Could you be happy with only a 35mm lens?

Yes, although I own and use 21, 35, 50 (three of them!) and 90mm Leica lenses. A billion 35mm compact camera owners couldn't have been wrong.

I'm currently shooting on a Ricoh FF-9 compact with a 35mm lens because my M3 is having its shutter tweaked. 35mm does everything I need for pictorial photography; if I were doing portraits or sports it would be limiting.
 
kshapero said:
Life would be so simple with just my 35mm lens and body. Can it be done?
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I could do it, but why?

Now I am leaving the country for a 2 week photo trip and carrying just 28mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses (plus backup body). Probably won't use anything but the 28 as I set out for the day with just one body and one lens. But it is nice to know that the 35mm and 50mm will be back at my home away from home if I think I am going to choose to use them one of the days.
 
I could go one lens if need be but it would have to be a 50mm. I'd probably keep the 'Cron for it's all around performance. I'd keep the C-Sonnar but the slightly schlocky build would keep me from making it the "one and only" (love the lens though!).
 
I'm not doing it intentionally but as it turns out 90% of everything i shoot is with my 35 C Biogon /2.8

Just how it has worked out for me but it seems to be working out great :D
 
For years I only had a Canon p&s with 35 mm f4.5 lens, I used to take great photos then.
Not sure now..:bang::bang:
 
I do like a 50 but I could do it. I had only a 50 for 20 years. Now my X100 is keeping me to the 35 which I've had on the M6 for over ten years. Simonsawsunlight here favors the 35 for most of his photography. If I had to have 2 lenses only I'd make it a 25 and a 50. So one only at 35 is about right.

[Edit:Simon's post just as I was posting.]
 
No. Not with a 35mm. I find it a bit too wide for many jobs even with a crop factor. A 50mm I could live with. It all depends upon your style of shooting. About the only thing I would miss in a 35mm most days would be the ability to stop down to f8 and use hyperfocal focusing to get everything from 3m to infinity in focus, which allows one to snap shoot without focusing on the subject.
 
I recently aquired a 35mm lens for my Leica, and the more I use it, the more I think about welding it on. I love shooting this FL! I'm a bit of a novice yet, but I find myself shooting more pictures of people, which for me is the only worthwhile kind of photo.
My problem, though is my Rolleis... They keep calling out to me from their bag. I love shooting with those, too. But for 35, I could see myself just shooting 35mm. I've been a long time fan of Emmanuel Smague, who shoots just MP and Leica 2/35 ASPH. Great shooter. He's on flickr.
 
kemal_mumcu said:
I think Tom A. has the best approach. Keep every lens you buy and just store the ones you aren't using. That way in 2 years time when you get a hankering for 12mm you can just pull the ole CV 12 out of door stop duty and go out and shoot pictures. Shoot the 12mm for a couple months if you like and then move on to your next fancy. This way you are following the one-lens at a time doctrine but not constantly re-buying all the time.

I shouldn't have sold that 21.... :(
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This has become my approach to it all.
It is the joy of being able to use certain lenses at certain times.
 
I do like going out with just the camera and a 35 so maybe, but I doubt I could give up having a 50 so I'm not likely to try it.

Cheers,
Rob
 
Almost there myself. Only use a 35 and (on digital) 40mm - although I miss having a 50, I enjoy not having to make the decision of which one to take out.
 
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