How do you deal with minimal gear? Serious question.

[taemo]

I have multiple cameras at my disposal but like others, I don't use or bring them with me all the time.
It all depends on the requirement of the jobs and what medium do I feel like using.
ie for portrait works, I'll bring my digital camera and portrait lens
for landscape, it can be either or both a digital and film camera

for travel, my main priority now is comfort and to travel light so I'll just bring my Sony A7RII with 21mm and 35mm and possibly the M3 as backup/2nd camera.
for most snap shots I tend to use the iphone but when making a photo, a dedicated camera still wins for me.

I cringe now thinking back when I first started getting serious into photography and we went to Hawaii, I would walk and tour around with 2 DSLRs, one with a 24-105mm and one with a 70-300.

Also last weekend, I decided to head up to the mountains to catch the sunrise, halfway through the 2 hours drive, I realized that I forgot my digital camera with me but had my new Iphone 11 Pro and Leica M3 in the bag (my main priority was to test the new camera phone capability and work on my film scanning workflow).
I was still able to make beautiful pictures.

 

[Archiver]

Most of us have multiple cameras, but tend to use only one or two for appropriate times. This makes a lot of sense; I do this as well.

When I want to shoot sports or parades, I take something with a long zoom. Canon 5D Mark II with 70-200 f4 ISL, or Panasonic GH4 with 35-100 f2.8.

When I'm shooting everyday walkaround, a compact camera with a wide angle lens is the go, preferably something quick and responsive, which means the Ricoh GR, Sony RX0, or Panasonic LX10.

For the best image quality and haptic bliss, it's the Leica M9 with 1-3 lenses, although one lens tends to get the most use.

And here I'm still illustrating the 'problem'. Over the years, I've collected bits and pieces of gear which are suited to different situations. I wouldn't carry a 5D Mark II everyday (I used to, but not any more), but it's very useful in certain situations. The GH4 is far more compact and rapid, but it lacks in image quality compared with the Canon.

In my first years of photography, I only had one camera, and I made it work for as many situations as possible. As my collection grew, so did the decisions I had to make as to what was going to work in any given place. As others have said, there is no real middle road between multiple shooting situations and minimal gear, you either use what is appropriate for situations, or you miss out some but not others, or you adjust your expectations for what the gear will capture.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Using a smaller camera bag helps by limiting you to essentials only.

Chris

 

[Archiver]

Using a smaller camera bag helps by limiting you to essentials only.

Chris

Really good point. To limit myself, I use a small bumbag/waist pack as a sling bag. It carries wallet, sunglasses, and one pocket camera. However, I cheat by putting the pocket camera in the bag and another, smaller camera, in my actual pocket.

 

[farlymac]

I used to want to haul a full kit of lenses around when I was using mostly SLR's. But since delving a bit deeper into rangefinders, I find myself just taking a two or three lens get up most times, even with the SLR's.



PF

 

[Bolo Kukus]

This thread reminds me of an old joke.

A rather large gentleman bought a talking bathroom scale to weigh himself at home.

The first time he got on it, it said, "only one person at a time, please."

This seems excellent advice to follow for 'minimalist' (or 'minimal') photography.

For those who have missed the obvious, delete "person" and insert "camera and lens"...

The above said, I have another story (a serious one) to tell, but I will save it for another post at some other time.

 

[Rob-F]

This thread reminds me of an old joke.

A rather large gentleman bought a talking scale to weigh himself at home.

The first time he got on it, it said, "only one at a time, please."

This seems to me to be excellent advice to follow for 'minimalist' (or 'minimal') photography.

The above said, I have another story (a serious one) to tell, but I will save it for another post at some other time.

I don't get it. Only one what?

Oh . . . only one foot at a time?

 

[Bolo Kukus]

I don't get it. Only one what?

Oh . . . only one foot at a time?

Rob, read #46 again.

In metric, we would say "meter" - so a double connotation here!

 

[Photog9000]

Back in the days I was a working photographer, I had all the gear I needed. Several fast zooms, a few primes and, always, two bodies. When I retired (was forced out of the newspaper business) I decided to take what I call the "HCB approach". I figured if a great photojournalist like Cartier-Bresson could make a Leica with a 50mm his constant companion, I would try the same. Today I have just three cameras - a Fuji X100S with a WCL (28mm) attached, a Fuji X100S with a TCL (50mm) attached, and a Yashica Electro35 GS with a fixed 45mm. Usually I just decide on one of these but sometimes I do carry both the Fuji cameras to have some flexibility. On several occasions, I have gone on ocean cruises and just used the old Yashica and Tri-X film.

