Street & Travel Photography - The Best fixed lens. How to find the right one - 28mm vs 35mm vs 50mm.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Raw Society Co-Founder Jorge Delgado-Ureña shares his thoughts and tips about fixed lenses for travel, documentary and street photography and how to find the best for you.
The eternal question.
Which one Is the best fixed lens the 28mm, the 35mm or the 50mm? Or is this One camera-one lens concept a dogma that we should avoid?
In these episode we explore this 3 focal lengths with examples from legendary photographers known by their use of these specific lenses.
Photo credits in order of appearance:
Jorge Delgado-Ureña
Henri Cartier-Bresson
William Klein
Bruce Gilden
Alex Webb
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To learn more visit www.therawsociety.org/
Instagram: / the_raw_society
Instagram: / jorgedelgadophoto
Sorry for the delay guys! Apparently there was a problem with the audio and also I made a big mistake with the credits of one of the sample pictures. Thank you for telling me about it and for your support!
For many years I used a 24-70 as my go to lens. But, I gradually realised that over 80 percent of my shots were taken at 24mm. This is how I learnt that 24 is my view of the world.
The 24mm focal length is great.
👍👍🙏🏻
I love your comment, cos I also found my fav and most comfortable focal length after using 2 different zoom lens (from 28-210mm) back in 1986.
Have you checked any wider focal length than 24?
So how do you know that your view of the world is 24mm and not 20mm?
I think one of the important takeaway for me from this video is "coherence." I agree about whether you wish to be involved or to keep a certain space will dictate which lens you choose to photograph with. But when you choose to bring 2 lenses with you, coherence becomes something important to think about. A 28-35 pair would be a good choice if you want to create photos where the image involves you in the action. On the other hand, a 35-50 pair would be a good choice if you want to give space and be an observer. I find that bringing a 28 and 50 makes a photo session a bit chaotic where I seemingly switch between two moods - being involved or being an observer - that capturing images can become stressful and you become unsure of yourself. I've never thought about why I felt that way until you brought up "coherence." I've always thought bringing a 28 and 50 would give the most variety but usually, I end up often disappointed because it feels like the photos I get from a session doesn't seem feel right. I am usually happier if I just bring 1 lens and stick with it. So thank you for lighting up the bulb in my head so that I think more about coherence and think about my mood on the day I shoot if I just want to observe or get personal. Liked and subscribed. :)
Thank you so much for your comment my friend! And thanks for joining us! :)
I would recommend a 50 to start with as it is the cornerstone of any lens kit, then build from that. If you feel you need wider, then borrow or rent a 24 or 28; on the opposite end, try a 85 or a 135. This applies to general and documentary photography
A one-lens/one body solution allows me to capture about 40% of the images I need.
Over the decades, one-lens/one body solutions I have used include 21, 24, 28, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55mm prime lenses on "full-frame" cameras. All work, however, my personal favorite is the 35mm.
I loved this video! Especially in the end when you said that we might have voices different from our heroes. Great insight! Subscribed.
Appreciated the way you emphasised "what's right for you". Each of us has a different comfort level when taking photos of strangers on the street.
I am still working on my photography, beginner of sorts. I wasn’t able to afford anything other than a 30mm (45mm on FF) on a crop sensor camera and used that for about 2 years. It was the perfect lens to learn. I’m starting to explore more focal lengths (85mm FF & 24mm FF). I’m falling in love with the 24mm focal length for travel. It is a VERY emotional decision rather than a technical one for me as well. I want the story to have a certain look and that’s how I chose the lens. Thank you for this and very well done. Also, that picture @ 2:47, it’s my favorite of the bunch. Very well exposed and something I am continually trying to achieve. That background/middle/foreground, layering and the exposure of it all is so good.
Absolute best advice for selecting a lens. Looks like I'm a 28 and 50 guy. Feel good days - up close and personal. Not so good feeling days... 50mm.
I found this channel only two days ago, but I already enjoy every video.Amazinf content, thank you!
