One camera, one lens, one film

Mjd-djm

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So after some long term G.A.S I've finally got fed up with all the buying and selling, so I took my wife's advice and I've sold everything except one camera and one lens.

I've realised I hate changing lenses, I hate making decisions whilst photographing and just enjoy taking good photos. So I've settled on the humble Contax G1. Why? Because the camera is built like a rock and works wonderfully for one. But the main reason is the lens, the wonderful Zeiss 45mm Planar. I've also decided to just use Kodak TMAX 400.

So has anyone had success leaving their G.A.S behind and sticking to one camera, one lens? How long did you last before you gave in?

My aim is to use this single camera / lens combo for at least one year. I've been using it for 3 months so far, but not exclusively. I've cheated on it with other cameras! You can see recent photos with this combo on the flickr link in my signature.

Time to focus on the photos and not on the gear.
 
Built like a tank? I'm not sure about that, though mine has given fairly reliable service with only two small trips to the repair shop in the past 8 years.

No arguing about the 45 Planar though. It's the bomb, and a tad better than the ZM Planar that I owned for 6 months and was able to test head-to-head. Best of all for the way I like to frame my subjects, is the ability to focus at .5m.

Good luck with your trial.
 
In a general sense, I have G.A.S. at bay. I haven't sold out but I only take one camera and usually one lens anywhere. I love Tessar lenses, so my steady is a Rolleiflex T with Ilford FP4+. If I take my LF camera it the '38 Deardorff with a 8 1/4" Dagor. The Leica gets the least use, (I prefer the larger negatives in the darkroom). If I did sell it all, I would reduce it to the Rolleiflex.
 
I can definitely empathise with you. I am a recovering GAS addict and I have in fact just listed all my remaining gear on eBay bar my Ricoh GR.

I was stuck in a cycle of buying/selling and taking a hit on each sale. Only, say, 10% or so each time - but cumulatively it probably adds up to enough to buy a nice camera on its own.

I also realised that I could reference numerous cameras and lenses bought and sold over the last couple of years but not one finished body of work or project.

I also hate changing lenses too. I always find that the lens I want isn't the lens on the body! So I end up constantly switching back and forth (28 vs 50).

I think that's why I love the Ricoh GR so much. It's a truly great camera. I did consider using a film compact such as the GR1 or something but I'm struggling to find time to get to the darkroom these days plus the time black hole that is scanning.

I'd like to see if I can make it a year just using the GR and really focusing on photographic output over gear...
 
I had 12 cameras, digital and analogue (wich I used regularly), but sold all of them except my Rolleiflex 3.5f (never doing that mistake again), my Yashica T5D and M4-P/Summicron 35mm which I use the most. All I need now is a 50mm Summilux and I'm done for a while to come.

I think I shoot T-max/Portra 400 for the most part.

It's all the options when leaving the house really, I can never make up my mind!
 
So after some long term G.A.S I've finally got fed up with all the buying and selling, so I took my wife's advice and I've sold everything except one camera and one lens..
So this means you have to take up another hobby, like uhm.. photography?

I'm often tempted to go the same route, but I'd hate to sell my lenses at a great loss, and later come to regret it and having to buy them back.
 
So this means you have to take up another hobby, like uhm.. photography?

I'm often tempted to go the same route, but I'd hate to sell my lenses at a great loss, and later come to regret it and having to buy them back.

Or printing photographs. I've spent more money on darkroom chemicals during the last five years then I've spent on camera gear in my whole life :) Then again it's about choices. Printing in gum with expensive pigments is a choice. Printing in platinum and not palladium is a choice. Toning salt prints in palladium and not gold is a choice..
 
Or printing photographs. I've spent more money on darkroom chemicals during the last five years then I've spent on camera gear in my whole life :) Then again it's about choices. Printing in gum with expensive pigments is a choice. Printing in platinum and not palladium is a choice. Toning salt prints in palladium and not gold is a choice..

