The Perfect Focal Length?
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In photography, each focal length of lens has a unique visual signature. What is yours? How do you see the world? How do you communicate most effectively. The 50mm lens has taken more famous photographs than just about any other focal length. I'd argue it's nearly essential that any photographer be able to compose with and use a 50mm effectively but what about other focal lengths? Do you own lenses because they are tools that serve a purpose or are camera company marketing departments telling you you need the latest and greatest?
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
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That´s why this channel is called The Art of Photography. With this kind of content, for me at least, you separate yourself from the crowd in a unique way. Congrats
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Well stated. Good blessings to you.
100% I really like this kind of mind twists! And lately I landed in this myself. I almost just use my 35mm for my x-pro 3, I have a 56 and a 50-140 also. But those are for specific needs. The 35mm is the one I use 85% of the time. Just love the way of simplify the process and make it simple. After years of photography I have enough self-confidence to just shoot JPEG using recipes this whole month. And a big part of that confidence comes from channels like The art of photography, but also snapsbyromanfox!
Agree. All the photography videos on youtube are about new cameras so someone actually talking about the ART of all of it, about the results that come out of this tool + someone who do it well, is refreshing!
Yes this is one of these few channels with substance. Also Photographic Eye is worth checking out.
Reduction is key. Too many choices and you lose the control and the pictures. The other thing is: don’t move for an hour. Become the part of the place you take pictures and after a while the magic of time and space starts.
Very much agree.
There was some rocks on the beach, that I went every morning for a month for an hour or so to photograph, so as to understand nuances of light and developing.
How we see through different focal lengths, changes our willingness to see, and thus not only our photography, but our selves.
Recently, have been loving 135mm as if that was the only lens that exists, and then there was a shot that I could not pass up which required a 24mm which I had with me that day, and it is like Christmas again.
With the help of photography my eyes even changed from requiring glasses to no longer needing them.
beautiful analysis
Hey Peter @ Peter Lund. Share your thoughts. Although we may have a number of lens and bodies there is always our "go to" kit. For me, I live on a 55mm f/1.2, either on Canon and Nikon.
Back when I was doing freelance work for my former university, my colleagues allowed me to use their gear for our project. They had all the gizmos that one can think in 2016, but I settled on almost 80% of my photography with the Canon EOS 70-200mm f2,8 shot on either 70mm or 200mm. Sure, there was a time that I played with the Zeiss 85mm f1,4 in EF mount... but what you said is true. We photographers have a focal length where we see best, truly making the camera the extension of our eyes.
Right now my "kind" of focal length is the 40mm. I can't explain it why, but it just works for me.
Less is more!
I repeat what I’ve said earlier: this channel takes TH-cam to a whole other level. It is unmatched! Love your thoughts and work, Ted! I agree wholeheartedly that we should focus on the moment rather than the tool. A 50 mm lens with f1.8 is my primary choice, too.
When I was in photography school in the 60's (OMG I'm old), we learned that the best way to learn any aspect of photography was to eliminate all variables but the one you select to work on. I believe it was Edward Weston who wanted to learn about the range and look of then available films and photo papers. He set up a broken column with a piece of black cloth on top and a teacup on top of that in his studio. Using the same camera and lens, he photographed it for a year varying only film choice and then processing options and then paper choice and then paper processing choice and then.... It was the greatest self-assignment example of my career. Eliminating all but one variable is the best way to really learn to explore that one variable AND to learn to think about how to explore that one variable.
1964-65 at Doscher Country School of photography So.Woodstock Vt. Marsden Griswold
That is an amazing story! Is that really true? Just asking because it seems like an incredibly difficult thing to actually do, especially at that time... Thank you for sharing.
My eye-opener was Belgian Magnum photographer Carl de Keyzer talking a large audience through his North Korea exibition. He only mentioned his camera and lens set up, because someone was bound to ask about it anyway. But he genuinly didn't see it as an interesting topic. Very telling. For every trip to North Korea (that was the project) he just had one camera and one lens.
Sterk verhaal!
I suppose he was so confident about his gear that he didn't need a backup.
Thanks dude
The most unexpected comment I could have ever predicted.... You said so much right here, thank you
Totally agree with you Ted! I actually find that I prefer the imperfect look of vintage lenses most of the time. Thinking of digital now - My personal philosophy is that I should not change gear until my own skill level has advanced to the point that I am consistently being limited by the current gear or I can see a significant benefit from doing so.
FWIW, I’m pretty much a 50mm guy too. Years ago we traveled to Paris w another couple. This guy took his Canon 5D3 and about three or four lenses. He carted his entire gear around Paris in a backpack wherever we went. I brought my Leica ME and a 50 Summicron. That’s it. Nothing else. To this day, I think those were some of the best travel photos I’ve ever taken.
So ..... did the guy with all the lenses end up with any good images?
You only told half the story.
@@ThePurpleHarpoon Interesting question. I had a show based on my photos I called “Paris, je t’aime” which he never attended. I never saw his photos.
Absolutely love this video. I’m the typical ‘modern’ photographer and have all the gear and way too many lenses. However, as the years go by, I keep noticing that my favourite images from each and every shoot, ends up being my 50mm. This was not intentional, but I could just recognise what I loved, and when I went back through my Lightroom catalogue from the last three years, the absolute majority of shots were my 50mm. Again, not intentional, it is just my thing. That said, I haven’t ever thought about it like this, but I really connect with this as a theory, and through to practice. Thanks again for yet another great video.