Thank you for your thoughtful discussion on choosing a focal length that reflects your own personal style. For many years, I used an 85mm both because I was interested in street portraits and because I was shy about getting to close to the action. More recently, I’ve gravitated toward 50mm because it still allows me to focus on my subject but also gives room for adding context. While I love the vitality of 28mm shots by great street photographers, I don’t think it fits my personality.
I am heartened with your body of work. The what and how you do what you do is refreshing and needed. Good Job! Thank you.
So nice of you Stephen! Thank you very much!
Stumbled across your video and loved it. Many pros say the 50mm is their workhorse but for me the 35mm tells a better story and if I’m shooting portraits no questions it’s a fast 85 or 90mm. Sub
One of the best photografy videos ever! Thanks
I love what you said about the choice of lens being an emotional response rather than a technical one. I have used prime lenses for the entirety of my photographic journey and, early on, I always gravitated to something wide angle like a 28mm. I haven't owned a 28mm in many years and may have to rediscover it again. I have also grown to like the 40mm focal length and I enjoy its in-between the 35 and 50 view. I think I prefer the 40mm to the 50mm for that reason. Thank you for the video. It has definitely piqued my interest in exploring 28mm again.
One of the best explanations out there elaborating on focal lengths! I really enjoyed this one 👏.
Glad it was helpful Tim! :)
Great profound advice. Very mature theme.
Subbed right away after watching your video. Such an amazing explanation.
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful video. There is no right answer, as you say. My journey led me to primes as they better involve me in the process. I'm currently in love with a 40mm Voigtlander Nokton. I think that for me 28mm and 40mm are a wonderful pair. Ultimately, it does not matter. As we all know - it's 99% what's behind the camera.
I thoroughly enjoy your teaching style and humility in the presentation. Just one question: are you using a 35mm or 35 mm equivalent on your X-pro 2 which I believe is a crop sensor? Thanks
I like to return to this video often because the most critical thing I have discovered is coming to terms with how my eyes work. How I see and experience the world. I experience SPACE; this means I see a wide sense of space in front of me. Now, my eyes also have a habit of drifting off into the distance, without any compression😂. This has been a breakthrough because I now know that my natural wide vision easily covers 21-35mm. My Natural telephoto is 75mm. I know this because of using my 50mm on my D7100. So my sweet spot is 28mm, 35mm and 75/85mm. All other focal lengths like Lions and Tigers are context specific.😂 This is a great video because it forced me to examine what felt natural. Great video.👍🏽
A very fine discussion. Enjoyed it a lot1
Thank you my friend! Appreciate it!
You touched on something I observed: control.
When I had control of my environment (my street technique is find a place that would look good without people and then just let people walk in and out), I used the fuji 27 (which is like a 40mm in ff)
I was shooting a protest for a local paper and decided to hang out in the crowd. Oddly, the 18mm (28mm on ff) was good for close up and one of the photos ended up getting placed in a photo contest.
So I think it has everything to do with how much control I have and want.
Hi Jorge i was started unnown about fix lenses. I use 15-35 for mij foto’s.
Later i buy a 24mm 1.4 fix. Ans i used it sometime for bluring background. But mostly i use the zoom again. Its maby not pro to do but mij foto's becom more my style.
Many thanks for your lessons, i am very happy with them!!!!!
Roel van Grafhorst Netherlands
That's a very instructive and interesting video. Learnt very much from it, thanks!
Thanks you for watching!
Great video as always!
As always, thank you very much for your support Jörg! I really appreciate it!
Excellent video 👏👏 I’m currently trying to figure out what lens I prefer for street photography
Thank you for making this video!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow! Finally someone with the right answer to the question.
Excellent presentation. Thank you so much.
You're very welcome Ross! thanks for watching!
So well explained... 🙌🙌 And other videos also. keEp it up..
Thank you my friend! Appreciate it!
Great video. It’s a fascinating subject. I have 20, 35, 55 and 85 primes but I can’t really pick a favorite.
