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

[Juan Valdenebro]

Let's comment what we've found out: from carrying less or more, to being able to use well what we carry; from controlling all kinds of light to being ready for different angles of view; from any aperture to selective focus or not, what do we prefer?

 

[sebastel]

one body, two lenses works quite well for me.
typical, 50mm (resp. equiv.) or 35mm (resp. equiv.)
plus one out of [35mm | 28mm | 21mm] (resp. equiv.).

but that's just me.

 

[mfogiel]

The less gear you have the less time you fret about it and the more you go out shooting. Given, that I have little spare time anyway, I have to fret over gear by default.

 

[jschrader]

The less gear you have the less time you fret about it and the more you go out shooting. Given, that I have little spare time anyway, I have to fret over gear by default.

I agree.

I thought much about this lately. One has to have a system that produces the kind of pictures that one likes. These decisions one has to make beforehand:
b&w vs. color,
angle of view (i.e. perspective (wide), natural (normal) or flat (tele))
sharpness & detail (MF, LF, 35mm, point-and-shoot)

Once this is clear, one tries to fit a scene into the camera one carries (in my case RF with 35mm & b&w film). If the scene requires color, or a 90mm, it will anyhow not be a shot that I would like in the end.

The tough thing is to find out which kind of photos one really likes. I think some of those who carry so much gear are not really sure what they like.

 

[Takkun]

Even with a tiny Domke bag I find myself able to carry an entire RF kit with me, and I frequently do. Often times I find myself mostly shooting with a 50, but it's not much of a hindrance. It ends up being quite nice to have the flexibility of a 25 or 90.
Because how many people go out shooting with only a 90?

I try to keep the weight to a minimum. That's all. When I'm shooting LF, for example, that's when I might stick with a single lens.

 

[Ansel]

c) both options depending on circumstances.

 

[ruby.monkey]

The less gear you have the less time you fret about it and the more you go out shooting. Given, that I have little spare time anyway, I have to fret over gear by default.

Guess it all depends on one's personality. I've accumulated a couple of dozen cameras over the years but don't remember ever fretting about what to use.

 

[maddoc]

I think to many set priorities onto equipment to be used instead of the subject to be photographed ...

 

[Richard G]

My bag usually has one camera and three lenses. If I am travelling I won't rely on one camera, and I will try to have only two lenses. For years that was 35 and 50. But then I might also need the 21. Now I take the 28 and a 50, and I don't need the 21.

 

[leicapixie]

My main daily carrying rig is a digital point and shoot.
The main problem for me is weight.

So going "less is more" means really that.
Film means my Leica M3, the 50mm Collapsible Summicron.
I seldom take extra lenses or another camera system.
Occasionally I take my Leica M6TTL in place of the M3.
I load one film for the day. I never carry extra.
In the past I have done pro work with only that!

The Digital captures what I want and I enjoy it's size.
I have thousands of exposures available, zoom lens, filters,
variable ISO, various looks to my color etc.

My last trip being thru Heathrow UK, decided me to take only my small digital, extra memory cards, AA batteries.
It was one of my best travel times ever!
If the camera had malfunctioned/lost/stolen, it would have been
replaced immediately at a nearby Mall.
There are many Malls everywhere in South Africa.
I use the Canon 1200 Power Shot.

Carrying less simplifies choices.
I hate changing lenses or films.
I see, I shoot.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Even with a tiny Domke bag I find myself able to carry an entire RF kit with me, and I frequently do. Often times I find myself mostly shooting with a 50, but it's not much of a hindrance. It ends up being quite nice to have the flexibility of a 25 or 90.
Because how many people go out shooting with only a 90?

I try to keep the weight to a minimum. That's all. When I'm shooting LF, for example, that's when I might stick with a single lens.

Dear Ian,

Exactly. This is another of the false dichotomies so often encountered on RFF. There's a vast difference between doing what you and I do -- switching to another lens when you need it -- and carrying everything you possess and switching lenses all the time.

