One lens question

If, as is my normal wont, I carry two lenses, it tends to be a 35mm/f2 and 85mm/f2 combo with whatever manual focus Nikon body I have in the bag. If I can choose but one lens, then I tendn to go for my 50mm/f1.2 - presumably as i'm sort of convincing myself that, as it sits between the other two, it will do the same job. In all honesty, my 35mm/f2 is probably my favourite all-rounder.
 
I had been using nothing but the Canon EF 50mm 1.2L on my 1-V HS for the last year. Since moving to an M6 rangefinder for the vast majority of my photography needs I only have the 50mm Elmar-M but have been getting fabulous prints with it. Honestly, I very rarely look through the rangefinder/viewfinder and wish I had another focal length. I always seem to get too many stray elements that don't fit my composition/visualization with wider lenses, forcing me closer and creating distortion. On the rare occasion I need a longer forcal length for classical portraiture I use medium format anyway.
 
I always think, 'yeah, I like the one lens idea'.

Then I go out with one lens.

Then I find out I cannot back up enough.....or I cannot get close enough...

Oops, should have brought another couple of lenses I guess.


What about zooms? Too big and heavy but sometimes the only way to get the precise framing on small format negatives where you cannot afford to crop. You see, I still shoot 18X24mm half frame.
 
I don't have the choice with my half-frame camera. It has a 28mm f3.5. :D

I do have this debate with myself. Not only do I not limit myself to one camera one lens, I usually carry two cameras - one digital, one film - at all times (ignoring my phone camera, which is a decent one, but I don't tend to use it).

I like the 17mm lens for my EPL-1, but my cameras I carry with it have lenses between 35mm and 45mm generally, so I usually have the kit lens on the digi, to pick out architectural details, and for macro shots - the two extremes I'm not so able to manage with my film cameras.

That said, it's not that I'm indecisive. Each camera I have offers something slightly different. But, ultimately, it's my vanity that keeps me using all those. If I were restricted to one camera, one lens, I have no doubts about my choice.
 
I find one lens is not limiting but quite the opposite. It is freeing. You don't miss shots you just learn to see different shots that use the FoV and that are appropriate for that F/L. I find I see at 35mm on FF naturally. I came to that conclusion from decades of shooting. I only do my personal work with a MM and 35mm lens and I don't miss anything.
 
airfrogusmc said:
I find one lens is not limiting but quite the opposite. It is freeing. You don't miss shots you just learn to see different shots that use the FoV and that are appropriate for that F/L. I find I see at 35mm on FF naturally. I came to that conclusion from decades of shooting. I only do my personal work with a MM and 35mm lens and I don't miss anything.
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I don't find it limiting or freeing.
 
Rodchenko said:
I don't have the choice with my half-frame camera. It has a 28mm f3.5. :D

I hear you. Besides the Pen F with it's interchangeable lenses I also have a couple of the original Pen VF cameras with the 28 f3.5 lens plus a couple of the Pen D models with the 32mm f1.9 fixed lenses. You shoot with what you have and fixed lens cameras force a photographer to jocky for position. Even with the Pen F my lens selection is usually only three lenses, a 20mm f3.5, 38mm f1.8, and 100mm f3.5. I also have the 50~90 f3.5 zoom for when some middle focal length is necessary but I don't carry it around in the shoulder bag. Too heavy and bulky.
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