I really liked this video... and found myself appreciating the presentation style and information instead of focusing on the equipment. I think that what we often seem to be missing from these videos is the human connection with the presenter, as they regularly just move the viewers' focus to the equipment and photography technique. However, what I liked about this video is that I think it moves the viewers' focus on the emotions of the photos and, most importantly, gives us amazing insights about the thinking of Jorge. I find this a tad weird to say as we are in Jan, but this is likely to be the most enjoyable video that I have watched in 2022. The quote that I loved most "..it is probably already in your pictures the photographer that you will be.."
Thank you very very much! I'll try to keep sharing interesting and personal things my friend! Appreciate your support!!
I think you have been very insightful in your argument here, Thankyou. In my journey, I shot for a long time with a standard lens and grew accustomed to the different compositional modalities that a 50mm lens had with film. I bought a 28mm lens second. At that point I had no sense of what that meant. Perspective was exaggerated, objects were smaller in the frame lines converged dramatically, detail in the frame stretched further on either side of the subject. It was a hard shift to get back to controlling the image narrative. Living with that lens I found my subject and gave it critical focus and experimented with its scale and positioning in the frame. This lens was all about context and juxtaposition it allowed a more kinetic and dynamic approach where the 50mm was about isolating the subject in the composition and a more sober view that created pictures to contemplate that subject. I love 35mm lenses I get to critically focus my subject and place it in a context that tells its story without the context competing for attention with subject. I find these images easiest to read or to tell stories with. These three lenses are touchstone ways to see images. I learnt from the lenses. In APSC I often find myself using a 28mm a 35mm and a 20mm. I must be a creature of habit since they equate to 42mm 53mm 30mm. I am interested in 24mm but I haven’t found one that gives me what I want yet. I have examples of how I use them on my Instagram @chrisward9484.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Christopher I see in the comments and it’s happening to me as well that the 28 is more popular, it’s interesting maybe we all are getting used to get closer in general!
I like the fact you talk about the story and how you create that with a lens as well as your own eye.
Thank you James! I think that in this kind of photography, the story is key!
@@The_Raw_Society I think that goes across genres, but most definitely in your style, a good editorial should tell a story from a single image to a full set, it has to tell you something like a painting you can come back to and see more details.
Great video, thanks.
Thank you Terence, appreciate it!
An excellent video. Using fuji's 23mm f2 (35 mm equivalent) on an Xpro2 for the last 12 months has helped me grow as a photographer. I find that I am also taking better pictures with my xt20 and the 55-200 zoom when I need more reach.
I trimmed down to 40mm and 85mm in small Fuji x-t30. 40mm is all day on my camera. It’s light and discreet. but at night I prefer to get farther away from my subject or do abstract, it feels less intimidating. I tried 28mm but I really struggled making sense of the messiness that comes with it. Even if looking at street photographers this is the one I like the most.
I use the Fuji 23mm f1.4 and i love it.
Great Lesson again, thx. I am amateur, startet taking pics as a kid with a film camera from my dad, learnt to develop film in the darkroom, but never really understood the art of photography. It is all about how u see the world, how I see the word. I like my XF 35 f2 and Xf23 f2 lenses. Sometimes, just for fun, I use XF 16 f2,8. But I like to see the World thought or with 35 and 23 mm Lens! Anyway thx for a very nice video! Just watched your Lesson from Marrakesh!
That is awesome! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Alexander! Marrakesh is one of my favorite cities, love the place and love the people there, good friends!
Super insightful!
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching! :)
“No one can teach you how to see…” you summed it up in one sentence👏🌻
Thanks Markie! I think it's important to think about those aspects as well :)
"smell the streets". I just bought a mirrorless camera z50 (my first without the kit lens or any other lens) and have watched hours of videos. I feel like the 35mm fits my style most. Now i have to find a 24mm (crop 36mm) and finally take my first pictures. Thank you for the video, your presentation, quotes, tranquility man you nailed it! I appreciate you👌🏾
Glad it was helpful my friend! Enjoy a lot being out there!
Subscribed. I appreciate your thoughtful approach to photography. Personally, I found 45mm to be a good focal length for me at first; but as I got to know myself, I gravitated towards 85mm. I realized that I mostly look for details and abstraction in the streets of my city, but I still prefer the context provided by the 45mm lens when I'm traveling.
