One camera, one lens, one film

[Spanik]

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.

This comes up in each of these threads about single camera/single lens and I never understood what's the difference between "a project" and "going on holiday". The difference seems to imply that when you're going on a holiday you just decide one day to leave the house, go somewhere but you have no idea where you will end up or what you might see there.

Now there might be people doing this but all the ones I know carefully prepare a holiday often months, even years before (some even learn the language). Knowing exactly where they are going, what they will visit and what there will be to see. Then how hard can it be to select a camera and a couple of lenses?

 

[oftheherd]

I know a one cam one lens one film guy. But he's spent a lot of another guy's cash by pointing out bargains.

Vicarious GAS. "Do it!"😉😀

Funny...10

 

[Deklari]

Then how hard can it be to select a camera and a couple of lenses?

Agree with you,
Now I don't understate, what the problem to select a two cameras and two lens? One with color film, one with B&W.. no matter there to go..🙄

 

[michaelwj]

This comes up in each of these threads about single camera/single lens and I never understood what's the difference between "a project" and "going on holiday". The difference seems to imply that when you're going on a holiday you just decide one day to leave the house, go somewhere but you have no idea where you will end up or what you might see there.

Now there might be people doing this but all the ones I know carefully prepare a holiday often months, even years before (some even learn the language). Knowing exactly where they are going, what they will visit and what there will be to see. Then how hard can it be to select a camera and a couple of lenses?

I can only speak from my own experience, but "a project" has an output and look that I have defined before it begins. As in, I'm going to shoot X for a set of prints, a book, etc. On the other hand, "going on holiday" means going to somewhere for enjoyment where I will take my camera to document it, but photography is not the main reason for going.

So, the project might warrant some specific gear, and allowances will be made to accomodate that, whereas a holiday you can use almost any portable camera - an SLR, mirrorless, RF, instant, etc. - with a single lens or small selection of lenses. I might have a project that warrants the use of a 500mm lens on an SLR, but I'm not taking that on holiday, unless it's a safari, which is probably a project within a holiday.

Now lets say we've prepared a holiday for SE Asia for example. We've planned and researched where we want to go, learnt some languages, been thinking about it for ages. Now how do you decide between an SLR with a 24-70mm and an RF with a 28/50mm combo, or just a 35mm? Will you resent taking the 70-200mm for the few uses? How about the super wide angle? Some people always seem to know. Others find it not so easy.

 

[Spanik]

I can only speak from my own experience, but "a project" has an output and look that I have defined before it begins. As in, I'm going to shoot X for a set of prints, a book, etc. On the other hand, "going on holiday" means going to somewhere for enjoyment where I will take my camera to document it, but photography is not the main reason for going.

So, the project might warrant some specific gear, and allowances will be made to accomodate that, whereas a holiday you can use almost any portable camera - an SLR, mirrorless, RF, instant, etc. - with a single lens or small selection of lenses. I might have a project that warrants the use of a 500mm lens on an SLR, but I'm not taking that on holiday, unless it's a safari, which is probably a project within a holiday.

Now lets say we've prepared a holiday for SE Asia for example. We've planned and researched where we want to go, learnt some languages, been thinking about it for ages. Now how do you decide between an SLR with a 24-70mm and an RF with a 28/50mm combo, or just a 35mm? Will you resent taking the 70-200mm for the few uses? How about the super wide angle? Some people always seem to know. Others find it not so easy.

Sure enough, but you know what you are going to "document" and you know what kind of holiday pictures you take. So why would it be different from a project? It is a project, just because you call it different doesn't change that.

Your example is simple. I want a camera that I know inside out and can operate without looking at it and without consulting the manual, so nothing new or rarely used. Also I want to be sure that what I frame is what is in the picture and for me that means landscapes and architecture. So I'll have more wide with me which rules out any rf as I don't want auxilary finders on a vacation. Personally I'll be not going on safari trips so a 200mm isn't needed. Neither will specialised lenses like fisheyes be needed. This also means instant fall off the list as there is hardly any wide angle camera available and lugging enough film would be too hard.

