One camera, one lens, one film

I usually start buying stuff when I don't have enough free time to actually be using stuff. It's a hard habit to break. Then you start using stuff, and realize you can't use it all.
 
My everyday carry is a Leica M3, Elmar 50mm f/2.8, usually loaded with Tri-x or HP5. Portra 400 if its colour.

After a good 6 months of owning this camera (my first Leica), I've sold off quite a few of my 35mm cameras. I guess I can confidently say that I don't think I'll be buying a 35 camera anytime soon.

Now, I've got a Yashica Mat-124G on the way so I guess we'll see if I get "G.A.S." for medium format cameras (It will be my first camera larger than 35mm).
 
Even if I have to admit that I "suffer" from GAS, I would not restrict myself to that.
"Suffer" has the wrong meaning anyway. I don't "suffer", I "enjoy".
And I, meanwhile, can control it insofar that I only take very few items on a day trip in order to focus on (pun intended!) taking photos instead of on gear.
 
I go with one lens to one camera ratio... I keep the Leitz 90 f4 on my Canon IIf2, I keep the Summicron 50 f2 collapsible on the Leica IIIf, and I keep my Voigtlander 25 f4 on my Nicca 3-F.

Similarly, the Zeiss postwar Biogon 35 f2.8 resides on my Contax IIa, the prewar Biogon 35 f2.8 on my Contax II, and the Opton 50 f 1.5 stays on a second Contax IIa.

Since the Nikon S-3 has multiple frames that I find quite usable, I swap lenses on it as required. As you can see I had quite a gas attack, early on, but have found relief in shooting and processing, which is fun too!
 
tunalegs said:
I usually start buying stuff when I don't have enough free time to actually be using stuff. It's a hard habit to break. Then you start using stuff, and realize you can't use it all.
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This is my problem Pentax 67II, Hasselblad 501c, Leica M6 it's more than I need, but it's so hard to part with any of it.
 
When I didn't know there were cameras with interchangeable lenses, I was happy that way. Now I cannot understand why anyone would want to restrict themselves that way.

But each his own. If one enjoys that, there isn't anything better to do.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Daryl,

And I am still less capable of realizing pointless fantasies. The "one cameras..." thing crops up regularly. WHY?

Cheers,

R.
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WHY?

Because people like to get support/validation for what they're doing to make them feel comfortable/important/supported/valued.

Now, why would someone want to only use one camera/lens?

Because a lot of people get caught up in buying cameras and get paralysed by the decision of what to take.

Because a lot of people eventually find that most of their photography is done with a single camera/lens anyway

Because a lot of people prefer a simple life to a complicated one, and only having one camera makes life easier.

Now, I'm sure you've got valid responses to all of those. I'm sure you know exactly what gear to take to what situation, that you use a wide range of gear, that some shots are better with an X type of camera while others require Y, and even that having one camera does not equal a simple life. But hey, each to their own I guess.

I am a one camera/lens person*. I currently have two lenses (35mm-21mm) and I don't like it. On the other hand, I have two bodies (M4-M6) and have no issue with changing body to suit the situation - I'm not going to miss a shot changing body or because I took the wrong one. Photography is a hobby, and I find I can do everything I want with a 35mm lens.

*If I'm doing a specific project then I can have others. For instance I took a series of still life's with a Nikon FE and a micro-Nikkor 55/3.5, but I don't consider it when taking a camera with me when I go somewhere, it doesn't ever have film loaded.
 
oftheherd said:
When I didn't know there were cameras with interchangeable lenses, I was happy that way. Now I cannot understand why anyone would want to restrict themselves that way.

But each his own. If one enjoys that, there isn't anything better to do.
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It's like you get to make your own fixed lens camera form all the compatible lens/camera combinations. Otherwise we just complain that the X100 doesn't have a 50mm lens, or the Q doesn't have a 35mm and so on. "I'd buy the Leica Q if only it had an optical VF and a 35mm lens!" Just make your own with a 35mm lens on an M! 🙂
 
michaelwj said:
WHY?..

Because a lot of people get caught up in buying cameras and get paralysed by the decision of what to take.
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That happens to me when I go on holiday.

But when I work on a project there is no problem, because I know what my intention is and my focus is narrowed.
 
I cannot see a single reason to do it. If a single camera, a single lens and a single film would be all we ever needed then if you continued on this you end up with so many contradictions it fails on all counts.

There is no problem in deciding what camera, lens and film you use. It is all part of the creative decision to make when you make a photo.

Limiting yourself that way would be like Van Gogh limiting himself to a single black HB pencil and A4 paper. Sure he would have made some masterpieces, but what would we have missed...
 
I feel you, I recently sold all my gear that I didnt use or that didnt have any value just keeping my canon 7, Pentax KM, c33 and RB67

however I purchased a rolleicord 5 which is my camera dedicated for my 365 on film (i have been called crazy many times for doing this) so Im halfway doing it however you have succeeded more than me

Good luck!
 
This reminds me of an article in the Globe and Mail a few months ago about a father and son who gave up their cameras and just drew what they saw. It may initially sound crazy, but when you think of it, the images got burned on to their neurons instead of film. I'm not sure that I could follow in their footsteps, but their example impressed me so much that I bought a Great Courses course on drawing.

Found it! http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...etchbook-instead-of-a-camera/article30091216/

Looks like it struck a chord with someone else as well: http://birdbraindesigns.ca/sketching/changing-my-sketchbook-focus/

I think both the OP and the author of the drawing article must have a touch of Zen Buddhism hidden away within them.
 
I've cheated on it with other cameras!
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Sounds like M4-2 to me. It is the camera I'm returning to after not cheating, but exercising few more. On film I'm with Ilford and its subsidiaries 🙂. And I'm selling all of M mount lenses because Summarit-M is the one I need. But keeping two LTM Russians to cheat with!
 
Huss said:
That happens to me when I go on holiday.

But when I work on a project there is no problem, because I know what my intention is and my focus is narrowed.
Click to expand...

Roger Hicks said:
Originally Posted by michaelwj
. . . *If I'm doing a specific project then I can have others. . .
Click to expand...

Dear Michael,

Well, yes. That was my point, really.

Cheers,

R.
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kxl said:
I can definitely deal with one camera, one lens, one film... for ONE DAY. 😉
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I suppose these are all the variations on the same idea?

I am perfectly fine in saying, "for this particular still life project I will use a micro-Nikkor" but find it very hard to pick from many similar lens/camera combinations both when leaving for the day and shot to shot.
 
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