Great video about photography not gear that very rare in our days now. Thanks. For me I love 50 but in the same time I find my self using the 28 that give me something very special in my composition. I have no problem to use both. As many photographer, always when I’m going to shoot the big question always witch one I take with me and I prefer have very small kit one camera and one lens.
Thank you Younes for sharing your thoughts! The 28 has become very popular I find myself using it more and more as well!
Excellent content!!! I'm still around with my bulky Canon 24-70 Mk1 and it's difficult for me to be unnoticed also because I'm 6' 5.5'' tall, so I have no other choice than being involved within the scene, disregard of the focal length that I use. Maybe having a 28mm and a 50mm lens instead of the bulky 24-70, I will be able to decide whether to remain unnoticed or to be involved in the scene, besides the "look" of the picture that I want to produce. Good advice. Thank you very much.
Sooooo true. I have found that my lens selection has evolved over time but different circumstances demand flexibility
Thanks Dennis!! Much appreciate it!
There’s still great value in the old reportage rules. If you want a two lens setup, start with 35 and add a 75 once you’ve mastered the 35. If you want a three lens setup, start with 50, then move to 28 and finally add a 135. The 135 seems a bit long at todays standards. You might want to substitute with a 90, but the general rule still has merrit.
Agree 100%, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this good and useful presentation - Talking about full frame - Use 35mm for landscape view - It's just right. Never use 35mm for portrait view - It's always disturbingly wrong and unnatural - 50mm is always just right for portrait view - We mostly don't get to swap lenses on the street and so need to use 2 cameras with the appropriate lens for each orientation - Inconvenient, but right?
Enjoy listening to your thoughts Jorge. Whan you say 28-35-50mm, my mind immediately goes to the Leica M System. Personally, I struggle with 35mm, but it would have to be my "desert island" lens. I would much rather travel the world with a 28mm and 50mm. With experience, most shooters will develop their own style and vision. Safe travels!
Thanks my friend! 28 and 50 probably the most valanced combo in my opinion although I'm a 35 photographer but lately i'm getting hocked by the 40mm Enjoying it very much!
@@The_Raw_Society The XF27mm f2.8 is beautiful; i relate to it very well. It feels like a slightly wide 50mm. A 50mm with room to breath and yet not have a dominating context over powering my subject. It’s a beautiful Frame.
What is the best material to make the lenses, Jorge from which stone they come from as well as there are qualities of steel for their use.
Totally agree with all you said .
I have options to go wider or longer, but prefer to use a slightly tighter standard lens that gives me 60mm over the normal 50mm.
Second, I will step back when needed to create the wider view when possible and closer to fill the frame with the face as required . Otherwise , the standard prime lens equivalent I use is suitable for everything else and when I run out of options , the phone doubles up as a wide angle alternative for when space is tight .
I enjoyed the video very much .
Thank you very much Carmen! Very interesting choice a 60mm, my secret "love" is the 40mm but there are not many options of that kind of lens!
@@The_Raw_Society
I began with a 55mm and later found the 50mm too wide ha ha. In the absence of a 55mm I was forced to chose either a 50 or 60 and chose the latter - the rest is history as they say .
I also have a love for 40mm like you and I know that a telephoto lens would be handy , but avoid both options with reference to above because I want to keep things small and light as possible . I also wear specs when shooting and how they sit on the bridge of my nose has influenced how tight the normal world looks to me, which also explains why I was drawn to 55mm all those years ago when shooting film .
I thought that might explain my odd choice of shooting with 60mm prime .
Thanks again.
There’s an old saying, “if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”. Conversely, if all you have is a hammer, you only see nails. I feel this true for shooting one focal length. All the issues with controlling chaos in the frame, or being too far from the action tend to slowly fade away as the eye is trained for a particular style of composition. Just my two cents -if it’s even worth that.
