Damn! In all the years I’ve been taking photographs with interchangeable lenses (and it all started with a Zenit back in the late 70s, early 80s), I’ve been a sucker for one focal length in particular, and I never thought in a million years that it would have changed, but it has, and there is an excellent reason why it has changed too!
Why do I like what I like?
I’ve always loved, and I mean LOVED the 35mm focal length. I think out of the 35mm and 50mm (the main two that are always discussed), the 35mm gives you a more natural looking focal length. It’s wide enough to capture scenery, groups of people and everyday things and it just feels “natural”.
But suddenly, my world is blown apart, as I look at my images through the years and look at the focal length I like to put on my camera I noticed that 40mm is the new 35mm!
Yes, 40mm is my very favourite focal length for everyday photography. If I have to choose one lens to walk around with, and be happy that it’ll do the job, the 40mm NEVER fails me. Of course, there’s a very good reason for this, and it may not be obvious to everyone, especially if they’ve never used a 40mm lens.
The 40mm focal length feels exactly like a 35mm for 90% of the time, however, where you’d look to change lenses to a 50mm while using 35mm, you don’t have to as the 40mm also feels and acts like a 50mm when you need it too. As I hear myself repeating over and over again in forums “It feels like a 35mm, but also has the reach of the 50mm when needed”.
40mm is just superb as a walk around lens, and because if it’s closeness to 35mm, it still feels like your eyes natural view. It’s a one lens solution that just works, and works extremely well.
Why do I dislike what I dislike?
We’ve touched upon the 50mm focal length, and for me, it is my most hated focal length. For me, I’ve never liked using it, even though it was a standard lens for much of my film photography years.
For the way I like to shoot, and the way I see the world, a 50mm is simply not wide enough to be useful in capturing everyday things, and it’s also not long enough to be of use (that goes to the 85mm!).
So, why then do I own a 50mm lens if I dislike the focal length so much? It’s simple… On my cameras (when using two cameras) I will generally have a 35mm on one camera and a 85mm on the other camera. Sometimes though, depending on the environment, a 35mm might simply not be long enough, or and 85mm might be too long, so I can swap out the one that can not be used.
Why not just use a zoom lens and cover all bases?
I actually love using prime lenses as they allow me to focus on what I want, with the vision in my head. I’ll know the composition in my head before I even take the photograph. Zoom lenses generally give you too much choice, and creativity faulters.
But that said, I do use zoom lenses when needed. I’ll use it he 24-70mm if I’m going to an area I’ve never been before and I don’t know what to expect, or if I know that a zoom lens will just be more efficient. I’ll use my 150-500mm when needed for birding, wildlife, the moon and whatever else may need it.
A big reason for primes though for me is the wide apertures (F/1.4-F/2) which just means I can let in more light in any situation, and keep my shutter speed consistently high as needed, without compromising my ISO (and by default my dynamic range). I love the creativity that they spark when you have them on your camera, your mind working overtime to ensure you make the most of that one focal length.
Conclusion
So, there we have it. 40mm is my favourite focal length, while 50mm is my least favourite. I know 10mm does not seem a lot, but it’s the difference between loving and hating for me.
My obsession with 40mm started with the Fujifilm 27mm (aps-c camera lens = 40mm equivalent) pancake lens which I enjoyed using, and then I sold it and regretted selling it. It wasn’t replaced by a 40mm lens until last year when I bought the Z40mm F/2 and I haven’t looked back since!
Please let me know your thoughts, and what is your favourite… as we are all very different! So it is always interesting to see what others like to use.
One Camera One Lens Photography 
Whether you shoot digital or real film, full frame means the same thing in both worlds. Back in my Pentax and Fuji film days—if memory serves—the “standard” lens was almost always a 50mm, sometimes a 55. But honestly, I usually ditched the 50 for a 28mm, because the 50 just felt way too cramped and ‘portrait-y’ for my taste. So picking a 40mm as your go-to makes perfect sense—it’s a bit wider, not too wide, and just all-around practical.
As for telephoto, my favorite—since I shoot a lot of birds and wildlife—is the Leica 100-400mm. But for everyday use, I usually grab the Olympus 12-45mm f/4 Pro. On full frame that’s basically a 24-90mm, and what I love most: it’s small, light, and weather-sealed.
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Yeah, it’s funny why they always came with 50mm lenses back in the day! Not wide enough and not long enough!
Thanks Marc, enjoy your weekend.
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