1 camera, 1 lens, 1 film, 1 developer

the funny thing is that I'll look back on this post in a year or two and wonder why I picked this setup.

M2-R
35 Summicron
HP5
HC110

Just missed the cut:
Camera: Nikon F3
Lens: Nikkor 35/2 O-C
Film: Portra 400
Dev: DDX (for pushing HP5 to 3200)
 
FrankS said:
a thought exercise:

suppose you had to limit your photo gear choice to just one of each of these for the rest of your days. what format would you go with? the mobility of 35mm, the quality of 120, or the ultimate in control with LF? would you go with B+W, colour film, or digital? mechanical or full-featured electronic? would you choose the flexibility of a zoom lens over the quality of a prime, and what focal length? What gear represents the essence of your personal photography?
(assume no difficulty with film availability/processing in your lifetime.)

how about you? i want you to really commit to your decision, so the rule is: you may not mention several different choices, just one of each. the more other favourites that you mention, the more watered down and wishy-washy your post becomes. what gear choice is the essence of you personal photography. (not your professional photography, if that applies.)
Click to expand...


This is difficult as I love my M9, but it doesn't have the video capabilities that I get from my other cameras, nor does it have autofocus, which makes things tricky from time to time. The shutter sound gets to me a bit, too.



I simply don't shoot film to any significant extent any more. I'm lucky to shoot a roll a year, maybe two rolls if I'm on a binge. There just isn't the versatility and ease of processing that I can get from digital. So as much as I love my Contax T3 and Leica M7, I wouldn't choose them for my 'only camera forever'.


The Leica M10 looks like a really good upgrade from the M9, but lacks video. Again, I value video almost as much as stills, so this narrows the choices somewhat.


My one camera/lens would be digital, and with the quietest shutter possible. Interestingly, the Leica Q fits the bill, having a very fast wide angle lens, a silent electronic shutter, smaller and lighter than a M body, capable of video and also macro photography. The Sony RX1r III also fits these criteria, although I have yet to own either of these cameras.


I love Leica cameras, particularly the M body style, and I love 28mm shooting, so my one camera/lens forever would probably be the Leica Q. The Q has it all for me. Image quality, fast wide angle lens, silent shutter, video.


That doesn't mean that if I had a Q, I'd ditch all my other gear, though!
 
Archiver said:
The Leica M10 looks like a really good upgrade from the M9, but lacks video. Again, I value video almost as much as stills, so this narrows the choices somewhat.
Click to expand...

M240 does video better than the M9, but is still an M body. 2nd hand prices are dropping...

For me this is easy, my M4 & 35 preASPH Lux. Developer would be Rodinal (it's all I've used for years), the film is a hard one though... I still haven't really found anything that really appeals to me since Neon 1600 was discontinued :'(
 
When this original question was asked in 2009, I'm sure I would have answered Leica M6, 50mm Summicron, Ilford HP5, D76 1:1.

In 2009, I could not have foreseen a better choice for a lifetime outfit.

As happens, things changed. Today I would choose Fuji X-Pro2 and Fuji 35mm f/2. But I would reserve the right to change my mind.
 
Murphy’s law.
One month into this exercise the shutter on your ‘one camera’ picks this time (after years of reliable service) to pack up. You discovered this when you pulled a roll of washed film from the tank.
 
Even though I prefer shooting medium format black & white, if I were forced to limit myself to "1 camera, 1 lens, 1 film, 1 developer" for the rest of my days, here is what I would choose:

Leica M6 camera body
35mm Zeiss f/1.4 ZM lens
Ilford HP5+ 35mm film
Kodak D-76 developer


Leica M6 by Narsuitus, on Flickr
 
If it were only one.... Rolleiflex T, Ilford FP4+, Pyrocat HD in glycol.... Just because I like printing from larger negatives & the Rollei is a nice compromise (& gives great results), between the Leica & the 5x7.
 
Right now, I’d choose:

IIIc
Konishiroku Hexanon 5cm f1.9
Kentmere 400
Xtol replenished

But I just picked up a nice user M2, and I kinda want to use that, too!
 
If it came down to just one combo, I'd go with:

Leica M6 TTL
35mm Summicron ASPH
Tri-X
D-76 1:1

Was definitely torn between the 35mm and the 50mm Summicrons - I consider them the "wide normal" and long normal" focal lengths in 135. The 35 won out due to it feeling too wide less often than 50 feels too long.

Of course, I considered the Hasselblad; another enduring favorite. The Leica wins here due to its carry-everywhere nature and having 36 exposures on every roll. I *love* the tonality of medium format, but in an "only one" scenario, having the camera with me wins. Getting the shot *at all* is more important than the gains in image qualities.
 
This is the camera I have sitting in front of me now and the one I would be happy to use exclusively, it's not perfect but it works well for my and my aging eyesight. I had one years ago and sold it for some reason, had to buy another 🙂 ever regreted that decision.

Nikon F80
50mm f 1.8
Tri-X
D-76
 
What my rational self would choose today;

Wanderlust Travelwide (I may have to stock up on a few of these as I am not sure the camera is robust enough to last me for the rest of my life.)
Linhoff Schneider Krueznach Angulon 90/6.8 in a Synchro-Compur shutter (An absolutely awesome lens and shutter combo.)
Graflex 23 Graphic Roll Film Back (6x9)
Delta Pro 3200 (Usable from EI400 thru EI6400 which I will need as my maximum aperture is only f/6.8. Embrace the grain! 😀)
Ilfotec DDX 1+4 (provides developing capability across the full spectrum of exposure index speeds that Delta 3200 is capable of.)
Jobo 2521 tank and 120 reel with manual roller base. (A little over the top and not necessary for the thought experiment but I happen to be addicted to this setup.)

(As my actual self walks away with a Lomo LCA 120 with a brick of Delta Pro 3200 and a bottle of Ilfotec DDX.)
 
When I was much younger, I only had the Rolleiflex MX that I still own. I also have a Rolleikin adapter for use with 35mm film.
Much later, my main gear was a Canon EF with at 85mm 1.8 lens.
I still own them all and keep saying to myself that I have to put a roll though the Rollei at least.
I also keep thinking that I should sell them since no one in my family will want them. 🙂).
 
Maybe I would go back to what I started with:

My Leica M2 with 35/2.8 Summaron. Yes, I still have them, 57 years later.
Plus-X
D-76

But I will only do it if Kodak brings back Plus-X.
 
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