The "less is more" story... What do you think?

[waileong]

I find shooting with a Leica + 35/2 v4 very liberating.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have multiple cameras/lenses of different kind and for specific purpose to use.
But I do not mix photo genres. I prefer one lens/camera to take pictures with.

 

[Rob-F]

When all I had was my M2 and a 35mm Summaron, it seemed to be all I needed. But then I added a 90; and then a 50; Then a Nikkormat with 55mm micro-Nikkor; and a Hasselblad with 2 lenses; a Rollei; well you get the idea.

Most of the time I like to have more than one focal length available. If going light, a pocket size digital P&S works great. If I want to go with one camera and one lens, it's either a Leica with a 35mm, the Fuji X100 (essentially 35mm), or a small P&S with a zoom. The advantage is convenience and readiness for a shot, with little or no equipment fiddling.

 

[NickTrop]

Depends on what you're doing. In my case, for example, if I'm just walking around and want to take grab shots, candids, or do "street photography" (a term for some reason starting to dislike? How about just "photography")? I have an ever growing appreciation for (a) point and shooters like my Yashica T3 or my Oly XA rangefinder, hell even my Windows Nokia cell phone (Zeiss f2.0 28mm -- which is why I have a Windows phone, of course). The key criteria here is NOT to have a lens protruding from the camera body -- a clam shell design, at least an f2.8 lens so you can do available light, and have a small light inconspicuous camera. Manual control not necessary here. Clearly less is more here.

It I'm taking portraits of family members? Yeah, I'll carry a few lenses and an (D)SLR. Definitely a 50 -- probably my Tac 1.4 or Juperter 9. Maybe a 35mm for group shots. Definitely want manual control or at least aperature priority.

This is not "boolean". Answer is "it depends".

 

[Brian Atherton]

For the past fourteen years pretty much (baring the odd digital) it’s been a M6 and 35mm Summicron as my everyday kit, simply because this is what I feel most comfortable and in tune with.

This year on a whim I bought an Elmar-M 50mm, which hasn’t been off the camera for two months.

At first it was hard going. Compared to the 35mm the 50mm seems like a tele, and only now am I getting my eye in for this focal length, but at last I’m having a ball.

Definitely, for me, less is more. My days of lugging tons of kit about are long-gone.

One M body and two lenses are about all the kit I need. But, who knows?...

 

[Vics]

I just can't carry more than one camera/one lens anymore. I'm old and skinny. Now I'll have to carry a tripod, because I'm not as steady as I was once. But one cam/one lens has always been my happy place. Currently, it's Nikon FM with 50mm 1.8 and always BW. Slik F630 tripod.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

For what kind of job?

You're right: I am talking about street photography.

In my case, I spent some years using a single lens, even for long trips... I did it with a 20, with a 28, with a 35, with a 40 and with a 50. Now I think it's not the best option: yes, I got the photographs, but for some of them, a different angle of view would have been MUCH better...
I have also tried for years one camera with 2 lenses, and with 3 lenses too: not the best idea either, I guess... Changing lenses can be a problem... And it isn't really a comfortable / fast / relaxing option...
Lately I've been doing it in a way that's been the best one to my liking... I'm carrying 3 cameras inside a small handmade leather bag made for them: 3 defined separate places inside the bag, all with clean access from above, and now I never change lenses. 2 of them are Bessas T (very light cameras), one with a small 28 and the other one with a Jupiter-3 (the lightest fast 50), both cameras with Tri-X at 800 for street shooting at f8 from 1/2000th to 1/125th: with those 2 I act a lot faster than I did when I used to change lenses, and 28&50 are different enough but normal enough to cover everything in natural ways...
The other camera has a 40 1.4 with Tri-X at 3200, for low light, indoors and night, or for great DOF with poor light...
Those three are easy to carry for hours, (to my surprise) and the bag is incredibly small!
No matter where I am, or what time it is, I am ready for every scene, and for all kinds of light, instantly... In my case I am sure more is more. Not that I can't use a 50 only: it's just that some things can't be inside a 50's narrow angle of view, and for other subjects, with a 28 you need to be too close to the subject... And for low light, a different film or development is required...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Spanik]

I use a 55mm (4.5x6) for about 80% of the time, but for those other 20% I do have what it needs with me. And sometimes I really want to use 6x9 or 6x6. Even use digital sometimes.

I did found out that different formats on the same outing is not a good way for me. Or digital and film if they do not cover a different goal. But different focals is a must, it just feels natural.

 

[hendriphile]

Visiting Europe 30 yrs ago (car, rail, boat-train) I had my M3 & 50 DR.
Today I have the range from 35 to 135mm, but even in retrospect (& knowing how clumsy & absent-minded I can be) I'm glad I just had that gear... and of course plenty of film.
Photography was not the primary reason for making that trip; had it been otherwise I might have acted differently.