This is so good. I've been playing guitar for over 30 years and the tone and gear chase is real. When I finally settled on a telecaster and sold all my other guitars, it allowed me to connect to my instrument like never before. Granted I felt a connection with how it felt in my hands that I never felt with another guitar, but you're spot on here. I love the analogy of your drummer friend. Maybe the trick is to find which lens communicates your vision most consistently and stick to that for a while. The great chase can get exhausting. Thank you for this!
I think this is why I am a telecaster owner and a x100v owner.
The telecaster is the most simple an electric guitar can be, I love it. You can achieve any sound- any style. They’re comfy to play and look classic !
The 100v limits me in many ways, but it really makes me be creative like the tele
@@jamesturner2914 absolutely, can't go wrong with a Tele. 🤙🏼
Yes, but it depends on what type of music one is playing. Maybe for Jazz we need a nice hollow body Gibson, Rock a Strat,les Paul, country a Tele. Different tube amps give their own signature to the sound. Lens maybe are like guitars use the one for the image that one is trying to create.
@mpw having years of gigging experience carrying multiple guitars, pedals, and amps, I can tell you that 99.99% of people that came to watch me play, couldn't tell the difference, much less give a shit about the tone difference between a Fender or Gibson through a Marshall or Super Reverb. If you enjoy the gear and enjoy hauling it from gig to gig, I'm all about it. But it's not for me anymore. I like to keep it simple and straight forward. Besides, the gear for the genre is not as important as we think it is. Country music was the last genre to adopt the telecaster. They preferred big archtops and thought the Tele was a kid's toy. They got plenty of twang off archtops.
@@uglytuco3829 Yes, I know. I am thinking more about recording then playing live. Even playing live, many artist switch guitars for the type of song they are playing. Of course the greats have roadies to carry all the equipment!
In lens, if one wants more character then one might use a vintage type lens. Maybe for architecture then one might want a more clinical lens. So it depends on the situation in what one wants to accomplish. Instruments like guitars and pianos all sound a little different as all lens are not the same that is what makes it interesting. If everyone used the same camera and lens or the same guitar and amp it become quite boring.
A while back you challenged viewers to spend a month with one focal length. My choice then was an 85mm, primarily due to the fact that I had just purchased it to upgrade an older 85mm. Today it would be easy for me to focus on a 50 because I use it so often. I periodically will buy new (or used) glass and experiment with it, etc. You know what's on right now? The 50mm 1.8 I bought with the body.
Thank you, Ted, for being the art in the Art of Photography. I feel like who you are comes through in each video. It inspires me to focus less on the technical aspects of an image and put more of me into an image. I definitely have a long way to go but am enjoying the journey. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love your analogy - jazz instrumental to camera - thanks Ted really great imagining
It's interesting to hear of your experimenting with lenses. Stanley Kubrick did that a lot. He was a photographer (as well) who understood the language between art and technology. Nowadays a lot of photographers are camera geeks or artistes with ostensible denial of the technology. It seems that the overall trend has been towards wider angles because they force immersion. This makes the connection with the subject more intimate.
Thank you for these liberating words. I tried the limitation to one lens and one focal lenght - it was indeed the 50 - for myself. I don't know, if my photography went better because of this but my shooting experience was that much relaxter, more mindful and in the end more satisfying. The psychological pressure coming out of my camerabag was completely gone and I loved it!
I think you are spot on with this topic - because of many limitation of my situation I have been restricted to a 50mm and a 28mm for a really long time. And now I realize the uniqueness of them and how they render. It's the focal length which makes it the way it is. Also it brings a lot of Consistency with the body of work one puts up over the years
I smiled when you mentioned your old Nikon F3. Made me think of my beloved old Canon AE1, which I first got in 1977, and accompanied me all through art school, all over Europe, and everywhere else I went. When I finally gave it up and upgraded to digital photography, around 2004 or so, it was like saying goodbye to an old friend.
I really miss my Nikon F3. But to be honest, I don't miss film too much, even though it was a great educator.
I love my ae1. Still use it to this day
I love this "geeky" talk that nobody else like to discuss... Thanks for sharing.
I played alto saxophone through college. And while I tried the tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, I had to master one. It is about muscle memory and embouchure (the mouth going on the mouthpiece), which is essential to mastering tone. As a photographer enthusiast, I love lots of lenses but I find 50mm is my alto saxophone :)
I was a wedding photographer for 23 years. I decided to trawl through a selection of my photos during the digital era to see what focal length I used the most. 35mm was the most used and I realised that’s probably why my go to camera is the Fujifilm X100T with the 23mm/35mm equivalent lens. Second came out as 50mm. So now I am shooting film cameras for my personal work with 2 primes, my 35mm and 50mm. My street photography is shot exclusively with both these focal lengths. Great video btw!!
Hey Ted, another great video and always love the comparison to music and particularly jazz music. Andrew is a deep authoritarian on drums, where they came from how they evolved and why they are what they are today. I truly believe as an x-student of mine and knowing him as I do professionally it’s not the kit but rather the sound of that particular drum kit. As a trumpet player I’ve gone through many before I found “the one“ that spoke to me for timbre, texture and most important the inner vision of the sound of what I’m looking for in a brass instrument. As a photographer I love the Canon 135mm L. I believe it has the best bouquet of any L Canon L Lens and I own too many of them to list here, but to me that’s the “one.” You’re work on TH-cam is respected, admired and so important. There are many like myself who appreciate your wonderful in-depth preparation to any video you post. Thanks for who you are and for what you produce. Bart Marantz
This is amazing, really. I think there is something going on in the overall gestalt right now. A lot of photographers are trying all kind of approaches and moving away from the kind of product-centric focus we have been playing in for quite awhile now. Personally I am digitizing negatives and slides from 20-30 years ago and discovering a whole new level of enjoyment. And for the first time in 2 decades I am shooting film again. I will do the limit to one focal length exercise on my next trip, and see how that goes. Inspiring video, thanks!
thank you for this subject, "back in the day" (the early 70s') when I purchased my first 35mm camera, like most it came with a 50mm lens. It become my standard for shooting until I purchased a 35mm lens in 1976. Up to that point about 90% of my shooting was with a 50mm lens. It worked really well for me for various situations, if it be portraits, architectural or landscapes. I still use one from time to time on my range finder camera, I love the versatility of it.
