i'm doing it: one year, one leica

what is the point of restricting yourself if you already have other camera gear? you can retain a similar level of simplicity by just using one camera and one lens AT A TIME. in other words, just bring the right (or optimal) lens for the occasion.
 
From the post:
So if you're among the other 28,000, no need to bother defending or rationalizing your opposition. You're solidly in the majority as it is.

But I'll say this: A year with a single Leica and a single lens, looking at light and ignoring color, will teach you as much about actually seeing photographs as three years in any photo school, and as much as ten or fifteen years (or more) of mucking about buying and selling and shopping for gear like the average hobbyist.
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A lot of people find value in the challenge. Mike Johnston is not alone in believing this is the most effective means of learning photography. Over the course of a year, the only remaining independent variable in your photography will be the image you capture. People can play this game by their own rules and it may be similar in practice but it will not achieve the same goals.
 
Im very tempted to give this a go.. not sure how I would go, going back to film from digital (would have to sell the m8)
 
LChanyungco said:
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.
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I disagree with the analogy. In golf, the aim is the same for every player, every time. The target in photography is nowhere near so neatly defined.

Photography's history is full of photographers who have excelled with a one camera/one lens combination, whereas I'm unaware of any great golfer who shunned a choice of club. Although my mate's brother once scored a hole in one with a putter from the tee.

I'm thoroughly in awe of anyone with the required self-discpline and the respect for their own photographic development to be do this. Bravo.

I've experience a couple of waves of 'you-can-do-it' optimism, but then the thought of another camera crosses my mind and I realise I couldn't be faithful for a whole year.
 
Go for it!

Go for it!

aizan said:
i haven't decided yet. the mp is .72, so i can probably cross off 28mm because i wear glasses. i have one 35mm (summicron asph), and two 50mm lenses (m-hexanon and f1.4 nikkor ltm). i haven't used the nikkor much, and this would be a good opportunity to get really familiar with it.

as for film, i was thinking hp5, just because tri-x would be sooooo cliche. 😉
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HP5+ is nice. I suppose you will also be limited to 1 developer?

On the other hand, buy American.

Freestyle Premium 400 (Tri-X in disguise) wouldn't be a cliche and CHEAP! Slosh it in D-76 1:1 or Xtol 1:3. Either way is a winner.

I mean, is this really possible? One camera. One lens. One film. One developer. One year??????????????? It seems very unsavory to me. 😀

With 3 formats and 4 different systems in 35mm, how would I choose? Who would know if I cheated?

Now I ask you, is this limited to Leica cameras? Leica lenses? B&W film? Should I? Could I? What do I do with my sheet film and roll film and all of my other 35mm film for a whole year?

I have twin M5s. Can I use both of them? It's almost like using one camera, right? Bigfoot & Bubba need exercise.

What say ye? Help a brother out.
 
maggieo said:
When I was a kid, all I had was a Canonette GIII Ql-17, with a fixed 40mm lens and a freezer full of Tri-X. Probably the best thing that ever happened to my photography was spending three years with that camera and only that camera. I've still got the little guy, though it really needs a CLA at this point.
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Hey! You are the guy from "Pecker"! Wow! 😉
 
This will be good.

This will be good.

Trius said:
I read Mike's posts (but not all the comments -- I didn't have that much time and I can just imagine some of the more idiotic comments! -- and I am going to do this. First, I need to get a Leica and lens (no, my lovely 35SPs don't count ... as much as I love them, they are NOT a Leica!) so my one year term may not start for a while. Unless I change my mind it will be an M4-2 or M4-P. I haven't decided which lens yet. I'd love to stick with Leica glass, but I want something fast and a Lux is definitely not in the budget. I'm thinkin' Nokton 40, but who knows.
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Yo, my Brother from another Mother! I'm going to give it a try. However, since Mike aimed his suggestion at the young, I'm invoking Old Geezer Privilege: Bigfoot AND Bubba. 1 lens each. No way I will allow a Leica to sit idle for a year. I may just use two films as well: Arista T-X and Arista P-X.

This could be epic.

Anybody up for publishing Blurb books at the other end?

My Year With ...

Which 2 lenses??????????? 28-35-35-50-50-75-85-90-135. Hmmmmmmmmm................

Tough decision already.
 
One film? I can't use Plus-X and Tri-X? Xtol & Rodinal?

As I read Mike's suggestion: The critical part that I am not doing now is having a camera, any camera, loaded and ready and with me 24/7. Shooting 2 plus rolls of film a week. Just doing that will be a huge improvment in my current haphazard ways. As the year goes on, I may gravitate to the minimal requirements of a single body, lens, emulsion & developer.

We'll see. July 1 kick off.

A book for sure! Even if it's only one of Blurb's $15 quickies.
 
I am very keen to do this little exercise, but I will need to invoke the 'professional' clause...

I need to get and use my Nokton 50 f1.1 for a while before I can settle one lens...

or maybe I will do my variation, two cameras, two lenses, two films...

M5 with Nokton 35mm f1.2 \
- Efke 25 and Tri-X
M5 with Nokton 50mm f1.1 /

Need to get a second M5, soon, very soon... soon as I get some shekels back in the pot that was raid to get the new Nokton.

And definitely a book.

We'll see...
 
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Stay cool, fool!

Stay cool, fool!

Kent said:
No, don't do that! Don't sell your Dad's cam!
Don't use it, put it into a cabinet, ok. But don't sell it!

BTW, since I do not own a Leica (well, I've got a C2...) if I had to do that (and I know I had huge problems with this project) it would be my Yashica Electro 35 GS, because this is the most versatile film cam I have.
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Of course you're right. Inheriting that camera led the way to my Leica, so you're right. I really shouldn't sell it.
Thanks for the thought from a cooler head!
Vic
 
I'm itchin' to try this.
The M4-2, 50 elmar-m, Tri-X (or Neopan 1600 with a 3x ND filter).

Do you think the ND filter is "cheating" with this exercise? The advantage is: a fast film that can be used at ISO 200 when needed.
 
i cannot wrap my head around this. it seems limiting to me. i often go out with only one body and one lens but to do that for a year...i fear failure too much to try it.

how on earth would i choose one lens...to me that is the definition of agony.
 
one camera, one lens. rest of the world is doing this already. not sure about the film part though 🙂

seriously, good luck for those trying this. wish I had read it when I had 0 Leica cameras and lenses 😱
 
When I was young and dumb...

When I was young and dumb...

back alley said:
i cannot wrap my head around this. it seems limiting to me. i often go out with only one body and one lens but to do that for a year...i fear failure too much to try it.

how on earth would i choose one lens...to me that is the definition of agony.
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...and broke, I only had one camera and one lens. First it was a Brownie Hawkeye, then a Canonet 2.8, finally a Canon IVS2b with 50/1.8 lens. I could change lenses if I wanted to. Alas, I couldn't afford another lens. Then I bought a Mamiya TLR to go with the 35mm Canon. I could change lenses on it. Once again, no money for another lens. At least I had two cameras. Different "looks".

What we are proposing today is not any different than when we were all young and broke.

Back to the Future! With more expensive gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀

P. Lynn, give us a shout via PM, Mate!
 
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