a photographer who uses only 1 lens

[Guest BlackBarn]

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How does the ancient art of ‘cropping’ or PP fit into this discussion?  With high resolution retention is there such a thing as  a single lens focal length or with PP isn’t the line blurred on lens characteristics?

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[Lelmer]

2 hours ago, Mr.Prime said:

...  I’m not yet in posession of my M4 to try the feeling with a “35mm finder”, it should be here within the next 4 hours !

 

Edit: it’s now in my hands!

Enjoy...35 KOB...perfect fit 🙂

[Mr.Prime]

Thanks!

I have for now a VC Nokton 35/1.4 and I can use this to see how I get along with this focal length. Perhaps a KOB is in my future, we’ll see, especially as buying lenses quickly becomes a compulsion!

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Mr.Prime

[Guest]

8 hours ago, Mr.Prime said:

I think high resolution digital changes everything because instead of deciding on your focal length when you take the shot, you can instead decide during edit. Then the question of one lens one camera is moot.

"High resolution in what year?" 

Personally i believe resolution is irrelevant as it increases every year anyway but the photographs do not get any better.

High resolution today is low resolution in 5 years time but who cares? because the pictures will not improve.

Footnote;;; i am aware that mobile phones have improved photography for the masses.

 

[Mr.Prime]

The context was high resolution compared with film. In my opinion, an image from an M10 at 400 ISO can be enlarged a lot more than from a 35mm negative of HP5+ and hence the digital image can be cropped more. A digital image shot with a WA lens can be cropped and still be comparable in quality with a film image shot with a ‘normal’ lens. etc.

Edited January 6, 2021 by Mr.Prime

[Guest]

The point for me is that for some people using one lens is actually the best way to get good results and develop a style/signature to their photography but for others it will lead to boredom and sterility.

The "one lens" theory is valid and thought provoking but not suited to everyone.

[Guest]

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6 minutes ago, Mr.Prime said:

The context was high resolution compared with film. In my opinion, an image from an M10 at 400 ISO can be enlarged a lot more than from a 35mm negative of HP5+ and hence the digital image can be cropped more. A digital image shot with a WA lens can be cropped and still be comparable in quality with a film image shot with a ‘normal’ lens. etc.

Thanks,i hear what your saying but i really detest the thought of taking pictures and cropping half the image because i have a super duper mega pixel camera.

I do crop sometimes but really like it when i do not have too.

[Mr.Prime]

18 minutes ago, steve 1959 said:

Thanks,i hear what your saying but i really detest the thought of taking pictures and cropping half the image because i have a super duper mega pixel camera.

I do crop sometimes but really like it when i do not have too.

Unfortunately my composition skills are poor and a crop later on can tidy things up nicely.

Perhaps the trick with cropping super duper megapixel images is don’t count the pixels, just pick your crop factor / fov in edit and assume the number of pixels are “adequate plus 50%” so you have no pangs of regret.

In June last year Bentley ended production of their old V8 engine. This engine was used by Rolls Royce cars and it’s power output was advertised as “adequate” (not likely by todays standards). Then later after Bentley added a Turbo to it they said it was “adequate plus 50%” 😄

 

[Herr Barnack]

9 hours ago, Dennis said:

🙌

So, this guy (the mighty) was using only a 35mm (equivalent) total kit? For most of his career?

 

 

@Dennis As I understand it, Constantine Manos shot with a 35mm Summicron when he used film M cameras and a 28mm Summicron on his M8 cameras.  Knowing him, I would expect that in using full frame digital M cameras, Costa has returned to his 35mm Summicrons.

Peter Turnley shoots exclusively with a 35mm Summilux; Alan Schaller shoots exclusively with a 24mm Summilux.  Stella Johnson photographs with only a 35mm Summicron.  Photographing with just one lens is not that unusual.

I would like to recommend that you familiarize yourself with "this guy's" work, his published books and his photographic accomplishments:  https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/constantine-manos/

A man of his talent, knowledge and integrity is most assuredly due more respect than to be mockingly referred to  as "the mighty."

 

 

Edited January 6, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[Dennis]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

I would like to recommend that you familiarize yourself with "this guy's" work, his published books and his photographic accomplishments:  https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/constantine-manos/

'This guy" was sarcasm 😬I know his work. This guy knows what he's doing 😬

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

Photographing with just one lens is not that unusual.

And I think is wonderful. Soon or later. I'm working on it. 

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

A man of his talent, knowledge and integrity is most assuredly due more respect than to be mockingly referred to  as "the mighty."

