One camera, one lens?

Jamie Pillers

Jamie Pillers

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Over the MANY years I've pursued this lovely hobby of photography, one thing has irritated me along the way... spending too much time looking for lenses, and too little time spent making photographs! I'm pretty sure the happiest photographic times for me have been when I've had just one camera and one lens. Way back, it was a Nikon F3 with a 50mm lens. Later, it was a Leica IIIc with a 50mm Summitar. Then a Fuji X-Pro1 with their 35/1.4. But in the interim times, I've had a number of interchangeable lens cameras that, for some reason, tempted me to try multiple lenses. These experiences involved lots of trading, selling, buying... looking for 'something'. I'm currently going through another cycle like this with my Nikon Zf... trying out lenses, then returning them or selling them or trading them. All of this leading to not much time making photographs.

So, I'm curious to hear from anyone here that has found happiness/satisfaction with one digital camera and one lens. In my case, I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with a Leica digital M and a lens in the 40 to 50mm focal length range. Unfortunately, Leica digital is WAY out of my price range. And I can't go back to film, as I've come to enjoy the conveniences (time, cost) of digital.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
Over the MANY years I've pursued this lovely hobby of photography, one thing has irritated me along the way... spending too much time looking for lenses, and too little time spent making photographs! I'm pretty sure the happiest photographic times for me have been when I've had just one camera and one lens. Way back, it was a Nikon F3 with a 50mm lens. Later, it was a Leica IIIc with a 50mm Summitar. Then a Fuji X-Pro1 with their 35/1.4. But in the interim times, I've had a number of interchangeable lens cameras that, for some reason, tempted me to try multiple lenses. These experiences involved lots of trading, selling, buying... looking for 'something'. I'm currently going through another cycle like this with my Nikon Zf... trying out lenses, then returning them or selling them or trading them. All of this leading to not much time making photographs.

So, I'm curious to hear from anyone here that has found happiness/satisfaction with one digital camera and one lens. In my case, I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with a Leica digital M and a lens in the 40 to 50mm focal length range. Unfortunately, Leica digital is WAY out of my price range. And I can't go back to film, as I've come to enjoy the conveniences (time, cost) of digital.
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Dear Jamie,

You don't mention what kind of photography you prefer to do but I will suggest a couple digital cameras that if I was restricted to using only one camera for a day or a weekend, I could get by with any of them.

Fujifilm X10/X20

Fujifilm XS-1

Fujifilm S-1

Olympus Stylus 1/1s

Panasonic FZ300

To put things in proper perspective I mostly shoot scenic and wildlife so those cameras may not be your cup of tea. I also don't print much, but I have gotten prints I'm pleased with of all the cameras listed. I'm a hobbyist on my best days and use the cameras mostly to document my time outside.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂
 
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I know exactly what you are talking about. I have owned and used every Leica lens ever made except 5 or 6. In the end my favorite turned out to be the one I sold 15 years ago the 35mm Summicron v3. It took me 1000 rolls before I understood what I wanted and how to get it. Going over 30 years of negatives certain ones stood out. They may not be the sharpest but has the look I wanted. Digital is a different animal. While it eliminated the limitations of film like I can shoot at unlimited iso and 1/4000s I don’t get the same look, but with technology I can take shots at night I could never have gotten with an M2 in a million years. And with digital I don’t need a 35mm when I can shoot 24 or 28 with a 60mp sensor with room to edit.
 
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Sorry not a digital camera but the one camera I have recently bonded with is a run-of-the-mill, not worth much to anyone Canon AE-1 (and not even the Program version) with a 50/1.8 lens. After having spent countless dollars on all the weirdest and most expensive cameras, along comes this made-by-the-millions camera that was given to me in trade for a six-pack of Coors (no kidding) and I’m totally hooked.

My 907x is not very happy at the moment.

12FFF7A3-21B8-4D21-A2BF-578999CA636A.jpeg.
 
If I had to pick one camera and one lens, I'd go with a Konica Hexar RF and Summaron 35/2.8. The 35mm frame on the Hexar RF takes up little enough real estate in the viewfinder such that my spectacled eye can still see the whole image to be captured. I also like having the recourse to autoexposure, and since I've never used an M7, I couldn't choose one in good conscience.

I don't think the Summaron needs any explanation. It is glorious.
 
Well bitten horse.
Why I have to back to the U.S.S.R?
It was one c one l for millions.
Now?
Well, for maybe billion, it is one phone and no cameras.
But on the back of the phone i have where are three lenses !
 
