[RioRico]

Of course the 43 is a short tele on APS-C frames too. A 55 or 58 is also a short tele on FF. Besides the other factors, our lens preferences often reflect our comfort zones for shooting. Slightly longer FL means either you shoot tighter images, or stand back further. Two implications of the Helios-44 58/2 being a 'normal' Soviet-era lens: 1) Russians were encouraged to take more intimate shots, or 2) Russians were encouraged to KEEP THEIR DISTANCE!

I haven't the 43Ltd. I *do* have 37-40-45mm lenses of some quality, and those are fine FL's and I can comfortably shoot with them. But I also have 50-55-58-60mm lenses that I am just as comfortable with. I try not to lock-into a specific focal length for specific uses. Today's lens-of-the-day was my Nikkor 85/2 (modded for PK) that I used all around Breckenridge / Hoosier Pass CO. It worked for face-grabbing, street- and mountain-scapes, florals, etc. I may be getting hypoxia up here around 10k-12k feet elevation, but I can still zoom with my feet to frame shots.

I brought neither 40 nor 45 on this journey, alas. My F35-70 fills in pretty well on either the K20D or the ZX-M when I'm too lazy or busy to foot-zoom.

[Boris]

Oh, I certainly do. Just yesterday and a day before I shot with 50 mm lens.

[Pentaxor]

Of course the 43 is a short tele on APS-C frames too. A 55 or 58 is also a short tele on FF. Besides the other factors, our lens preferences often reflect our comfort zones for shooting. Slightly longer FL means either you shoot tighter images, or stand back further. Two implications of the Helios-44 58/2 being a 'normal' Soviet-era lens: 1) Russians were encouraged to take more intimate shots, or 2) Russians were encouraged to KEEP THEIR DISTANCE!

I haven't the 43Ltd. I *do* have 37-40-45mm lenses of some quality, and those are fine FL's and I can comfortably shoot with them. But I also have 50-55-58-60mm lenses that I am just as comfortable with. I try not to lock-into a specific focal length for specific uses. Today's lens-of-the-day was my Nikkor 85/2 (modded for PK) that I used all around Breckenridge / Hoosier Pass CO. It worked for face-grabbing, street- and mountain-scapes, florals, etc. I may be getting hypoxia up here around 10k-12k feet elevation, but I can still zoom with my feet to frame shots.

I brought neither 40 nor 45 on this journey, alas. My F35-70 fills in pretty well on either the K20D or the ZX-M when I'm too lazy or busy to foot-zoom.

Yes, I believe preference also plays a part. I personally prefer a 28mm or a 35mm in indoor/full body portrait situations. and those focal lengths are not short for the occasion. I would deem 50mm to be a bit long though.

[epqwerty]

I still shoot 50mm. After purchasing the DAL35mm and thinking it might be able to replace my M50 1.4. I find that the 35mm is good for indoor shots. However the 50mm 1.4 is still my favorite when I'm just walking around outdoors day or night. The 50mm has some reach but is still good for portraits and group shots.