for me, it's 28mm in Asia, 50mm in North America. 50 never clicked for me until I read this tip from Ming Thein: "if your subject is close, then stop down - it will force you to treat it like a wide angle lens and search for elements of relevant context with which to fill the background; if you’re shooting wide open or with a distant subject, treat it as a telephoto and start looking for layers."
Highly disagree! 85mm or 105mm is tight for a lot of things but there can be lots of scenarios, when somethingy is really far even with a 50mm and you can't do anything about it. Without my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 I couldn't take the shots about the 2 chariots on the Heroe's Square in Budapest the way I did, and this is just one example.
Something about your videos i love. Your the only photographer who’s music choice is perfect. The volume is perfect. Other people’s videos I found the music is to loud and you cant enjoy looking at the pictures. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪
May I suggest a 40mm? It's the perfect focal length for everything in my opinion, not too wide and not too tight. Paired with a 28mm and you're all set.
I can relate with the wide lens big city dilemma. I noticed myself always backing up and trying to get more in the scene with my 50mm in Vietnam but here in Sydney (especially during pandemic times), as I shoot with a 35mm, everything felt a little too far away. Changes in environment definitely warrants a change in focal length.
I'm a long time 28mm shooter (Contax/Zeiss), it's perfect for street. I picked up a 50mm to stretch myself and I find it's often a challenge due to the very narrow perspective but it's a great companion to have in the bag for impromptu street portraits or close-up shots. The 28/50 combo is a great kit for the streets...
After doing street photography for five years, I’ve discovered that my favorite three lenses, which are prime. The 18 1.4 Fuji, the 50 F2 and the 90 F2 are my favorite lenses. Remember these are APC. 27 mm, 75 mm and 135 mm. I use them for different reasons, so you’ll have to figure that out on your own. But mostly it’s when there’s fewer people I go to the telephoto and when there’s more people I go to the wide end. Anyway I am working with these three prime now, as I used to work with the zoom lenses. 😉
@@karstenfroemming9664 I just sent away for the 33 mm 1.4 LM. I plan to replace the 50 F2 with this lens. Should be faster auto focus better bokeh and hit the semi-wide to medium telephoto range. And the sharper lens should help let me crop a little easier.
I might be late to the game, but I just wanted to say this was beautifully done. I've been on the fence of buying a 28mm for a while now, but this convinced me that I should. Thanks again!
Ivan, I think you have a superhuman ability of making fine videos! So beautifully well made just like your every other video, pure inspiration! As a beginner and learning, I’m comfortable with the 35mm on the X100V but these days I feel that a bit wider would be better as here in my place all the streets are filled with people and life so often I miss shots due to lack of space in the composition. It’s always necessary to change things up to refill our creativity and I can’t wait to see your work with the new focal length.
There are difficulties in a city with a lot of space. I remember realising this after living in a very spacious city for most of my life, then traveling to cities like Hong Kong or Seoul, I couldn't believe how much easier street photography was in those cities. The whole time I had been grinding to get better at street photography in my home town, thinking "wow this is a really difficult", but I hadn't considered that the actual subjects themself were playing a bigger role than I thought. I like the idea you bring up about, perhaps the need to change the lens we see things through. I hope you find what you are looking for in your new home :)
Damn, this is beautiful. Poetic. Introspective. And I can relate. New York + 28mm was so perfect. Now I find myself going longer because I don't have the same effect/closeness to my subjects.
Good to see some people putting respect on the 28mm name! 28mm is photography on hard mode, but the results are always worth it when you get something.
Started with 35mm and recently been experimenting with 28, 50 and even 40.Each focal length has its own character and fun to it, and it’s so fun to switch around and view the world in different ways! I have to say 50mm never felt right for me until I tried the Zeiss Loxia 50 on my A7C. The rangefinder style with a good full manual lens somehow makes 50 a lot more special than expected.
Just started using 28 more heavily this past year I absolutely love it. Definitely feel like it has elevated my work. But as the pandemic continues it is a challenging focal length keeping me open to 35 & 50. Great video Ivan, enjoy the thoughtful content.
You really flexed on us with that “this one” intro lol. Nah but for real, I love the look of 28mm but it intimidates me to think how close I’d need to get to fill a frame. 50mm is my comfort zone for now 😄
I love your compositions Ivan. The placement of elements and people all the way through from edge of the frame through to the other side, and strong diagonal placement. Well done.
Thank you for making this video. After reading and listening to many street photographers say that 50mm/35mm/28mm is the ideal street photographer lens, your message finally makes me realize that I don't need to look at focal lengths in such an absolute way.
Different focal lengths for different towns for sure!! When I was in Hong Kong I pretty much only used my 24mm and felt it was a great FL for HK and I'm sure a 28mm would have also pleased me.
Your movies are great! I like content, voice, music and how you answer your different questions - why 28 mm, why Leica, etc.? It’s almost melanchonically but also convincing. Thank you.
