| Damien Demolder |
| (Tharg the Mighty) |
| 26/01/2008 10:53 |
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I'm a bit of a wideangle man myself, and although I have plenty of long lenses I find I just don't use them very often. I wouldn't use the word 'style' as that suggests something about my photography that doesn't really exist yet, but I suppose my choice of focal length comes down to the way I like to see the world.
What focal lengths do you like to use most often? Do you see a wide view of the world, or are you always looking into the distance?
Go to the home page to let us all know. To unify the results, vote according to the 35mm equivalent of your focal length, so APS-C sensor users should multiply the marked focal length by 1.5x before voting.
I could have asked you to vote on an angle of view, but...
Thanks
damien
| Hotblack |
| (Dead Horse Flogger) |
| 26/01/2008 11:19 |
Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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You've asked two question really. Your poll question asks
Quote:
If you could only have one fixed focal length lens, for a 35mm/full-frame camera, from which range would you choose it?
In which case I would have to have something in the 35-50mm range for general utility.
Your question here asks
Quote:
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
In which case I have two answers, very wide and very long. I like to use the extremes of my lens range when possible but my 18-70mm lens is the most versatile.
| BigWill |
| (Gorgeous oversensitive Nikon-loving cream puff) |
| 26/01/2008 11:24 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I'm a bit of a 28-70 man myself so I guess I don't really fit into any of the chosen categories but I voted for 35-50 as it seemed nearest to my choice. Of course I do use a tele zoom but this is usually a bit "specialised" and I wouldn't regard it as my "everyday" lens though it's nice to have it as an option when I need it.
BigWill
TheFatControlleR
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| (L'éminence Grise, Devil's Advocate & AP Fanboy!) |
| 26/01/2008 11:27 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
... I would have to have something in the 35-50mm range for general utility.
Put me down for that too.
| bdr2 |
| (member) |
| 26/01/2008 11:42 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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An interesting question.
I use long lenses most of the time, and about 80% of my pictures are taken in the 300-400mm range so my gut reaction was a 300mm f/2.8 please
. However, on reflection it would probably be better to go for something shorter (135-200mm) on the basis that I can always crop the image afterwards.
| OneTen |
| ('Two Breakfasts') |
| 26/01/2008 12:30 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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For me it's a toss up between slighly wide and slightly long i.e. 35mm and 85mm. I think if I had to go with one it would be the 35mm. I've found that on 6x7 I use 65mm more than anything else and that equates (very roughly) to 32mm. So I've chalked up a vote for 35-50mm.
| Siuya |
| (Cool Hand Chris) |
| 26/01/2008 12:30 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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24mm for me...
Always was a bit of a wide boy!
| Woolliscroft |
| (veteran) |
| 26/01/2008 13:06 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I use a Leica 19mm (actually 19.5) more than anything else, mostly for archaeological trench photos, followed by a near 50mm equivalent (actually a 90mm on 6x7) for aerial work.
| LargeFormat |
| (old hand) |
| 26/01/2008 13:28 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I tend to use wide angles. If I could only have one I would like something about 28mm equivalent as it looks reasonably natural. However, I would prefer to have a wider angle, say 21mm, as well.
| AlexMonro |
| (old hand) |
| 26/01/2008 13:47 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I have a 28mm prime for my Nikon FM2, which gets far more use than the 50mm prime or the 35-105mm. My Fuji S9500 bridge starts at 28mm equivalent (one of the reasons I chose it) and I often find I'm not zooming in at all, though I do occasionally use the 300mm equiv end for wildlife. I often wish my Olympus SP-350 pocket compact went a bit wider than 38mm equiv.
| beejaybee |
| (Marvin) |
| 26/01/2008 14:15 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
You've asked two question really.
I'm with Hotblack on this one.
If I have to have only one prime lens, it's got to be 40mm (+/- 5mm). Can I have an f/1.4 please, with a multi-curved blade "circular" aperture stop for nice bokeh when stopped down?
