What primes are considered essential these days.

ilya80 · 02-12-2010, 08:46 AM

I think you want something along 110mm effective focal distance. Maybe 70mm or maybe even 77mm

or maybe just one of the old 85mm's

Wheatfield · 02-12-2010, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by SylBer

... landscape, go for the DA 15 ltd;

Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other.
Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject.
A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography.
I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range.

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-12-2010, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other.
Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject.
A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography.
I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range.

I grew up with 55 mm lenses Takumar, SMC Pentax, for normal work. I notice that my 16-50 is most often used around the 35-40 mm range, and 55 FOV comes out at 37 on the APS-C sensor. Maybe you have something there.

After all that, my best selling print was taken at 12mm on the DA 12-24.

MD Optofonik · 02-12-2010, 01:32 PM

It seems to me that most 35mm film camera packages contain the same prime lenses (when the budget doesn't restrict the camera department to a zoom) that a stills photographer would want to carry:

14, 24, 35, 50, 75, 100, 135, 200, 300 (the 40 and 85 were omitted - stills can move a bit more easily than a motion picture camera on a dolly). That's a lot of glass to carry in a camera bag which I suppose is why most have a cart.

Again, thanks for the insight, its been awhile since I thought about these things and its nice to be able to get some insight from experienced enthusiasts. Most professionals are working with specific obligations in mind and that doesn't always translate well into the enthusiast's world, especially when it comes to offering "real world" advice. Most professional still photographers I've been on sets with know very little about the "enthusiast" world. They are very gracious with their knowledge about technique though and I'm very thankful for that since it translates better.

I'm curious if anyone here knows or has read about the old school photojournalists from the 60s-70s and what lenses they carried around in the streets and jungles of the world back then.

**Fries** · 02-12-2010, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by MD Optofonik

I'm curious if anyone here knows or has read about the old school photojournalists from the 60s-70s and what lenses they carried around in the streets and jungles of the world back then.

This thread might interest you! https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/65713-combat-photographer-tells-all.html

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-12-2010, 03:38 PM

One common recommended kit was 28, 55, 135. The 28 (18 on APS-C) field of view is about as wide as you can go without the people on the edges getting really, really, wide. That was the indoor people lens. The 55 was the indoor head shot, standing person, etc. The 135 was the sports lens, or the picture of the fireman rescuing the kitten in the tree. This was my kit for many years. I substituted the A 70-210 for the 135 in the late 70's.

SylBer · 02-13-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other.
Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject.
A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography.
I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range.

I agree with you. I often use my DA* 200 for landscape. However, I think it is safe to say that wide angle lens get used more often than téléphoto for landscape.

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02-12-2010, 08:46 AM	#31
ilya80 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia Photos: Albums Posts: 410	I think you want something along 110mm effective focal distance. Maybe 70mm or maybe even 77mm or maybe just one of the old 85mm's

02-12-2010, 08:49 AM	#32
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by SylBer ... landscape, go for the DA 15 ltd; Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other. Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject. A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography. I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range.

02-12-2010, 09:58 AM	#33
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Wheatfield Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other. Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject. A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography. I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range. I grew up with 55 mm lenses Takumar, SMC Pentax, for normal work. I notice that my 16-50 is most often used around the 35-40 mm range, and 55 FOV comes out at 37 on the APS-C sensor. Maybe you have something there. After all that, my best selling print was taken at 12mm on the DA 12-24.

02-12-2010, 01:32 PM	#34
MD Optofonik Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 962 Original Poster	It seems to me that most 35mm film camera packages contain the same prime lenses (when the budget doesn't restrict the camera department to a zoom) that a stills photographer would want to carry: 14, 24, 35, 50, 75, 100, 135, 200, 300 (the 40 and 85 were omitted - stills can move a bit more easily than a motion picture camera on a dolly). That's a lot of glass to carry in a camera bag which I suppose is why most have a cart. Again, thanks for the insight, its been awhile since I thought about these things and its nice to be able to get some insight from experienced enthusiasts. Most professionals are working with specific obligations in mind and that doesn't always translate well into the enthusiast's world, especially when it comes to offering "real world" advice. Most professional still photographers I've been on sets with know very little about the "enthusiast" world. They are very gracious with their knowledge about technique though and I'm very thankful for that since it translates better. I'm curious if anyone here knows or has read about the old school photojournalists from the 60s-70s and what lenses they carried around in the streets and jungles of the world back then.

02-12-2010, 03:17 PM	#35
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	Originally posted by MD Optofonik I'm curious if anyone here knows or has read about the old school photojournalists from the 60s-70s and what lenses they carried around in the streets and jungles of the world back then. This thread might interest you! https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/65713-combat-photographer-tells-all.html

02-12-2010, 03:38 PM	#36
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	One common recommended kit was 28, 55, 135. The 28 (18 on APS-C) field of view is about as wide as you can go without the people on the edges getting really, really, wide. That was the indoor people lens. The 55 was the indoor head shot, standing person, etc. The 135 was the sports lens, or the picture of the fireman rescuing the kitten in the tree. This was my kit for many years. I substituted the A 70-210 for the 135 in the late 70's.

02-13-2010, 08:55 PM	#37
SylBer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Quebec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 210	Originally posted by Wheatfield Interestingly, when I am playing Ansel Adams with my 4x5, I tend to use the 210mm focal length more than any other. Unfortunately, there are no real hard and fast rules about which lens is best for which subject. A wide angle lens get's pretty tired pretty quickly if it's all you use for landscape photography. I have always maintained that the best all round lens is the standard lens. On an APS-C DSLR, this translates to somewhere around 30mm. I shot for many, many years using just a 50mm lens on the 35mm format, and I still find myself most comfortable with lenses around the normal range. I agree with you. I often use my DA* 200 for landscape. However, I think it is safe to say that wide angle lens get used more often than téléphoto for landscape.