Originally posted by noelpolar I just repurchased a 21..... best everyday apsc limited I reckon.
I find the 21 a everyday lens and the 15 a specialty lens.... as the focal lengths (FF equiv) have always been.
I have the 15, but not the 21, I have a 20-40 zoom. I would totally agree that the 15 is a specialty lens, and it is special. The 21 area or the 20-40 is very useful, I use it a lot.
Originally posted by tokyoscape I am thinking of getting a 70 too. I just let my 100wr go and want to replace it with DA70 because of its size and weight. I hope I make the right decision. [fingers crossed]
21 or 70 for street?
I mostly do night urban street photography and 21 is one of my most used lenses.. As for you it very much depends on where you shoot and your shooting style. I used to have FA35, F28 and still have K28 f3.5. I hardly use them for what I like to do. I am on K3, by the way.
In an Urban setting on my street: 28, 35 mm are not long enough when I want to stay in a distance. 50-55 is perfect for that.
So if your street is similar to my street, and your style is similar to my style, I would go with 21 then 70 later.
If I have 16-45, 24, 30, 35 like your, I would only keep the 35 and/or whatever have an aperture ring for time-lap photography, then get either 20-40 wr + 70 or 21 + 70.
My 0.2$
These posts had some interesting ideas, which I think brings some great insight. I have read many times over the years that 21 is the perfect street length. Pak has enough experience that he knows his favorite for his own style, but also wants to try something new. I think that is the case with a lot of us, we may be pretty content with what we have, but wonder what this other lens can do for us. Right now I'm pretty happy with the gear I have, but still would like more. And as you have said you had the 21 before, but maybe it was not the right time. Several years ago I bought the macro 100 WR, it was a fantastic lens, but I never used it enough and therefore sold it. A few years later I ended up with an old manual focus Sigma 50 macro and used it a lot more. I still have the Sigma, but ended up with a Tamron 90 macro I could not pass up. Anyway, I'm more ready for the macro now than I was back then. Maybe that's a similar thing with you and the 21.
I lusted after a 21 for a long time, and the a trip to London in October came up, looking at London weather , I decided to instead get the 20-40 Ltd since it is weather sealed. I don't lust after the 21 anymore, I love the 20-40. I still may get a 21 sometime when the right deal comes up at the right time. Anyway, I guess a first question is always, what do you want to do with the lens? To me the 70 looks like a great lens, but I don't really know what I would do with it, so maybe you have some ideas. Only you know that. I have bought a few lens that I didn't know what I would use them for, and generally don't use them often.
The great thing is that are choices, each lens is a tool, you don't have to use the tool for the same thing as others do, and there is not a subject out there that there is only one way to shoot it. Think of some of the famous photo spots that everyone shoots, 90% of people take the same shot, I would call it a record shot, part of the other 10% usually are the ones that are interesting.
Now that I've bored you and offered up no help whatsover, good luck with your choice.
Note: I've also been involved in a Coronavirus busted deal. The seller doesn't want to leave his house to ship. (I understand too, but I know I can buy the postage online, the Postal Carrier will pick it up on the porch, a postal scale was a great investment)