I definitely prefer documentary type images that show and share stories over other genres so have to say, with a smile on my face, this new lens could be win / win for both of us ;-). If it blends your preference to shot wide open with a (typically) larger ‘slice of the pie’ (DOF) due to the focal length I can see this one working out for you.
Curious to know if you are using a separate finder or just the 28 frame lines? If the mobility option is reasonable I prefer to carry a 28 and a 50 (a body on each) and keep my 15 in my bag for the purposeful ‘really wide’ shots. I would probably prefer to have 21 and 35 as my walk around combo but I find the external finder doesn’t play nicely with alternating cameras on and off my shoulders as I shoot.
(Also a quick side note – and apologies to Peter for the pirating: To Andrew, Mark AND Peter: Very nice work with your respective & recent posts at SH. The tools you have each chosen are working very well for you. Aside from the great images themselves I found the 3 posts provided a great retrospective on the technical tool choice(s) side of photography – and reason to celebrate all of them!)
Regards to all.
Thanks Jason.
Don’t ever hesitate to offer congratulations here to fellow photographers for their well-deserved success. Congratulations to Andrew and Mark are in order of course.
Now, as for your question about separate finders… I never use them, for essentially two reasons:
(1) In the case of static scenes, I get a chance for a “do-over” anyway, so I don’t have the need for one. Also, after shooting with a specific lens for a while, you sort of develop a sense of what’s “in the frame”.
(2) And in *dynamic* scenes, the time taken to separately frame and focus will potentially mean a lost shot – for me that’s a high crime!
For example, in the shot above, the train was moving and I was trying to shoot a totally different scene to my right before I became aware of both it and the woman on board. I had just enough time to turn, focus, and loosely compose before firing the shot.
In a shot I’ll be posting tomorrow, I managed to catch an expression in one of my daughters that lasted for a second or two (she is difficult to photograph because she is too aware of her surroundings, so I have to wait for such spontaneous moments). Framing first and then shooting would have meant missing the shot.
—Peter.
I think (to answer the question above) an external finder on a 24mm doesn’t really do much. Below 24 I think it’s helpful.
I like your work Peter with this new lens. I’ve found a trade with mine though…a WATE (plus cash). On the wide end I like landscapes more and find my 35mm Lux gives me the wide end enough as far as people photography. I’m excited to see what you can do with this lens though!
Congratulations MJ1!
The WATE is one of the few I haven’t tried, but I really like the way it renders.
Jason,
A heartfelt “thank you” for your kind words.
Truth be told: I can’t think of a better venue in which to receive your encouragement, as my efforts are a miniscule part of Peter’s legacy. I would never have attempted any of what I have been able to enjoy, were it not for his inspiration.
My gratitude to him, and the impressive community of talented photographers he has assembled here.
Best regards,
M.
Mark has summed that up very well!
Thank you Jason for your words of encouragement. Just as Peter has done here I hope it helps “someone” make some decisions about their journey, in the photographic sense!
Prosophos 
I definitely prefer documentary type images that show and share stories over other genres so have to say, with a smile on my face, this new lens could be win / win for both of us ;-). If it blends your preference to shot wide open with a (typically) larger ‘slice of the pie’ (DOF) due to the focal length I can see this one working out for you.
Curious to know if you are using a separate finder or just the 28 frame lines? If the mobility option is reasonable I prefer to carry a 28 and a 50 (a body on each) and keep my 15 in my bag for the purposeful ‘really wide’ shots. I would probably prefer to have 21 and 35 as my walk around combo but I find the external finder doesn’t play nicely with alternating cameras on and off my shoulders as I shoot.
(Also a quick side note – and apologies to Peter for the pirating: To Andrew, Mark AND Peter: Very nice work with your respective & recent posts at SH. The tools you have each chosen are working very well for you. Aside from the great images themselves I found the 3 posts provided a great retrospective on the technical tool choice(s) side of photography – and reason to celebrate all of them!)
Regards to all.
Thanks Jason.
Don’t ever hesitate to offer congratulations here to fellow photographers for their well-deserved success. Congratulations to Andrew and Mark are in order of course.
Now, as for your question about separate finders… I never use them, for essentially two reasons:
(1) In the case of static scenes, I get a chance for a “do-over” anyway, so I don’t have the need for one. Also, after shooting with a specific lens for a while, you sort of develop a sense of what’s “in the frame”.
(2) And in *dynamic* scenes, the time taken to separately frame and focus will potentially mean a lost shot – for me that’s a high crime!
For example, in the shot above, the train was moving and I was trying to shoot a totally different scene to my right before I became aware of both it and the woman on board. I had just enough time to turn, focus, and loosely compose before firing the shot.
In a shot I’ll be posting tomorrow, I managed to catch an expression in one of my daughters that lasted for a second or two (she is difficult to photograph because she is too aware of her surroundings, so I have to wait for such spontaneous moments). Framing first and then shooting would have meant missing the shot.
—Peter.
I think (to answer the question above) an external finder on a 24mm doesn’t really do much. Below 24 I think it’s helpful.
I like your work Peter with this new lens. I’ve found a trade with mine though…a WATE (plus cash). On the wide end I like landscapes more and find my 35mm Lux gives me the wide end enough as far as people photography. I’m excited to see what you can do with this lens though!
Congratulations MJ1!
The WATE is one of the few I haven’t tried, but I really like the way it renders.
Jason,
A heartfelt “thank you” for your kind words.
Truth be told: I can’t think of a better venue in which to receive your encouragement, as my efforts are a miniscule part of Peter’s legacy. I would never have attempted any of what I have been able to enjoy, were it not for his inspiration.
My gratitude to him, and the impressive community of talented photographers he has assembled here.
Best regards,
M.
Mark has summed that up very well!
Thank you Jason for your words of encouragement. Just as Peter has done here I hope it helps “someone” make some decisions about their journey, in the photographic sense!
Where can I see your body of work, Andy?