Brilliant Video
Thanks my friend! :)
Wow!!! I heard about your channel and community, when I watched one of Ted Forbes fantastic videos and I have to say … I’m blown away by your work and the effort, you put in your idea! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thank you for this unbelievable awesome content and hard work!!! Fantastic! 🔥🔥🔥
Awesome! Thank you very much Christoph!! appreciate it :)
Nice talk. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Very interesting discussion. Found your channel and immediately subscribed. In life I have 2 distinct personalities, the 'centre of a room' and also an observer. I can't cope with 24-28, but depending on who I think I am today I will shoot 35 or 50. This day it was 50. Over the weekend it was 35 all the time. Sometimes the situation simply demands what it does. But 50 more often.
That's right Chris! Thanks for joining!
Sin duda el 50 mm es mi lente. ¡Enhorabuena por el Canal!, eres un gran comunicador y como no, fotógrafo.
Muchas gracias! Intentare seguir poniendo cosas interesantes! :)
Sometimes I’ll take two cameras. One with a 50 on a digital camera and either a 35 or 28 on a black and white film camera. Once the film camera is finished with its particular field of view, I’ll use the digital camera and focus on its contextual fov. Using older manual focus and vintage lenses brings out a more filmic character to a scene.
Excellent...!!! 🌟
Thanks a lot!
Thank you for your video. I love to shoot with primes . I use 2 XT4,s. Sometimes 28 & 75. Sometimes
Sometimes 2 xt4,s with 35 & 85. Thanks again
Thank you for sharing your combo Don! and the support!
Lovely photographs btw
Thanks Enrico!
Personally I try to learn focal lengths by shooting them exclusively for a while. I feel I can put on a 35, 50 or 85mm and after probably about an hour... I am seeing the world in the focal length again. I just ordered a 28mm because I have never really shot it and I want to see if I get on with it. I used to love a 50mm field of view, but when I switched to mirrorless in 2014 I decided to buy an all purpose zoom and a 35mm F2.8. Since then I have loved 35mm...and as my kit has grown... I now have 35mm on probably 6 or 7 lenses and own multiple primes. I am purchasing a 28mm to see if I get on with it and whether should consider a Leica Q2 even though I love 35mm and lean to it. Its going to be an interesting experiment... I will see how it goes.
thank you very much !
You are welcome! Thanks for watching! :)
Of those 3 focal length, I will pick the 35mm at any time ! But I do use other focal length Lenses ( but never 28 and 50, I am not fond of those, I think the 28 and 50mm are always either too short or too long), I sometimes use 14mm, 21mm, 24mm, 55mm, 60mm, 65mm or 135mm.
I watched the other video, and found both of them beautiful. I appreciate you sharing this and I like the 28mm, because that’s the fixed lens I have on one camera, and on my other camera I have a 50mm (well, the equivalent on both) that I use frequently. I’ve always “avoided dogmas,” so, perhaps, I’m still searching. ;)
Thanks for sharing your combo Kary! We are all searching, that's the beauty of the journey of photography :)
You can discover by using a zoom but that takes discipline. One reason I feel something like a 24-70 is popular is that you "don't have to choose," unless portability is what you want.
I'm not there yet. I often feel like 50 is too wide, yet prefer 40. It's been many years since I used a 28 but will likely pick one up to "get into" what that can offer. The thing is, I never buy just by focal length. I have other things to consider such as speed, size, cost, IS perhaps (video) ... I just don't have the luxury of considering focal length alone.
I currently these lenses: Sony G 20mm, Zeiss 55, and a 70-200... I'm wondering whether it'd make sense to add a 35mm or perhaps I should go with a zoom (Tamron 28-75).
I find the Fuji X30 to be the almost perfect camera for me for street photography. It has a relatively fast 28-112mm lens, it’s compact, has an adjustable rear screen, manual controls, etc. Even has a built-in flash. The one thing I wished it had was a bigger sensor to help with a shallower depth of field and for printing larger prints. I’ll take it along with my Contax T2 or one of my other film cameras when I go out in the streets. It’s a good mix of modern and old school.
Just got the Nikon 28mm 1.8G .... Seems really nice lens.