Great video!! Love the story and journey. I always shied away from 28mm cos it’s the same FL as my iPhone and felt redundant but had a huge quality difference of course. I often go out with a 28/50 combo and mix it up when I’m bored. 28mm is also great for chasing your kids in action close up. Listen to your gut it knows what it wants!!!
Thanks Alan! I think i might start doing a combo set up here. I'm not a fan of changing lenses while shooting but might have to experiment a little with that.
I’ve been doing street photography for 30 years coming from a commercial photography background. I also love a 28 and a 50 as that’s all I really need, but then I usually carry a 21 and a 90 just to play it safe if I’m traveling. My 28mm is a summilux - I also purchased a 24 mm Elmar as a smaller and lighter option without duplicating another focal length. Yeah, I’m still looking at a 28mm Buogon as a whole different render and close focus. I also live in Hong Kong half the year and it’s a street photographers paradise.
Just discovered your channel and I'm really captivated by your work. Your perspective on photography and creating is inspiring. Currently building my collection of vintage glass and I'm so excited to experiment with different 28mm lenses!
28mm is my favourite street photography focal length too. I love the Mary Ellen Mark shoots with hers Nikon fm2 and 28 mm 2.8. I don't know if is the same for you guys, but i'm tending to choose wich lens to get out 28, 35, 40, or 50 mm depending on my daily mood.😁
I would argue that 28mm is great for learning as well. I recently got the 28mm Elmarit Asph. and it forced me to come closer to the subject compared to my 50mm and allowed me to learn zone focusing. While I still love 50mm lenses and they fill the most natural to me, 28 has such a distinctive look and just feels “street”
I don’t do very much photography but travel a lot and over the last year pairing my 28 with my 50 has been amazing. they complement each other nicely while still being very different and i can adapt it to pretty much every situation i run into. more a video guy but with my film camera this combo has been really fun to travel around with. highly recommend:) also beautiful video and storytelling!
Really like the rhythm of your videos.They are totally calming me down (in a positiv way). The right music, nice voice and interesting story and good pictures. Thanks for sharing, Ivan.
Had or have a similar struggle. Started with 28mm, moved to 35mm added a 50mm and now I am thinking of adding a 28mm again (locations haven't changed for me btw.). Thus, I believe sticking with these 3 lenses might be ok so that you can switch how ever you feel at the moment ;-) Great video! Always very inspiring!
Having used primes most of my life, I am finally getting into variable focal length lenses for certain situations. A 35-70 Minolta zoom macro for close range street stuff, especially in these days of Covid in 2021 where getting too close to strangers is a no-no. Unfortunately zooms won't work with RF cameras.
well, it's not just a wonderful focal lenth but also awesome sharpness of the 28mm Ricoh lens. Nothing can be compared to this lens for the immediately fast street, life, documentary, events, protests, and band photography. Ricoh really changed my life as well :-)
Great story. In my younger days I always travelled with a 57/1.7 and 28/2.8 Minolta, and now it's a 50/1.4 and 28/1.7 Leica. It's a perfect combo for my professional work. Keep on rolling.
I would like to suggest 40mm as focal length. It isn’t that common and has a ‘sense of direction’ to it that requires attention but it’s my go to alternative to 28mm - where available.
Thanks for this inspirational video. You are a very talented story teller. I also love the 28mm and I have the GR3. I use it in crowded places. I also use the 35mm focal length as my do it all lens. It's all about the look you want to have in your photos, and the working distance from your subjects.
Nice to finally see this. My favorite focal length is 35mm.... but I am considering going to 28mm. I started with 80mm, then much preferred 50, I have loved 35mm for years now... but I really want to like 28mm because I am thinking of getting a Leica Q2 for my 40th. I just struggle with the 28mm a little because I always feel that little too far away for most shots (but don't get me wrong 35mm can feel not wide enough on a rare occasion). I guess I just need to shoot it a little more.... I have that same Nikon 28mm F2.8, and I should probably just use it more and get the feel. Either way I think I can choose to use the Leica in the 35mm crop mode if I dont get used to it... and treat the extra pixels like a 'range finder' where I can see what is coming into the frame. Anyways.... keen to understand the practicalities that you had in learning 28mm (I always feel I need to run forward 3 steps when I see a photo, or I feel like I am invading peoples space).
I like your thoughts on how a new city might require a new lens. I live in Los Angeles and there are parts where 50mm gives me the angle of view that seems right. But other parts of the city (Broadway between 3rd and 7th or Hollywood Blvd between Vine and La Brea) that really need a wider angle of view. 28mm has always seemed neither here nor there for me, but lately I’m beginning to think it might have a place in what I’m shooting. I like that you don’t come to any hard conclusion in your video. I like how you see where you have been and how you are now seeing where you are going to.
