One camera/One lens

[Dr Cron]

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On 12/18/2023 at 4:52 AM, rtai said:

Even the later smaller E49 filter size version has too much VF blockage for me. Also when shooting film F4 is too limiting. The whole thing is one big compromise. 

f4 limitation is why I gave up a Hasselblad Xpan some years ago. Still frustrated I did that.  

 

Frustrated enough to get into Leica! 🤦‍♂️🤣

[Kiwimac]

I have an M11-P. 
 

I don’t like creating a hostage to fortune, but it’s difficult to imagine what they could stick in an M12 that would be so worth it to me that I’d have to get it. 
 

With that body and my Apo Summicron 35 I can shoot probably 85% of what I’d expect to shoot. 
 

I recently bought a Voigtlander 21 f1.4 Nokton specifically because I’m going to Iceland and I felt the 21 perspective would probably be useful. Since I don’t shoot 21 often, and the Nokton is very good, I didn’t consider it worth buying any of the Leica options. 
 

I have an Apo Summicron 75. Mainly for landscape use and I’ve not decided if I like it or not yet. It’s very tricksy to focus by rangefinder at f2 unless the light is excellent and the subject forgiving. That means I need LV or the EVF. 
 

If you held a gun to my head and said I had to choose one only? The Apo 35 on the M11-P. 

[_Alex_]

Short answer: M body and 35mm lens.

Long answer: I have an M10-P with 35 and 50 summilux lenses and a 90 APO. I haven't used the 50 or 90 in probably a couple of years. The 35 'lux lives on the camera and 35mm would be my stranded-on-a-deserted-island focal length. I haven't had an opportunity to shoot with the 35APO 'cron, but am very curious about it--not that I want to actually pay for it anytime soon. If the M11-P had a better track record/reputation (firmware, etc.), I'd get it over the M10-P for the following reasons: USB charging in camera, 60MP, internal storage is great in a pinch, and the weight reduction. 

[budjames]

On 11/29/2023 at 1:56 PM, Warton said:

I have come down this 'one body one lens' approach literally 4 times over the past 2 decades.

Now I have 4 digital bodies (Nikon, Fuji, Leica M10-R, Leica M11) and 2 film bodies (Nikon and Leica M-A), and more than a dozen lenses. And as of now I am still struggling to figure out which one body and one lens to keep.

You have too much "stuff". Too many choices that make you think that when you are out shooting with one camera, you think about how you should be using a different one. Same with lenses.

I've settled on my M11 with APO Summicron 35mm lens as my travel kit. If I need wider or longer, I use my iPhone 15 Pro.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography.

Edited June 30, 2024 by budjames

[Kiwimac]

I think if there was a Q3 with a 35mm lens I’d have to think long and hard as to whether I wanted to continue having so much money tied up in the M stuff. 
 

 

[Derbyshire Man]

18 minutes ago, Kiwimac said:

I think if there was a Q3 with a 35mm lens I’d have to think long and hard as to whether I wanted to continue having so much money tied up in the M stuff. 
 

 

I suspect you've just described why there isn't one!

[Tom R]

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For nearly twenty-five years I used a Leica M2 fitted with a 35mm Summicron lens. Period. I still review contact sheets made during that time and I am still finding good images that either I ignored at the time or have grown to appreciate. Besides facilitating travel and simplifying life, I developed a sense of composition such that I knew my frame before putting the camera to my eye.

I “upgraded” for about ten years, adding 2 M4-P bodies, a 28mm Elmarit and a 50 Summicron, and a suite of speedlights, etc. because my work expanded to include environmental portraits, workplace, etc. And I admit that the 28mm was handy for doing lots of close-quarter work in urban settings, and the 50 made some portraiture easier.

Now I am retired and have time to work on projects that first and foremost interest me, and I use only a well-maintained M4 and a clean 35mm Summicron lens. I kept the M4-Ps in the event something needs service, and I have a spare 35 and 50 as dust-caps for the two idle bodies.

[BWColor]

I’m vacationing in Korea and have always used one camera and one lens when traveling. I previously used Mamiya7ii/65mm, M6TTL/35mm, M3/50mm and A7Riv/24mm f/1.4.  I was 100% sure that I would go M11M/35mm, but have mostly been using the Zeiss 21mm f/4.5 Biogon c. & red filter.  This is a very small, high quality lens and is easy to pack as a second lens and wonderful to use zone focused.  My new 35mm APO is crying in my bag.

[Kiwimac]

5 hours ago, BWColor said:

I’m vacationing in Korea and have always used one camera and one lens when traveling. I previously used Mamiya7ii/65mm, M6TTL/35mm, M3/50mm and A7Riv/24mm f/1.4.  I was 100% sure that I would go M11M/35mm, but have mostly been using the Zeiss 21mm f/4.5 Biogon c. & red filter.  This is a very small, high quality lens and is easy to pack as a second lens and wonderful to use zone focused.  My new 35mm APO is crying in my bag.

Don’t waste the opportunity to use it. You might be surprised. 

[VJPGG]

On 11/29/2023 at 9:42 PM, LocalHero1953 said:

+1

Me too. M11 and 35 lux.

[Derbyshire Man]

Yep M11M or M11P and 35 lux fee mk1 is my choice. If I'm allowed two it's 35 lux fle on M11P and 35 lux pre-asph on the M11M.

I know!

Edited July 2, 2024 by Derbyshire Man

[crons]

The lens philosophy should change to

1 camera- 2 lenses 

And that's the ideal scene 

Which lenses that's up to you. One lens that is wide and one lens that is narrow. How wide and how narrow that's your personal preference. 

For me is 35/50

For others 28/50

Or

21/35

21/50

21/90

28/90

35/75

50/135

I can't answer this for you. Everyone is different. What you do know is that sometimes you need a wider view and sometimes a narrower view. 2 lenses is more than enough. Choosing every focal length in between is either just collecting gear or you have a specific need as a professional photographer that a particular lens provides.  

Edited July 2, 2024 by crons

[pgk]

4 minutes ago, crons said:

The lens philosophy should change to

1 camera- 2 lenses 

And that's the ideal scene 

I prefer 1 camera - 3 lenses ........

[crons]

1 minute ago, pgk said:

I prefer 1 camera - 3 lenses ........

Once you go 3 why not 4? They're so small anyway. 

[pgk]

42 minutes ago, crons said:

Once you go 3 why not 4? They're so small anyway. 

Each to their own.

[crons]

3 hours ago, pgk said:

Each to their own.

Hell. Let’s do 5. One on the camera. One in each pocket and 2 in a Fanny pack. 

[pgk]

For each of us there is a 'sweet spot' which in my case is 1 x body, 3 x lenses. Less is inherently limiting, one is pointless if you are carrying an interchangeable lens camera, and more start getting heavier and often provide too much choice, which can all too easily result in 'missed shots'. But other photographers will have other ways of working .....

[T25UFO]

What about two cameras, one lens on each?  Mine would be Q3 + M11 Mono with 50mm APO.  Doesn't take up more space that one cameras, two lenses and it saves changing lenses.

[BWColor]

I believe that digital sensors have encouraged me to swap lenses on a less frequent basis.  I never liked cleaning my sensor, so less frequent lens changes and only changing in cleaner environments seemed prudent.  So, two lenses and two bodies makes sense should I think that I’ll encounter more frequent lens changes.  Also, traveling with two bodies seems reasonable when traveling with a monochrom without 100% commitment to B&W.

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Hallo,

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