Very well done. Most "focal length" videos are nonsense. I use all of the above (mostly 35mm) and also an 85mm. I've gotten a lot of great "street" images with the 85. No one "right" focal length.
Well said!
For travel, I believe in going wide to capture scenery (you can always crop). Currently my favorite lens for travel photography is a 20mm. For street (focusing on people), I’ll go as high as 35mm. I had an 50mm but sold it because it felt too tight/limited so I sold it.
That's a very cool choice Kristopher! And I agree with the 50mm (APSC) feels a little bit to tight for me as well!
@@The_Raw_Society there is nothing like "50mm (APSC)"....if you want to say 75mm, then say 75mm. 50 is a 50. Do the math in your head for yourself and please, only use full-frame equivalents. Everybody should do this.
This is a good point because 50/75mm on crop sensor feels normal to my eyes. I only discovered this using my 28-70mm D Lens on my FF D700. My eyes don’t work like normal people blessed with good 20/20. I see put of my right eye only with glasses so a 50mm on my XT1 feels normal. I to my eyes. I have used the Viltrox 33mm 1.4 and to my eyes, it feels wide like a 35mm. This just how my eye and brain work. I now understand my natural field of view 28mm & 70mm that’s it. Let’s not forget the beauty of zooming with our feet😂
You had a brilliant video about why you choose to shoot the 23 & 35f2 that I can’t find anymore. :(
Hmmm, aside from this video, there isn’t one where I talk exclusively about it. Maybe it was in one of the live videos that I did? Or our online course? I do speak about it often :)
i would say that something like 24/28mm paired with 40mm is probably the best option for street photography
Funny how some things are not etched in stone. I've been shooting for well over 50 years, and in the '70s I quit the 50mm and used 35mm as my prime normal lens. This was the trend in the film days with photo journalist and so many of us serious amateurs copied that without question. I traveled the world with a 35mm on my Leica M or Nikon SLR and it became the field of view that I could see without raising the camera to my eye. You just find yourself in the right place for the lens.
Now with digital (Fujifilm), I've embraced the 50mm (equivalent) and have really learned to love the look. This has made the 23mm (35mm equivalent) too close, so now I use the 18mm giving a 28mm (equivalent). I am now pairing the 18mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.4 Fujifilm lenses for a versatile mini kit with good effect. They are far enough apart to reward you for the effort of changing lenses, but not so extreme that you could find yourself with the "wrong" lens on the camera if you need to shoot immediately.
I still go out sometimes with the 23mm as my only lens, but the two lens kit is more complete when you really need to get the shot.
Thanks for sharing your experience Albert! the 18 and 35 first Fujis are great, I love the look! And let's hope to keep stuff out of the stone for the moment!
what about 85 mm? often, I like it to take pictures from far away, because I don´t want to interrupt the situation. Therefore I always used the 200 mm. But sometimes I get frustrated when it comes to closer situations. Therefore I am thinking about switching to 85 mm. However I like the 200 mm. Observation mode on :)
An emotional approach to lens choice? Absolutely. You know, it's great to hear this. I feel photographers forget this and decide it is all about technical and technique. Me, personally, I like to buck the trend. I avoid, 35mm because I don't want my photos to have the same view as everyone else's. Currently I use a fixed 55mm for street photography. But of late, a 16 - 50mm has been my choice. I'd like to get my hands on the Ricoh GR IIIx for its 40mm fixed lenses. The GRII I use, at 23mm, sometimes feels too wide for me, yet it's pin sharp focus lends itself to extreme cropping. And the camera has radically changed how I shoot street.
I am not saying these are the lens types you should use. Use what you are comfortable with. I do. And happily. If anything, don't stick to an particular lens. Experiment. Don't just use a lens because it's either what you've been told to use or because 'everyone uses it'. Find your own and if you do that, you will also find your own style too.
Very good and useful thoughts! Thanks for sharing them. I just wonder one thing. I shoot with a cropped sensor camera, a Canon which have a 1,6 crop factor. When you mention for example 50mm lens (for example a nifty fifty), do you relate to a full frame camera? A 50mm lens on an aps-c sensor will actually come out to be 50x1,6=80mm focal length on a cropped sensor Canon camera. To get 50mm equivalent to a full frame one should use a 31mm lens on an aps-c camera. I just want to ask you this to get it clear in my head. Thanks again for your great videos! /Peter
When people quote focal lengths it's always in relation to full frame terms.
