You can only choose one lens…

[splitimageview]

I was day dreaming on a recent bike ride, and for some reason or another this thought crossed my mind:

Strictly speaking of rangefinder lenses (including lenses permanently affixed to RF cameras.) Not mirrorless, not SLR or DSLR, only glass for RF cameras qualifies. (Contax G is considered an RF for this exercise.)

You can only choose one lens for the rest of your photographic life.

Which single lens would be your choice?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The CanonNikkorJupiterZeiss355085105F2F15F14F25.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8, LTM.

Best,
-Tim

 

[splitimageview]

The CanonNikkorJupiterZeiss355085105F2F15F14F25.

This isn’t easy, is it!

😀

 

[CMur12]

I've had an Olympus 35RC, a Vivitar 35ES, and a couple of Canonets G-III 17 QL. All had a focal length of approximately 40mm, which worked great for me when I used them. If my only camera today were one of these, with a 40mm lens, I could be happy.

- Murray

 

[pyeh]

I say exactly as Timmyjoe has just done - the Nikkor 35/1.8 LTM: sharp, high contrast, low distortion, compact, good on LTM and M cameras. My second choice would be the Summicron 35/2 v4, for the same reasons as the Nikkor, apart from the LTM business.
But really, Splitimageview's question is my favourite gearhead kind of question, better even than "What is the best 2-lens combo for my upcoming trip to Sarajevo?"

edit: correct a typo

 

[Doug A]

It would have to be an LTM lens to work with a Barnack camera. It would have to be a collapsible lens for packability. If limited to just one focal length I would choose 50mm. I would keep just my collapsible 50/2 Summicron.

 

[julio1fer]

The G-Zuiko that comes with the Olympus 35SP, 42 mm, f/1.7, is the best I have used among many excellent lenses. The Retina-Xenon, 50 mm, of the IIIS model is another favorite.

 

[Vince Lupo]

This.


Monochom Goggled Summicron V1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[shawn]

Either the Konica 21-35 or the Leica Tri-Elmar 28-35-50.

 

[terrafirmanada]

Careful daydreaming on you bike! I choose my gen 2 50mm Summilux

 

[maddoc]

35mm Summicron v3 if restricted to an M-mount camera, if I could use screw mount and M-mount cameras then the Voigtlander Helier 40/2.8 in LTM mount.

 

[trix4ever]

Would it be cheating to go with the 38mm f4.5 on my SWC? It is a viewfinder camera and probably the only camera I could never sell.
I could definitely live with that as my only lens forever.

 

[Miles.]

Leica Summar 5cm f2.

 

[Mackinaw]

35mm f2.0 Summicron ASPH.

Jim B.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

These days I'm primarily using 35mm and 50mm lenses but if I can only have one I'll go with something in-between.

Voigtländer 40mm f1.4 Nokton Classic SC VM lens.

All the best,
Mike

 

[chuckroast]

I was day dreaming on a recent bike ride, and for some reason or another this thought crossed my mind:

Strictly speaking of rangefinder lenses (including lenses permanently affixed to RF cameras.) Not mirrorless, not SLR or DSLR, only glass for RF cameras qualifies. (Contax G is considered an RF for this exercise.)

You can only choose one lens for the rest of your photographic life.

Which single lens would be your choice?

35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH

 

[bullterrier]

Elmar 90mm f4

 

[Michael Markey]

Probably my most used lens and the one which I`ve had the longest is the 50 Summicron V5 .... so it would have to be that .

 

[DownUnder]

Hoo, this is an easy one.

In my old age I now favour minimalism in almost everything in my life. This is a major sea-change for me, as my previous #1 life principle ran along the lines of "excess in moderation in all things".

I am now 90%+ digital but if I had to make do with film, it would be a Contax G1 with a Zeiss Biogon 28/2.8 - the lens I could easily and happily live with for the rest of my life. As a second choice the Zeiss Planar 35/2.0, but for me the '28 wins.

The one downside for me with this kit would be the size of the container(s) of film I'd have to carry. For several decades I traveled with Australian Army field ration metal cans, each can holding 20 35mm rolls. Two cans of this would be considerably larger and bulkier than my G1 kit or even my Nikon D800 travel kit.

As for digital, this conundrum has again surfaced in my life as I'm planning and preparing for two weeks in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak in the spring. For this journey I'll take my new (to me) Fuji Xpro2 and the super duper Fujinon 23/1.4, the older lens with the manual focusing facility.

This Pro along with two changes of clothing and a few bother asic life essentials, will easily get me into carry-on luggage when I fly - my ticket to Kuala Lumpur with Batik Air allows for 10 kilos of cabin bag, and the Fuji won't add much to my total weight. Alas, the Contax G kit along with film cans would push me to more than my allowed cabin bag weight, and possibly create problems. So digital wins out on this trip, for this reason alone.