Winter is upon us, I'm thinking to finally starts to darkroom print something... But I'm wonder if I should get a 35mm enlarger or just go big and try to get a 4x5 enlarger... or maybe a 6x9 is the max a small home can fit (and pack away when not in use)? hm... oh god please don't let this turn into another GAS :(
 
Winter is upon us, I'm thinking to finally starts to darkroom print something... But I'm wonder if I should get a 35mm enlarger or just go big and try to get a 4x5 enlarger... or maybe a 6x9 is the max a small home can fit (and pack away when not in use)? hm... oh god please don't let this turn into another GAS :(

If you don't have dedicated darkroom, I wouldn't go bigger then 6x6/6x7 enlarger. Larger then that and they become quite large. I have a darkroom so I have a 4x5 enlarger + custom back for my 18x24cm camera to allow enlargements directly from there. But with out a real darkroom, enlargers are quite big, difficult to store and slow to set up (big ones that is, there are nice small ones for 35mm and for 6x6).

Darkroom it self can be had cheaply. If you have the space. Also standard silver gelatin prints ain't too expensive. Paper is readily available and relatively cheap (even great ones). Developers are cheap as are standard toners. Money starts to pour in once you decide to go alternative routes and do creative decisions in materials.
 
I have G1+ Planar 45/2, love it...
Any film working well with this camera.but mostly use T-Max.

If I have to upgrade, probably go to G2 (black) with 45/2 (black).
That not urgent upgrade, but nice to have Black Contax G...:D

~ron~
 
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Nikon F2
35mm f/1.4 Nikon
Tri-X

Nikon F4
28-70mm f/2.8 Nikon auto focus
Tri-X

Mamiya C220
80mm f/2.8 Mamiya-Sekor
Tri-X
 
Always liked the Contax G1 (never had a G2) but found the focus system quirky at best...

Although I don't recall losing any good shots over fuzzy focus. Body felt solid and mine had plenty of scratches and scuffs to prove a fair level of ruggedness hidden beneath the fancy exterior.

Love the 28/2.8 and had briefly a 35/2.0 but always lusted for the extra tiny reach of the 45.

I think it's a solid choice for a kit added with your smartphone for quick snaps and social media (if your into it anyhow)
 
I had lasted for a long time with just one Mamiya C220 until I started travelling with it and wanted something more portable. Then I added a 690 fuji, not the most portable :D but it was amazing to shoot. After a while I got a chance to trade for Bronica SQ-A, and being a lover of square format I did. So I travelled with Bronica. Meanwhile, winter came and I needed something more compact because of the elements. So I jumped into 35mm with a Minolta CLE that I got for good price from a buddy. I sold the C220. At the time I had two cameras. As time went on, I really wanted to get a 35mm lens to go with my 50mm, so I sold CLE and bought a Bessa R2m with another 35mm. Then I saw my traded earlier 690 and wanted one again for the amazing negs. So I bought one from Japan, better condition. Now I had 3 to choose from.
After a while I got sick of shooting 35mm format and decided to sell it for a digital. That lasted a week before I sold it. A while later I tried again with adapting m mount to sony a7, hated it, a week later sold. I found a deal on Contax G1 with the 45mm as well and went for it, as I had a lot of film left over. So now I have 3 cameras and I seem to shoot at least two a lot. I guess I didn't last. Although, having just one is amazingly liberating and I would totally do it again if not for different needs with winter coming again.
 
I'm with you until you got to the taking good pictures part. Not one particle of artist in me, but I do love mechanical cameras. That said, having a choice of fields of view is burdensome to me so I like to have only one lens at a time when I'm out and about. Still cannot seem to part with my toys though, want at least the option of another choice, even sitting at home in a box. I'll become enamored with one camera and use nothing else for several weeks, then, like a fickle lover switch to something else for the next few moons.
 
Almost forgot, yes, have left my G.A.S. behind, at 67 and retired it's just not as much fun anymore. Went to a old camera fair couple of months ago......
and gasp! Didn't buy a single thing! Shocked even myself. Thing is I was not even tempted. That is the first time in 35 years that has happened. I think it is now my new normal.
 
More power to you, but I don't think I could do it. Several different environments means several different cameras for me:
1) hiking, therefore lightweight and collapsable (GF670)
2) urban, therefore architecture (plaubel proshift)
3) museums, therefore no tripod and no flash allowed (Sony A7s)
4) scenes with lots of interesting foreground and background subjects, therefore 3D (Fuji W3)

And I'm still not sure where my recent acquisitions (Nikon F3 and Contax G1) fit into the mix.
 
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