I'm glad to see your videos, you have something to say about photography.
My lenses choice is: always use a 35mm attached to one camera, and the second camera with 21mm or 50/75mm. About 75mm or 50mm, I could live with one or the other, and I carry only one of them.
To me, ergonomics and weight are super important. I already lost my energy and toenails by the care of many cameras and lenses.
Thank you very much Roney for taking the time to comment! You have an interesting combo there, usually people go from something like 35 to something longer but I see that you also mix it with something way wider, very cool! P.S. 100% agree with the weight! So important
When I shoot Fuji I love my X100F and Xt20 with the 18mm F2 and when I shoot my Sony I love the 35 and 85. The Fuji for travel and the Sony for concerts.
Great choices!
I did a walk about this summer in Lucerne. Got out early in the morning with two cameras, one with a 24 and the other a 50. Both cameras are FF and the same type. My only difference was the focal length. I shot more with the 24 but the real keepers were with the 50.
Thanks for sharing Tom! often the photos that stay tend to be the apparently simple ones! :)
@@The_Raw_Society I have not used this particular 50 for much stopped down, but made a point of using it at 7.1 on this trip. I have a great set of photos from an early morning walk across the Charles Bridge during the first snow at 2.8. The Chapel Bridge at 7.1 gave me everything from feet to hundreds of feet in focus. Great color and sharpness. This is a manual focus lens but at 7.1, it’s all in focus. I have printed this at 13x19 multiple times for friends and have it matted and framed in my dinning room.
Interesting point that I missed the first time: whatever type of photography we enjoy isn't necessarily who we are (or what is right for us).
That's right! I think it's important to think about that when choosing a lens! Thanks for sharing!
If you tell the story from an observer and speak the language of a 35 mm, you still have to find the right words at the right time to make the other person understand what you are saying. I love your video’s. Ciao: Arno
Grazie mille Arno! I'm loving the conversation in this topic!
thanks
You're welcome!
Options, Options -- that's what is important.
Informative discussion. 👍
For me the best focal length is which one smallest size . I'm really happy with pancakes 😂. I have nikon FM with 18mm 3.5, 28mm 2.8 , 35mm 2.8 , 50mm 1.4 , 55mm 1.2 and 105mm 2.5 but i prefer minolta uniomat with 45mm 2.8 lens for walk-around, travel and street photography. Changing lenses while enjoying photography is nauseating to me
That's a really funny fact for me 😂.
haha agree 100% with changing lenses! When I committed to fixed lenses I decided to either just go with or if needed for de assignment go with to bodies and hope for not to need something longer than a 50mm :)
@@The_Raw_Society RIGHT👍
Everything in a beautiful artwork depends on how the artist enjoys in creating his work.
The 28 is as far as I would go as it’s already, per sé, a border line focal length.
I really love old fast 58mm lenses, I seem to get my best images with them.
Oh my friend old lenses in general, they have something special
I absolutely agree. Like in many professions, each situation requires a specific tool. What I want to say with my photos requires me to choose an appropriate lens. I use a Fujifilm X100F with a fixed 28mm lens and I use a Fujifilm XPro2 with interchangeable lenses. Depending on what I want to shoot on a particular day and the situation, I will choose the appropriate camera. Many times I will shoot with just the X100F, because I like the freedom of moving around without a lot of equipment, or even a camera bag.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Scott! Ooh the X100 series love it! But yes, sometimes is just not enough but when it works is the best!
I like 28 and 40mm equivalent lenses for street. 28 gets more use. I like to get in close.
and I use X focal length because i cant afford to experiment with others haha (only half joking)
though just like gear gate keeping - if one does not use the "right" focal length feels present from time to time when one is really praising a past famous photographer purely for focal length instead of maybe because of their style of shooting and subject matter or story - and only THEN the focal length is there to help support to create that vision.
