Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Halpin" <s...@stans-photography.info>
Subject: Re: Focal Length Constriction and RF's
Short answer to your question: yes, I find myself using a fairly narrow
range of focal lengths. But the longer answer is that the range varies
according to where I am and what I am doing. If I am wandering through a
museum or local street fair, I'll have the 16-50 on the camera and nothing
else with me. If I am in a marketplace in Guatemala or Costa Rica, where I
am being more intentional about the photography aspect of my visit, I'll
probably have the 21/2.8 on one camera, 55/1.4 on the other. Or 16-50/2.8
on one, 77/1.8 on the other. But if I am in the Costa Rican rain forest or
a Missouri National Wildlife Refuge, I'll have my 300/4.5 on one camera
and the 60-250 on the other. My general rule of thumb is that for me
cityscapes and people = shorter lenses, and more open spaces = much wider
or much longer lenses.
I think we all evolve a shooting style and develop a preference for the
use of certain lenses.
15 years ago, I was in a comfortable rut, shooting mostly 50mm with an
occasional 135mm telephoto shot thrown in. Then when I joined the PDML (12
years ago?) I was exposed to people who raved about their long lenses and
the ability to isolate details in a scene. And others who were equally
voluble in praise of their wide angle lenses.
Its a heck of alot harder to pull off a great landscape shot with a wide
lens IMO. I bought a 17-28mm SMC F years ago because of that challange &
have yet to accomplish that result !
I never have owned a 35mm lens as far as I can recall. I had the 31mm
Limited and hardly used it and didn't replace it when it was stolen. I had
a 28mm but never used it. But then I got a FA* 24/2.0 and started to change
my notions about wide angle. I think that is a great portrait lens! And
then I got a 20/2.8. Meanwhile I kept getting longer lenses as well. So
many choices, so little time!
stan
On Dec 24, 2010, at 1:39 AM, Andrew Allen wrote:
First, let me say thank you to those who e-mailed me with suggestions
on how to enjoy this mailing list and send some specific messages
straight to the circular file. That being said, I suppose one must
have a thick skin when dealing with any 'open' internet forum.
Back to photography, I was wondering if anyone has the same affliction
I do; that is, using certain focal lengths almost exclusively. I find
that 90% of my needs are covered by the rough range of 24mm - 85mm
(this being a 35mm equivalent range). That is wide through portrait -
clearly, I don't do any birding or serious sports work. Recently, I
had a friend told me I should try out a RF for my needs - of course
I'd love an M9 - but I've yet to win the lottery. Any thoughts on
this focal length constriction, and the use of a RF for street
shooting versus a DSLR?
--
Andrew Allen
Freelance Photographer and Writer
www.andrewallenphoto.com
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