back alley
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i have read, like many of us here, i'm sure, of the famous photographers that used only one lens for most of their careers...sure it turns out they actually did own and occasionally use other lenses but for the most part they eventually were found to use mostly one lens.
why, i wonder?
they clearly could afford other focal lengths but chose not to do so.
was it their 'vison' that restricted them? did they really only 'see' in 35mm or 50mm?
i am sometimes tempted to play that game with myself where i choose what one lens i would keep and use exclusively and sell the others...i mean wow, how simple would that be?
i surprise myself at the answer sometimes because while i mostly end up choosing the 40 on the rd1...other times i choose a 15...
rambling...do you think the 'famous' choose one lens because of their vision?
what makes/made them do it?
why, i wonder?
they clearly could afford other focal lengths but chose not to do so.
was it their 'vison' that restricted them? did they really only 'see' in 35mm or 50mm?
i am sometimes tempted to play that game with myself where i choose what one lens i would keep and use exclusively and sell the others...i mean wow, how simple would that be?
i surprise myself at the answer sometimes because while i mostly end up choosing the 40 on the rd1...other times i choose a 15...
rambling...do you think the 'famous' choose one lens because of their vision?
what makes/made them do it?
stupid leica
i don't shoot rf
I am most comfortable with 35mm, both for RF and SLR. I hate, absolutely HATE crop factors, and refuse to deal with them.
I see and think "35mm" most comfortably, and think i get many of my best shots with this focal lenght. I think that has a lot to do with it.
I see and think "35mm" most comfortably, and think i get many of my best shots with this focal lenght. I think that has a lot to do with it.
Tim Gray
Well-known
I did one focal length for more or less two years. The first was 50, the second was 35. I'm no longer doing it 
The thing is, I could be totally happy with one focal length for certain types of photography. If I was a professional and made my living with predominantly one kind of photography, I could do one focal length. For street and candid documentary stuff, 28mm is where it's at for me. Most of my photos are taken at 28 - I need to force myself sometimes to use my other lenses. Likewise, if I did more portraits/single person type of shots, I could see staying at 50 all the time.
I follow a guy on flickr whom I think only has 1 lens for his M. All street, all 28mm. It's pretty inspiring. He does use other cameras though (Rolleiflex and SWC).
The thing is, I could be totally happy with one focal length for certain types of photography. If I was a professional and made my living with predominantly one kind of photography, I could do one focal length. For street and candid documentary stuff, 28mm is where it's at for me. Most of my photos are taken at 28 - I need to force myself sometimes to use my other lenses. Likewise, if I did more portraits/single person type of shots, I could see staying at 50 all the time.
I follow a guy on flickr whom I think only has 1 lens for his M. All street, all 28mm. It's pretty inspiring. He does use other cameras though (Rolleiflex and SWC).
Spyro
Well-known
How can anyone speak on behalf of a famous photographer?
Hilm3
Established
I've managed to acquire 16 M and R lenses over the years and lots of Nikkor glass, yet 80% (or more) of the time I will use a 50mm. There is a 50/2 on the M3, a 50/1.4 M5, and another 50/2 M7. The F2AS has a 50/2, the Nikkormat a 50/1.8E. Beginning to see a pattern? The only deviation from all this is an R7 with a 35-70/4 Zoom. Once in a while, I'll use a 35mm; very rarely a 28mm, once a year or so a 90mm, and I can't remember if I've ever used the two 135mm's I own.
It is just my way of seeing, my favorite distance from subjects, I guess. I like what I do with this FL. If I had to keep one, It would be the pre-asph Summilux III on either the M5 or the M3.
All this gear, and I really get by with only one camera and one lens. Time to simplify life. Even when I go on an extended trip, I will only take 2 bodies, 3 lenses. Problem is, I have never sold camera gear in my life. I've given a lot away to family members and most of what I have were gifts to me, so I am emotionally attached. I wish I was as proud of my photos as I am of my gear, though. Sigh.
It is just my way of seeing, my favorite distance from subjects, I guess. I like what I do with this FL. If I had to keep one, It would be the pre-asph Summilux III on either the M5 or the M3.
All this gear, and I really get by with only one camera and one lens. Time to simplify life. Even when I go on an extended trip, I will only take 2 bodies, 3 lenses. Problem is, I have never sold camera gear in my life. I've given a lot away to family members and most of what I have were gifts to me, so I am emotionally attached. I wish I was as proud of my photos as I am of my gear, though. Sigh.
Vilk
Established
travelin' light
mathomas
Well-known
I've found (though I continue to ignore my findings) that creativity/productivity is often enhanced when constraints are in place.
bo_lorentzen
Established
Agree with mathomas,
I keep talking more consistently better images when having one camera with one lens, leaving the bag and selection at home, it frees me from thinking about what other lens might work, and forces me to work the shot in whatever lens is on the camera. by far my 35mm and second my 50 see the most action.
Bo
www.bophoto.typepad.com
I keep talking more consistently better images when having one camera with one lens, leaving the bag and selection at home, it frees me from thinking about what other lens might work, and forces me to work the shot in whatever lens is on the camera. by far my 35mm and second my 50 see the most action.
Bo
www.bophoto.typepad.com
filmfan
Well-known
They have their style down to a science. For example, David Alan Harvey says he uses the 35mm focal length for 90% of his work because he takes photos of subjects between 3 and 15 feet away from him. What better lens for this style of work is there? I can't think of any.