I’ve been building me a 28mm lens collection. It’s a focal lens that is …….. well it is……period. I have other focal lengths I’m fond of . The Nikkor N 28mm f/2 is a lens you may want to look at . The Nikkor O 35mm f/2 is also a phenomenal lens I enjoy and 35 just doesn’t feel right most of the time . I’m starting to see the world in focal lengths and have been adapting how I look at the world . The Sigma 65mm f/2 Contemporary ( i ) Series is a lens I really love the focal length of and I just got the Nikkor S 55mm f/1.2 . I’m pushing myself to understand these views .So being like water and seamlessly being able to adapt to the situation is how I’ve been “ flowing” lately. I shoot live music videos and had a large Bluegrass band to shoot . 28mm was my focal length for the gimbal work . Then I got a Sony a7siii and a Sony G Master 24mm f/1.4 . Awesome lens it is . This lens being even wider than the 28 still wasn’t right for shooting this band in this particular setting. I laid out a 20, 24 and 35mm. I was going to switch between them all this particular night . Well I stuck on the Sony 20mm f/1.8 and it felt so “just right” that it never came off . I know a short zoom may be a great adaptation and I did this in the past . I shot exclusively with the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 for maybe 3 years. So it’s a 27-50 basically and super useful. It almost never came off of 18mm . I’d started with a 18-105 Nikon kit lens and it was on 18 or 105 . So came the love for the 27-30 fov. It always just felt right . I also had a liking for the 135mm fov too . I think because starting with that old apsc lens 18 to 105 I got used to seeing the world in those focal lengths. I only used that lens for a couple months and it was gone . Now I love “flowing like water” I believe I stole this line for Bruce Lee . Peace Y’all
I shoot the X-70 and it does take some time to get your head around how to shoot what is basically a landscape lens all the time. I find that in tight cities it's totally fine. In the great outdoors too. But in these North American cities with wide roads, you're basically stuck shooting on-coming foot traffic, because the opposite side of the street might as well be on the moon. I live in Mexico City, so there are areas that tighten up, but in the US it's all super wide, so if you don't get at a diagonal with the street to lead the depth, or take photos out the window of a car in the street, you get super flat, empty-looking photos. What I do for those far-spread places, is go for diagonals and dynamic symmetry lines, as well as try to layer as much as possible with the surroundings to add depth to a more distant subject.
My standard lens is a 20. Used it almost exclusively for 20 years. More and more I'm using 24 and 28 and occasionally 50. My favorite lenses right now are my Nikkor 20mm f3.5 ais, My Canon FD 24mm f2.8 s.s.c., and my Konica Hexanon AR 28mm f3.5.
I can tell you are the reason why I bought my Panasonic Lumix 14mm 2.5 (FF equivalent to 28mm) and paired with my Panasonic Lumix G85 it is just awesome and as you said I feel in my opinion this is a great focal distance. Fantastic video I just sub to your channel.
My friend Doriyan Coleman told me that 28mm is a “come with me” focal length after his experimentation with it. That truly made everything click since I’ve been a 50mm guy my whole photographic career. Great video, Ivan.
Don't give up your 28mm lenses!! Have you considered using a crop camera...for example a Leica M8...will be about 37mm with the 28mm lenses...you still get the focus length, zone focus etc of 28mm but it will crop it in. Or put on a 1.5 crop camera, like a Fuji or Leica CL you get 42mm which could be perfect for you. I have recently starting using 28mm and like you say it just transforms perspectives...but there is that need to get close quite often. Good luck with it all!
I also love 28mm from a completely different usage, which is landscape and nature. I also using the polar opposite in terms of weight - which is a sigma 28mm f 1.4 art. Do not get me wrong, I love light weight primes such as my voigtlander 21mm f3.5, sigma 45mm f2.8, various 35mm primes, etc. It is just that the rendering on the Sigma is so beautiful, and I can use it anywhere from 1.4 to 16, from near macro to landscapes. Its weight is, oddly, a creative companion in that its a commitment. Its FOV grows and grows on me. I have owned and used 20, 21, 24, 35 ,45, 50, 70, 75, 85 (briefly), 105 (which I also love), and 135mm primes. Having an assortment of different primes is like a sixth sense. You look at them, and you know which ones to bring, not necessarily why, you just do. And at the and of the day, you understand why - it is beautiful. Photographs call you from the unseen into the seen, and the primes used record the scene from the view that speaks to you before it even is.