Aw really loved this video, it kinda grounded me and reminded me about what is really important and why I began this journey in the first place. One of the things I love about your videos is that you have an amazing conversational tone, I find myself nodding my head or commenting out loud while watching because it feels as though we are having a conversation as opposed to you talking AT me. It takes a special gift to be able to do that Ted, I just wanted to acknowledge it.
Very, very true. RS. Canada
Love that I bought a prime 50 mm right at the beginning of my photography journey. This is basically the focal length I have set my brain to when I imagine images that I hope to be able to capture.
Absolutely beautiful video. I am so glad you are doing more art again rather than equipment, editing. I like those and learn from them. But I love your episodes on artistic considerations!!!!!😀
Love the statement of every photographer thinks in a focal length. Beautiful.
Love the appreciation of the simple & elegant set up. Sounds like you miss that era of your shooting.
Great video! Lately I restrict my lens choice for “random shooting opportunities” by choosing one prime for the day (or week). It forces me to learn how to produce creative results at that focal length. In situations where I am trying to photograph something important to me (like on a trip) I’ll use a zoom lens because it maximizes my opportunity to get a shot. It is my hope that by limiting myself to a prime in my daily shooting situations, I will get better results when I use a zoom, because I will have learned about more choices at specific focal lengths within that zoom’s range. Less definitely feels like more when I choose to walk about and shoot with a single focal length lens.
As a fairly newbie person to “serious” photography I found this to be a good video. The channel provides something alternative to other photo channels on TH-cam. Great to hear your views on things 👍
Great topic!! I walk with one 40mm on my camera and one small télé-zoom in my pocket and I would say I use the both 50/50. Often I need to compress the background to get the composition to work.
One thing with the 24mm is that with the megapixel we have nowadays you can easily take one step back and crop the photo to get the 28mm look if you want that.
Very interesting topic. I’ve been using a 50mm (equivalent) exclusively for almost three years. Some months ago I unexpectedly received a wide angle lens as a gift which , at first, I didn’t fully embrace. My visual perspective was stuck on 50mm period! Overtime I experimented more with the wide angle and began to feel rejuvenated artistically. My body of work began to expand into subjects (nature for instance) I wouldn’t normally consider photographing. I later added a prime telephoto to my collection which I thoroughly enjoy.
The 50mm is still my lens of choice but it’s a rewarding, exciting experience to now have lens options.
Great post, as always!
I'm always so pleased when I see you fired up and back to basics - back to the art of photography. I understand the why of the gear reviews, and share the enthusiasm for some of the new stuff. But essentially its much more about the sort of thing you discussed today. It's what got me tuned into your channel almost 10 years ago! I hope that your big 50mm assignment with RG leads to a book and some prints we can buy to support, and enjoy with you. Big thumbs up from me Ted. Also, please do circle back to discuss what you have learnt about the 50mm fl in this exercise. you touched on it here, but I'd love to see you really drill down on it.
Thanks for the focus on the “Art” of photography! My 28, 50, 85 trio has just been validated!
25, 50 and 85 here. Felt guilty having so many but those just seem to be the basics that cover most of my needs
Fewer reviews. More of this, please. Meaningful discussion about how we can improve as photographers. Thanks, Ted!
PS: As a photojournalist, I have always been about zooms, particularly the 16-35 and the 70-200. Now moving toward focusing on the 50 and 35mm focal lengths. I used to think the 35mm was the most boring. I must be getting old. LOL.
Thanks so much. I'm on an intense one-month trip filming the wine regions in France. I find when I stick to my 35 mm lens for the shots, I get closer to the people and think about capturing moments vs always swapping glass. Keep up the great work
Swapping glass. Pun intended i hope.
Great Topic! When i started my transition from photography to videography, i intentionally went out with only one lens rather than my whole bag for a documentation style video idea. To get the coverage you really start to get creative. It helped me a lot, to get more out of each lens and adapt back to my photography. What´s important to mention, i´m a hobbyist and did not experiment while trying to match expectations of any customer.
Ted your videos are an oasis in TH-cam! Thanks for sharing these thoughts, it felt like a discussion within a big group of friends! Great content and quality as usual! You have given me some thoughts to process for today :)
Early in the pandemic looking to jolt my creativity, I pulled out an old Nikon FE and FM and paired them with a 50mm 1.8 and a 28mm f2.8. I would sometimes go out with one or the other and sometimes carry them together. I was really happy with my results from this experience.
These were my only two lenses when I started in photography 50 years ago and are still my favorite focal lengths. If I had to choose one it would be the 28 but I love the look from each of them. I’m finding since my pandemic experiment I am more likely to go out with one of these two primes and my photography is better for it
I am really heartened with your personal evolution and what you bring to your videos. Trust me, I was blown away with you in the past and now even more so. Thank you for doing what you do how you do it. I am relatively new to photography. I ended up buying more lenses (expensive ones) than I am interested in using. Slowly I’ve sold them off wanting more and more to work with just my 50. There are a couple others I like… nonetheless, I understand focal length signature and I am learning to see. Your work is growing me. Thank you. As an aside, when I can I will get a Leica M10 Monochrom. It fits my nature in a similar way I wear high quality old style, old technology, watches. Thanks again.
