the joy of choice

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i probably should not even start this thread as it might end up in the digital vs film section...after a fight...but here goes and let's see if there is a hope of it staying on topic...

went out shooting this morning and just got back...long day for me and my back/hip but very satisfying...and i haven't even looked at any images yet!

i took all my gear and used the trunk of my car as a base.
first kit to hit the street was the sony rx100 along with the leica m4-p and 50/2.5 cv lens.
i love the m4-p, the feel of it in my hand and at the end of my strap. the smooth advance and the snick when i plunge the shutter release down.
i caught myself checking for an image on the non-existant lcd...had to laugh at myself...the sony is wonderful in a miniature sort of way...toylike in my hands yet i know it is a precise image maker.

later on i switched out the sony for an rd1 with a 25/4 lens on it. the lecia stayed at my side all day.
i did switch lenses though with the new to me canon 50/1.4 (so small) coming off the leica and on to the rd1 and the 25 going to the m4-p.

considering the 'fringe festival' is on in edmonton i didn't find a whole lot that interested me and i doubt that i took more than a dozen shots...

so, wherein lies the joy of choice?
i have been trying to limit myself to certain gear, trying to keep it simple in the hope of improving my image making by knowing my gear as well as possible. what i am finding out is that limiting oneself in gear can cause a limiting of the artistic spirit as well. i love the rx100 and have made some nice images with it...same with the rd1 and i hope the m4-p as well. and if i should get an xp1 or an m9 (not) i would hope that it would help stir me to create as well as the talent i have permits.

so film or digital, metal or plastic, old or new...it is not really the gear as much as the soul that matters...
 
Well Joe
I have so many choices,more film at the moment then digital but my mastery of each is pretty poor at the moment.Taking both gives me a sense of not losing if my film images fail.Like the pro who shoots film but uses Polaroids to confirm before committing.

Digital is much more forgiving and the test bed for shots I want to commit to film.

Does this make sense or am I way off target here?
 
I have no doubt that for some, less is more. It's somewhat annoying to hear that the proper/best way is one camera and one lens.

That just doesn't work for me. I too enjoy the luxury of choice.
 
"I don't want to limit myself" is a common refrain here. Heard it again recently in yet another one camera/one lens discussion.

Everything (every decision) is a limitation. To do something (anything) is to NOT do everything else. To do photography is to not paint, make a movie, write a poem, compose descriptive narrative or fly kites. To do B&W photography or 35mm photography or whatever kinds of photography you want are still further limitations.
If you and I go out together to take pictures, the difference between you taking three lenses or cameras and me with just one is next to nothing when considering the variety of options open to us. If you want to draw the line there for you, that's great. You have your reasons, your interests, etc. But to say you are not limiting yourself and I am seems silly.

Gary
 
I agree that choice is important. I used to only shoot film, then I decided to give it up for digital, now I find myself only on film again. I think people like to pigeon hole themselves, myself included, but life is very rarely black and white, and we all really live in a grey area. If digital with a bit of film suits you, great. If film with a bit of digital suits, then fine.
 
gns said:
"I don't want to limit myself" is a common refrain here. Heard it again recently in yet another one camera/one lens discussion.

Everything (every decision) is a limitation. To do something (anything) is to NOT do everything else. To do photography is to not paint, make a movie, write a poem, compose descriptive narrative or fly kites. To do B&W photography or 35mm photography or whatever kinds of photography you want are still further limitations.
If you and I go out together to take pictures, the difference between you taking three lenses or cameras and me with just one is next to nothing when considering the variety of options open to us. If you want to draw the line there for you, that's great. You have your reasons, your interests, etc. But to say you are not limiting yourself and I am seems silly.

Gary
Click to expand...

i don't believe that i said anything to you...
and i am not talking about limitless choice...
 
i am not talking about bringing all your gear to ever shoot.
i did that today for the first time ever and i will likely never do it again...but having the choices to make is very liberating...more so than having only one camera and one lens...
 
gns said:
Sorry, I thought it was an open discussion. My mistake.
No need to get cranky or rude, though.
Click to expand...

have i done something to upset you?

i was not being cranky or rude...at lease not on purpose.

it is an open discussion...i was pointing out that i did not say that you were limiting yourself...i said that i was limiting myself by following a philosophy that no longer fit for me.
 
Too little choice I can find strangling sometimes, other times too much choice. It's nice to have both to choose from, and satisfy ones own photographic muse with whichever it calls for, at that time.
 
Joe, I think I know what you mean. I'm very pro-choice.

...can I say that here?

No, really Joe, I do agree that it's satisfying to have a repertoire of gear from which to choose. You can still go on a 1-camera 1-lens binge, if it strikes you. Or you can change. Maybe it is an attempt to justify the gear habit. So what? It DOES justify the gear habit.
 
...and it's not like i'm going on a gear binge...i sold my complete nikon dslr kit and replaced it with a point & shoot, an old and very cheap leica body and a canon 50 that i got for a good price and local to boot.

no real plans on getting anything else...
 
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