Peter R
Established
Maybe those pros got their lens in front of enough interesting subjects that they didn't need to add excitement by swapping focal length.
And the ones that did/do use a 'signature' extreme FL probably just constrain their work to whatever works with that lens?
And the ones that did/do use a 'signature' extreme FL probably just constrain their work to whatever works with that lens?
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
If you only have one lens with you then you are forced to think in that one focal length, you see shots that work in that format and you're not looking at what doesn't work..
If I have a certain lens on my camera I usually think in that format and see in that format...it's actually an easier way to shoot...you make do with what you have...
If I have a certain lens on my camera I usually think in that format and see in that format...it's actually an easier way to shoot...you make do with what you have...
Mcary
Well-known
I could be looking at it the wrong way or maybe I just missed something, but when ever I've read threads similar to this one it appears to me that most people for some reason just assume that the photographer(s) they mention made a choice to just use one lens/focal length rather then taking time to consider the other possibility. Maybe just maybe the lens choose them.
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Neare
Well-known
Lenses have a signature like a photographers work has a signature. I think at some point you just find a lens that is perfect for you. I have found 1 at the very least, norita 80mm.
That said I think it is 1 camera 1 lens. I endorse multiple camera systems if they do different formats. Many 'famous' photographers shoot 35mm and medium format etc etc.
That said I think it is 1 camera 1 lens. I endorse multiple camera systems if they do different formats. Many 'famous' photographers shoot 35mm and medium format etc etc.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
David Harvey says that he shot most stuff with a 35 1.4 on his Leicas because he was shooting slow Kodachrome all the time and had to shoot wide open much of the time. He relied on the greater apparent DOF of the 35 over a 50 to cover his subjects when shooting at 1.4. He is actually a fan of the 50mm. For him, it was more a practical decision than an esthetic one.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Lenses have a signature like a photographers work has a signature. I think at some point you just find a lens that is perfect for you. I have found 1 at the very least, norita 80mm.
That said I think it is 1 camera 1 lens. I endorse multiple camera systems if they do different formats. Many 'famous' photographers shoot 35mm and medium format etc etc.
I've sampled the wares of the 80mm Noritar a little of late ... described by Dante Stella as the MF Noctilux with it's OOF rendering!
I can see why you think so highly of it.
paulfish4570
Veteran
KISS for me.
hipsterdufus
Photographer?
I think most one-lens shooters are street photographers. As a street photographer, it makes perfect sense: you don't want to miss a shot because you're in the middle of changing a lens. Also, it's easier to shoot in the street when you're traveling light.
I think that if you were to look at a lot of studio photographers and folks that tend to set up their shots, they probably have more variety in equipment. They've got time on their side.
Honestly, if I were more of a street photographer, I'd probably go the one lens route. But... I'm not.
I think that if you were to look at a lot of studio photographers and folks that tend to set up their shots, they probably have more variety in equipment. They've got time on their side.
Honestly, if I were more of a street photographer, I'd probably go the one lens route. But... I'm not.
damien.murphy
Damien
I shoot with one body and lens for most of my shooting. I have other cameras, but rarely bring more than one out with me at a time.
I find it helps me to reduce extraneous variables, and put less between me and the subject. The same reason why I shoot with fully manual film cameras, in place of the dslr's that introduced me to photography.
For some people, more options enhance their creativity. For me, it stifles it, thus my choice for a minimalist setup. It's really the same approach I take with portraiture, where the connection between me and my subject is the most important thing, and all other choices I make are to facilitate that.
I should also add, I do not need to get the shot no matter what, like a professional, thus I can afford the luxury of a small setup and my personal shooting choices.
I find it helps me to reduce extraneous variables, and put less between me and the subject. The same reason why I shoot with fully manual film cameras, in place of the dslr's that introduced me to photography.
For some people, more options enhance their creativity. For me, it stifles it, thus my choice for a minimalist setup. It's really the same approach I take with portraiture, where the connection between me and my subject is the most important thing, and all other choices I make are to facilitate that.
I should also add, I do not need to get the shot no matter what, like a professional, thus I can afford the luxury of a small setup and my personal shooting choices.
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Bob Michaels
nobody special
I would not speak for the "famous" but I know why I shoot with one camera / one lens / one film.
* My photo ops disappear in the time it takes to change a lens as I photograph people that I did not previously know.
* I photograph as series, not random shots. I would choose the same lens given a choice anyway.
* I need to travel light as I photograph on foot for extended periods.
* I do not like carrying a bag while photographing since it seems to cause subjects and officials to think I am some big deal thus impacting opportunities.
I suspect the motivations of the "famous" and myself have some similarities.
ottluuk
the indecisive eternity
Forum-visiting, technology-obsessed photographers spend days and months mulling about covering all focal lenghts or having the very best optical quality or picking the "ideal walk-around lens". But this hardly means that all photographers care so much about these matters.
I suspect that many (unknown, famous, no difference) simply find a camera/lens combo that they are comfortable with and forget about the existence of alternatives. It might be that searching for relevant subject matter, shooting, editing and post-production consumes their time and energy to a point where they no longer care about whether their camera/lens is "the right one".
I suspect that many (unknown, famous, no difference) simply find a camera/lens combo that they are comfortable with and forget about the existence of alternatives. It might be that searching for relevant subject matter, shooting, editing and post-production consumes their time and energy to a point where they no longer care about whether their camera/lens is "the right one".