This is an absolutely amazing discussion. Especially for aspiring photographers like me who want to go out but unable to invest much in this chaotic market of different manufacturers. Your words are so true, too much choices can make one get distracted and loose control.
Thanks a lot. I really love these 'looking at the bigger picture' kinda talks that very few actually does.
I stick to one lens, a 35. If I was doing weddings and events I would definitely have several lenses, but for my kind of work, I only want one lens and one camera. BTW, Ralph Gibson is my favorite photographer. I was thinking of buying his course too.
Wow! Your analogy of the musical instruments really struck me on how the way we use our tools can really affect the works that we are trying to achieve. Thank you for this video on the topic of focal length! 😀
I come from the future, 2022 I’ve started using the cheap 28mm on the z7, you said about some photographers find beauty in the photos from a certain focal length. So true, I’m finding it hard to shoot without it being 28mm the connection and enjoyment I’m getting from this. Love your channel Ted, thank you. So many good videos from over many years 🙏
Spot on commentary Ted. I'm a member of a group of Pentaxians. I used the Pentax K-1 primarily and we challenge ourselves by using one focal length for a month. What you are saying is true. When you limit the gear you focus your mind to get what you can get just from that lens. Back up, move forward, shallower depth of field but you have to learn what you can do and how to do it with that one lens and it is a wonderful challenge. It really caused me to focus on 50mm. I love the old Takumar 50mm 1.4 and it works great on the K-1 but the one I really gravitated to was the old smc Pentax-FA 50mm 2.8 macro lens. It is super sharp, free of CA and has incredible bokeh and its over 30 years old. It is such a versatile lens too. You can go from 1:1 macro to landscape in an instant and back to a portrait. It pretty much stays on my camera now all the time and no more lugging lenses around lol.
Great video! I've thought about this a lot recently and without much thought, I realize that I gravitate heavily to the 40mm focal length. My contax t2 at 38mm and my (future) 500c/m with the 40mm equiv really produce an image I am most happy with.
Back when I started photography, the 50 mm lens that usually came with the camera body was the only lens I could afford, so I guess I served my apprenticeship through necessity rather than choice. Later, it was great to be able to choose from a variety of focal lengths according to the subject matter and the effects I was trying to achieve. A 50 mm is a great focal length, but it cannot do everything: one should strive to use the proper tool for the job at hand. That said, it is always good to limit oneself to a single focal length occasionally to explore what can be done and to get the creative juices flowing. It just doesn't have to be 50 mm all the time.
I love this kind of content Ted. Well done. I too love working a specific focal length. I think it's important to acknowledge different disciplines in photography have different requirements that won't allow for this. If you're a wedding or event photographer for instance, getting by with just a 50 would be nearly impossible, but if the client would allow for it, could be a lot of fun. I personally try to specialize in 3 specific focal legths and 3 specific lenses to give me the 3 perspectives I need in my work. When I do personal work, I almost always only bring one lens. It's a great way to get the gear out of the way of the Art of Photography.
Thanks for continuing to challenge persepcivte. :)
This video is the perfect example of why I love your channel. Your videos are a masterclass on expression and communication. Just love it.
Really good contemplation here. I use 23mm (35mm equivalent) almost exclusively. It suits my shooting style and the field of view is perfect for observational/walking around photography. Keep the awesome content coming!
Do you use a Fuji X100 series camera or an APS-C interchangeable lens camera with a 23mm lens attached to it?
Hi Ted, great video! Just adding to the saxophone analogy... When we think about Coltrane or Miles what comes to our mind, the saxophone model they had or the music they played? Most of the Photographers (like musicians) are obsessed with gear, new this, new that, but at the end the images (like the music) is the only thing that really remains.
This was a timely video. I have an event on a Friday. I used to be very much a one camera one lens shooter. Recently I’ve been feeling a bit distant with my work, and I think it’s because of the points you’ve raised here. As I’ve progressed, I’ve invested in more lenses. I enjoy them, but you’re absolutely right in that I think I’ve inadvertently diluted my working practice without really being aware of it. At a recent event, my first in 18 months since Covid lockdowns, i took a bag of lenses and bodies to shoot cover two days of work. Thinking back about which parts I enjoyed more, it was those moments when I worked the band and dancing crowds with just my manual focus 50mm f0.95 on one body. No lens switching. I was so in the moment. I’ve lost track of this way of working I think. Thanks for the reminder.
I loved this video! When I started out making photos, I gravitated to the 50mm because it always seemed like the best value for money, especially where aperture is concerned! And what was a first a necessity of cost, has now become part of my photography needs; anytime I get a new camera the first lens I buy is a 50mm, for the exact reason you outlined in this film! Thanks Ted
I spend a fair amount of time on the Leica Users forum and usually the people who have all the really pricey lenses and bodies and who go on and on about MTF charts take awful wide open pictures of beer mugs and their pets. Conversely you'll have photogs with a 35 Cron and an M9 that post incredible shots. I think the more you chase gear, the further you get away from the art
100%!
chasing gear often become a substitute of poor artistic vision.
Depends on when you acquire the gear. If you start and you have everything then and no mentor, then it’s hard to see the picture. When I started as an assistant, then I could have used all the gear but I was so tired that I hardly could enjoy. But I always was alert when the „master“ was using his equipment. When I started teaching, I always reduced the equipment to 50 mm and a manual camera. For all the pupils the same gear. If they could tell me why the needed a 24 mm, they got it. The leading curve was impressive.
