09 27 25

Experiment only partially successful

Yesterday I would to shoot with my Canon 5D M2 and the 50mm f1.8 using the hyperfocal, just like I am used to do with my 35mm rangefinder camera Canon 7. First thing: I had a lot of fun in Downtown, even though many streets were closed due to an upcoming protest march.

On a more techical note: with the 50mm on full frame the depth of field is much shorter than with a 28mm or a 35mm, even when closing the aperture a lot. In street photography, the 50mm tends to be risky by using the hyperfocal length, because to really get everything in focus I have to stop down a lot (f/16–f/22), but with the risk of diffraction and lower quality.

I knew this choice would create problems for me, but I still wanted to experiment. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone with a camera I use primarily for portraiture and special assignments.

It's important to keep in mind that a full-frame camera like 5D2 doesn't perform at its best at small apertures. The 50mm is difficult in many situations and this fact gives me even more the idea of the greatness of Henri Cartier-Bresson shooting with a 50mm…the 28mm and the 35mm are considered the street focal lengths par excellence precisely because they give us more depth. If I want more narrative and selective street photography, the 50 becomes a beautiful lens, but it must be used with direct focus and medium-open apertures. I need to accept that not everything will be clear, and I will take advantage of the separation of the planes.

With that said, I think to share here some photos made yesterday. I love that the things become more abstract in a certain sense and the way to be in a place with my 5D changes totally the experience.