Colin's top ten thread forced me to think...

[mfunnell]

...a painful process indeed (Check ==> here for the thread. If you haven't already, you should read it.)

What it made me think about was what I've been doing with my RF photography of late, which has been about exploring new and different lenses and focal lengths, playing with film types and so on... Partially as a response to an explosion of GAS and partially because I really did want to find out.

But selecting some favourite photographs showed me that a hefty percentage of them were with the "boring" 50mm focal length and shot on Delta 400. That "look" is what got me into this game in the first place - and yet has been decidedly neglected while off in search of the new and the different. I even have an Elmar 50/2.8 that I bought and put on my M3 yet have hardly fired a frame with.

So I hereby resolve to use the 50mm focal length a good deal more than I have been, and not go chasing after flighty 28s (who I can't quite figure out), (venerable and capable) 75s or even (often "just right") 35s quite so much.

And I'm going to use Delta 400 a lot more. Logistically, that probably means I have to develop my own. So prepare yourselves for some really dumb questions...

...Mike

[vrgard]

Kudos to you, Mike, for figuring out what your preference is. I, too, have wandered off by acquiring a whole host of different lenses of various focal lengths yet, like yourself, find that I still shoot primarily with the 50. As much as I like all the other lenses/focal lengths, I think my brain is just hardwired for the 50. Or, at least that my excuse for why I have so many of them!

-Randy

[Dfin]

On ya Mike, 50`s are sweet. Don`t forget All Ford Day at Warwick Farm this Sunday.

[markinlondon]

Mike, I had the same revelation about 6 years ago. I then forgot it for a bit and used 35s mostly for the next three years before being forced to pick out some stuff and realising my best shots were with a 50. I rarely use anything else now unless the shot really calls for a different viewpoint. Like Randy i seem to have a .72 50 frame programmed into my brain now.

[colinh]

When I got my M7 it was with the Summicron 50. I liked the shots taken with that. Then I got the ZM25/2.8 and got a few good shots there (but, of course I used it much less). Then came the 90/2.8 and 75/1.4. Hmmmm, not used much and no good shots yet ! Lastly the ZM35/2 which I use most now (for street photography) from which I got some shots I really like.

I'm not surprised that in the various polls, the 35 and 50 come top in terms of usefulness and usage.

Finally, do I have magical powers over Mike? Let's see.

Mike, you have seen the light, and it is analogue. Buy an evil M8 and send it to me. I shall deal with it in the appropriate manner!

colin