Old European Cities: 25mm/50mm or 35mm?

Old European Cities: 25mm/50mm or 35mm?

  • Total voters
    133
One more vote of confidence for a not too fast 35mm lens. I'm with Bob: shooting European cities with ISO 400 film means hardly any use of the very fast aperture. In my latest foray, I was shooting that film with my Summilux 35mm at f4 or f5.6 at 1/1000 (except for very sunny days, when the meter called for f8 and f11).

And 35mm is plenty wide. If a tighter or wider frame is needed, one can always use the foot zoom and walk closer or farther.
 
I like to have two lenses, so that's what I voted for. However, a 35/2 would also be a carefree way to travel.
 
28, 50, 90 is what I use and 90mm is not long enough for some particular shots. I think you should consider at leas one long lens, being at least 90mm.

Regards,

Boris
 
My standard rig for Europe has been 24, 35, and 75 now for years. Just back from there with for the first time just a small mirrorless digital camera but I nevertheless took the lenses that would provide the equivalent focal lengths: 15, 24 and 50.
 
Even if you decide to go one lens one body only, take the 25. Not even so much for being able to suck everything into the frame. But rather, in tight places a wide will allow to emphasize the perspective instead of squashing it flat. That way the end result will be more representative of the look and feel of these old cities..
 
I would go light, and the 35/2 may work best for me. The option of using 25mm and 50mm lenses would also work well.
 
I always chuckle at 'which lens(es)?' threads like this, not because they're bad but because everyone has such good reasons for their choices and suggestions. I prefer 28-50-90 but '35-and-the-hell-with-it' is sooo alluring these days. I've been there and don't envy your struggle to decide. :D

Don't forget to put the camera down from time to time and just see.

s-a
 
There is nothing wrong with sharing opinions here. Sifting through many opinions and shared experiences may give you lots of useful information that you could use to make up your mind (or not).
 
12mm ... good in really tight places

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21mm ... good it tight places for the less sociable

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35mm for general purpose

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50mm is almost a telephoto in town

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If it's a one-shot deal I'd carry a 35 and a 50 without question ... sorry for the colour, SWMBO insists on colour in the summer
 
Some of my very best shots ever from European cities were taken with the 21mm on my Contax G2 or the 38mm on my Hassy Superwide. Do NOT go without some kind of really wide option. You'll regret it.
 
Having spent a good deal of time shooting in Europe the past two summers, I would say that a 21 or 25 should absolutely be in your bag. 35 might suffice, but having the option of going wider is a big plus. Last year I used a 21, 40, and 90, and got good use out of all of them. Wides are necessary there, but I will advise that it can become a crutch. You don't always need to fit everything in the frame. Some of my favorite shots were taken with the 90, in fact. Then again, in some of those tight streets, even a 50 can feel like a 90!
 
Cities (and most street, for that matter) is mostly 50mm for me. As a backup, I often bring a 28. Between those two, I am all set (even though I'm starting to like the 90 for people shots these days).
 
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