I just took the hobby up again after a 35 year gap, I shot a Zenit E with Helios 58mm then, and bought a used X-E4 and 15-45mm lens. I worked with just that for as long as I felt like I hadn't worked out if I was happy at the 35mm'ish+ (50mm equiv) setting. On looking at my favourite photos after a few months I realised most were at 18mm (27mm equiv)! I bought the Fujifilm 18mm f2 and part exchanged a cheap Lumix for an XF10 at 18.2mm. So my tip for beginners, like yours, is stay with the zoom for a while, it'll tell you what your favourite focus length is.
Since the kits are so inexpensive with most of the cameras these days why not do that. I agree. But with most people a wide angle to moderate telephoto zooms they gravitate to the wide end.
Great topic and I really appreciate your take on this one. After 8 years I'm still struggling here. I own 35 and 50 primes only, no zoom. I do prefer the look of the 35 but found myself creating way more keepers with the 50. It helps me to create a clean composition and I don't have to get so close to the subject, wich I find especially helpful when taking pictures of my kids. However, nailing the 35 is more rewarding. Maybe I'll sell my 50 to force me to get better at 35...
Thank you mr. Williamson for your content, and first of all for great examples of truly american photo school. Any picture just clear enjoy for eye. P.S. about focal length - 35 mm(23 on crop) its most versitale length, but i also find myself stock in it. so i this sometime photographer need to try something new
Interesting question Kirk. Like you I'm more of a 35mm "wide" guy but also like you, I only shot with a 50mm because that was what was on my first Canon film camera (the AL-1). Only later on after transitioning into digital did prefer the wide prime lenses.
So, your video is timely. Just bought an X-T50 with the kit as a walkabout alternative to my FX Nikon DSLR. Have a bunch of primes for the Nikon, but wanted the Fuji to have with me at all times. Looking at the 27mm f2.8 pancake for sheer portability. The 27mm would create a dillemma since it’s about 40mm equivalent. Not sure either 23 or 35mm you discuss makes sense if I go with the 27? Why would Fuji destroy traditional gapping by making the 27 such an attractive travel lens?
I tend to be a 50ish. Really love my Fuji 33’m f1.4, 35 f2 and even the 27f2.8 (a bit shy of 50). I tend to focus on details in scenes which lends to mid tele lenses. Sometimes even my 90mm f2 is my favorite.
When shooting on film years ago, like you I gravitated to the 24mm as my favorite all around focal length. More recently on Fuji-X, however, I've been preferring the 35mm FOV (aka 23mm on a Fuji). I've yet to go through my metadata, though.. so my actual preference of keepers may indeed be a surprise.
Im an indecisive, can’t be caught out so keep leaving my primes and default to a zoom person 🤦🏻♀️ I always worry I’ll miss out, particularly if I want detail and can’t get close enough. I’m hoping to do many more trips so I can just take a prime and then go again another day with a different one. I’ve not been out for some time and missed it.
Tracey - It will help you develop a more consistent approach to visualizing compelling compositions. Give it a try. You will find that there will be things you miss but you will soon forget them.
Neither Kirk. My favorite prime is a 40mm. I first used one on my little Leica Minilux film camera years ago. It has a 40mm f/2.4 lens. I fell in love with the focal length. It is perfect for my way of seeing. Luckily Fujifilm makes the 27mm f/2.8 lens. Also, Viltrox makes a 27mm f/1.2 lens and Voigtlander makes a 27mm f/2.0 lens, both for Fujifilm X mount. And…, why just take either the 23mm f/2 or 35mm f/2? They are both tiny. Take both! Thanks for your videos. Always well done, enjoyable and informative.
Thanks Dennis! I have only shot that focal length once when I stuck my Leica 28 Elmarit on my Fuji. Not a fan sorry. I often tell my students that are new to photography to shoot one focal length to start then when they are used to it try another.
I’m definitely a 50 guy, I just bought a 50mm v2 summilux, I feel like don’t see in 35mm…it’s part of the reason I gave my original x100 to my sister. In contrast when filming, I find myself shooting 28mm(equivalent) a lot.
Ben - Enjoy the V2 of the Summilux. I used my Dad’s collector V1 for many years before I found out it was a serious collectors item. I finally sold it at auction to fund my M-P 240. The 50 Summilux I bought is a newer Aspherical and is beautiful. But that being said I don’t use the 50 enough and I should.
Funny. I’m the complete opposite. I love working with the 35mm frame lines on my M6. I find the 50 to be too small in the viewfinder. However, 50 feels more natural when looking through an SLR.
I just took the hobby up again after a 35 year gap, I shot a Zenit E with Helios 58mm then, and bought a used X-E4 and 15-45mm lens. I worked with just that for as long as I felt like I hadn't worked out if I was happy at the 35mm'ish+ (50mm equiv) setting. On looking at my favourite photos after a few months I realised most were at 18mm (27mm equiv)! I bought the Fujifilm 18mm f2 and part exchanged a cheap Lumix for an XF10 at 18.2mm. So my tip for beginners, like yours, is stay with the zoom for a while, it'll tell you what your favourite focus length is.
Since the kits are so inexpensive with most of the cameras these days why not do that. I agree. But with most people a wide angle to moderate telephoto zooms they gravitate to the wide end.
Great topic and I really appreciate your take on this one.