 

[YYV_146]

Given the chance I always shoot with more than one body. With small modern cameras taking two is hardly a burden, and you get a nice coverage by using a wide and standard lens (or a wide and tele).

If I knew exactly what I wanted and how I would be shooting it, then I might only take a single camera/lens combo. Otherwise, it never hurts to have another option...

 

[Penzes]

This single camera and one lens thing is so overrated nowadays.

I use different camera's and lenses, even on the same day. When I know, I have to walk a lot, than I try to reduce weight, but on photographic trips I have a big bag, with a lots of gear and just pick the friend for a day for a smaller bag.

What's in the bag? by Istvan Penzes, on Flickr

 

[gns]

In this case, less is not more.
But it is, just as much.
With one camera/lens, the possibilities are already infinite. More can't get you more.

Gary

 

[Michael Markey]

My days of lugging tons of kit about are long-gone.
One M body and two lenses are about all the kit I need. But, who knows?...

I think there is an age related thing going on here 🙂
I know there is with me.

I`ll take a digital either the dp3m or dp2m and maybe a film camera with a different fl.
Either that or take the two Sigmas.

Today it was just the dp2m.

 

[Pioneer]

Sometimes I carry one camera and one lens

Sometimes I carry one camera and more than one lens

Sometimes I carry more than one camera and more than one lens.

It all depends on what I expect to do and how far from home I am.

But even with several cameras and several lenses I find I take most of my pictures with one camera and one lens.

Figure that one out? Personally I think I am just lazy at heart. 😀

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sometimes I carry one camera and one lens

Sometimes I carry one camera and more than one lens

Sometimes I carry more than one camera and more than one lens.

It all depends on what I expect to do and how far from home I am.

But even with several cameras and several lenses I find I take most of my pictures with one camera and one lens.

Figure that one out? Personally I think I am just lazy at heart. 😀

Me too. But maybe experience and talent play a small part too.

Cheers,

R.

 

[hlockwood]

For the past fourteen years pretty much (baring the odd digital) it’s been a M6 and 35mm Summicron as my everyday kit, simply because this is what I feel most comfortable and in tune with.

This year on a whim I bought an Elmar-M 50mm, which hasn’t been off the camera for two months.

At first it was hard going. Compared to the 35mm the 50mm seems like a tele, and only now am I getting my eye in for this focal length, but at last I’m having a ball.

Definitely, for me, less is more. My days of lugging tons of kit about are long-gone.

One M body and two lenses are about all the kit I need. But, who knows?...

Amazing! This is just the opposite of my situation. I normally shoot with the 50mm Elmar-M, a truly great lens. But I find there are situations where a somewhat wider lens would work better. So, now I'm carrying, in addition to the Elmar-M, the 35mm Cron Asph.

HFL

 

[zauhar]

I like to carry M3 + 50 + 21 + 90, with 21mm VF 'permanently' mounted on the M3. The 50 stays on most of the time, but if I see a situation where I need another perspective, I like to have the flexibility. All of the fits in one small bag.

 

[coelacanth]

In the past, I often took an M body, 50mm and 35mm for travels and weekend trips (plus a backup body for international travels). Looking back, I think I stuck with one M and one 50mm for the most part. My next travel will be with just one M and one 50mm, plus Ricoh GR as a catch-all backup.

 

[Rob-F]

Changing lenses can be a problem... And it isn't really a comfortable / fast / relaxing option...
Lately I've been doing it in a way that's been the best one to my liking... I'm carrying 3 cameras inside a small handmade leather bag made for them: 3 defined separate places inside the bag, all with clean access from above, and now I never change lenses.

I did something similar for France. I had two 3Cs CLA'd for the trip. I kept a 35/2.5 CV on one, and a CV 25mm on the other. Sometimes it was a 35 and a 28, and sometimes a 35 and a 50; but always one was a 35mm. I used Tri-X and a Delta 400. I also had along an M7 with CV 40/1.4. I could fit the Barnacks in my vest pockets along with a D-lux 3 and a D-Lux 4, and have only one camera out at a time. If we were going to be out at night, I left one Barnack and one D-lux in our apartment, and brought the M7 with the CV lens. That was well thought out, and worked out well. I think I would do it again, or something similar, on a similar trip.

 

[BillBingham2]

After having close to a dozen LTM/M RFs less is more.

Right now it's an iPhone 5 or a GRD III with no extra glass.

I was very happy with a Bessa L and a CV 25/4 Snap-Shot, other times equally happy with a M6, M4-P, and a mix of 15, 25, 35, 40, 75, 90, 105, 135, and a rapidwinder or two. Other times the dread-SLR-Nikon and a few choice Nikkors.

I find that I can get a shot that I'm happy with regardless of the lens(es) I have. Can't say it's always a good shot, but I capture what I can with what have as good as I can.

Having lugged around way too much SLR-stuff for vacation shots, I've seen the light. I'm happy with what I have when I have it.

B2