Very true. We have more gear lovers than actual photographers if that makes sense
Gear and art are not mutually exclusive. In fact without the gear, and thoroughly understanding it, you can’t make the art.
Another good stuff from Ted. I think after many years of experience in line with one's interest there will be a tendency to minimize the tools of the trade. I enjoyed the vlog. Thank you.
GLAD I FOUND YOU...this topic really hits close to home for me! As a Nikon D 750 camera guy, I lost my beloved 50mm 1.8 lens, and when I went back to my camera store guru,
he told me that all he had in stock was a classic Nikon 55mm macro lens, but with only MANUAL focusing! I threatened to go online and get another nifty 50, but he told me
he would let me take this macro manual lens and shoot with it for a week: I did, and fell in love with it once I got used to manually focusing! Now I use it for a walkaround lens, to go along with a versatile 24-70mm zoom lens for everything else! Thanks again for this video!
I used to be a 50 guy. Then i purchased a Leica M elmarit 28 and absolutely fell in love with the focal length. So much that I bought a brand new Summilux M 28mm. now its more or less glued to my camera. and love the look it gives me. Great video 😃👍🏻👍🏻
Videos like this is why Ted is one of my absolute favorites on this platform. You are forward thinking, thought provoking and challenging in your message. Thanks Ted for this great video and allowing us to contemplate the visual signature. Well done!
My favourite lens due to its signature is my 85 1.8 G lens from Nikon. It has a nice look without correction and I usually shoot it at f/2.8-f/4 to exaggerate the effect for most of the photo. I have tried the more expensive 85mm lenses from many other brands, but this one just has that magic I love
Don't know how you present like that, with no choppy little edits every few seconds, no saying "er" and, apparently, no breathing in. Excellent, thank you. Great video for this viewer, who has somehow managed to acquire four cameras in one year (actually six bought, two sold on). Somewhere in that pile is the Fuji 35 f1.4 (about a 50mm) and the cheap but great 35 f2. Oh, and an x100v. So yeah, end of comment - off to take some pictures.
I have been coming back to this channel a few times and have enjoyed the content and the way it was presented a lot. Today I have subscribed to it so that I will not miss any new video.
7:35 I have indeed always loved the 28mm focal length.. I have tried 20, 24, 28, 35 and in that range, I find it the perfect compromise, not too wide, not too close. For some reason though, 28mm doesn't seem to be as successful than other lenses.. maybe because it's kind of a "versatile" lens and we are more into having several primes dedicated to use cases. Fully agree on the artistic thrill at taking only one lens at times, to force see the world differently.
Of course, if one can only carry one focal length, versatility has got to be the prime (ooh, I made a pun) consideration. I think modern photographers, I.e. the internet gen photographers, just see 28 as a boring option, probably because “the internet says”. It’s odd. I don’t find the results from 28mm boring in the slightest. Even if I was to build a new system of primes from scratch, I would start with a 28 and space outwards from that. That’s how much I like the 28! For me an efficient, powerful lens system of primes would be something like a 20mm wide angle for drama, a 28mm for walk around versatility , and a 135mm for something completely different. Not everyone’s choice of a prime lens trio, but I find it covers most photographical ground, as it were. I haven’t owned a standard lens for thirty years, which, like with most budding photographers back then, was all I used. It was even called a “normal lens” , perhaps to make one feel normal struggling with 50mm and nothing else.
I absolutely love this video!! Thank you for this!! Always love your perspective and insight. Hopefully I can run into you one day in Fort Worth.
I'm hosting a photowalk group on Facebook here in my local town in Bonn, Germany. We do photowalks once or twice a month, but one time in the year, we do a "nifty-fifty-walk".
I really like the idea to limit myself to one focal length, as this trains your eye and thought process - and so opens up your mindset.
Great video!
Love this channel! Great work and insight. One thought i want to offer on the subject of focal lengths is the choice between 2 methodologies: composing the picture vs formatting a picture. Of the two, composing the picture is harder one and as the wording suggest it deals with composition of objects in the photo. To get good at this it is important to remove other variables, which is why sticking to 1 focal length helps. This 1 focal length may be different for different people. On the other hand the act of formatting the picture deals with everything else other than composition. Size of the background, depth of field, color saturation, sharpness etc. So, when composition is set or is outside of photographers control, like 90% of sports or news reporting, then photographer can spend the time end energy to format the picture with depth of field, subject size (focal length) etc. I am an amateur and every time i use a zoom lens i always find myself second guessing my choice of focal length instead of worrying more about composition, but when i shoot prime lenses, i have the mental resources available to think about composition more.
For the last couple of years I have been shooting mostly through a Nikkor 55mm Micro. I got tired of going to Airshows and taking the same photos everyone else was taking of planes in the air and started shooting close ups and macros of the aircraft parked on the ramp. It’s a whole other prospective of familiar aircraft to capture!
This is a real thought provoking video. I look back at my early photography and at least 70-80% was shot on a 50mm. I had a 28mm (which I never really came to terms with back then) and a 75-150mm zoom that was more of a novelty. These days I find I like the 24mm field of view but still go back to the fifty. I know the mental paralysis that comes from having too many lens choices so now I carry a 50mm and a wide to tele super zoom just in case the need arises (it seldom does).
