A One Lens Camera?

I got my first Leica in graduate school and used it obsessively to photograph my wife. The 50 was my lens of choice with a 35 often in my pocket with an extra roll of film. I have a 90 but seldom use it.

I could do what I need to do with the Leica and a 50 without a problem. Most of the extra cameras and gear I have accumulated have less to do with need and more to do with soothing some creative angst...
 
When I shoot dslr, most of the time I only carry one lens, a 24-70 zoom ...though I guess it doesn’t count as “one lens” meant by this thread :D. Even when I carry several lenses, it's usually 24-70 that I use, the rest of the lenses just stay in the bag.


So, with my M6, that’s what I’m trying to do, use only one lens (one focal length), a 50 cron. It's been quite refreshing because it's been a long time since I'm "forced" to use only one focal length and it simplifies things to me. It simplifies thing in a sense that I plan my shoot, try to kinda pre-visualize it, how wide or tight I want the shoot to be, step forward or backward and then press the shutter.


No more do I change my mind in the middle of the process. When I use zoom lens, I often change my mind in the middle of the process. I want to frame it one way and then before I press the shutter I thought: "oh, I'd better zoom out ... ehm, no, it's better if I go a bit tighter... aw heck, just shoot it, and crop it later" :p


Having said all that, I'm thinking about getting another lens cause there are times when I can't step further backward and wish I had a wider lens.

Bob
 
I think there is a moment when you realize the camera is a secondary issue to photography. To me the less choice I have in terms of gear, the more limitations as a byproduct; the more I am forced to find creative solutions myself and work with the limitations of whatever camera I have.

I started with a fancy SLR with a few lenses, I moved to rangefinders with a couple of lenses, now I'm interested in fixed lens 35mm p'n's and 120 folders. The less I have to think about. I'm enjoying my photography more than ever at this stage!

Harry
 
For me the Leica is definitely a system camera. I will continue acquiring and playing with glass of all focal lengths, new and old.
 
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I think that any camera can be a one lens camera, from a leica cl to an 8x10 toyo. It is a matter of the camera feeling right to the user. This is completely unscientific, but I would wager that something like a hassy would be used as a one lens camera more often than a leica. One of the biggest advantage to m mount cameras to me is that the lenses are so small that it isn't difficult to carry multiple lenses. I had an EF mount canon slr for a few years, with a zoom lens (worst decision I ever made) and I could carry my m4-2, my 35mm lens, my 90mm lens, and pretty much any other m mount lens and it would take up the same or less space than my canon. With that said, however, It is very convenient for me to just put my leica with my 35 on my shoulder under my blazer or coat, stick an extra roll of film or two in my pocket, and go. If I keep my right hand in my pocket, and you aren't looking carefully, you wouldn't know I was carrying a camera. That is a trick you can't pull off with most interchangeable lens cameras.
 
Is the Leica really a one lens camera?

I don't own a Leica, but I find this to be a very aggressive question that tries to project individual preference into an innate quality of the camera. As I see it, clearly the Leica M was designed to take whatever compatible lenses the photographer cares to use, so it's not a valid question at all. Should the photographer choose to use only one, that's all about their choice, and changes nothing about the camera's design and the intent of its designers for it to be modular.

I don't see what's wrong with just saying, "I'm happy with just one lens." Why does this individual preference have to seek justification by arguing it's following some hidden, so-called "real" nature of the camera?
 
Leighgion, it's a valid question because we (camera nuts) tend to be toy collectors rather than photographers. Sometimes I think the interchangeable lens camera was invented to create a restlessness and sell more lenses! ;)

As you can see from this thread, although most of us have an assortment of lenses, we tend to use just one or perhaps two for most of our photos. I think that's what Bill was trying to ferret out with his question. In actual use, it appears most of us pretty much use a Leica as a one lens camera.
 
Isn't the strength of an interchangeable lens system the fact that you can mount whatever lens you want, including your favorite 50mm?

People might favor a few lenses, and overwhelmingly one or two focal lengths, but that is the strength of the M system - you can mount your favorite lens. You aren't tied into whatever lens comes with the body.
 
How about one lens/camera and alot of creativity?

Most of the time I carry extra gear it seldom gets used. On the street, MP/35mm Summilux and couple extra rolls of Fuji 160. For 30 yrs I shot with one lens and one camera. When times got better I started adding lenses, but having alot of gear ultimately wasnt my style.
 
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Bill Pierce said:
The thread on what is your favorite lens on a Leica has set me to wondering. Is the Leica really a one lens camera?

With the exception of the M3 and the .85 viewfinders, the range-viewfinders of Leicas work best with 35 and 50mm lenses. That’s pretty much reflected in the favorite lens thread.

There isn’t so much difference in angle of view that you are going to miss a picture with a 35mm because your camera has a 50 - or vice versa. You walk a little or crop a little.

Is the Leica a one lens camera that has the option of changing lenses if you really have to? Bresson seemed to think so. A lot of folks who contributed to the last thread seem to think so. I know I usually travel with a normal lens on the camera and bag of other lenses that really don’t see any use until I absolutely can’t take the shot I want with the 35 or 50 that is on the camera.

Comments?
Click to expand...

No - not for me anyway. For most things I work with 2 bodies, and pair the lenses each day depending on circumstances - or to be honest depending on how I feel at the time. I then keep those lenses on all day regardless and have to work with what I have. This idea of having to accept the chosen combination without further lens changes works well for me - after all with two lenses at least one of them should fit the given circs. The idea came about by accident - the need to avoid dust ingress into M8 bodies when out and about.

If I worked with just one M body, then yes, the 35mm on M2 type finders or a 50mm on an M3 type finder or 0.85 magnified finder would be my instinctive choice. And I think what characterizes Leica M photography is instinct (or have I been too influenced by Leica's own rangefinder marketing?)

At the risk of being really silly I wonder if having a small lens makes the Leica more of a one-lens camera? What I mean is: having a pre-ASPH Summilux 35/1.4 makes the camera look like a compact with integral lens; having a Summicron 90/2 does not.

Best wishes,
Tom
 
Isn't the viewfinder central to this thread? With an SLR the viewfinder looks right with all focal lengths, but with the Leica M camera the direct viewing system is most comfortably used with lenses that take up most of the frame with a bit of space round the edges to check elements in and out of composition.

So, 28mm is too much of an eyestretching exercise for me - though actually I use it a lot - while 75mm and beyond leaves too much visible out of frame to concentrate fully on the subject matter.

To me anyway the frame lines for 35mm on the M2 finder and for 50mm on the M3 or 0.85x finders are the easiest for rapid, 'happy' composition.

Best wishes,
Tom
 
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