Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/03

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Complementary focal lengths
From: ken@iisaka.org
Date: 3 Jan 2001 12:23:33 -0800

On Wed, 03 January 2001, Martin Howard wrote:
> This got me thinking: Maybe Ted's 15mm/400mm photo project isn't as mad as
> it initially seems.  I know the classic is 35/90, or maybe 35/50/90, but I
> found that having a wider spread was actually useful and more inspiring.

Surely, Ted's 15/400 combo is a bit extreme, but availability of many lenses, including zooms made us forget that we actually have legs so that we can move around.  Your subject doesn't fill the frame with a 35mm lens?  Instead of switching to a 50mm lens, move a bit closer.

However, I've usually found that carrying more than one lens ensures that I have a wrong lens on the body at all times.  I usually restrict myself to one lens and work with it.  I find a camera bag full of lenses a little distracting.  For my Leica, that's usually the Noctilux or the Summilux 75mm.  With my 4x5, it's usually the Rodenstock Sironar-N 210mm.