Since I use 35mm f/1.4 and 21mm f/1.4 M-mount lenses for street photography on my Leica film and digital rangefinders, I have never felt the need for a 28mm lens. I have, however, used the following 28mm lenses on other 35mm cameras: Zeiss 28mm f/2 Distagon T* ZF2 Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 M42 screw-mount Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Biogon Asahi 28mm f/3.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar M42 screw-mount Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI (primarily use in reverse position on bellows for close-ups and macros) Fujinon 28mm f/3.5 M42 screw-mount (broken) Nikkor 28mm f/4 perspective control (primarily use for panoramic and architectural photos)
I know exactly how you feel. I moved earlier this year to a less densely populated city. I Used to shoot 35 almost exclusively. Everything in my new city is so spaced out that I've gone back to using my zoom lens for street photography until I can find a focal length that works. Good luck finding yours
Thanks for sharing...I am still learning about street photography ....I only have 35 & 50mm prime lenses which I use on my D500 so your comments & video is extremely interesting... cheers 😀
I love my 28mm as well. Currently I'm using Voigtlander Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 with both Leica M6 and Leica M4-P. Its compact, classic screw type lens and I love it a lot. But sadly its almost a year I'm not able to go out and shoot because of the lock down.. :'(
Really good point about focal length depending on location. I am in the PNW, we have super wide streets, sometimes narrow alleys, but mostly big spaces in the city. 35mm seems to work well here. Sometimes even 50mm fits, especially with the culture of people being very suspicious of someone taking photos. It’s nice to be a bit further away.
Wow, that feeling it's so true, i moved to Lisbon recently. In Chile i always shoot in 35mm but here, the things are different, idk what will be my focal, but the feeling of your video could help to what im looking.
Good video. And very interesting. I have never done street photography, but I got several points from the video that I can use when I try it this summer.
Back in 90's i had only 50mm and 28mm to accompany Pentax K-1000. I couldn't afford 24mm nor long lenses. Around 95 i started to explore 50mm and made some interresting photos. Now using cell phone with 26mm equivalent i started to cherish what i see through the focal length
problem with me as an aspiring photographer is I always look at what most photographers think is the best focal length. It's always the 35 mm but since I started doing photography, I've always finding myself shooting with a wider lens. I own a fuji xt20 with the 18-55 mm zoom lens, and whenever I do street photography, I always find myself shooting at the 18mm, which has the 28 mm equivalent. I tried shooting at 35 mm equivalent but I hated how the photos don't include all of the details that I want in the photos. I think I should start being true to myself and shoot at the focal length that makes me feel satisfied with the photos i take and that has always been the 28 mm.
I wish I had someone to look at me like Chow looks at his 28mm.
haha awesome
lmao
we all do.
Lol.
for me, it's 28mm in Asia, 50mm in North America.
50 never clicked for me until I read this tip from Ming Thein: "if your subject is close, then stop down - it will force you to treat it like a wide angle lens and search for elements of relevant context with which to fill the background; if you’re shooting wide open or with a distant subject, treat it as a telephoto and start looking for layers."
never heard that one, thanks for sharing!
1200 mm in Los Angeles!
@@TheVFXbyArt What are you shooting? The streets of San Diego?
@jae seung lee I've never visited so I'm not sure. I'd love to go one day
@@TheVFXbyArt 💯😂
28mm and 50mm are all a streetphotographer needs
Agreed!
Highly disagree! 85mm or 105mm is tight for a lot of things but there can be lots of scenarios, when somethingy is really far even with a 50mm and you can't do anything about it. Without my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 I couldn't take the shots about the 2 chariots on the Heroe's Square in Budapest the way I did, and this is just one example.
Something about your videos i love. Your the only photographer who’s music choice is perfect. The volume is perfect. Other people’s videos I found the music is to loud and you cant enjoy looking at the pictures. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪
May I suggest a 40mm? It's the perfect focal length for everything in my opinion, not too wide and not too tight. Paired with a 28mm and you're all set.
Tried that for a while when I first got my Leica CL film camera. I liked it
@@ivunchow Voigtlander has an excellent & fast Nokton 40 mm F/1.2 (and very affordable - in Leica terms) price. Give it a try and good luck.
@@jaapjandevries1935 I have this lens and it may be my favorite.
28 on a crop sensor has almost the same equivalent field of view
Wow. What a gorgeous and thoughtful video. Cinematic.
Love the sense of space the 28 gives. 35mm is like a wide normal and 28 is like a normal wide. 24 gets wonky for me easily.
28mm - my favourite too.
Beautifully narrated. And makes feel the sudden sadness of your parting. Hope you found the new love.
When you see a certain look for so long, the creative mind will always strive for different.... can't wait for your new favorite FL!
For sure, it's going to be hard to see in a different focal length
I can relate with the wide lens big city dilemma. I noticed myself always backing up and trying to get more in the scene with my 50mm in Vietnam but here in Sydney (especially during pandemic times), as I shoot with a 35mm, everything felt a little too far away. Changes in environment definitely warrants a change in focal length.
I also noticed that I keep backing up into people and things when i shoot with a 50mm. Pisses off more people than a 28 haha
I'm a long time 28mm shooter (Contax/Zeiss), it's perfect for street. I picked up a 50mm to stretch myself and I find it's often a challenge due to the very narrow perspective but it's a great companion to have in the bag for impromptu street portraits or close-up shots. The 28/50 combo is a great kit for the streets...
