i'm doing it: one year, one leica

Me too. I have an M3 and two Summicron 50mm lenses. I'll use the collapsible for walking around and the DR for portraits. Selling two Rolleis, two Nikon Fs (with about six lenses, Minolta Maxxums and lenses, maybe even my Contax IIIa (my Dad's, so...) I'm so ready for the one camera one lens life!
Vic
 
Thanks for sharing that link...

I have been reorganising my camera gear for the past few months with the intentions of arriving to more or less to a one camera/one lens/one film solution. I am waiting for the delivery of my new Nokton 50/1.1 in the next few weeks and I suspect along with my Leica M5 it will become my primary kit. I have been trying various films as well and have to really settle on one, but Tri-X is a prime candidate being since it is so versatile, can be pulled to 200ISO or pushed 6400 with ease.

The only exception to the one camera/lens/film usage is my portrait commissions, which are all shot on medium-format.
 
That's good, apart from the stuff i do for the paper with digital, all i shoot with is an m6 and 35mm f1.2 cause that's all i have.

I don't see why he insists on using a leica... what's wrong with a ZI? or a r2/3/4? Or a Nikon F2 for that matter, and what's the problem with a hassy 500CM, and who is saying that an OM-1 is not adequate?

The 1 camera, 1 lens idea is to work on composition with a particular angle of view and to make things very simple, go back to the basis sort of thing. One film makes sense to, familiarity with a film is important. I would even say pick an aperture and stick with that as well.
 
I wanna do this one Leica one lens thing, if I can find a cheap setup I'll go for it. I'm tempted to sell some gear to pay for the Leica, but don't have anything I'm ready to get rid of. Maybe the GX-100, but that wouldn't pay for the lens cap. :)

Good luck with it. :)
 
I only have one Leica (M6) and one lens (Summicron-C 40/2) so I've been doing this for a while now. Just need to up the number of film rolls per week. My cycling trip across the US over the summer should take care of that.
 
Congrats to that decision. Another vote for a blog or a regular update.
....I liked the explanation that taking a Leica would mean also a commitment to obtain it even if it means selling things or working additional hours.
Best regards
Des
 
I find that I can go for quite some time with just a mp and a 50, either my zm sonnar or my summilux asph. I see times where I'd like a 35 or a tighter 75 fov, but I find ways to compensate when I compose. I recall reading the paradox that limiting oneself artistically can function so as to open up limitless possibilities with a specific focal length, a paint, a poetic form or whatever. I *think* it was Ralph Gibson who said that, but I am not sure; whoever made the claim though was correct in my estimation. As practice makes perfect, according to the old adage, so it would suggest logically that if you work consistently with a certain focal length, you'll get more comfortable and proficient with it.

This being granted, I do think there are really good artistic/functional reasons to use other focal lengths. I am glad I believe this, too, as I'd be disheartened at times if I couldn't use a 35/75 combo instead of my 50. Ah, the focal length sacrifices some make for Art!
 
Hmm, I do this all the time, since I only have one Leica body. Mostly with just one lens, too. :D
(Okay, I have two other (FSU) rangefinder cameras on the attic, but well, I just use the M4.)
 
Does an rd-1 with one lens (a nokton 40) count? it's all i have...:) I promise to shoot only in Jpeg and in monocrome only! :D
 
It might help you to clear your mind by using one camera and one lens. But in the long run it'll be like playing a round of golf with only one club.
 
I've pretty much gotten to this point as it is. 2x3 Crown Graphic for all landscape photos. Bessa R for everything else. Though I don't shoot as much as he says to.
 
As an added bit of inspiration, I'll simply add that this idea isn't quite without precedent. (Even HCB didn't go that far much of the time.)

Now that I've recently been "Leicafied", I've been frequently going solo with the M2 and 35 'cron, a few rolls in the pocket, and no net (meter). You could almost consider it a palate-cleanser of an exercise. It was the recent purchase of the Contax Tvs that brought me back to the single-camera thing big-time. But it does have a short zoom on it, which I guess is sort of cheating...


- Barrett
 
While it seems that most people both here and that commented on the T.O.P. article, even Mike, the author, seem to have been sidelined into a Leica or otherwise debate, the 'assignment' of the article has been forgotten.

That is to not only shoot a lot of film but to deliver a finished product on a regular basis. This is the real crux of the article... one that I have been working toward since the beginning of the year, to not be satisfied with stacks of negatives or a hard-drive full of scans, but to make prints.
 
i think it's a great idea, and will gladly follow the story during your year. i am making pretty good progress heading for 1 x m8 and three lenses, but even that set looks excessive compared to your project. :))
greetings from hamburg
rick
 
Miller's got it right. The biggest failure these days seems to be in not completing the circle to end up with a print. Getting a print that is good as you imagined your original exposure to be is a daunting (and humbling) task.
 
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