In other words, you and I carry the minimum kit likely to be needed to get the pictures we want: sometimes one camera and one lens, sometimes three cameras and five lenses. It's easier to carry less, but sometimes you need more.

Cheers,

R.

 

[thegman]

Neither poll option is the case for me, but I probably enjoy photography more when I use just my Rolleiflex, and nothing more, rather than carry a big load of gear around. However, enjoying photography and getting the best results I think are quite different. So many times I'd wish I'd had a tripod with me, or may another camera loaded with Velvia instead of XP2. Or maybe a longer lens that the one on the Rolleiflex.

I suppose if I wanted to get the very best results, I'd be out with an 8x10 early in the morning, but this is a hobby to me, and I want to enjoy it more than I want to work at it.

 

[nongfuspring]

I've been travelling for the past few months with just a 50. It's great, but I've missed quite a few important shots in tight places which has made me wish I had a 28mm point and shoot like a GR for my pocket while I have a primary camera off my shoulder. I really dislike changing lenses.

 

[dct]

Dear Ian,

Exactly. This is another of the false dichotomies so often encountered on RFF. There's a vast difference between doing what you and I do -- switching to another lens when you need it -- and carrying everything you possess and switching lenses all the time.

In other words, you and I carry the minimum kit likely to be needed to get the pictures we want: sometimes one camera and one lens, sometimes three cameras and five lenses. It's easier to carry less, but sometimes you need more.

Cheers,

R.

This.

Nowadays 1C1L is the 35mm FoV equivalent of the X100 for me.
If not digital I carry the 28mm on a RF. But adding a CV50/2.5 in the bag is not really an extra effort to carry!

 

[rbiemer]

In my case, I can answer very definitely..."it depends". I don't use a bag very often and can only shoot one camera/one lens at a time any way, so my general practice is to have that one camera and lens on my shoulder and perhaps a second lens in a pocket.

I do like having choices but I try to make the choice beforehand. I don't struggle with nor fret over the descision though; if I have a plan or a particular photo in mind, then I'll choose the camera/lens to suit and if I'm just carrying "in case" then I try for photos that suit what I'm carrying. Seems to work well enough for me.

Given that no one else is waiting on my results, and that this is my hobby, I try to keep it as stress free as I can.
Rob

 

[Mcary]

I find that one camera one lens namely the ones I have in my hands work best for me. This not to say that I don't have additional lens in my bag but rather that I simply don't spend a lot of time question my choice of lens. Be it right or wrong I simply live it, even in situations where I think one of my other lens will give me better results I'll often walk/explore the scene with the lens I have on the camera to see what shots I can find and only afterwards will I switch and shoot with the other lens. Some people handle the question of not having the right lens at the right time by using/carrying one lens, I handle it by not worrying about it.

 

[Michael Markey]

I find that one camera one lens namely the ones I have in my hands work best for me. This not to say that I don't have additional lens in my bag but rather that I simply don't spend a lot of time question my choice of lens. Be it right or wrong I simply live it, even in situations where I think one of my other lens will give me better results I'll often walk/explore the scene with the lens I have on the camera to see what shots I can find and only afterwards will I switch and shoot with the other lens. Some people handle the question of not having the right lens at the right time by using/carrying one lens, I handle it by not worrying about it.

Yep ... that s my attitude .
I`m certainly not going to carry around a whole lot of gear on the off chance that I might need something.

 

[daveleo]

I go out with one camera, one lens. (90% of the time, it's a prime lens.)
Which camera and lens, depends on where I'm going and what I am looking for. (90% of the time, these days, it's the X100.)

 

[hepcat]

Let's comment what we've found out: from carrying less or more, to being able to use well what we carry; from controlling all kinds of light to being ready for different angles of view; from any aperture to selective focus or not, what do we prefer?

For what kind of job?

 

[telenous]

My mind says 'more', my back says 'less'. Sometimes one wins, sometimes the other.

.