Focal Lengths - My Experiences
As a beginner, you don't really ask yourself this question yet: Which are the right focal lengths? I remember when I started with photography and used a well-recommended zoom lens: a 24-70mm equivalent in 35mm format (35x24mm).
In the beginning, you experiment a lot. You learn what a 24mm focal length is good for, and what you need a 50mm or 70mm focal length for. And I tried many focal lengths and many lenses—zoom lenses as well as prime lenses. On APS-C systems, I then converted each focal length to 35mm equivalent.
As an architectural photographer, you need a wide field of view (FOV). A 24mm lens can be too close in this case. I also tried a 10-20mm equivalent in 35mm format, and in the APS-C range, a 12mm equivalent (18mm in 35mm format) and the Fuji 8mm equivalent (12mm in 35mm format). You can do a lot with 12mm (35mm equivalent). However, I hardly ever used this focal length. 12mm (35mm equivalent) is quite wide. 18mm (35mm equivalent) made the most sense for architectural photography. Even close-ups were very easy to take with 18mm (35mm equivalent). However, 24mm is perfectly adequate if you continue to do architectural photography but don't have to take client photos.
50mm (35mm equivalent). Many claim this is the perfect focal length, the "nifty fifty." One has to wonder who says so. This statement usually comes from street photographers who venture into the realm of portraiture, where the focus is on the human subject. And for this area, 50mm (35mm equivalent) is perfectly sufficient. For many people, 50mm (35mm equivalent) is also the best choice for everyday use. Fuji's X100VI, with its 35mm APS-C lens (50mm equivalent), shows the kind of client it was designed for. And the market is embracing it. For me, 50mm (35mm equivalent) is definitely too close. For me, 50mm (35mm equivalent) is a zoom focal length. I hardly ever use 50mm (35mm equivalent). I still own my first camera, the Canon 5D Mark III, with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. I still really like using this setup for product photography. Canon truly created a legend here.
Since I take a lot of abstract photos, I've noticed that the "good" shots are often taken with a 70mm lens. From my brief experience with the Fuji 16-50mm APS-C (24-75mm equivalent in 35mm format), I can also say that I really liked the 75mm equivalent. 75mm in 35mm format is a very appealing focal length for abstract shots, in my opinion.
Another focal length that really appeals to me is 35-42mm in 35mm format. When I was working with the Leica M8 and a 35mm lens (Voigtländer), I really liked the 42mm equivalent focal length (the M8's APS-H crop factor is 1.3x in 35mm format). So, you could say that the 35-43mm equivalent focal length is a very good choice for me. Not too far away, not too close.
In conclusion, there's only one thing left to say: Beginners, just take lots of photos. Try out lots of different focal lengths. After a few years, you'll be able to say from your own experience which focal length makes the most sense "for you personally." I personally like my 35-43mm. I also like a 24-28mm and a 75mm. In my opinion, these three focal length ranges complement each other very well. And Leica must have thought the same thing when they included multiple focal lengths in their Q series. For example, the Q2 offers 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm lenses.
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