Absolutely true. After having shot primarily with a 50mm and 35mm, I got a Zoom as a present from my son so I really wanted to get some decent pictures with it but I miserably failed almost any since I forgot most of the times to adjust my settings after having altered the focal length, which produced so many blurry images... I still shoot with my son's present but I never change the focal length on the same session!
From my late-teen years of Tri-X 400/Pentax Spotmatic/55mm, a pause of decades, and then starting in 2019 with digital has been a journey. I'm still learning so much and this video has definetly given me a lot to consider. I've decided to shoot with my kit lens AF-P 18-55mm set at 18mm, and AF fine tune to my Nikon D7500 and yes I know it's a 27mm equivallent and a kit lens but "them is the breaks"! Thank you for providing a new direction of seeing, learning and hopefully new creativity!
I’m newly retired and am going to make traveling a big part of my abundance of time. I’ve been a hobbyist photographer since I was a kid. I’ve owned full frame cameras and got lost down the rabbit hole of buying too many lenses and becoming almost paralyzed with indecision as to which lens to take with me. So, I sold the full frame camera and lenses and bought the Fujifilm X100V two years ago and have been very happy.
I found myself wanting more flexibility with respect to focal range now and am seriously considering the purchase of a full frame camera. Once again, thoughts of what lenses to buy has caused me some amount of frustration. I find that I feel best in my photography if I have limited choices. This video helped me decide that I will purchase a 50mm and 28mm lens. Period. Thanks, Ted!
Really enjoyed this! I know gear reviews pay the bills, but nice to see more OG AOP stuff lately.
Great upload. Took me years to get there, but I've narrowed it down to two focal lengths; 28mm and 85mm. I can get most things done with just those two.
My favorite focal lengths as well. I like the Nikkor 28mm F2.0 and the Tamron SP 90mm Macro f2.5. These are my go to lenses for backpacking.
@@carlosmcse 28 and 50 is a great alternative for documentary or on the street. 👍🏿
@@carlosmcse I tend to use 35 as a general stand-alone lens when I don't want to carry two. Step in closer and it's like 50, step back and it acts like 28…
@@carlosmcse Agree, agree, agree… However, if you're going to carry three lenses, then I'd use a zoom, as too much switching becomes the problem. If I'm going into the unknown, then I'd bring 24-70. If I'm doing a street photography photowalk, then it's two bodies with 28 and 50, (or 85). If i'm just milling about on a general, then I carry 35mm. Works for me… 😎
Man, I’ve been watching your stuff since I started developing my own film back in 2012. Your videos were the first ones that really got me pumped and excited to start diving into B&W photography.
Love that you’re still so passionate on the subject 😁
Hi there! Ive just seen this vídeo today but i think it resumes very well a need that i believe almost all photographers (namely the ones using digital) feel… in the journey of life we get trough different stages, we need to experiment, we need to find our way, our path… same happens with photography, when you have tried cameras, Lenses, genres, editing styles and tecnhiques, etc., etc., you start to feel the need for the simple things… a simple camera, a “simple” lens (can be a prime!), not spending hours editing… Thats when i think you are finally ready to give photography a chance, when you become more focused on the subject and less in the equipment…. Less is (most of the times!) more! Congrats on the videos!
Glad to see you address this type of subject - less about gear and more about how we use it. With all the focus on 28 and 50mm lenses, I must be an anomaly. I find that the 85 - 135 mm range is really how I see the world. I really connect with 135mm. Yet I find that I can adapt to different focal lengths based on what I choose to carry when I go out. I bring one lens on one camera and stay with that. After the first few shots, I see the world through that lens and shoot based on what it does. That does mean that I pass on shots I know I can’t get with that lens. Not quite the focus you are talking about here.
I love 135mm too. But you’ll get hate from the orthodoxy!😂
I posted a video of using the 60mm Voigtlander on micro4/3 (120mm equiv), and got several negative comments about shooting street photography above 50mm. It’s strange to me, I think it’s a very inexperienced immature viewpoint.
Still love my D7200, most used lens, is the DX 35mm 1.8. Approximately 52mm in full frame terms. So often I’ll try looking at a scene with 3 different lenses, then end up back at the 35mm.
Love your take on things.
Great episode. As a musician and a photographer I am so glad you brought up the analogy. There are so many more, gear vs talent, digital vs analog, processing/mixing vs live capture, it goes on and on. Ralph gave me the sam advice about shooting with a 50mm exclusively for a couple of years, but after about 6 months I did some tracks for a friend and he paid me with a Leitz Wetzlar Elmar 135mm f4. I am beginning to think that may be my signature-still experimenting.
I think you are absolutely right about this. I am working more with primes 35, 50 (I have two) and 85mm. Working with one or only a few focal lengths helps to build a cohesive look to your photos. For me, each of these focal lengths has a purpose, a look and a visual tone. Yes I love music and photography.
I discovered my visual signature with my Nikkor 35 1.8. “With the 35, I come alive.“🥰 I own several ideal primes and the 24-70 zoom. Yet, I reviewed all my favorite images recently and discovered they were shot with my 35 1.8 either on my D700 or D850 over the course of 10 years. On a different note, John Coltrane is a demigod. His music is played in my house 3-4 times a week. I’m working on a book chapter on his aesthetic “vision” in jazz. Love him!☺️
I recently re-purchased a 35mm lens for my Nikon D3s. . . ahhh it sings! also. I'm currently on the lookout for another D700 what a marvellous machine.
With all due respect because I've been a fan of this channel for a long time, I feel this thought process is backwards and perpetuates some of the same negative parts of the craft and hobby that many of us dislike.