But my favourite focal length for general photography is a lot harder to answer. I use focal lengths around 24mm and 85mm quite a lot. Both do things that are inconvenient or impossible with a "standard" lens. I'd feel deprived without either of these focal lengths, but not as deprived as I would be if I didn't have a "standard" focal length available.
| CircleOfConfusion |
| (addict) |
| 26/01/2008 15:07 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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If I had to live with just one lens it would probably be a 50mm prime, however my favourite focal length is probably 70-200mm. I suppose I love to pick out detail and isolate subjects, and its also probably because my 70mm+ lenses are much better than my wide angle zoom
| MickLL |
| (Two Grand Man) |
| 26/01/2008 21:44 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I'll stick with my 200mm macro. I use it for 90% of my 'serious' photography anyway. For family 'snaps' it's an old 28-85mm. One of the very old Minolta lenses.
MickLL
| john_g |
| (Pooh-bah Hoo-ha) |
| 26/01/2008 21:52 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...law of averages... better vote for a standard lens.
| Carrie |
| (journeywoman) |
| 26/01/2008 22:35 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Hmm. Hate to be difficult, but isn't the question on the homepage just a little silly?
One of the reasons that I invested in an SLR and various lenses was so that I wouldn't ever have to chose just one lens. Even when I'm travelling light I carry two.
As for my favourite, it depends on what sort of photography I'm planning on doing.
| zx9 |
| (old hand) |
| 26/01/2008 22:40 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...wide angle?
...telephoto?
...law of averages... better vote for a standard lens.
Yes
time to vote
| Rhys |
| (Sasquatch) |
| 27/01/2008 00:10 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I prefer the wide end of focal lengths, usually around 28mm (can't afford anything wider) so its the wide end of the DX 18-70 AFS G ED on the digi and the 28-105 AF-D on the film (same focal lengths really). I have a few Carl Zeiss lenses on my old screw thread Pentax Spottie - my favourite being a 35mm f2.4 Flektogon which also had pretty good close focussing. I have a couple of lenses for the Blad, my favourite being a C T* 50mm f4 Distagon (I guess around the 28mm equivalent).
I've never had the opportunity to use anything wider so don't know if I'd get more use out of a wider lens, though I did get to use a 38mm Biogon SWC Blad while at college and quite liked it. Flicking through the latest issue of AP I think I'd have one if I won the lottery (along with a digi back and a D3)
| Garry McNamara |
| (Snr Tutor/Bongo Banjo) |
| 27/01/2008 11:01 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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It's a really good question and while you might have a wide range of lenses or even a zoom we do tend, I think, to have a way of looking at the world.
Some of us even have a focal length shift like the artist Giacometti, who saw objects seemingly at a distance even when they were up close - hence his diminutive figures.
I also think we have favoured distances and viewpoints - some liking to see the world from far off in grand vista and others liking to lie on the grass and see the world close up.
I love my 210mm on my 5x4 - doesn't really have a 35mm equivalent but it's like a long standard lens and it matches my eye it seems.
| John_K |
| (addict) |
| 27/01/2008 12:29 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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28mm downwards in 35mm or 50mm downwards in Med Format
| Footloose |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 27/01/2008 19:30 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Looking through the EXIF data, it looks as if the the focal length I use the most, ranges between 24mm and 70mm, (a 10% variance between these) However the lens range I enjoy using because of the effects, is the 14 to 24mm range.
| parisian |
| (Over the hill and far away...) |
| 27/01/2008 20:59 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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50mm and a decent pair of walking shoes to narrow or broaden perspective.
| Rhys |
| (Sasquatch) |
| 27/01/2008 21:33 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
Some of us even have a focal length shift like the artist Giacometti, who saw objects seemingly at a distance even when they were up close - hence his diminutive figures.
The sculptor or the painter? (there were two and they were cousins I believe, without checking)
| NorthernNikon |
| (Bulls Hitter) |
| 27/01/2008 23:01 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
Some of us even have a focal length shift like the artist Giacometti, who saw objects seemingly at a distance even when they were up close - hence his diminutive figures.
I did a search for that fella and came up with this ...
He wasn't one of these benchist wierdos was he?
| Garry McNamara |
| (Snr Tutor/Bongo Banjo) |
| 28/01/2008 08:51 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:Quote:
Some of us even have a focal length shift like the artist Giacometti, who saw objects seemingly at a distance even when they were up close - hence his diminutive figures.
The sculptor or the painter? (there were two and they were cousins I believe, without checking)
Alberto - painter and sculptor, his brother Diego is only known to me as a model for Alberto but I know he did paint and design furniture. A little like Raoul Dufy's rather less well known sibling Jean.