A true love story. Nice vid!
35mm to me is where it's at. Tried everything and this is the one that gets the very best out of me.
What an awesome documentary on a Man and his passion for street photography with an 28mm lens.
After doing street photography for five years, I’ve discovered that my favorite three lenses, which are prime. The 18 1.4 Fuji, the 50 F2 and the 90 F2 are my favorite lenses. Remember these are APC. 27 mm, 75 mm and 135 mm.
I use them for different reasons, so you’ll have to figure that out on your own. But mostly it’s when there’s fewer people I go to the telephoto and when there’s more people I go to the wide end.
Anyway I am working with these three prime now, as I used to work with the zoom lenses. 😉
Nice combination! I’m in something similar, 35, 56, and 75mm.
@@karstenfroemming9664
I just sent away for the 33 mm 1.4 LM. I plan to replace the 50 F2 with this lens. Should be faster auto focus better bokeh and hit the semi-wide to medium telephoto range. And the sharper lens should help let me crop a little easier.
18mm f1.4 is my favorite from Fuji
I might be late to the game, but I just wanted to say this was beautifully done. I've been on the fence of buying a 28mm for a while now, but this convinced me that I should. Thanks again!
Beautiful presentation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and images. I have a 28mm lens and now I see it in a different light.
Great documentary with soul and inspiration for a lens !!! Bravo
Thanks!
Ivan, I think you have a superhuman ability of making fine videos! So beautifully well made just like your every other video, pure inspiration!
As a beginner and learning, I’m comfortable with the 35mm on the X100V but these days I feel that a bit wider would be better as here in my place all the streets are filled with people and life so often I miss shots due to lack of space in the composition. It’s always necessary to change things up to refill our creativity and I can’t wait to see your work with the new focal length.
thanks man! the perfect weapon: a zoom lens haha
There are difficulties in a city with a lot of space. I remember realising this after living in a very spacious city for most of my life, then traveling to cities like Hong Kong or Seoul, I couldn't believe how much easier street photography was in those cities.
The whole time I had been grinding to get better at street photography in my home town, thinking "wow this is a really difficult", but I hadn't considered that the actual subjects themself were playing a bigger role than I thought.
I like the idea you bring up about, perhaps the need to change the lens we see things through. I hope you find what you are looking for in your new home :)
Thank you
Damn, this is beautiful. Poetic. Introspective. And I can relate. New York + 28mm was so perfect. Now I find myself going longer because I don't have the same effect/closeness to my subjects.
Thanks Aram!
I don’t have the right words to describe how much I love the 28mm focal range…it just fits ME!!! 🤷🏾♂️
Good to see some people putting respect on the 28mm name! 28mm is photography on hard mode, but the results are always worth it when you get something.
What a beautiful and inspiring video. I adore the feel it left me with.
Started with 35mm and recently been experimenting with 28, 50 and even 40.Each focal length has its own character and fun to it, and it’s so fun to switch around and view the world in different ways!
I have to say 50mm never felt right for me until I tried the Zeiss Loxia 50 on my A7C. The rangefinder style with a good full manual lens somehow makes 50 a lot more special than expected.
I love to shoot manual lenses on my A7c too! I currently have a m rokkor 40mm mounted.
Just started using 28 more heavily this past year I absolutely love it. Definitely feel like it has elevated my work. But as the pandemic continues it is a challenging focal length keeping me open to 35 & 50.
Great video Ivan, enjoy the thoughtful content.
thanks man!
You really flexed on us with that “this one” intro lol. Nah but for real, I love the look of 28mm but it intimidates me to think how close I’d need to get to fill a frame. 50mm is my comfort zone for now 😄
I love your compositions Ivan. The placement of elements and people all the way through from edge of the frame through to the other side, and strong diagonal placement. Well done.
Thank you for making this video. After reading and listening to many street photographers say that 50mm/35mm/28mm is the ideal street photographer lens, your message finally makes me realize that I don't need to look at focal lengths in such an absolute way.
Thanks for checking the video out! Lenses are just tools, different tools work in different situations/environments. Nothing really is ideal.
Different focal lengths for different towns for sure!! When I was in Hong Kong I pretty much only used my 24mm and felt it was a great FL for HK and I'm sure a 28mm would have also pleased me.
Almost started crying at 09:00min. Thank you for the inspirational video
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Beautifully written and shot
Your movies are great! I like content, voice, music and how you answer your different questions - why 28 mm, why Leica, etc.? It’s almost melanchonically but also convincing. Thank you.
Great video!! Love the story and journey. I always shied away from 28mm cos it’s the same FL as my iPhone and felt redundant but had a huge quality difference of course. I often go out with a 28/50 combo and mix it up when I’m bored. 28mm is also great for chasing your kids in action close up. Listen to your gut it knows what it wants!!!
