Just - one - camera - POLL

Just - one - camera - POLL

  • FILM 35 mm P&S (T3, Minilux, mju, GR1, TC-1, zoom P&S ...)

    Votes: 4 0.7%
  • FILM 35 mm AF (Hexar AF, Contax G2, ...)

    Votes: 6 1.0%
  • FILM compact 35 mm RF (Canonet, Yashica GSN, Olympus XA, etc ...)

    Votes: 13 2.2%
  • FILM 35 mm RF (Leica M, Bessa, Zeiss ZM, Xpan, etc ...)

    Votes: 216 36.8%
  • FILM 35 mm SLR

    Votes: 57 9.7%
  • FILM - MF/AF RF (Mamiya 6, 7, RF645, GA645, Bessa III, ...)

    Votes: 49 8.3%
  • FILM - MF SLR (Hasselbald, Mamiya 645, Pentax 67, ...)

    Votes: 17 2.9%
  • FILM - LF 4x5" or larger

    Votes: 7 1.2%
  • DIGITAL - compact

    Votes: 6 1.0%
  • DIGITAL - mirrorless (m4/3, Leica X1, X100, Ricoh GXR, ...)

    Votes: 30 5.1%
  • DIGITAL - RF (Leica M8, M9, R-D1)

    Votes: 98 16.7%
  • DIGITAL - SLR (all sensor sizes - also larger than FX)

    Votes: 84 14.3%

  • Total voters
    587
  • Poll closed .

Matus

Well-known
Local time
8:43 PM
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
1,837
One more dummy poll - this time from me :p

If you were to own just one camera - what it would be? Film, digital - which format? If you miss an option share - or share anyhow :)

Restrictions :
- only cameras that currently exist (new or used)
- only cameras you would be able/willing to afford
- you would be allowed (I am in a good mood today ;)) to get multiple lenses if the camera supports them

EDIT: I forgot all the lovely TLR camera - please consider them in the same category as MF/AF RF together with Mamiya 6 and others
 
Last edited:
Only one camera, within my budget, currently available.

A film Leica M. The only challenger in this poll for me would be a full frame DSLR such as the 5D MKII or D700. But the smaller size of the M still wins for me, for now.
 
For personal use I would choose a TLR. If it was for the occasional jobs I do it would be a DSLR for sure. I chose the dslr.
 
Had to go with the digital SLR. Frankly I shoot and enjoy my film/digital rangefinders much more (from a number of outings perspective) but I need the loooong telephotos for some of the work I do, like auto racing. No way around that one (no Visoflex, sorry)!

On the bright side, I don't see where I'll ever have to get to the one camera level so my rangefinders will continue to be my favorite tools for my everyday and regular shooting.
 
Anything with interchangeable lenses has a massive advantage here. I'd probably have to default to a full frame DSLR as well for versatility.

If I'd ever used a Mamiya 7/II, it would probably be in the running as well.

Edit: The funny thing is, I'm using rangefinders (fixed lens and LTM), TLRs and about 20x more than my D70s. I picked up a few Nikon lenses in trades which I haven't used because I've been shooting mostly with a rangefinder. I just assumed I'd end up back with a Nikon SLR body at my primary camera at some point but that isn't looking as likely now.
 
Last edited:
Let's say we are talking for personal use only. For those of you who do photography for living I would assume that the gear pays fir itself and so you buy what you need.

And which priorities you decide on - (travel, large prints, architecture, macro, ...) is just your choice :)
 
For me, since about 90% of my picture grubbing is in LF... the answer is obvious. The trouble is you said one camera. Boo Hoo. I guess my 8x10 and Crowns would have to go. I'll keep the 4x5 field.
 
I am not in a condition where I have to to that, thank God. If I were, I would have to default to a 35mm film SLR. It would probably be my Fujica ST 901. I would do that for the versatility of the lenses I already own, and the size for carrying. I would not be happy giving up many of my others though. How do you give up a Contax 167mt? Or the Mamiya Super Press 23 and lenses? Heaven forbid I ever get to where I can't have several cameras/formats.

But yes, the Fujica ST 901.
 
I have several cameras which I use on a regular basis but if I had to choose one it would have to be a DSLR purely for its versatility. Nothing else comes close. Fortunately, absent the silliness of polls like this, we all get to use as many cameras as we choose and thus enjoy the amazing variety of photographic tools available to us...
 
Film 35mm SLR. Only camera that does all of what I want. Wouldn't want a DSLR because both the cameras and lenses are bulkier than a film SLR, and size/weight is important to me because I take cameras hiking. Also wouldn't want an autofocus SLR (and all DSLRs are autofocus) because the half-silvered reflex mirror means it's harder to manually focus in low light.
 
I have several cameras which I use on a regular basis but if I had to choose one it would have to be a DSLR purely for its versatility. Nothing else comes close. Fortunately, absent the silliness of polls like this, we all get to use as many cameras as we choose and thus enjoy the amazing variety of photographic tools available to us...

I was going to comment, but this is what I was going to say.
 
iphone, without a doubt. It's with me all the time, even in my pajama pocket at night. And I can video my DJ sets with audio line in directly from my mixer. And post and share immediately. And that is just to justify the camera-ish reasons. I'd be lost without it.

But not to say that would be a great world to be in, without my other cameras.
 
Fuji GS645s its light to be easy to carry but the lens is good and the results on Portra 160nc are simply divine.
 
The M3 it would be!

But I'm happy that I am allowed more than one camera, it took me years to arrive at my current set-up and I bought, tried and sold lots of cameras to finally be sure about what I like in use and IQ.
 
Back
Top Bottom