as long as we're talking about gear, part 2...

[Maiku]

I am trying to minimize. I have concluded that I love my Canon LTM lenses a lot. I have a 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4 and 100mm f3.5. I just do not like the Canon bodies. I am trying to find a Bessa R or R2. I like built-in light meters and really bright finder. If the Bessa works out then I will shedding more and more gear. I think a Bessa R with the Canon 35mm, 50mm and 105mm is the smallest kit I could possible build.

 

[akremer]

...does anyone here have a minimalist rf kit?

Yes.

I use a Contax G2 with the 45 f2 lens, the TLA200 flash and Kodak Portra. It does what I want it to do and I enjoy using it.

I like talking about other gear, but I don't have a strong urge to buy anything else.

My backup is a Z2X p&s. I'll use it with Tmax or when the G2 runs out of film.

 

[Joe AC]

M6, Canon 7, and 2 canon lenses 50/1.4 and 50/1.8

 

[FrankS]

M6, Canon 7, and 2 canon lenses 50/1.4 and 50/1.8

Hi Joe, and welcome to RFF. What film(s) are you using?

 

[ironhorse]

M3 and canon 50mm/1.8 for walking around.

A Nikon D2h, 20-35/2.8, 50/1.4, and 80-200/2.8 for sports.

 

[panchro-press]

My 'minimalist' kit is an XA in my pocket.

Dave

 

[Bingley]

When joe said "minimalist kit," I understood him to be refering to what we owned, not what we carried on any particular day of shooting. If it's the latter, then I can be as minimalist as anyone...

Hexar RF with a 35'cron
M3 with a 50'cron or an adapted Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 (people lens)...

I've learned to accept that I'm a one camera one lens shooter (ie. I can carry more - lenses and or bodies, but I basically just carry it).

If shooting indoors, I take the Hexar RF with 35cron.
If shooting outdoors, I take the M3 and 50'cron.
If shooting people/portraits, I take the M3 and Z-O 50/1.5.

I've owned and used the VC15, VC21, VC28, 90'cron, 35summaron, Canon 50/1.8 and Hexanon-M 50/2 and although all are fine lenses, the 35 and 50'cron are the sharpest and best handling lenses that I can afford.

The less I carry the more I shoot because the less I have to think about gear options/alternatives.

When I want wide I use a SWC - no 35mm WA I've used come close to the IQ and speed of use of the SWC for me.

The key for me is to carry the minimalist gear that prevents me spending precious time and energy thinking about gear and instead more focused on seeing what's around me that might look interesting as a photograph.

This description resonates w/ me. I'm on the same path, I think, but haven't reached a destination yet.

 

[Bingley]

I am trying to minimize. I have concluded that I love my Canon LTM lenses a lot. I have a 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4 and 100mm f3.5. I just do not like the Canon bodies. I am trying to find a Bessa R or R2. I like built-in light meters and really bright finder. If the Bessa works out then I will shedding more and more gear. I think a Bessa R with the Canon 35mm, 50mm and 105mm is the smallest kit I could possible build.

I agree w/ you, but each of those lovely Canon lenses would also work very well on an M2. I shoot Canon glass on my M2: it's a match made in heaven! 🙂

 

[Joe AC]

Hi Joe, and welcome to RFF. What film(s) are you using?

Thanks, right now they are both loaded with Tri-x 400

 

[lmd91343]

Ouch! The lenses options were cool, though...

Cheers,

Juan

My pictures were better then too! I know that the quality of my SLR lenses are better than my RF. However the quality of the equipment should not be reflected in the poorer images I take now.

I think because I had so much invested in taking the pictures then (so much heavy gear) and so little room for error (pro lab developing and printing) that I tried very hard to make sure every photo was just right for composition, framing, and exposure. I used a tripod and cable release. I was slow and deliberate. If I had my old F1 with me, I would also lock up the mirror.

Now that I have a dedicated negative scanner and carry less weight, I am much sloppier at framing and not as careful at exposure. I try to correct in Photoshop. I was better before. Also not having that tripod hurts the image sharpness (I know it is not a knife).

The only real excuse i have is that my SLRs are better for extreme close-up and FLs longer than 100mm. I guess I could take the time and carry a tripod. 🙁

 

[Doug]

I’m amazed, in this gear-happy environment, how many here are on the minimalist trip or close to it. Me, I have more of a maximalist kit, and I’m very comfortable with that. No changes in over a year. Fortunately, only a minimal kit goes with me at any one time, so I don’t really need a trailer or the mule team to pull it... 🙂