Less gear choice = Better results

[alexz]

Single camera - single lens is my preferred approach since a while back, learned it also by souring legs and back lugging around with 15 kg backpacks for entire day at abroad trips, even with family...(in my SLR days)...so much bothering with choices, headache...always some 70-80% of the gear rests 90% of the time in the bag or even never used.

Now I have body/lens combos and each goes solely with me depending on expectation or on purpose.
I used to take M6 + 35mm for abroad trips (mostly for work) - figured that setup serves me best way there, while M7 + 50mm is excellent for people stuff like social events for example. Only at the rare occasions (unfortunately) having the opportunity for some dedicated local street session I pick both setups, but still camera+lens, no swapping lenses on the go....

 

[victoriapio]

I recall having seen a Cartier-Bresson book a few years back entitled 'Portraits', or something along those lines. The book contained some of the most beautiful and compelling portraits I've ever seen. At the back of the book, one the notations included the following:

"Equipment Used: Leica and 50mm lens".

Just goes to show....

Check out Jane Brown's compelling portraits taken over a span of 40 years:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2009/oct/22/jane-bown-photography

She used a manual SLR and two primes. Wonderful portraitist who proves it is the photographer, not the equipment, that makes memorable art.

 

[back alley]

what do you think it is that makes us have this same conversation over and over?

 

[back alley]

It's a slow news day. No new gear to discuss and we're all sitting indoors by the fire with a hot cocoa. 😛

what really annoys me is that i want to join in, again!

 

[Bob Michaels]

Gosh, about how long does it take you to change lenses?

10-15 seconds maybe? That is a unreasonable amount of time for me when my typical subject matter changes in 1-2 seconds at most.

Some can stop and contemplate a photo until the light changes. Equipment choices are for them. My photo ops come and go in seconds. Dwell on lens choices, much less change one, and my potential photos are history.

 

[andredossantos]

I always carry two bodies and two lenses. One will have black and white film, one will have color. I can't stand changing lenses when i'm out. Maybe I miss shots, but I don't really care (not getting paid). I'm happy with what I get so I'm not going to change! 🙂

To each his own!

 

[back alley]

I think it's a combination of wanting to show others how "pure" ones photographic principals are, and thinking that the way one thinks/does things is the one and only correct way and everyone should do the same.

Dare I say, like some religions?

that's kinda deep for a friday morning frank...😉

 

[Bob Michaels]

I think it's a combination of wanting to show others how "pure" ones photographic principals are, and thinking that the way one thinks/does things is the one and only correct way and everyone should do the same.

Dare I say, like some religions?

Somehow I knew that I should have started every post, and not just the first one, with: "First off, I must say that everyone needs to use the amount of equipment that they feel makes the best photos."

 

[back alley]

okokokookoko...

on a walkabout day, i like to carry one body and 3 lenses, all small and light weight.
sometimes, 2 bodies with a lens attached and that's it.

other times, both bodies and all my lenses...
rare occasions, one body with lens attached.

 

[bmattock]

what do you think it is that makes us have this same conversation over and over?

People feel their shortcomings and look for reasons that don't involve "I guess I just suck" to explain them. Looking for excuses. I have shortcomings too; I just don't blame them on my kit.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

That's what I like about 4x5. I'm not tempted to take more than one camera/one lens. And although the photos from it still suck, I have plenty of time while setting up the camera and shot to contemplate in depth why they suck. 🙂

Really very Zen and relaxing.

 

[rxmd]

what do you think it is that makes us have this same conversation over and over?

"Everything has been said already - just not yet by everyone." -
(Karl Valentin, German comedian in the 1930s.)

 

[bmattock]

"Everything has been said already - just not yet by everyone." -
(Karl Valentin, German comedian in the 1930s.)

Thank you. Until now, I was unaware that Germany had ever produced a comedian, let alone comedy. Do they indeed have a sense of humor, then? My experience up to this point had indicated they did not.

 

[DougFord]

[FONT=&quot]Well I guess that it’s a bit easier to just blame one lens/camera for my failings rather than a whole bunch of expensive gear. Saves money, to boot![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Heaping all blame and derision on one small pathetic 35mm camera and a single lens just feels right to me. [/FONT]

 

[ashrafazlan]

I'm a firm believer in the one lens - one body principle, especially when one wants to improve their photography skills 🙂

 

[andredossantos]

My choice to bring out a minimal set of gear has nothing to do with insecurities about shortcomings, rationalizations, a testament to the purity of my supposed technique, or even an attempt to make me "work" for shots due to being limited.

I'm just lazy 🙂

 

[bmattock]

My choice to bring out a minimal set of gear has nothing to do with insecurities about shortcomings, rationalizations, a testament to the purity of my supposed technique, or even an attempt to make me "work" for shots due to being limited.

I'm just lazy 🙂

I can respect that.

 

[Roger Hicks]

As others have said, hardly a new topic. My own view is that while it can be a good idea to have a number of cameras or systems to do different things, too many people buy (in effect) the same camera over and over again, with high degrees of overlap. See:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/howmany.html (how many cameras do you need) and http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps voluntary.html (voluntary limits).

Cheers,

R.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Just do it. Just try everything. Carry every configuration and as many systems as you want. Sooner or later cause and effect will kick in and you'll know what you want to carry.

Carry 2 M's, a screwmount, 3 lenses, a TLR, a light meter, and a dozen rolls of film. Also pack a jacket, a bottle of water and some trail mix in your bag.
Then go shooting for 9 hours. Think you'll get tired? If so, cut back.

Just carry as much gear as you want, if your exhausted then you've brought too much.
Cut back, repeat.

 

[antiquark]

I'm a one body, one lens, one film type of guy. The body is a Nikon D90, the lens is a 18-105mm zoom, and I keep a roll of Kodachrome in my pocket to enhance my street cred. 🙂