Vince... AE-1... COOL! Interesting how these things work out. I suspect, for some us, choosing the perfect one is a strictly physical thing.. how it feels in the hand, how its shutter sounds, how it looks, etc.. And for others, its more of an intellectual thing... what it's capable of in all sorts of situations. I'm pretty sure I'm in the first camp. I'm thinking seriously of going back to a Fuji X-Pro body with the 35/1.4. We'll see... first I have to get up the energy to sell off all my Nikon Z kit.
 
I figured out decades ago that the '28/2.8 or 28/2.0 was my lens. And went with it. I bought the 28/2.8 Nikon D.

A little later I also worked out that an '85 would be my best backup lens. I bought one, a then-new Nikon D 85/1.8. It's still as new, I should really sell it but nowadays I'd never get back even close to what I paid for it. So it stays in its lens bag in my backpack. I use it maybe 1-2 times a year. But it's a good lens.

The rest of the Nikon arsenal glass are mostly wasted on me. (I won't tell you how many more of those I have...)

Interesting to me that my SO uses a Nikon D90 with the 18-55 kit lens, and makes outstanding images. We also have a Fuji XE2 with the 18-55 kit and it turns out impressive visuals. Some I've sold. So go figure...

Now you've identified your 'problem'. Posting it will get you a zillion likely good and certainly well-intended solutions, but it won't resolve the conundrum of what camera and which lens is right for you.

So time to go for the solution. My suggestion...

One camera and one lens for one year. Then get back to us and show us your best images.

One C, one L. As I'm (mostly) doing.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
Vince... AE-1... COOL! Interesting how these things work out. I suspect, for some us, choosing the perfect one is a strictly physical thing.. how it feels in the hand, how its shutter sounds, how it looks, etc.. And for others, its more of an intellectual thing... what it's capable of in all sorts of situations. I'm pretty sure I'm in the first camp. I'm thinking seriously of going back to a Fuji X-Pro body with the 35/1.4. We'll see... first I have to get up the energy to sell off all my Nikon Z kit.
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I think if I didn’t have an M10, my choice would also be an X-Pro and 35 1.4. I’m not sure why, but the Nikon, Sony, and Canon mirrorless just don’t appleal to me. They are probably more capable cameras, but your “first camp” observation makes good sense.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
I'm currently going through another cycle like this with my Nikon Zf... trying out lenses, then returning them or selling them or trading them. All of this leading to not much time making photographs.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, I think you're halfway there. The ZF sounds like the perfect digital body to meet your needs. I would recommend mounting a high performing but not overly-expensive M-mount lens like those from Thypoch and Light Lens Lab. The LLL "replica" lenses are especially interesting. They have no less than 6 replica 50mm's, including the ELCAN, Rigid, "1966" f1.2 ASPH and others.

Depending on the rendering that you are after, you may find "THE ONE" among these 6 options from LLL. You can order directly from their website, but I have ordered mine from a seller called "qycamera" either on ebay or aliexpress. In the US, I believe popflashphoto is the official distributor.

Good luck!


​

​

 
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kxl said:
For what it's worth, I think you're halfway there. The ZF sounds like the perfect digital body to meet your needs. I would recommend mounting a high performing but not overly-expensive M-mount lens like those from Thypoch and Light Lens Lab. The LLL "replica" lenses are especially interesting. They have no less than 6 replica 50mm's, including the ELCAN, Rigid, "1966" f1.2 ASPH and others.
Click to expand...
I'm inclined to agree about the Zf body. It's a dream of compact full frame with manual controls. All it needs is a fast prime. I'm sure a number of RFFers here can chime in about their experience with the Zf, like @MP Guy . The Nikon 40mm f2 seems like a very decent lens, too.

If you want a manual focus lens, Voigtlander makes native Z mount lenses including the excellent 35 and 50 APO, the 40mm f1.2 Nokton, and the 28mm f1.5. Thypoch also makes Z mount lenses, although without electronic connections. And there are always adapted M mount lenses. The availability of lenses like this makes Nikon Z very attractive to me, despite being heavily invested in L mount. The thought of a little Zfc with manual focus Voigtlanders is so charming!
 
The Q3 43 is tailor-made for a trek with a one lens camera. The 43mm Summicron is fixed, non-removable. The camera is flexible and can ake telephoto with in-camera cropping. It can do closeups and movies. The color is a bit stark but there are many in-camera image profiles and also Leica Fotos can apply effects. It is reputed to be IP-52 weather resistant so you can be sorta safe in a downpour. I just do not like to let cameras get wet other than a Nikonos.
 
I tried the one camera one lens thing a while back. Took an a6400 and Viltrox 28mm/4.5, which gives a ca. 43mm equivalent field of view, and constrained myself to shoot only in B&W. Worked for about three months, because it inspired so much that I had to shoot with other gear as well again. So, should I call the experiment a success or a failure?
 
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