Both Alberto's paintings and his sculptures show evidence of this focal length shift.
| Zou |
| (Pooh-Bah) |
| 28/01/2008 10:57 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I went for the 'standard' 35-50, as that's about perfect for a single lens setup. 18mm looks great on film, but has very limited uses, and I also use it a fair bit on digital (ie 28mm ish). What I really need is a 28mm prime for film which becomes a 42mm on digital. Sorted.
| Benchista |
| (Wich Tyler) |
| 28/01/2008 11:24 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I love wideangles, too. I love my 15mm Voigtlander and 15mm Canon fisheye and I used to love my 18mm Sigma -= anything 24mm and wider is what I like best. Maybe it's not what I use most, but it's what I like to use most.
| NorthernMonkey |
| (enthusiast) |
| 28/01/2008 13:19 |
Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I normally go for my 17-40 f4 (on film) if im only going to carry one lens, but it takes really horrible portraits, for which I use an 85.
If I could pick 2 lenses then it would be the 17-40 and the 85, however, if i could choose only one, it would be a fast 50mm. Something which I have, but harly ever use.
| daft_biker |
| (Action Man!) |
| 28/01/2008 17:21 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I'm not sure a 65mm macro lens that doesn't focus on infinity counts here but it's far and away my favourite lens
.Most of my other digital pics are at 38mm...the wide end of my compact or a 24mm on APS-C (although on the DSLR I have it shows some of the image through a rubbishy (slightly) off-centre and distorting viewfinder so looks more like a 50mm
)
| topoxforddoc |
| (newbie) |
| 28/01/2008 21:58 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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35mm. When I travel light, I take one body (a Leica M6 or M2), my 35/1.4 summilux and lots of film. The 35 sits on my camera 90% of the time.
Charlie
| pilliwinks |
| (enthusiast) |
| 28/01/2008 23:33 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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I answered the question as written, and went for the wide end as my favorite lens in 35mm is a 21mm lens. Having now read the thread, I see that I should have voted differently. In 6x7 I normally use 110mm, and in 5x4 150mm, as these seem to match my way of seeing. I don't understand why 35mm is so very different for me...
| beejaybee |
| (Marvin) |
| 29/01/2008 07:40 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
I don't understand why 35mm is so very different for me...
There's a psychological effect here. The longer you look at a shot, the more you frame in on the central (most important) section, that tends to make you think in terms of a longer lens.
35mm being so "immediate" in terms of point & shoot rather than faffing about with tripods etc. should make you want to use a relatively wider lens. It would be interesting to find if the same applies with the even greater immediacy of digital compacts ... few of which, unfortunately, have anything approaching a true wide angle setting
| El Sid |
| (Going potty) |
| 30/01/2008 13:31 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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OK, I guess I'll have to vote for one in the 35-50mm range though I suspect a lot more of my pictures are taken with telephotos. However being limited to one lens to me means choosing a focal length which will probably offer the most versatility. Of course I'd make sure I had both full frame and APS-C (or perhaps 4/3rds) cameras to use it with...
| PaulatUKcamera |
| (Pooh-Bah) |
| 30/01/2008 23:32 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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35mm & 85mm - don't know why I was ever talked into buying a standard lens.
Still don't like zooms - takes the thought out of choosing a viewpoint. I do subscribe to the "50mm and stout pair of shoes" school of thought, but by preference (lots of child photography) would say "85mm and ..."
Paul
| TimF |
| (Senior Member) |
| 31/01/2008 10:37 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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The evidence of my trannies says 35mm, with 50mm some way behind, then 21mm and 90mm. Anything longer than 90mm is vanishingly rare.
| Mikerocks |
| (journeyman) |
| 31/01/2008 22:37 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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35mm (on an Olympus 4/3rds camera) so a 70mm equivalent. Bought one over Christmas and it has hardly been off my camera since.
Mike
| Dave_Cox |
| (old'n'grumpy) |
| 01/02/2008 06:59 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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My favourite lens is the 28mm f2.8, but on the K10 that puts me into the 35-50 bracket, the one that's on the camera most is a 28-80zoom. I'm rapidly moving towards using the 16mm Zenitar on the DSLR as a main lens though - about 24mm equivalent on the K10.
| sandyfyfe |
| (newbie) |
| 02/02/2008 00:44 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Just out of interest, what does a 35mm lens do on a 35mm SLR camera. I only ask this, because I don't have a clue. I have a 24mm and 50mm (standard) lenses and I am saving up to buy an 85mm as I believe this will offer me a broad enough range of "fast" lenses for my hobby.