By focussing on limitation it seems like one is expanding horizons but with lenses you're just picking one paintbrush for your painting. The lens isn't the canvas, it isn't the mind's eye it isn't the subject matter, it's a super well built but very simple means to an end. It focusses the light you're writing with. You did the rest.
I feel that expanding into a style is far better than limiting yourself. Limits are artificial and external; either you'll end up copying someone else's style or having a shadow of your own. Like a painter who can only find one paintbrush and maybe even only several colors. Certainly you can do great work that way, no argument. But to create a style I disagree.
You mention Cartier Bresson and Winogrand and bring up their focal lengths but I don't think it tells their story. Cartier Bresson had no problem photographing with a bit of detached aristocratic distance. I'm not surprised he'd step away and separate the subjects. The image you showed is widely speculated to be a rehearsed shot, and he wasn't above staging shots with subjects.
WInogrand on the other hand approached his work directly, in a blue collar way, he was open about this. Right up to the issue, no rehearsal, no apology. For that having a 28 works, it's the right paintbrush a different one would color two thin lines or paint too broadly. A 24 would distort, a 35 is practically what an eye sees anyway, 28 is just right to get three people in a shot up close on a New York sidewalk. The lens was a tool to an end.
I think in this age where almost everyone seems to have a mirrorless camera, you can adapt any cheap lens you find at a thrift store or an old antique barn or on Ebay and try painting your light in different ways. In fact I think having all those different focal lengths and visualizing them in your mind as you create images is helpful. What paintbrush will I be using for this tree? It's happy but for an artist it's not an accident, they choose wisely. Cheers!
@MKS Perhaps, but like I said I feel the lens wasn't the specific limitation, rather the vision chose the lens by default...perhaps just something I've been thinking about but I feel like it's backwards essentially. Cheers!
I have watched this video many times and I am sure I will watch it again and again. It is so amazing and also very comfortable to watch. Thanks!
I agree so much! I always wanted to take nice portraits with some environmental twist and context. Managed to buy the best portrait lenses and eventually find myslef having so many excellent lenses that I keep discovering them after not being in use for a while awaiting for their turns. Most recently I added a kind of "nothing particular" kind of 28/2.8 3rd party lens to my arsenal and the more I use it, the more I realize that this is it, this is the lens and my focal length that I feel comfortable covering everything. It is not too wide for even portraits, it is perfect for capturing the world around me just like as I see it and versatile enough to capture even decent closeups. It is a tiny, light, highly portable lens also encouraging me to take it everywhere and keep on shooting. It is MF and slow, so I need to be smart to grab the shot. So, yes, you are spot on: the worst thing I could do is missing a number of moments to capture, because I felt like missing the perfect focal length lens from my camera bag.
Thank you for this video. I bought a beat up hasselblad with standard 80mm and it was the only lens I could afford for years so I shot exclusively with that. I added more lenses years later but somehow I could not compose nor see as well in my mind's eye as I could with 80mm. It is like how you described it, that for me the 80 had that particular look and I not only got used to how it looked but learned how to shoot with it. Watching this motives me to bring out my old blad to shoot. Miss looking at the world through that 80mm lens. Love your videos.
many great photographers of the past did just like you.If you look at the original paparazzi in Fellini's Dolce Vita (1960), they all used the twin reflexes Which were just your focal length in 99 out of 100 cases!
I really struggle with my olympus 40-150 m43 lens.
Just can't seem to do much with 80mm and 300mm isn't long enough.
I'm more a 40mm man myself than 50 if I have to stick to primes.
Personally I always go back to the 85mm. I fell in love with it from depth heavy classic film landscapes and portraits.
Love this. I’ve done a few bike trips with just my 50, and I find that it pushes me to take images I wouldn’t have thought of.
I thinner you are absolutely right. Twenty years ago, when I was a analog photographer, I sold all my gear and bought a Leica mp with a summilux 50. I was released, felt great and used that equipment for the comming ten years. 50 mm is my absolutely favorit focal lenght.
Thank’s for a always interesting and stimulating channel 😊
40-43mm, in 35mm film format is my favorite. I also really love the 90mm (39mm equivalent on 35mm camera) of the lens on my Fujica GW690II.
Same here! I find I love the 40mm equivalent because of my GW690. 35mm is too wide and boring sometimes and 50mm is sometimes too tight.
@@NathanTrimbach exactly
I was a photographer in the Marines in the early 90’s and the standard issue camera was the Nikon F3, you could beat the crap out of it and keep shooting. Then along came the F4 with all it’s bells and whistles, and a little bit of dust was all it took to ruin your day.
I live near the Morton Arboretum and on a couple trips this year I took just one lens to push the creativity a bit.
You're absolutely right! I started photography with a 50mm f1.8 Nikon series E. After almost 20 years of photography, this focal length and this particular lens are my favorite. The saxophone analogy is great!
I've been shooting 50 all of 2021, new camera system and only lens. I'd like to add 100-105 macro, then 28 or 35. I used to have 24-85 on a crop sensor. I shoot mostly nature and travel. Recently expanding into street photography due to pandemic limitations. I love your giddy excitement in the middle of the video. I could see your inner child.
I admit, I'm a tech nerd. I love the gear, the gadgets and such. I have a literal mind and I don't pretend to be an artist but I hope there's still room for people like me in the photography space. We're all doing our best to create and be creative. And the paths we take can be different. But I feel they're all valid. And if nothing else, we make the gear cheaper. Lol
Yeah man buying gear is so pleasing. But we must acknowledge that it is actually a disorder, CBD? Just look around, shopping makes people happy. Very very happy. But the real purpose to acquire any gadget, gear or tech is to get better on it. Filling shelves is no use. This is not a critique but I think it is very important to acknowledge the problem to start addressing the issue.
