though.

[ray_moth]

Only two lenses? I'd have to agree with Jay and others, i.e. a Tri-

Elmar and a 90mm (in my case, a 90 Elmarit). This may not meet your

needs for low light, however, and it doesn't meet mine either, which

is why I also tote a 50 Summilux.

[jacques_balthazar1]

Fun question. The diversity of answers kind of explains why many of

us end up with 4 or 5 lenses instead of 2....

 

<p>

 

My go: if you do not mind a little weight and volume (in relative M

terms), then 35/75 'lux is the definitive dream combo, for reasons

explained 2 billion times on this list.

 

<p>

 

If, like many M users, you like to keep the M small at all times,

then the 28 'cron/50 'lux seem like a mighty pair.

 

<p>

 

But even if you limit yourself to own 2 lenses, you'll still want to

go out with camera + 1 lens every now and then. The 28 'cron, the

35 'lux or the 50 'lux can serve that lightweight standard purpose

very easily, but you cannot really argue that for the sweet 75...

 

<p>

 

So, maybe, at the end, it might all boil down to choosing the

favourite all rounder lens first. The 2nd lens option will be much

clearer then...

[Niels - NHSN]

Greg, <br>

I subscribe to your wish to "go simple", and that "normal to wide" is

the natural direction when using rangefinders. Why don't you stick to

that -if that is what your observed preferences?<br>FYI: It wasn't

until I started using Leica M that I discovered how versatile the

50mm focal length really is. I find DOF to be very controlable -which

IMO gives it the potential as a stand in for a short tele. I think it

would be a shame to leave it out of a basic setup.

[msitaraman]

35/50.

 

<p>

 

 

I've tried 35/75 but somehow I miss that 50 more time than I miss a

portrait length lens.

[alexander_grekhov]

Outdoors I use 21/50 (city) or 50/90 (scenics). I just acquired CV

28/1.9, so it might take place of 21mm. For three-lens outfit I'd

choose 28/50/90. As you might have figured out by now I'm not 35mm

kind of person. ;-) I do have 35mm, but it only gets use in one-lens

outfit. On the other hand I have two 50mm lenses -- 50/2.8 Elmar-M

and Voigtlander 50/1.5. So... it boils down to what you like. I know

that without 50mm I will be really handicapped.

[Nowhereman]

I don't really believe that this is a useful question, as it depends on

the type of photography that you do. Last year I would have answered a

35 and a 90 mm lens. That my be the ideal for snapohot type shooting.

Since then I have gotten intersted in:

 

<p>

 

1. For B&W: Creating space natarally in the photo, so now I use a 50mm

lens much more; and

 

<p>

 

2. For color: Exploring highly out-of-focus areas both in FRONT and in

back of the plane of foucs, so I am also using a 75 Summilux and 50

Noctolux extensively.

 

<p>

 

Rather than trying to figure out what other people's favorites (or

prejudices) are, you should be thinking about the type of photography

you do.

 

<p>

 

--Mitch/Bangkok

[damond_lam1]

Personally I have 35/1.4 and 50/1.0 in my M6 setup. They are very

expenisve lenses and produce stunning slides and negatives. I was

crazy about them in less than a year ago when I first took pictures

with Leica M.

 

<p>

 

If I were to start over again NOW I will choose the 21/2.8 and

90/2.0. In the past 6 months I prefer to use more often my F100 with

Nikon 17-35/2.8 AFS and the Hasselblad 80/2.8 (or 150/2.8) with

Hasselblad-Nikon adaptor.

 

<p>

 

Personally, I find it very challenging to compose with 50mm lens for

everyday use and travel. Once I did the pictures produced are special

and beautiful, especially with my high speed Noctilux.

[tim_gee]

35/2,50/2,90/2.8. - close enough to two.