One film camera and one lens

[250swb]

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3 hours ago, Abram said:

Why do you feel that it’s a waste? There could be so many reasons one works with a single lens. Reducing the burden of choice is one, or perhaps one simply can’t afford more than one option. 

Either way I wouldn’t call it a waste of one’s life. 

Let's get the obvious one out of the way first, everybody can afford more than one lens. If it's photography that is important you don't actually need to be using a Leica to do photography, for example buy a Nikon and use a zoom lens if utterly cash strapped. But of course that does not earn those style points. Secondly, one 'camera one lens' is a largely Leica based affectation built around the myth that Henri Cartier-Bresson only used a 50mm lens, and it caught on that some people kind of think the same discipline will also make them a clone of him. The movement has since matured into a symbol of his blessing and the guiding light shining from above (out of the enlarger).

Many photographers use one lens from time to time, to build consistency into a body of work or project where needed. And I'm not saying everybody needs to take more than one lens on a day-to-day basis. But 'one camera and one lens' is a messed up first world ascetic philosophy and shouldn't be encouraged because the last thing it's about is the photography.

[hansvons]

36 minutes ago, 250swb said:

Many photographers use one lens from time to time, to build consistency into a body of work or project where needed.

That's utterly true. 

 

5 hours ago, Abram said:

Reducing the burden of choice is one, or perhaps one simply can’t afford more than one option. 

Yes. Could be. But often, limitations are, well, limiting.

Cinematographers usually use a set of primes to swap the lens according to the shot, e.g. a 28mm for a long shot and a 90mm for that close-up. 

However, there are exceptions. Jim Jarmusch’s Down By Law was entirely lensed on a 35mm prime (about 50mm on FF) by Robby Müller for concept reasons. 

In still photography, things are different as photographers often follow a certain genre of photography, eg landscape, street, portrait etc. These genres often have their preferred focal length, eg 90mm for portraiture or 35mm for street photography. But even then it makes tons of sense to experiment with unusual fields of view to get a better understanding of what you do and what to follow up and what not.

I figured a long time ago that 35mm is my preferred focal length for almost anything and I could happily follow up with the concept of one camera one lens. However, I would never limit myself to 35mm just for the sake of it. And I own a 50mm for those rare headshots (plus a set of primes for filmmaking). 

But when you begin your photographic journey, limiting you to one lens will support your development significantly better than a bag full of lenses. 

 

[rpsawin]

7 hours ago, hansvons said:

But when you begin your photographic journey, limiting you to one lens will support your development significantly better than a bag full of lenses. 

 

Yep. I stated with a 50mm and it served me well. Unfortunately I started collecting other lens too soon.

Edited February 3, 2024 by rpsawin
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[blackdot]

Just one? M6TTL 0.58 with 35/2 cron v3

But if I could find a .58 MP I'd probably upgrade.

Edited February 4, 2024 by blackdot

[duskembrace]

That’s my choice:

Leica MP + 35mm Steel Rim reissue 

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[jakontil]

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I shoot mainly on 35 and 50, occasionally 28, however, when im out and about, sticking to one lens help me focused more, here happens to be my lens when traveling afar  

[a.noctilux]

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When I encounter something worth a picture,

I even don't care which lens is on the M, and most of the time

maybe the mounted lens has influenced my mindset, the lens is THE lens to use

 

This is one of the most exiting example, THE lens is 2/35 8 element

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[a.noctilux]

So long ago, I don't remenber/care which gear I used

the opportunity happends only once.

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The only important detail is the film in use in those days, Kodachrome was my only choice then.

[a.noctilux]

Out of topic.

The red hues in Kodachrome were the main detail for my choice in those days.

I tried before that many slides available then, Fuji/Konica/Agfa/Anscochrom/3M/etc. the red hues are not what I wanted/waited for.

[Viv]

Zeiss Ikon with Zeiss 35mm.

[Mahesh]

On 7/16/2024 at 8:22 PM, duskembrace said:

That’s my choice:

Leica MP + 35mm Steel Rim reissue 

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Hi, what's that grip you got on? This camera and lens is what I'm thinking of at the moment but also wondering if I should go for MA, entirely electronic free.. 😂

[hansvons]

1 hour ago, Mahesh said:

This camera and lens is what I'm thinking of at the moment but also wondering if I should go for MA, entirely electronic free..

Remove the MP’s battery and you basically have an MA. This a one-way ticket unfortunately. So, in doubt, the MP is the better choice. 

[a.noctilux]

1 hour ago, Mahesh said:

Hi, what's that grip you got on? This camera and lens is what I'm thinking of at the moment but also wondering if I should go for MA, entirely electronic free.. 😂

JMF showed the grip on M-A

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[a.noctilux]

Framelines discussions are very "individual things"

M-A is just MP with more complete framelines, important or not, it's up to user

link here

or here

As M-A user, the very tiny "frames" four corners of "135" in 35 complete framelines not seen by my mind's eyes.

 

From M-A 's instruction manual

Edited March 23, 2021 by a.noctilux

 

every small things made me choosing M-A over M-P

and I did take out  the battery to mimic M-A/M4

then the many MP that I used for many years do have some "longer" shutter trip

without a grip the battery cover did bother me, as the M4's selftimer lever

 

[a.noctilux]

Some images posted already

those days, if my memory is precise, I use only one M and one lens and above all one film type Kodachrome

 

.

 

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..

 

...

[a.noctilux]

Nothing special, snap while travel

 

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[a.noctilux]

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[colonel]

This is an old thread  

Any M that you like plus a 35mm. My fave at the moment is the Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 ii MC Nickel. My one lens kit would also include a Leica 50mm f1.4 ASPH

I think the M camera is regarding your budget. The M7 remains the easiest to use film M, due to the auto-speed under aperture priority and large speed dial. My preference is the M6 (new or old) or the MP depending on taste. I enjoy the M3 and M4 alot (M4 more due to the integral cartridge) , but I generally prefer cameras, especially for travelling, with a built in meter.

 

[cesc]

I would love to say MP with 35 v4 cron. Because it feels great in hands and it's fast to use. But I think Nikon F2 with 50 1.4 makes all I need, also close focus for details, feels a bit more versatile. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[a.noctilux]

Yesterday, I took out one of my many Olympus OM1n MD and operate it without a lens on it.

This SLR is so M like ( smooth operation , quiet shutter, clear VF, meter in VF even better than LED in MP/M6, etc.).

But finding a 50 or another lens I have then mounting the lens on the OM, I understand why I prefer Leica M over SLR.

The lens IS quite big and when on the camera (SLR) thicker than M body even bigger combo.

So OM1 is quite small (bravo Maitani  ...RIP ) and smooth but will never replace Leica (LTM or M) for me.