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The joy of One camera One Lens


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Since I will be going to Switzerland next week using crutches and with just minimal hand luggage in a back pack, I was going to take my Minox C. However, my normal supplier has run out of colour 8 x 11 film and also, my spare PX27 battery is sitting in my French house. I have therefore decided to take my Minox DCC 14. The nearest I can get to one of my Leicas but at virtually zero weight. An M240 in performance it is not but at least IT is not having to go back to Minox to have its lugs screwed on properly, unlike my M240.

 

Wilson

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In the 1970's I spent seven years travelling and hitching around the world, Asia, Africa Europe and the Americas etc. with a Yashica SLR and 50 lens. Never felt deprived or yearned for other lenses. These days I have umpteen cameras and lenses but can't say I enjoy my photography more now than I did then. I could still live with one camera and one lens but once I acquire stuff it tends to stay with me for life. Even now I tend to go out for the day with just the one lens.

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My next trip is just around the corner, Russia for a couple of days.

Will take exactly same gear and film as the opening comment in this thread...lets see if I can get used to just throwing one camera with mounted lens and a few rolls into the bag..

 

keep you posted :):)

 

BTW here is a link to the shots of my first one camera one lens trip for reference

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/277612-bit-venice.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/277971-room-630-some-nudity.html

andy

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here the set as mentioned..

 

best

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Most of my photographic life I spent all I had saved on the camera and a 'normal' lens. I got by. These days I find the 35 Lux FLE sharp enough that I can crop it right down and still make a respectable 8.5x11 print. Consequently it lives on the MM. The 24mm Elmarit is probably even sharper and lives on the M9. Mmmm, I wonder why I keep all those other lenses (oh, yes, I know! I'll only buy them again if I sell them! And I do need something to go on the M7 and the MP.)

 

Chris

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George,

 

"Guess I'm antediluvian, as I used a IIIc with the 50mm 3.5 Elmar from 1946 until I could afford an M4 with an early 50mm Summicron. Transparencies only (no darkroom facilities).

Then I acquired a version II 35mm Chron. and a later version with an M6.

 

After all the early years with a 50mm, the 35mm became my ideal, and one was glued to my camera

 

Unfortunately, eyesight has driven me to the Zeiss Ikon ZM, but with a 35 Summilux ASPH.

When traveling, I buy local postcards, then deliberately avoid shooting what the locals believe constitute their surroundings. One camera, one lens seems to work."

 

Fascinating....*clap clap*

 

raytoei

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I normally use only one lens. I dislike switching lenses and when I get into the 'zone' of concentrating on photographing, and the last thing I want to do is break that concentration by changing lenses (changing film can also break that mental concentration, but that's more like coming up for air.) I also like to keep things very simple: one camera/lens and a few rolls of film in my pocket. No bag, no extra lenses, no accessories, etc..

 

A single lens is fine for me. But that doesn't mean I don't have other lenses. One can own other lenses yet still do the 'one lens only' mental/visual thing.

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I usually just take one lens, one camera - though i agree with many here, and do like to switch lenses, depending on my mood, and what I'm out to take pictures of.

 

On my m8 I prefer a 35, though I usually go with my summicron 50 type III. On my film leica m4, i do prefer the 50mm focal length. So, I guess, if I had to go with just one focal length, I'd go with a 50. (after all, the 35 is almost a 50 on the m8)

 

If I know I'm gonna be out in low light, i usually go with my voigtländer 35/1.2 - and I do love it on a film leica shooting b/w. I'm still a bit hesitating if I should sell it or not - I'm not fuly pleased with how it renders in some light, and also it produces some chromatic abberations. It's really useful for those 5% shooting in the middle of the night, o in really low light.

 

So... I'm not sure what I'm rambling on about, but for me, as much as it matters -one lens per photo occasion is ideal, though sometimes, I really like being able to switch lenses.

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"One lens per day. Not forever."

__________________

 

 

Andy,

 

you formulate things so well! i could not agree more with this one.

 

It is what I did last week during a short four days visit to Memphis. One day, the 35, the other with the 50. Never miss the use of other lenses. It frees the shoulder and the mind.

 

Walking is the right speed for photography, I believe.

 

A visit to Memphis

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I've done MP, 50 cron and tri-x for about a year and a month now. I had no choice because that's all I have.

 

I definitely see missed shots, but I have to say I can easily visualize what I see in front of me in 50mm frame and perspective. I believe this made me a better photographer than before. At least now I can use 50mm relatively well rather than use 5 other lenses poorly (which I was guilty of prior to getting into Leica). How useful this setup in taking me further is yet to be seen!

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I can tell you with 40 years of lugging too much gear around in newspaper work that one camera/one lens is the way to go. My pictures are just as good and my back is much better.

L

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Wish I could get to grips with a 28mm....just never been any good with it...

 

Think it can be a great one lens but I obviously have a lot to learn to become even mildly competent with it...maybe a good exercise to use just the 28mm for a few weeks..

 

thanks

andy

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George,

 

"...When traveling, I buy local postcards, then deliberately avoid shooting what the locals believe constitute their surroundings..."

 

 

Re postcards, me too!

 

As for 'one camera, one lens'... for black and white - M6 TTL w/ Summicron 35mm Asph (going on 13 years; for colour - Nikon D90 w/ 18-200mm... it's still only 'one camera, one lens' :D

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Guest l34tz

I am wondering why so many people spend so much time thinking about missing shots. There isn't something you miss, until you have it. By going the multiple options route you will probably end up missing life.

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I am wondering why so many people spend so much time thinking about missing shots. There isn't something you miss, until you have it.

I totally disagree.

To play 'Devil's Advocate', I would suggest most photographers miss the majority of their shot, by one means or another. This excludes 'machine gunners' of course. They kill everything. Nailing the shot often depends on good reflexes coupled with anticipation of the right lens to have mounted.

 

By going the multiple options route you will probably end up missing life.

Again, a wrong assumption.

As one who through my whole working life carried multiple lenses and used them to great advantage, I can declare I am fully immersed in my life and will not miss it till dead. Even then, I am not going anywhere until someone convinces me it is worthwhile. :D

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