28mm

The 28mm transformed my street photography, but is it still the perfect lens for me?
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#leica #streetphotography #28mm

[@chrisvawn]

I wish I had someone to look at me like Chow looks at his 28mm.

[@ivunchow]

haha awesome

[@gabequezada2066]

lmao

[@injeolmi6]

we all do.

[@arielrglaze]

Lol.

[@JamesStuber]

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."

[@ivunchow]

never heard that one, thanks for sharing!

[@TheVFXbyArt]

1200 mm in Los Angeles!

[@-grey]

@@TheVFXbyArt What are you shooting? The streets of San Diego?

[@JamesStuber]

@jae seung lee I've never visited so I'm not sure. I'd love to go one day

[@dovletannayev4518]

@@TheVFXbyArt 💯😂

[@christopherhuang2442]

28mm and 50mm are all a streetphotographer needs

[@TheVFXbyArt]

Agreed!

[@staLkerhu]

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.

[@runcmd1419]

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.

[@late4086]

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!

[@ivunchow]

For sure, it's going to be hard to see in a different focal length

[@naslime_snaps]

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.

[@ivunchow]

Tried that for a while when I first got my Leica CL film camera. I liked it

[@jaapjandevries1935]

@@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.

[@Celestialrob]

@@jaapjandevries1935 I have this lens and it may be my favorite.

[@JayRegular]

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.

[@ivunchow]

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

[@glennsak]

Wow. What a gorgeous and thoughtful video. Cinematic.

[@Joshbaldophotography]

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.

[@john_murch]

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...

[@eddie_g]

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.

[@ivunchow]

thanks man!

[@rashikgmc9141]

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.

[@ivunchow]

thanks man! the perfect weapon: a zoom lens haha

[@Vikram-wx4hg]

28mm - my favourite too. Beautifully narrated. And makes feel the sudden sadness of your parting. Hope you found the new love.

[@andrewhoulihan7940]

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 🇮🇪

[@younesmahrach5143]

Great documentary with soul and inspiration for a lens !!! Bravo

[@ivunchow]

Thanks!

[@leemjfreeman9856]

35mm to me is where it's at. Tried everything and this is the one that gets the very best out of me.

[@benjones8977]

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]

Nice combination! I’m in something similar, 35, 56, and 75mm.

[@benjones8977]

@@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.

[@dovletannayev4518]

18mm f1.4 is my favorite from Fuji

[@dg3831]

Beautiful presentation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and images. I have a 28mm lens and now I see it in a different light.

[@mrclarky]

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 :)

[@alanma3864]

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!!!

[@ivunchow]

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.

[@trevorsowers]

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.

[@TravelGeeq]

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!

[@obsidian00]

I don’t have the right words to describe how much I love the 28mm focal range…it just fits ME!!! 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@tonn5673]

I love the way you talk about photography and growing as a good photographer

[@ivunchow]

Thank you! A never ending journey 🙂

[@dianeschuller]

Your videos like this are always so thoughtful

[@w0lflux]

What a beautiful and inspiring video. I adore the feel it left me with.

[@slglasius]

A true love story. Nice vid!

[@RobiePunsalan]

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!

[@kenl.3298]

Beautifully written and shot

[@paulsehstedt6275]

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.

[@ivunchow]

Damn, wish I had that setup!

[@MDC84]

All the best with the new start, my man!

[@oscarfurtado7958]

such an informative and well made video, thank you Ivan!

[@aramdavid]

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.

[@ivunchow]

Thanks Aram!

[@ghosttownsentinel5288]

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.

[@Celestialrob]

What a lovely video. Enchanted! Thank you so much!

[@jamesspicewilliams8835]

Love this. Great job. Great and inspirational storytelling.

[@adamkrupa1039]

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”

[@TomFreer87]

Incredibly insightful & thought provoking.

[@FrederickSim]

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!

[@maheshshanmuganathan]

Loved it! Gives me much bigger hope with my Leica Q 😎👍🏼

[@MLDuong]

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.

[@ivunchow]

Thanks for checking the video out! Lenses are just tools, different tools work in different situations/environments. Nothing really is ideal.

[@goonzquadunleashed9797]

Amazing content from an amazing creator. Thank you for sharing this piece and keep going!!!

[@ivunchow]

Thanks! I will 🙏🏻

[@thebeardedgeordiephotography]

28mm is my new favourite lens! It's never off my sony for day and nightscape images

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

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.

[@LukeTaylorPhotography]

Love the slow pace of this video.