I have traveled the world on a motorcycle and hiking... From Antarctica to Amazon from Thailand to Ushuaia. I carry a f2.8 zoom lens generally on a Sony full-frame for lack of space. I do own a Leica Q3 but struggle with a 28 - and I would be tortured to use a prime 35 or 50 and think I missed something to complete the story. If I do use the 28mm, I generally look at the image and crop as required with over 60mp - its very reasonable with great resolution at 35 and 50 crop. What is the issue with doing that?
There is no issue with any of that! I would say that all this videos are something like guide lines if you like but never rules! The important things here are the process and the stories! :)
Wonderful discussion. I love how you describe the emotional differences between the three focal lengths. I shoot almost exclusively with 28 mm but recently I have wanted to explore 35 and 50. After watching this video, I’m more motivated than ever. Thank you!
Thank you for watching Stuart! Glad it was helpful! :)
Hello ! Where can I find more photos of India at 2:54 ?
I just discovered your TH-cams. Simply outstanding. Having just viewed 28, 35 or 50 lens, I have a question. In your descriptions of the way the lenses make the image, are you talking about their use on a full sensor or a crop sensor? If you area 50 person on a full, does that make you a 35 on a crop? If you're a 35 person on a full, does that make you a 28 on crop? Does it matter at all?.... Thankyou (anyone) who can answer this!
Hi Larry, thanks for watching! yes, I talk about 35 or 50 or equivalent; 23mm in APSC = 35mm in Full Frame etc. :)
I have the A7 IV. I have a 24mm f1.4 and a 55mm f1.8. The A7 IV allows me to use APS-c mode with a push of a button. Just like that my 24mm can instantly turn into a 35mm and my 55mm to a 85mm. The only disadvantage of this method is im nog using the full frame which means the pictures are 16mp which is more than enough for everyone….
Thanks for the relaxed but very informationell video.
I come from analog photography, here I have several lenses, fixed focal lengths of 28 • 35 • 50 • 55 • 90 • 135 mm and various zoom lenses, as well as a macro lens through buying lots.
Turns out I take 98-99% of my photos with the 50mm lens, a few with the 28mm and even less with the 35mm lens.
I have never used some of the lenses, all zooms and sizes over 50mm, the macro only 2x...
Due to the considerable expense involved in analog photography, I mainly switched to digital photography in December 2021, with very few exceptions.
I bought a digital camera that works almost analog and only saves the photos digitally, I have a 50mm lens for this and am totally happy with it.
However, I only take photos for my private pleasure, not for commercial reasons, so maybe that's why I get by with exactly one lens.
Thank you for watching! I think it's great to have different options and experiment even if it's from time to time but if the 50mm gives you joy and it's your voice then go for it! Enjoying the journey is as important as the outcome itself (my opinion)
@@The_Raw_Society full frame or APCS ?
Find the right tool for the job is the first step. Applying the tool(s) in a creative manner is the journey of a lifetime.😊
@@Pipp08 Fullframe
I struggle to get close to strangers. But I like to watch their behavior. My favorite photographer is Alex Weeb. Which lens do you think is the right one for me?
Hi Jorge, in the video you mention that 80-90% of the time you use a 23mm lens (on APSC). How do you normally decide when the moment has come to change to another focal length? In street photography you have to react very quickly and there is literally no time to change lenses all the time... wouldn’t it be easier to use a zoom lens which covers the 18-23-35mm range of focal lengths? Thank you!
That's a very good question Jörg! In my case I use most of the time the 23mm and if I see something that feels like 35mm I just change it (I try to take my time doing photography) As well depending on the assignment I might go with two bodies with both lenses mounted and ready. In Any case the use of a zoom it can be very handy (there is people that use them great) but in my personal opinion it's easier to mantain visual coherence with a couple of fixed lenses. I don´t think that there is right or wrong :)
@@The_Raw_Society Muchas gracias Jorge!!!
50mm is my all time favorite it never let's me down
Classics are forever! :)
Can I see your portfolio somewhere? You only shoot portraits and the great open?