After 8 years I'm still struggling here. I own 35 and 50 primes only, no zoom. I do prefer the look of the 35 but found myself creating way more keepers with the 50. It helps me to create a clean composition and I don't have to get so close to the subject, wich I find especially helpful when taking pictures of my kids. However, nailing the 35 is more rewarding. Maybe I'll sell my 50 to force me to get better at 35...
Thank you mr. Williamson for your content, and first of all for great examples of truly american photo school. Any picture just clear enjoy for eye. P.S. about focal length - 35 mm(23 on crop) its most versitale length, but i also find myself stock in it. so i this sometime photographer need to try something new
Thanks and yes try the 50mm you might like it.
Interesting question Kirk. Like you I'm more of a 35mm "wide" guy but also like you, I only shot with a 50mm because that was what was on my first Canon film camera (the AL-1). Only later on after transitioning into digital did prefer the wide prime lenses.
I find using the 50 really expands my visualization of subjects. So I take it out more and more.
So, your video is timely. Just bought an X-T50 with the kit as a walkabout alternative to my FX Nikon DSLR. Have a bunch of primes for the Nikon, but wanted the Fuji to have with me at all times.
Looking at the 27mm f2.8 pancake for sheer portability. The 27mm would create a dillemma since it’s about 40mm equivalent. Not sure either 23 or 35mm you discuss makes sense if I go with the 27? Why would Fuji destroy traditional gapping by making the 27 such an attractive travel lens?
Basically because sometimes engineers just like to produce things that make no sense to people who use the product.
I tend to be a 50ish. Really love my Fuji 33’m f1.4, 35 f2 and even the 27f2.8 (a bit shy of 50). I tend to focus on details in scenes which lends to mid tele lenses. Sometimes even my 90mm f2 is my favorite.
Michael - When I take the 50 out I find things I would not normally. Yes love the 90 as well it’s an awesome lens.
I find that the 23mm F2 on my Fuji gives me that bit more versatility over my 35mm F2 which I find a bit too tight in some situations.
Same here. But if I shoot with the 50mil more I might get better at seeing with it.
The white picket fence photo was by Paul Strand, a early classic.
Ahh, Strand, yes you are correct. Thanks for letting me know. I knew it was one of those guys. Doesn’t it remind you of it?
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography It does, although I think yours could use a lick of paint...
When shooting on film years ago, like you I gravitated to the 24mm as my favorite all around focal length. More recently on Fuji-X, however, I've been preferring the 35mm FOV (aka 23mm on a Fuji). I've yet to go through my metadata, though.. so my actual preference of keepers may indeed be a surprise.
Randy take a look you may be surprised. I know I have.
the 35 in landscape at 2m sees 2m wide, at 3m sees 3m wide and so on; same for the 24mm in portrait mode...
I've found a 28mm lens on my Fuji gives me a happy medium of 42, and I find that very good for general use.
Never liked anything in the 40mm range. Old school I guess
Im an indecisive, can’t be caught out so keep leaving my primes and default to a zoom person 🤦🏻♀️ I always worry I’ll miss out, particularly if I want detail and can’t get close enough. I’m hoping to do many more trips so I can just take a prime and then go again another day with a different one. I’ve not been out for some time and missed it.
Tracey - It will help you develop a more consistent approach to visualizing compelling compositions. Give it a try. You will find that there will be things you miss but you will soon forget them.
Neither Kirk. My favorite prime is a 40mm. I first used one on my little Leica Minilux film camera years ago. It has a 40mm f/2.4 lens. I fell in love with the focal length. It is perfect for my way of seeing. Luckily Fujifilm makes the 27mm f/2.8 lens. Also, Viltrox makes a 27mm f/1.2 lens and Voigtlander makes a 27mm f/2.0 lens, both for Fujifilm X mount. And…, why just take either the 23mm f/2 or 35mm f/2? They are both tiny. Take both! Thanks for your videos. Always well done, enjoyable and informative.
Thanks Dennis! I have only shot that focal length once when I stuck my Leica 28 Elmarit on my Fuji. Not a fan sorry. I often tell my students that are new to photography to shoot one focal length to start then when they are used to it try another.
I’m definitely a 50 guy, I just bought a 50mm v2 summilux, I feel like don’t see in 35mm…it’s part of the reason I gave my original x100 to my sister. In contrast when filming, I find myself shooting 28mm(equivalent) a lot.
Ben - Enjoy the V2 of the Summilux. I used my Dad’s collector V1 for many years before I found out it was a serious collectors item. I finally sold it at auction to fund my M-P 240. The 50 Summilux I bought is a newer Aspherical and is beautiful. But that being said I don’t use the 50 enough and I should.
Thank you Kirk, learned a lot !!
Thanks for watching
Settled on both...😁
Well nothing wrong with that!
Its really easy to dismiss a focal length until you need it to get what you want. Sometimes we back into the truth and other times we trip over it.
Since zooms became so good I had been using my 16-80 on the Fuji. It now I’m picking up the Fuji 23 1.4 more and more.
35 all day every day.
Me too!
I use 35 on DSLR and 50 on leicas. I don’t know why but that’s the way my brain works.
Not strange really. If you are using Leica M it makes sense since you can see around the outside of the 50 mm frame lines as you compose.
Funny. I’m the complete opposite. I love working with the 35mm frame lines on my M6. I find the 50 to be too small in the viewfinder. However, 50 feels more natural when looking through an SLR.