One camera one lens ... ?

[dee]

Leica M8 / CV 25.f2.5

Fuji X-Pro 1 / Fuji 27 f2.8


Sony A290 / Sony 35mm f1.8 ??

In theory , the A290 is no match to the others , but it's now the DSLR I prefer over the A35 with EVF . I like the stripped out simplicity [ the M8 has fewer facilities ] and the IQ and colours of the outdated 2008 CCD sensor .
OK , it does not do low light , neither does the Leica , but I can reluctantly use the A35 in those conditions .
For a cheap camera bought solely to use old Minolta lenses and intended to be replaced by the A35 , it, with it's 'new', used A390 twin , become a favourite alongside the Leica Digilux 3 [ which does not justify the outlay of a 25mm prime ].

Odd how things work out !

dee

 

[Kent]

I ... just ... couldn't.

No way, I could only use one lens, neither on my M6/M8, nor on my Fujis nor on my Nikon DSLRs. A restriction to three lenses is hard enough but possible. 😉

If I really had to... no, no way.

M6/M8: If I chose the CV 2/28, I had to leave the Summicron 50 at home and the Summicron 90. Nope!

Fuji X-E2/X-T1: OK, here I could perhaps cope with only the 1.4/35. But then I love to adapt my old glass to the Fujis...

Nikon Df: The 1.4/35 ist a "must have" in the bag. But then I would need to leave a 50 at home and a 85/105 and a wider angle? Nope. Sorry.

😉

 

[helen.HH]

I very much like the Idea of One Camera, One Lens,
The Ease and Luxury of Simplicity
Have done it with a 50 for long stretches in Time

Psychologically I like to have 2 lenses... 😉

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Did it for a year with a 35 pre-asph lux on an M6, was a great experience overall but I like to mix it up eventually.

 

[narsuitus]

Since this question is in the SLR forum, this is my answer:

Nikon F2 or F4 film SLR with 28-70mm f/2.8 AF zoom or 35mm f/1.4 prime.
Fuji S5 APS-c digital SLR with 20-35mm f/2.8 zoom or 24mm f/2 Nikon prime.


However, if this question is not limited to SLR cameras, I will add:

Canon G15 digital compact with 28-140mm equivalent f/1.8 to f/2.8 fixed zoom lens.
Fuji X-Pro1 APS-c mirrorless with 16-55mm f/2.8 Fujinon zoom or 23mm f/1.4 Fujinon prime.
Fuji 6x7cm medium format rangefinder with 90mm f/3.5 fixed prime lens.
Calumet 4x5 inch large format view camera with a Fujinon 135mm f/5.6 prime.

 

[:: Mark]

Dee, you are on a gear forum. Probably no one here is going to survive using just one camera one lens (one film) for any great length of time ;-)

 

[mervynyan]

Ricoh GR II

 

[Daryl J.]

In the SLR world:
Nikon F3HP and 55mm Micro-Nikkor.

In the RF world:
Leica M3 and 1,5/50 C Sonnar

In the 4x5 world:
Speed Graphic and 178mm Aero Ektar

In Medium Format:
Holga. Yes....Holga.

 

[Fraser]

Nikon Df and 55mm micro.

 

[mike rosenlof]

Hasselblad 500 series. 120mm Macro

 

[L. M. Tu]

SLR: Nikon F2 with Nikkor-O 35mm F2, HP5+

MF: Hasselblad SWC, HP5+

binary: Sony NEX-5T; Sigma 19mm Art lens; zero film

 

[Jake Mongey]

For me it simply has to be Canon 7 with the 50mm 0.95 or the Serenar collapsible which i regret selling

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Sorry, didn't see this was the SLR forum. I change my answer then to be Nikon Fm3a and 50mm 1.2 Ais.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

35mm SLR: Pentax KX and K35/2
35mm RF: Bessa R and 35/2.5 Skopar

Chris

 

[Rico]

My first SLR kit was the new-fangled FM2n and 50/1.4 AI-s. Nowadays, I would use the Contax Aria and P50/1.4.

 

[taemo]

for me it's..

Leica M3 + 50mm cron
Nikon FM2 + 50mm 1.8
Pentax ME Super + 55mm 1.4

noticing a pattern? 😛

although on the Fuji X-T2 for some reason I like the XF18mm (28mm equiv)

 

[pvdhaar]

At the moment, for me it's an OM-20 with 50/1.8; great little SLR.

 

[mod2001]

My one lens one camera one film year is (theoretically) over since 2 says, I only used a Nikon F3, non HP because the magnification (0.8) is a little bit higher than the HP finder (0.75) and a 50mm/f1.2 AI-S always filled with HP5 souped in ID11 or Microphen. I love this combo and keep it forever.

Several times I missed a 35mm and in general missed a Leica, so I'm adding now a Leica M2 with a 35mm Summaron to my photo bag for my 35mm mood days.

As a long time 35mm shooter I'd never imagined that the difference between 35 and 50mm is so huge, took me nearly 2 month to fully adapt to the 50mm, resulting in a complete different way of seeing things and composing, even if the content (mostly street) was the same. Sticking at the same time to a fixed film/developer combo gave me the best results ever in my photographic life, both from a content point of view (according to my critics) as also from the technical side, never had constantly so good develop negatives.

What I've also learned for myself, zooms or several lenses, or digital with all the possibilities in post are not for me, I get lost in all these options, loosing the focus on the really important part of photography.

Yogi

 

[pvdhaar]

As a long time 35mm shooter I'd never imagined that the difference between 35 and 50mm is so huge, took me nearly 2 month to fully adapt to the 50mm, resulting in a complete different way of seeing things and composing, even if the content (mostly street) was the same.

I hear you. 50mm can be awfully confining if you're accustomed to a 35. Still, a 50 can do miracles. I've found that the lack of perceived 'wideness' can be mitigated by shooting up from a somewhat lower standpoint. And, IMHO if you get a shot just right with a 50, it feels so much better than with a wider lens.. again, that's my humble opinion, and I'm sure others will think differently.

 

[mod2001]

I've found that the lack of perceived 'wideness' can be mitigated by shooting up from a somewhat lower standpoint. And, IMHO if you get a shot just right with a 50, it feels so much better than with a wider lens.. again, that's my humble opinion, and I'm sure others will think differently.

Was my experience too, did this quit often intuitiv without asking me why. Now I know.

And, IMHO if you get a shot just right with a 50, it feels so much better than with a wider lens

Fully agree, there's a special kind of satisfaction if you nail it with the 50, really difficult to describe.

Yogi