 

It was not my intention to offend him, of course. Forgive my english

 

Edited January 6, 2021 by Dennis

[budjames]

My one camera, one lens solution is my M10-R with the Summilux 35mm. I love the results. For a change, I will go out with my M10-R and APO Summicron 50mm.

In 2019, I took a 2 week vacation in Scotland and Ireland with my wife and son. At that time, I was shooting with the M10. I took the Summilux 35mm and 50mm lenses. The 35 never left the camera and I love the resulting images.

I cheated by bringing my Sony RX100VII for the 200mm equivalent long lens. I took a number of photos with the small camera at the long end of the zoom range. The image quality of this compact is outstanding for what it is, but definitely a step down from the Leica. Now I would probably just use my iPhone 12 Pro as my "back up" camera.

Here is a shot taken along the walkway to the Giant's Causeway with my M10 and Summilux 35mm.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto

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Edited January 8, 2021 by budjames

[Lelmer]

1 hour ago, budjames said:

My one camera, one lens solution is my M10-R with the Summilux 35mm. I love the results. For a change, I will go out with my M10-R and APO Summicron 50mm.

In 2019, I took a 2 week vacation in Scotland and Ireland with my wife and son. At that time, I was shooting with the M10. 

.....

For your type of work (congrat's for your site btw), what does the R bring over the M10? anything really worth?

[andybarton]

On 12/30/2020 at 7:26 AM, aksclix said:

perhaps there should be a World Wide "one-camera-one-lens-day

 

[Murdog]

I have been shooting with only a 28 for 5 years now. First with the Q, then I sold it 3 years ago for an M7 + 28 Elmarit II. I definitely feel my photography has improved a lot, as I see the world in 28 framelines before I even lift up the camera to my eye. My legs are my zoom. 

Same can be said for any FL when you use it long enough.

I bought the CV 35 1.4 for more light, but couldn't adapt. Felt I needed more space all the time. It was too close to my 28 and I only felt the negative aspects.

I'm now almost budget ready for an M10-D (keeping my M7) but don't want to be swapping out lenses on the 2 cameras. So unsure whether to get another 28 and keep to the FL I know, or a 50 and have a certain FL for each camera?

[poli]

37 minutes ago, Murdog said:

I have been shooting with only a 28 for 5 years now. First with the Q, then I sold it 3 years ago for an M7 + 28 Elmarit II. I definitely feel my photography has improved a lot, as I see the world in 28 framelines before I even lift up the camera to my eye. My legs are my zoom. 

Same can be said for any FL when you use it long enough.

I bought the CV 35 1.4 for more light, but couldn't adapt. Felt I needed more space all the time. It was too close to my 28 and I only felt the negative aspects.

I'm now almost budget ready for an M10-D (keeping my M7) but don't want to be swapping out lenses on the 2 cameras. So unsure whether to get another 28 and keep to the FL I know, or a 50 and have a certain FL for each camera?

What about a summaron 28? I always like the rendering of that lens.

[M11 for me]

I love to see that small lens. And I follow the image thread carefully. Th vignetti g seems to be no problem. That is definitely an option when you photograph in surroundings with good light.

[Murdog]

5 hours ago, Steven said:

From Q to M7, that must have been an intense change. They are the opposite. I own both. 

I would love to add an M-D too but they are not producing anymore, right? Cant find any at least. 

More a reason of moving completely to film. Shoot a lot of medium format too. The Q was the last digital camera I owned. Time to test the waters again. I'm lucky where I live, in China, there are an abundance of M-D's and M10-D's in the second hand market. 

[Murdog]

6 hours ago, poli said:

What about a summaron 28? I always like the rendering of that lens.

I haven't even considered it, I'll definitely check it out.

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[setuporg]

On 12/31/2020 at 6:28 AM, Stephen.s1 said:

Q2..  Problem solved.

It's good as a 28mm lens with an SL2 + SL APO (35,50)mm + 16-35mm zoom + ...

[budjames]

20 hours ago, Lelmer said:

For your type of work (congrat's for your site btw), what does the R bring over the M10? anything really worth?

Thank you for your comments about my website.

For me, the real benefit of the M10-R is the ability to "zoom" by cropping while still maintaining good resolution. This is similar as to how the Q2 works.

For normal shooting, there is no difference as compared to the M10, which I still own. Obviously, the M10-R DNG files are larger, but with super fast hard drives, this is not an issue. 

For normal shooting with nominal cropping required, the increased resolution is great. I have made 16" x 20" prints of M10-R images on my Epson P900 printer. The increased resolution really shines when printing. Love it!

I heard that Leica announced the discontinuance of the M10. It's obvious to me that there is no reason to buy an M10 when the M10-R cost the same.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto