Lee Jones
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Glasgow on 28?
🕑 Added 2024-08-29 20:41:44 +0000 UTCThe eternal struggle of settling on a focal length.
I've forced myself to be a 35mm shooter the past few years basically due to that being the initial focal length that I got for my M bodies, with the Voigtlander Nokton 35 1.4.
Multi or single coated? Couldn't honestly say.
Either way, that led me to getting the 35 Biogon instead of the Nokton (I had the Q2 at the time, so didn't see the point in a 28), and that ended up with me buying the Summicron when it came along at a stupid to ignore price. Each 35 sold to fund the next. One in, one out. A rule I... mostly follow.
Put a gun to my head and tell my to identify them based on each of their qualities, and well... I couldn't. I don't pixel peep, and don't shoot in a way that lends itself to a meaningful comparrison. And I guess mostly, I just don't... care? It's more about how the lens feels, of which the Summicron is king.
I'm talking an awful lot about lenses but I'm almost at the end so fear not.
When our car shat the bed and cemented us back in debt, I decided to sell the Summicron. That sale is still pending, but my thought process behind it was "sell the summicron, pick up a 35 Nokton again, and pay the car off with the rest".
But then I headed out to meet Seth (pictured, numerous times in the selection above) and he gave me a shot of his Voigtlander 28mm. And fucking hell. It felt great. To the point of wondering why I didn't just get a 28mm to begin with. Though the answer is I had the Leica Q2. And well, I don't anymore. But more importantly, shooting today felt like it was the experience I wanted but couldn't get from the Q2... a 28mm focal length but with an actual true optical rangefinder.
So there we go. I think I'm gonna pick up a 28mm Voigtlander.
Here's some photos.
I've shared a whole bunch, but the first photo of the older woman smoking outside the shop is by far my keeper from the day; I love the perspective of the three faces being bundled close together in the centre of the frame, and they're all looking right at me. The photo just hits right for me. She looks like she doesn't give a shit, like a fucking rock star.
Then there's a few of Seth, as that's when I put the lens on and was getting a feel for it - checking it wide open etc. Love the shadows.
Beyond that are various more street photos. I took a lot of shit today, and this is the best of the bunch, but that's probably being too kind to the majority here. But it's all part of the process and I like sharing the photos regardless!
If you're still reading this, thanks for sticking around! X
Comments
Ben Bird
Yep, I just bought a Lumix S1R this spring and it has the Q2 sensor so I too have that cropping power, and I JUST picked up a 24mm (which I love for sky/city/landscape) but ... I'm struggling to really find my sea legs with it. I have caught myself wishing for a 28 hahaha... I suppose it may be my lot in life to always doubt my focal length decisions ! hahaha
Lee Jones
Ha, it’s a struggle! I feel they look similar enough in rendering that having the 28 just makes sense for when getting closer, a bit more room still without getting too freaky. Plus if I want something a little tighter like a 35, then with the insane resolution of the M11 I can just crop in without sacrificing too much resolution. Thats my justification, anyway 😂
Ben Bird
Killer shots! I too have swung back and forth a few times from 28-35 and while I have both now I always tend to try 35… until I try a 28 and feel like maybe I should have been using it all along !
