Angle of view for the 50mm Distagon

[TonyM]

I was given an assignment by a magazine to photograph 4 local dentists for a full page ad they are each running. I want to shoot it with the 50 Distagon in their offices. What is the 35mm equivilent to the 50 Distagon? Is it more like 28mm or 35mm. If it is not wide enough (I love the view of my 20mm f3.5 Nikkor) I may get the 40mm for my 500 ELM.

 

[MarkF_48]

I've using a factor of 0.625 to find the equivalent. 80mm is about a "normal" FL for 6x6 and 50mm for 35mm, so 50 / 80 = 0.625.
A 50mm(6x6) would be about 32mm(35mm) - 50 X 0.625 = 32

 

[TonyM]

Thank you kind sir. The 50mm will be perfect for environmental portraiture in an office. I am simply going to bounce two strobes off two different walls and ceiling for a nice soft lighting effect. I think I will still buy the 40mm in the near future for group environmental shots.

(Got a nice gig with a magazine who gives me one or two local assignments each week. I will scan the negs to get a digital file and simply email the images back to the editor. Sure beats chemicals and using my enlarger)

 

[gradasso]

Tony, it is uneasy to compare square and rectangular negatives. Assuming one is going to print them utilizing maximum of their surface without cutting paper (in Italy we use above all sheets of 18x24, 24x30 and 30x40 cm), I find the 50 mm on 6x6 equivalent to 32 mm on "Leica".
But I would suggest to check composition in the viewfinder and to print the whole square negative wasting a strip of paper. Square pictures can be beautiful and the "impact" of a wide angle is stronger!
On a 6x6 camera 50 mm is a beautiful wide angle lens. Only for frequent architectural photography I would recommend 40 mm (but then better a Super Wide with 38 mm).
With cordiality

 

[TonyM]

Thank you for your comment. I will use my 50mm for environmental portraiture for location work. It will show my subjects (in my first assignments they will be dentists photographed in their offices) in their own work environment. The 80mm will be nice for a tighter look, and the 150 for head shots.