Thanks Alan! I think i might start doing a combo set up here. I'm not a fan of changing lenses while shooting but might have to experiment a little with that.
I’ve been doing street photography for 30 years coming from a commercial photography background. I also love a 28 and a 50 as that’s all I really need, but then I usually carry a 21 and a 90 just to play it safe if I’m traveling. My 28mm is a summilux - I also purchased a 24 mm Elmar as a smaller and lighter option without duplicating another focal length. Yeah, I’m still looking at a 28mm Buogon as a whole different render and close focus.
I also live in Hong Kong half the year and it’s a street photographers paradise.
Fujifilm GFX - GF 45mm- 50 mm- 63mm- 80mm- 110mm ! 63mm is most hated lens , but my favorite !
Love how there a longer/better message in your vids then title suggests. you're an inspiration
😌 appreciate it man
Your documentary film skills are 🔥🔥🔥 Now I’m binge watching all your content
Thank you!
Just discovered your channel and I'm really captivated by your work. Your perspective on photography and creating is inspiring. Currently building my collection of vintage glass and I'm so excited to experiment with different 28mm lenses!
28mm is the best lens for street photography. You've made an excellent video, Ivan! Thank you. Regards from Baku.
28mm is my favourite street photography focal length too. I love the Mary Ellen Mark shoots with hers Nikon fm2 and 28 mm 2.8. I don't know if is the same for you guys, but i'm tending to choose wich lens to get out 28, 35, 40, or 50 mm depending on my daily mood.😁
Your videos like this are always so thoughtful
I would argue that 28mm is great for learning as well. I recently got the 28mm Elmarit Asph. and it forced me to come closer to the subject compared to my 50mm and allowed me to learn zone focusing. While I still love 50mm lenses and they fill the most natural to me, 28 has such a distinctive look and just feels “street”
Great story sharing, I also started fell in love with 28mm since I gotten Fujifilm X70, please keep it... You will need it for sure!
I love the way you talk about photography and growing as a good photographer
Thank you! A never ending journey 🙂
I don’t do very much photography but travel a lot and over the last year pairing my 28 with my 50 has been amazing. they complement each other nicely while still being very different and i can adapt it to pretty much every situation i run into.
more a video guy but with my film camera this combo has been really fun to travel around with.
highly recommend:)
also beautiful video and storytelling!
Really like the rhythm of your videos.They are totally calming me down (in a positiv way). The right music, nice voice and interesting story and good pictures. Thanks for sharing, Ivan.
Had or have a similar struggle. Started with 28mm, moved to 35mm added a 50mm and now I am thinking of adding a 28mm again (locations haven't changed for me btw.). Thus, I believe sticking with these 3 lenses might be ok so that you can switch how ever you feel at the moment ;-)
Great video! Always very inspiring!
Having used primes most of my life, I am finally getting into variable focal length lenses for certain situations. A 35-70 Minolta zoom macro for close range street stuff, especially in these days of Covid in 2021 where getting too close to strangers is a no-no. Unfortunately zooms won't work with RF cameras.
All the best with the new start, my man!
What a lovely video. Enchanted! Thank you so much!
Love the slow pace of this video.
well, it's not just a wonderful focal lenth but also awesome sharpness of the 28mm Ricoh lens. Nothing can be compared to this lens for the immediately fast street, life, documentary, events, protests, and band photography. Ricoh really changed my life as well :-)
One of the best cameras I've ever owned!
Great story. In my younger days I always travelled with a 57/1.7 and 28/2.8 Minolta, and now it's a 50/1.4 and 28/1.7 Leica. It's a perfect combo for my professional work. Keep on rolling.
Damn, wish I had that setup!
I would like to suggest 40mm as focal length. It isn’t that common and has a ‘sense of direction’ to it that requires attention but it’s my go to alternative to 28mm - where available.
Thanks for this inspirational video. You are a very talented story teller.
I also love the 28mm and I have the GR3. I use it in crowded places.
I also use the 35mm focal length as my do it all lens.
It's all about the look you want to have in your photos, and the working distance from your subjects.
Each to their own 😊 24mm for me as the 28mm is not wide enough to give the impression of space. Some nice pics too.
Nice to finally see this. My favorite focal length is 35mm.... but I am considering going to 28mm. I started with 80mm, then much preferred 50, I have loved 35mm for years now... but I really want to like 28mm because I am thinking of getting a Leica Q2 for my 40th. I just struggle with the 28mm a little because I always feel that little too far away for most shots (but don't get me wrong 35mm can feel not wide enough on a rare occasion). I guess I just need to shoot it a little more.... I have that same Nikon 28mm F2.8, and I should probably just use it more and get the feel. Either way I think I can choose to use the Leica in the 35mm crop mode if I dont get used to it... and treat the extra pixels like a 'range finder' where I can see what is coming into the frame. Anyways.... keen to understand the practicalities that you had in learning 28mm (I always feel I need to run forward 3 steps when I see a photo, or I feel like I am invading peoples space).