[@danieldijo]

Love how there a longer/better message in your vids then title suggests. you're an inspiration

[@ivunchow]

😌 appreciate it man

[@sjmheron]

Great tribute to the 28mm. Having shot in Japan for a few years and now back in Toronto I agree, street photography is very challenging here with some small (often shot) exceptions. I've been lusting after the Q2Monochrom but I'm worried about the same challenges you discuss in locking myself into 28mm. I'd love to shoot sometime if you ever want to meet up.

[@Carolyne_games]

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.

[@Docmakesfotos]

I love to shoot manual lenses on my A7c too! I currently have a m rokkor 40mm mounted.

[@dreamills4189]

Your documentary film skills are 🔥🔥🔥 Now I’m binge watching all your content

[@ivunchow]

Thank you!

[@AlexEhrhardKieffer]

Awesome video ! Thank you !

[@leedeleon2745]

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.

[@user-my4dm4ij3t]

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.

[@michaelchiang9928]

Like the way you settle yourself and your work. And hope you will keep going.

[@AnubhavSaxena]

What an awesome documentary on a Man and his passion for street photography with an 28mm lens.

[@stevenml5748]

Thank you

[@VictorBezrukov]

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 :-)

[@ivunchow]

One of the best cameras I've ever owned!

[@pocketsquareformat]

Wow this is so well put together. Thank you for sharing your journey

[@ivunchow]

Thanks!

[@Buzz2646]

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.

[@gabequezada2066]

such a serene and well put together video...ty

[@ivunchow]

thanks!

[@inkaststudio]

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 😄

[@RaffaelloIannelli]

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.😁

[@danielplasencia3993]

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

[@robertdavis1255]

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 😀

[@classic.cameras]

Bravo! Absolutely awesome video!

[@clawdawg7248]

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.

[@peterjohnson1012]

You'll love the M-D 262! It really is the closest thing in digital photography to shooting an analog film camera. Happy shooting!

[@ivunchow]

Have fun, I love that combo

[@AmbercoolPhotography]

Love the production of this video

[@DaddyMoltar]

Keep going. It may just be that I still have an untrained eye, but these shots are really beautiful. Love your work.

[@injeolmi6]

I found your channel today. I really love your narration and storytelling skills. I will follow your career with great interest.

[@onirudhakhansaadi1461]

I love 24 and 35 for some reason. But I'm curious to try out a 28mm. Really intrigued, can't deny.

[@Michaelajacksonfilms]

Thank you, and great story.

[@jacuswoczega9180]

Very, very beautiful and honest material

[@DanniPortillo]

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.

[@bendroege]

Wow this was beautiful. This was so much more than a review video which I was expecting. Amazing.

[@ivunchow]

Thanks!

[@TheFtrevino]

Such a beautiful video!

[@kiliansalomon507]

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!

[@meyproducciones]

Great documentary!

[@henrywyau]

Always so inspiring. Thanks bro

[@ivunchow]

Thanks man!

[@CHGroups]

28mm is the best lens for street photography. You've made an excellent video, Ivan! Thank you. Regards from Baku.

[@karstenfroemming9664]

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.

[@MattFitzgerald]

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.

[@WieHurra]

Awesome story, great video 💪🏻

[@patmercier3578]

what a well done video wow!

[@elpollito5690]

Your videos are seriously the best out there

[@ivunchow]

Appreciate it! THANKS

[@TylerMcCool]

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..

[@on-streetphotography366]

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.

[@blazerbarrel2]

Nice pictures , great eye !

[@alfashion]

Outstanding

[@MeAMuse]

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).

[@aceforte4242]

Good luck with the 50mm bro! Really enjoy watching your videos and love your photography👍🏽

[@ivunchow]

Thank you!

[@a_design_guide]

Really enjoyed this film Ivan. Found it really inspiring. Thank you

[@ivunchow]

Thanks!

[@linjicakonikon7666]

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.

[@FlosBlog]

Great titel! 28 and 50 ist a tremendous combination - i cot it on my analog canon and could not ask for more

[@harryvasutabu5523]

Wow what style you have!

[@argilvalmontthespacesinbet7203]

Beautiful and touching video!

[@felixsturmair4854]

great as always

[@ivunchow]

thanks!

[@A861967]

Each to their own 😊 24mm for me as the 28mm is not wide enough to give the impression of space. Some nice pics too.

[@BretMiller]

I love my Nikkor 28mm f/1.4 for environmental portraits here in Chicago where I live.

[@ccbphoto]

Once again, great video! I’m new to the Leica ecosystem having just purchased a Q2. The 28mm lens is forcing me to frame differently. Like most, I try not having to crop. Keep up the videos!

[@kevinsmith2349]

An Elmarit 28 V3 is the first lens I bought with my M10R and I still have not bought any other lenses although I’ve rented a lot of 50’s. I think the Nokton 1.2 was my favorite out of those, but still exclusively use the 28.

[@insk0r]

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!