Whilst I understand the focal length bit, does a 1:1 ratio with regard to the frame and lens offer any other benfits with regard to image quality on film?
| Monobod |
| ('Phantom' of the forum!) |
| 02/02/2008 02:23 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
Just out of interest, what does a 35mm lens do on a 35mm SLR camera. I only ask this, because I don't have a clue. I have a 24mm and 50mm (standard) lenses and I am saving up to buy an 85mm as I believe this will offer me a broad enough range of "fast" lenses for my hobby.
Whilst I understand the focal length bit, does a 1:1 ratio with regard to the frame and lens offer any other benfits with regard to image quality on film?
May I suggest you post this in the 'Help', or 'Camera Chat' rooms, you are more likely to get an answer that way.
| beejaybee |
| (Marvin) |
| 02/02/2008 08:58 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
Whilst I understand the focal length bit, does a 1:1 ratio with regard to the frame and lens offer any other benfits with regard to image quality on film?
No.
There is nothing special about any focal length except for the angle of view.
A 35mm lens would give you an intermediate field of view - significantly wider than your 50mm but much narrower than your 24mm.
| Norman |
| () |
| 03/02/2008 16:08 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Lightroom tells me that of the 18800 pictures in the library
5300 were with the 600mm
4500 were with the 100mm-400mm
1350 were with the 50mm-500mm (no longer owned)
So more than half were with at least 400mm. Not surprising really as I like to photograph birds.
| Cuthbert |
| (enthusiast) |
| 04/02/2008 00:09 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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[unreconstructed male quip]
Quote:
Not surprising really as I like to photograph birds.
Me too...
Oh.. ermm.. you didn't mean that sort
[/unreconstructed male quip]
| Norman |
| () |
| 04/02/2008 13:13 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:Quote:
Not surprising really as I like to photograph birds.
Me too...
Oh.. ermm.. you didn't mean that sort
[/unreconstructed male quip]
Nah! I stopped calling the female of the species 'birds' in the 60s.
| Learning |
| (Ethelred the Ill-Named) |
| 04/02/2008 20:49 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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The only time that I had to decide on which single focal length lens to buy was when I bought my first propper camera, an Exacta Varex llb, and the 'for real' choice of lens was a 50mm f2.8 Tessar. If I could have afforded the f2 Pancolor then I would have got that instead of 2 cheaper lenses.
Now if I was allowed one lens only I would choose a zoom but for a fixed focal length I suppose I would still choose a 50mm.
| Terrywoodenpic |
| (A whiff of silicon...) |
| 27/02/2008 20:51 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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In the 28 to 50 mm equivalent range. Though I am liking the 17-55 on a 40d.
For wider shots I like to use it in portrait and take a four or five shot pan.
I find you can get away even with crowd shots if you pan ( this was taken on a G6)
http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07226/panorama1.jpg
http://xs101.xs.to/xs101/06235/pan-march2-web.jpg
| mjc7uk |
| (Am I banned yet?) |
| 28/02/2008 08:10 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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It would be 135mm on the old Film Era days...
And currently got Nikon 18-135mm, and have use it often. But then I tend to find it mostly set at 50mm!! Heh!
| tazio35 |
| (member) |
| 28/02/2008 12:10 |
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Re: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOCAL LENGTH??
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Quote:
I went for the 'standard' 35-50, as that's about perfect for a single lens setup. 18mm looks great on film, but has very limited uses, and I also use it a fair bit on digital (ie 28mm ish). What I really need is a 28mm prime for film which becomes a 42mm on digital. Sorted.
Ebay is your friend. I've just bought a Tamron 28mm f/2.5 for a tenner. It feels really good on my GX-1S, so would be lovely on your K100D.
I do like to have something at least as wide as 28mm - I'd love a Sigma 10-20 if I could afford one, but on the other hand I like fast lenses with narrow depth of field, so I might have to go for a 50mm prime. I was very fond of my 135mm screw mount f/2.8 until it developed fungus...