I like your thoughts on how a new city might require a new lens. I live in Los Angeles and there are parts where 50mm gives me the angle of view that seems right. But other parts of the city (Broadway between 3rd and 7th or Hollywood Blvd between Vine and La Brea) that really need a wider angle of view. 28mm has always seemed neither here nor there for me, but lately I’m beginning to think it might have a place in what I’m shooting. I like that you don’t come to any hard conclusion in your video. I like how you see where you have been and how you are now seeing where you are going to.
Loved it! Gives me much bigger hope with my Leica Q 😎👍🏼
Love the production of this video
I’ve been building me a 28mm lens collection. It’s a focal lens that is …….. well it is……period.
I have other focal lengths I’m fond of .
The Nikkor N 28mm f/2 is a lens you may want to look at .
The Nikkor O 35mm f/2 is also a phenomenal lens I enjoy and 35 just doesn’t feel right most of the time .
I’m starting to see the world in focal lengths and have been adapting how I look at the world .
The Sigma 65mm f/2 Contemporary ( i ) Series is a lens I really love the focal length of and I just got the Nikkor S 55mm f/1.2 . I’m pushing myself to understand these views .So being like water and seamlessly being able to adapt to the situation is how I’ve been “ flowing” lately.
I shoot live music videos and had a large Bluegrass band to shoot . 28mm was my focal length for the gimbal work . Then I got a Sony a7siii and a Sony G Master 24mm f/1.4 . Awesome lens it is . This lens being even wider than the 28 still wasn’t right for shooting this band in this particular setting. I laid out a 20, 24 and 35mm. I was going to switch between them all this particular night . Well I stuck on the Sony 20mm f/1.8 and it felt so “just right” that it never came off .
I know a short zoom may be a great adaptation and I did this in the past . I shot exclusively with the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 for maybe 3 years. So it’s a 27-50 basically and super useful.
It almost never came off of 18mm . I’d started with a 18-105 Nikon kit lens and it was on 18 or 105 . So came the love for the 27-30 fov. It always just felt right .
I also had a liking for the 135mm fov too . I think because starting with that old apsc lens 18 to 105 I got used to seeing the world in those focal lengths. I only used that lens for a couple months and it was gone .
Now I love “flowing like water” I believe I stole this line for Bruce Lee .
Peace Y’all
Lovely video. The nikkor 28 2.8 is absolutely beautiful on a “focal reducer/speed booster” on Fuji bodies.. don’t think it can be beat for the money..
I shoot the X-70 and it does take some time to get your head around how to shoot what is basically a landscape lens all the time. I find that in tight cities it's totally fine. In the great outdoors too. But in these North American cities with wide roads, you're basically stuck shooting on-coming foot traffic, because the opposite side of the street might as well be on the moon. I live in Mexico City, so there are areas that tighten up, but in the US it's all super wide, so if you don't get at a diagonal with the street to lead the depth, or take photos out the window of a car in the street, you get super flat, empty-looking photos.
What I do for those far-spread places, is go for diagonals and dynamic symmetry lines, as well as try to layer as much as possible with the surroundings to add depth to a more distant subject.
My standard lens is a 20. Used it almost exclusively for 20 years. More and more I'm using 24 and 28 and occasionally 50. My favorite lenses right now are my Nikkor 20mm f3.5 ais, My Canon FD 24mm f2.8 s.s.c., and my Konica Hexanon AR 28mm f3.5.
Like the way you settle yourself and your work. And hope you will keep going.
I can tell you are the reason why I bought my Panasonic Lumix 14mm 2.5 (FF equivalent to 28mm) and paired with my Panasonic Lumix G85 it is just awesome and as you said I feel in my opinion this is a great focal distance. Fantastic video I just sub to your channel.
Great titel!
28 and 50 ist a tremendous combination - i cot it on my analog canon and could not ask for more
Very, very beautiful and honest material
My friend Doriyan Coleman told me that 28mm is a “come with me” focal length after his experimentation with it. That truly made everything click since I’ve been a 50mm guy my whole photographic career. Great video, Ivan.
Incredibly insightful & thought provoking.
I always bring my fujifilm x70 (28mm focal length on ff), very versatile everyday camera
Don't give up your 28mm lenses!! Have you considered using a crop camera...for example a Leica M8...will be about 37mm with the 28mm lenses...you still get the focus length, zone focus etc of 28mm but it will crop it in. Or put on a 1.5 crop camera, like a Fuji or Leica CL you get 42mm which could be perfect for you. I have recently starting using 28mm and like you say it just transforms perspectives...but there is that need to get close quite often. Good luck with it all!