 

[narsuitus]

Back in the days I was a working newspaper photographer, I normally carried a Nikon F2 with a 35mm f/2, an 85mm f/1.8, and a 180mm f/2.8. I carried these items plus a Vivitar 283 flash, a handheld light meter, and a few rolls of b&w film in a small army surplus bag on a 650cc BSA motorcycle. Later, I replaced the 35mm f/2 with the 35mm f/1.4 shown in the attached photo.


Minimalist Newspaper Gear by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Dogman]

Since I like prime lenses, minimal equipment to me usually consists of two camera bodies, one with a 35mm lens, the other with a 50mm lens (or APS-C equivalent lenses). I've also gone the DSLR with zoom route. Sometimes a single prime lens on a single camera body. Sometimes a fixed lens digital. Sometimes a bag with extra cameras and lenses. I don't really have a system or method. I'm flexible day to day.

 

[raid]

My most used set-up is carrying two cameras with one lens each. I could manage with one camera and one lens. On the other hand, there is for me also the enjoyment of using different equipment once in a while. It is not a photographic need. It is about enjoying photography for myself.

 

[Guy Pinhas]

Would love to see those!!!!

I mostly do street photography and for a few years only traveled with an SWC. My “style” was to walk right up to the subject maybe from 4 to 6 feet away and snap. I grew tired of it because the shots look more or less the same to me after a while. I got hooked on the Rolleiflex with the 75mm Planar and it is now my primary camera. With the Rollei I compose on the GG and my photos look more structured not the random off axis look with the SWC. I sent out 100 sheets of 6x6 negs for scanning and will post the shots. Going through and editing about 600 sheets of 6x6 negs I can say the SWC shots were most successful because I was able to get close. If I must choose one camera for the rest of my life it would be the SWC.

 

[Jeremy Z]

I am always filled with awe of the people who shoot with one camera and few lenses. ...but those people usually do just one type of photography.

I love variety in all things. Cameras, media, hobbies in general.

In my heart, I KNOW I would be a better street photographer if I just picked one camera and lens. But perfecting my street photography doesn't trump everything else.

Right now, I'm in a vintage point & shoot phase; I picked up a nice Minolta Freedom II at the thrift store for $5, and it seems to be working nicely. I've got a roll of Tri-X that I'm going to finish off this evening at a family party with my Nikon L35AF3. (Bears game + Rosh Hashanah)

In a week or two, my Yashica Electro 35 CC will be back from CLA and I will likely delight in that for a while, and send my Rollei 35 off for CLA. Then, I plan to re-seal my Electro 35 GS and OM1N.

At some point, I "need" a Zuiko OM 35/2.8 and an Zuiko Digital 17/1.8 for my OM-D. It's a lot of fun to rotate through them.

To spice this up a bit, here's a recent shot with my Rollei 35 and Tri-X:

 

[Jeremy Z]

Using a smaller camera bag helps by limiting you to essentials only.

Chris

I like using a larger bag than I need. That way, I can call it a camera bag even though it is a "murse" or "man bag" or "European Carryall". (which are not socially acceptable in the US.) 😛

 

[Jeremy Z]

I should also point out that, although I HAVE a lot of cameras, lenses and other gear, I only take a small kit each time I go out. Either it's what I'm in the mood to shoot or what is suited to the intended subject.

Lately, it has been just a simple point & shoot 35 mm with a nice prime lens: 35, 38 or 40 mm, between f/2.8 and f/4. I went from the fully manual Rollei 35. Later, maybe I'll settle for something with aperture priority and exposure compensation. (without having to move the ISO

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

To spice this up a bit, here's a recent shot with my Rollei 35 and Tri-X:

Lovely shot Jeremy!

 

[creenus]

For the last year, I've been sticking with the M2 and a Version III 'Cron 50mm. Lotsa M-gear and Nikon DSLR (plus an F5), but I mostly used the 50mm, and develop and print Ilford film myself.


Sometimes I use a 35mm Summarit with the M2, but even then I zoom with my feet.



I do like the Nikon 85mm f1.8 with my D600 - great lens.

 

[B-9]

Minimal kit is my goal these days after spending too long in the rabbit hole.

Mamiya Press (my big neg kit)
Canon EOS 1 (my 35mm kit)
Ricoh GRD (my snapshot kit)
Iphone 7+ (my video kit with moment lenses)

More than enough frills for a hobbyist like me.
Best of Luck!

 

[victoriapio]

I am down to one kit: M9 body, Monochrome body, 24 Elmarit, 35 Summicron (bokeh king), 50 Summicron (pre ASPH) and the 90 f 3.5). Carried in a small bag with 20 cards four extra batteries and a small flash. Other than my cell phone (Iphone XR), that is all the camera gear I own.