Shooting film on assignment: what lens would you bring (only one)

[jojoman2]

You are on assignment as a photojournalist and can only bring one lens. You are shooting film, not digital. You need results in a fast paced dynamic environment. What focal length lens do you bring? Do you reach for the 35? The 28? 50? Dare to go super wide with a 21? (If shooting a 28 or 35, you can bring a .58 leica rather than a .72 if an external vf isn't your thing).

I'm curious about your shooting style and philosophy. Walk me through your thought process. Assume that cropping your images is not an option.

 

[valdas]

I usually go for AF in the case of "fast paced, dynamic"... i.e Hexar AF. I am too slow with my M6 for anything fast paced.

 

[dmr]

Zoom! 🙂 ...

 

[mfogiel]

Nikon f100 with a 35mm AF lens, or in worst case an M7 with motor drive and 35mm lens. Changing films on Nikon is much faster though.

 

[johannielscom]

Why would any real-world assignment restrict you to bringing only one lens and not cropping the image? 😱


Okay, I'll play anyway.

I'd bring a (D)SLR with a 28mm lens. Preferably one with some close-up or macro capability, so I'd at least have a close-focus option.

Oh, and I'd sneak in a 2X focal multiplier, since you didn't say I couldn't bring one 😀 😀

 

[rodt16s]

Depends on the assignment

 

[x-ray]

Depends on the assignment and where it is. Is it a speaker in a huge arena or up close interview. There's no real answer without knowing.

This is one place a zoom excells.

 

[mcfingon]

I would use the lens that I find gives me the biggest percentage of focused, usable shots. That lens is my Zeiss Biogon f2/35. This is a lens that is compact yet has a fast maximum aperture and handles perfectly on the film body I use, a Leica M2.

 

[jcrutcher]

Leica MP (film), 28mm summicron and Portra 400.

You can advance a MP quickly and the 28 has a wide focus depth. Portra is very forgiving if you miss meter. If you need a 35 just get closer.

Jim

 

[taskoni]

One can do virtually anything with 50mm and wider. I would get 50mm or 28mm and will feel comfortable with any of the two. In fact, this is how I do it for the last few years..

Regards,

Boris

 

[Ko.Fe.]

To me it is determent by my gear list and by the gear I have to follow light conditions.
If it is dark - 50 1.5. If I want to separate object - 50. If I want to include environment - 35. If it is crowded it could be 28.

Fast paced dynamic environment.

Sorry can't answer specifically about this one. I'm in Canada. It takes three days to response for bear roaming in 200K+ residential area here.

 

[kbg32]

This is like asking what type of shoes, underwear, shirt, pants, or socks would you put on. Hopefully one would have have the experience to know what lens to bring whether it's film or digital. If you don't, this would be a great experience for you. One that you could learn from.

 

[Roger Hicks]

This is like asking what type of shoes, underwear, shirt, pants, or socks would you put on. Hopefully one would have have the experience to know what lens to bring whether it's film or digital. If you don't, this would be a great experience for you. One that you could learn from.

Dear Keith,

Exactly. Too much depends on the "assignment" (which in this case is pure fantasy); on what the pictures are for (which is the nature of an "assignment"); on your personal style; on the kit you own; on what you are happiest using...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald M]

Depends on subject matter expected.

If unknown, auto focus DSLR and midrange zoom.

 

[oftheherd]

Zoom! 🙂 ...

Depends on the assignment and where it is. Is it a speaker in a huge arena or up close interview. There's no real answer without knowing.

This is one place a zoom excells.

Sorry to the OP, but this is almost impossible to answer as other have commented on. I can't imagine the reason for such an assignment, and I don't think I would take it without a very good reason, and complete knowledge, and a lot of money for using expertise to use whatever I brought in ways I couldn't anticipate.

But, you did not prohibit zooms, and if I took such an assignment, I would probably bring my 167mt with a 28mm to 70mm macro zoom.

I know what you are looking for, but to ask in the terms of an assignment with no details really makes it difficult to answer.

You might have better asked if we were going on a trip, or just wanted to expand our creative juices for a year, what one camera and one lens would we take. That's never been asked before. 😛

 

[OurManInTangier]

I wonder if it was briefs like the OP's that turned so many photographers on to zooms?😛

One lens? I like a 35mm but that's of little use if I'm photographing in a tiny room. A 50mm is great too but a twist of a barrel taking me through 24mm-70mm would be my "one-lens" kit for such a 'brief' brief....only to get there and find I'm photographing a football match and wish I had a 300-500mm instead.:angel:

 

[tempest68]

Canon EOS 3 and 24-70mm f/2.8 L, and 430 EX II. With the EOS 3, there is the option that the auto rewind of the film can leave the leader hanging out. So then you can make note of what frame you are on, force a rewind, load up a difference roll with a difference ISO, and later reload the first roll by keeping the lens cap on and shooting back up to where you left off (would set shutter speed to 1/4000th and f/16).

Although I would say 16-35mm if the assignment was strictly indoors in a smaller venue.

 

[maddoc]

I would bring a 40/2.0 lens .... saves me from the urge to switch between 50 and 35mm lenses.

 

[BillBingham2]

CV Snap-Shot 25mm with bright line finder, on a Bessa L black please and thank you. Low enough cost and light enough you pack a backup of both.

B2

 

[JP Owens]

I guess I would go with a 35mm given such a restriction.

Back in the film days before zoom lenses, though, I carried three Nikons...one with a 35mm, one with a 50mm and one with a 135mm lens. Never would have gone on a news assignment with a single camera or lens around my neck.