I love my Nikkor 28mm f/1.4 for environmental portraits here in Chicago where I live.
Wow this is so well put together. Thank you for sharing your journey
Thanks!
Such a beautiful video!
I also love 28mm from a completely different usage, which is landscape and nature. I also using the polar opposite in terms of weight - which is a sigma 28mm f 1.4 art. Do not get me wrong, I love light weight primes such as my voigtlander 21mm f3.5, sigma 45mm f2.8, various 35mm primes, etc.
It is just that the rendering on the Sigma is so beautiful, and I can use it anywhere from 1.4 to 16, from near macro to landscapes. Its weight is, oddly, a creative companion in that its a commitment. Its FOV grows and grows on me. I have owned and used 20, 21, 24, 35 ,45, 50, 70, 75, 85 (briefly), 105 (which I also love), and 135mm primes. Having an assortment of different primes is like a sixth sense. You look at them, and you know which ones to bring, not necessarily why, you just do. And at the and of the day, you understand why - it is beautiful. Photographs call you from the unseen into the seen, and the primes used record the scene from the view that speaks to you before it even is.
Since I use 35mm f/1.4 and 21mm f/1.4 M-mount lenses for street photography on my Leica film and digital rangefinders, I have never felt the need for a 28mm lens.
I have, however, used the following 28mm lenses on other 35mm cameras:
Zeiss 28mm f/2 Distagon T* ZF2
Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 M42 screw-mount
Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS
Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Biogon
Asahi 28mm f/3.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar M42 screw-mount
Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI (primarily use in reverse position on bellows for close-ups and macros)
Fujinon 28mm f/3.5 M42 screw-mount (broken)
Nikkor 28mm f/4 perspective control (primarily use for panoramic and architectural photos)
That’s a whole lot of 28s
This video was so well made. I wasn't prepared for how moving it was going to be.
Thank you!
I know exactly how you feel. I moved earlier this year to a less densely populated city. I Used to shoot 35 almost exclusively. Everything in my new city is so spaced out that I've gone back to using my zoom lens for street photography until I can find a focal length that works. Good luck finding yours
Bravo! Absolutely awesome video!
Amazing content from an amazing creator. Thank you for sharing this piece and keep going!!!
Thanks! I will 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing...I am still learning about street photography ....I only have 35 & 50mm prime lenses which I use on my D500 so your comments & video is extremely interesting... cheers 😀
such an informative and well made video, thank you Ivan!
I love my 28mm as well. Currently I'm using Voigtlander Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 with both Leica M6 and Leica M4-P. Its compact, classic screw type lens and I love it a lot. But sadly its almost a year I'm not able to go out and shoot because of the lock down.. :'(
Really good point about focal length depending on location. I am in the PNW, we have super wide streets, sometimes narrow alleys, but mostly big spaces in the city. 35mm seems to work well here. Sometimes even 50mm fits, especially with the culture of people being very suspicious of someone taking photos. It’s nice to be a bit further away.
Beautiful and touching video!
28 and 50 are the only lenses I use. they are a perfect match
Love this. Great job. Great and inspirational storytelling.
28mm is my new favourite lens! It's never off my sony for day and nightscape images
28mm is my wild angle. It feels you are there.
Wow, that feeling it's so true, i moved to Lisbon recently. In Chile i always shoot in 35mm but here, the things are different, idk what will be my focal, but the feeling of your video could help to what im looking.
My recently acquired 28 Elmarit is in the box awaiting its mate, the M-D 262, arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait. Thanks for the thoughtful video.
You'll love the M-D 262! It really is the closest thing in digital photography to shooting an analog film camera. Happy shooting!
Have fun, I love that combo
I love 24 and 35 for some reason. But I'm curious to try out a 28mm. Really intrigued, can't deny.
Good video. And very interesting. I have never done street photography, but I got several points from the video that I can use when I try it this summer.
Back in 90's i had only 50mm and 28mm to accompany Pentax K-1000. I couldn't afford 24mm nor long lenses. Around 95 i started to explore 50mm and made some interresting photos. Now using cell phone with 26mm equivalent i started to cherish what i see through the focal length
Really enjoyed this film Ivan. Found it really inspiring. Thank you
Thanks!
problem with me as an aspiring photographer is I always look at what most photographers think is the best focal length. It's always the 35 mm but since I started doing photography, I've always finding myself shooting with a wider lens. I own a fuji xt20 with the 18-55 mm zoom lens, and whenever I do street photography, I always find myself shooting at the 18mm, which has the 28 mm equivalent. I tried shooting at 35 mm equivalent but I hated how the photos don't include all of the details that I want in the photos. I think I should start being true to myself and shoot at the focal length that makes me feel satisfied with the photos i take and that has always been the 28 mm.
Very Nice video. I liked the pictures, the music and the sadness of your voice.