I'd take the 5DII and the 20 and 24-105. If film, the RT and the same lenses and a cartload of Provia 100. Because I have them and I know them. And a monopod that can double as walking stick and a lightmeter. Very likely a raincover 🙂 That would be because I'd have to take a plane so the MF stuff stays home, so probably I'd go digital just to avoid hassle at airports.

All this is just plain logic. Just like you tick the boxes for a project. And for a (non photo) holiday it always comes down on using the camera you know best. Because you don't want to bother "others" with you playing around with your camera. Oh, I admit I'm guilty to bothering others with my photography... And to wanting to take other cameras on such a trip (that G617 is just begging to come along). But you have to be realistic: it is a holiday. I once made the mistake to spend a whole holiday looking through a viewfinder. Came home with a load of photos but no memory of that trip. Now I make sure this doesn't happen anymore.

If I have to be honest, then taking a camera out for a walk is the hardest for me. I'd like to take them all out once in a while but I know I won't go through a whole film and so it will stay in the camera too long. So I have to take one that has already film in it while I would like to take another off the shelf.

 

[michaelwj]

We're drifting off topic a bit here, but to me it seems like you have made a few "less than ideal" choices for a holiday and settled to basically one camera and two lenses for holidays. For you it seems that a holiday is a project that you use a DSLR and a 20+24-105, but this is the result of experience and learning from your mistakes. Not everyone has had the previous experience or learnt from their mistakes, hence the question comes up again and again. I suspect a lot of folk here have a lot of similar gear and go on relatively few holidays, hence we get questions like "should I take my Zeiss Ikon or Leica M7 to Pairs?" A once in a lifetime trip will always bring lots of questions as the traveler doesn't want to make an avoidable mistake.

 

[barnwulf]

A long time ago 1960's and 70's I used mostly one camera, one film and one lens which was a Nikon F, Nikkor 28mm/2.8 lens and plus X film and I did that for a long time. Now I find that I just don't like changing lenses when I am out shooting so now I uses a Leica and a Zeiss 35mm lens most of the time. I find that it's so much easier that way. I sometimes carry a 50mm lens but I resist switching lenses unless I really want a slightly different perspective that it gives. - jim

 

[Bisakok]

Shooting Rolleiflex, I would find it impossible to shoot just one camera and one lens. 🙂

 

[tunalegs]

Dear Daryl,

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

Cheers,

R.

I suppose on one hand, for some it is a challenge to deny themselves constant (and pointless?) switching of gear around even when it is of no perceivable benefit to themselves or their art.

And two, a belief that by using just one tool repeatedly, they will become more adept by way of practiced familiarity with using that tool intuitively, "naturally".

In any event, people are free to what they want with their cameras.

 

[steveyork]

Creative people tend to get bored easily. That's a documented fact. Just google it. This is why so many of us like to cycle through different types of gear. We, of course, have out favorites, but it breaks the monotony to use something different. And it is typically less expensive than a vacation. If you buy used, you probably can get most of your money out of it. The only problem is if you spend more time searching the classifieds than taking pictures. Anyway, the only way to know if something works for you or not is to get it in your hans and use it.

 

[steveyork]

One of the reasons I purchased a Leica M6, way back in '97, was because I previously purchased a new Contax G1 and it was dead in the box. Although I sold the M6 years ago, my preference for mechanical cameras remains. So no, I wouldn't be in favor of a Contax G1 as my only camera. When a camera fails, they always seem to fail at the most inoportune time. One camera, one lens gives no safety margin.

 

[easyrider]

For many years I shot only with a Rolleiflex MX with an F3.5 Tessar. Used fine grain developers (Microdol) to shoot sports. Later switched to a Rollei 35 that I still own and am about test again.
More recently have gone digital with a Nikon D300 and an 18 to 125 Sigma. But recently bought 50 and 35mm lenses for low light situations.