Great. Now you've talked me into getting an RF nifty 50 and an EF 24 or 28. It never ends. 😆 Seriously, I mainly use zooms but for each zoom, I have favored focal lengths depending on the subject. That's likely true for most regular shooters.
Your video caused me to reflect back on what I did when I was a working psychotherapist. Whenever I became confused about a particular client's "issue", I would rely on learning from early in my education. I'm referring to a book called Back to One. It seems like that's what you are hinting at as you reflect back on the trap of the next better lens. Let's not lose our focus on what's important in photography. I think you did a good job of challenging us to reflect on our overall intention/s. Thank you.
Recently started shooting with the Leica Q2 and it brought me back to the days of my old Nikon. Back in the 80’s I bought a Nikon FE2 with the same 50mm lens you showed. I still love that old camera and just sent two rolls of Hp5 to the lab. As I get older I realize how much I appreciate slowing down and enjoying the process. These cameras are allowing me to do just that! 28mm is taking some adjustment but 50mm is how I see the world! As always, thank you Ted!
Hi,thanks for the video.
I think that 28 mm focal length is underrated nowadays when you can take great shots with it.
It's similar to 24 mm but not identical.It has a more intimate look whatever scenery you take.
I'm not a photographer but a 3D artist, I've set up my software camera to 50mm lens (you can change that obviously), but for some reason I feel like if I were a photographer I would go primarily for a 50mm lens...
I had an instructor who said to use one focal length for a year. One of the problems with zooms is that it's harder to anticipate what focal length to use, because you haven't spent the time to learn how it affects your photo. I recently bought a 40mm for my Z6II and brought it on vacation in order to learn about it. The zoom lens has stayed in the bag.
Thanks for another great video!
Bang on! I agree wholeheartedly. When I got back into photography (digital) about 15 years after my days of film, I tried to keep it simple. I have three prime lenses, a 35mm, a 50mm, and an 85mm. All f/1.8. Most of the time I am using the 50mm and I hate taking multiple lenses around with me, it’s a big distraction to think about swapping lenses. Nobody who sees and appreciates my photography ever asks me what focal length I am shooting with…. Only gear-focused photographers….
I've been listening to a guy on Advancing Your Photography by the name of Daniel Milnor and he has been encouraging his listeners to do the same. Pick a lens you like and stick to it, be it a 28mm, 35mm, 50mm etc. He is a retired press and documentary photographer and has published a ton of work. This video really validates everything Dan has been saying and I couldn't agree more. Great stuff!!
I love these types of conversations, Ted. I do like to experiment with different focal lengths, but I buy mostly inexpensive vintage lenses, so I can play around and see what kinds of effects I like. That said, I've found that if I pack my bag with several lenses, just in case, most of the time I usually end up using the one I put on first. I try to think about what my intentions are for the day: Am I shooting mainly content for my website, am I wanting to experiment and try some new ideas, funky blur, velvety haze, lens flare magic, or am I shooting wild birds out on a bird hike. I definitely know what I like, but sometimes it's fun to set a specific challenge for myself, like more architectural photos, macro photos, etc. Desired focal length is definitely, for me, something that has evolved over time. I have a lot to learn, but I have a better idea now than when I started, what kind of focal length I might need when I go out. But don't quiz me on it. ;)
Hey Ted,
I'm doing the same thing but with a 35mm lens. When I started photography I gravitated to 28mm and tried to get EVERYTHING in and as a result had very cluttered compositions. Switching to the 35mm prevents this and so I am must ask myself "Where is the story?". This has led to more focused compositions. It also has the added benefit of being able to "see" in 35mm before I raise the VF to my eye. I really appreciate your channel and the wisdom you share with all of us! Thank you.
I’m 51, and I started learning photography at age 13 on a Nikon FE and all I had was a 50mm and it was great. I remember the series E lenses!
I shot a whole wedding on just a 50mm and it was fantastic. I recently shot a family session on only a Fuji X100V (35mm equivalent) and it was fantastic. I shoot almost all my paid portraits & headshots on an 85. Now, after discovering Garry Winogrand, I’m saving for a 28 to expand my street work and personal projects. Primes are my weapon of choice and I love working in one focal length. Great photos btw, I love your work.
Absolutely outstanding segment, imo. Thank you.
Being new to this channel I really appreciate this insight. The constant urge to change lenses leaves me out of focus with my environment. And, like you say, that’s the opposite of what I really want to get the shot at that very particular and special moment.
So only recently during a hike with my brothers I limited myself with just one lens (a 35mm) and that was so liberating! So yes, I totally agree!
Been shooting with just a 50mm for years now, for personal work. Never understood doing the lens switcheroo all the time. Currently I’m shooting with a Konica IIIA which is probably the best fixed focal length rangefinder camera ever build. Getting to know one focal length intimately and sticking with that is creatively liberating, not creatively limiting. What that focal length is, is for each to decide for themselves but it’s the best technical foundation for any photographer. Incredibly interesting video as always Ted.
Great video to inspire serious thoughts about our photography and how to simplify picture taking. Over the past months I have been giving a lot of thought to this very same issue. This all came about after a long weekend break, I had a camera bag full of lenses and we went out on a long country walk. Needless to say the bag got heavier with each step and in the end I didn't actually shoot much. The next day I limited myself to one camera one lens and I shot just about everything I came across. It was a liberation!. I have now set up a FaceBook group devoted to "One camera - One lens" and have found a new passion for photography. Yes, less can mean more. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your videos.