35mm or 50mm?

[chgoh]

I'm not sure if there are zoom lenses available for use on a rangefinder unfortunately. Leica and Konica lenses with adjustable focal lengths but they step from length to length. Somehow using a zoom on a RF just doesn't seem right. Your question is rather broad as the quality and range of prime lenses vary a great deal.

Is a Tri Elmar counted?

 

[ricohflex]

I think no. 8 element 6 group F4 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar is technically not a zoom. Some one said step in prefixed focal lengths. If can zoom, they would call it Vario Elmar.

 

[thinkvision]

for rangefinder, Leica 35/1.4 and zeiss ZM 15/2.8 should be tasted.

 

[Ansel]

If you can only bring one lens with you, then for me it will have to be the 35mm. For a lot of people, it is *the* standard lens, not the 50mm. This applies to both SLR as well as RF. During those years when I was on a very tight budget, I only had 2 lenses. A 35mm and a short tele for portraiture. They pretty much cover 99% of everything that I wanted shoot. Just use your legs to zoom.

A 50mm is a "neither here nor there" kind of lens for me. Very limited application for me. Just recently however, I realise that kids look pretty nice with them, especially toddlers.

 

[Wisp]

If you can only bring one lens with you, then for me it will have to be the 35mm. For a lot of people, it is *the* standard lens, not the 50mm. This applies to both SLR as well as RF. During those years when I was on a very tight budget, I only had 2 lenses. A 35mm and a short tele for portraiture. They pretty much cover 99% of everything that I wanted shoot. Just use your legs to zoom.

A 50mm is a "neither here nor there" kind of lens for me. Very limited application for me. Just recently however, I realise that kids look pretty nice with them, especially toddlers.

the fact it's a neither here nor there lens means it's very flexible. I can turn it into a close in shot or a wide shot depends on how I position myself.

 

[cocoa]

See this:

Advantage 35mm with RF

 

[distagon]

35 then 50

but make sure that you can see the edges of the frame with which lens you eventually go with....

how about a 40 if you really really really cannot decide