One camera/one lens...check this out

[Krosya]

I have no doubt that the limiting factor of one camera and one lens has made this chap a better photographer. Know your equipment, refine your technique.

I agree with this a 100%! I'm a strong believer in the above statement. Not that I practice it, unfortunately. I'm more of a gearhead, just love my different lenses, with their different signatures and FLs. But I do hope one day to narrow things down to 1-2 lenses and just stay with that. I think too many lenses/cameras can distruct photographer too much. I does me at times. Having just one camera/lens makes one make the best out of any given shoot, making him/her more creative.
Is this true for everyone? No. Many people just own one PS camera and only do PS photography - sort of been there/seen that. But people that do love photography and take care what shot to take - those are the ones that can really improve by this. At least thats what I have seen on several occasions and belive it to be true.

 

[shadowfox]

Or a good photographer, and the fact that he uses one lens and one camera is irrelevant. Nah, couldn't be that. Must be the 'one camera' ethos. :bang: That's what made him so good. :bang:

Oh Bill, I was just cheering the fact that this Mr. Smague uses a similar M-body setup as I do 🙂

I am one of those no-talent-hacks 😀, but I do love taking pictures.

And I do not believe in a magic bullet, but I do believe that less gear means more focus on my work.

It's just common sense, nothing magical or philosophical about it.

If I go out to an event bringing my only M-body (since this is the Leica M series sub-forum) and my only lens, guess what I'd have to do when I arrive? Start taking pictures. There's no time wasted deciding this and that, fussing around with the gear (except when reloading film).

Rather simple... to a simple guy like me at least.

 

[noimmunity]

The agent 86 and 99 part cracks me up, guys!

 

[pawel glogowski]

Hello everyone, I'm reading RFF since mid 2007 or so, and I'll try to contribute to the topic.

As i dont think that amount of owned equipment affects much, I'm sure, that choosing one, or two favorite focal lengths, to be used 99% of times is simply crucial to get best effects. For me that's what means "one lens".
This is not about any ideology, or limiting anything. This is a part of many great photographers workshop, more technique than philosophy. What it gives You, besides less to carry? It gives You possibility to "see" with this chosen focal length without having to lift the to your eye (that much). The angle of view is in Your head, and you know the perspective by instinct. It's not just for shooting from the hip 😉 You can choose - decide faster, You can see more, You don't need that much time for looking through the viewfinder, and You don't reveal (can't think of a better word) Yourself as a guy with a camera that much, that can't be overrated too.
So i think no matter how much equipment anyone has (maybe it's needed for specific assignments), it's just recommended, to have 1, maybe 2 lenses to work with in most cases. That's what a lot of very experienced guys do, and it works.
I'm sure that You might loose more by swapping lenses everyday, than by "limiting" Yourself to one. And I'm not talking about the time wasted on switching lenses.
I didn't come up with that myself, but i was told that years ago by really great photographer. And once again, thats not about any ideology. That's actually a very simple rule - the longer You do something, the better You become at it.
It has something to do with knowing Your equipment well, but its hardest and most important aspect of it.
How about that ? 🙂

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Not that it matters, and although it is rather contradictory to the spirit of the original post:

Igor Moukhin (im_foto) previously used an M6 with v4 35mm Summicron (pre-ASPH). He's been on my Flickr contacts list for a good while. I believe i emailed him about some aspect of his work, and the response included that information. Can't find the message now, unfortunately, but i'm pretty sure it's accurate, as a lot of what he posted was shot before the 35Cron-ASPH existed. I think he also shoots/shot Tri-X.

I agree with the assertion that zooms and/or a wide range of lens focal lengths are counterproductive if one desires to create a 'personal signature.' And, most of my most favored photographers have typically remained faithful, primarily to one focal length, be it a Rolleiflex 80mm, Hasselblad 80mm, Leica/Canon/Nikon 50mm....

I wish i could adopt such a 'strategy.' But, because i like/worship so many different photographers and types of photography, i'm always interested in making similar imagery. So, my attentions wander. I have managed to keep my lenses within a moderate range, though. I only have one tele lens (85mm), and the widest i own is a recently purchased, used once 24mm. Other than that, i'm happy with 50mm, and trying to get to grips with 28 or 35.

Igor really is fantastic. And, even though i have the same lens he currently uses, i know i don't even SEE well enough to make photographs like that. Let alone the fact that my commitment isn't nearly as great.