Thinking of taking the one camera, one lens plunge.

M

Matt(1pt4)

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My RF collection is fairly modest (2 Hexar RFs, an M6TTL, 28, 50 & 90 Hexanons, Biogon 35 F2, CV 35 1.4 SC) by some standards, but it's all starting to seem like a bit too much. I can't remember the last time I used the 28 or the 90 to any good effect, and ever since getting the M6, the 35s just aren't as comfortable to use (I wear glasses and can't really make out the 35mm framelines with the .72 RF). I've always felt most comfortable shooting with a 50mm, so I'm thinking of selling off everything but the M6 and the 50 Hex. I've gone for long stretches before with just a 50, and I think it might do me some good to so again.

The kind of photography I'm interested in is a bit hard to describe, but I'm not a generalist; I shoot B&W photos that help me understand the world around me, and I expect I can do that better with one camera and lens than with many. As it stands now, I rarely carry more than one lens, as I find doing so just results in a lot of lens changing. Even knowing that the lenses are sitting at home on the shelf is an occasional source of metaphysical doubt. I'm not sure I need that in my life.

If the one camera breaks, I can always use the money from the sale of the rest to purchase a new one. There's nothing that I do anymore that really requires a backup camera.

What do you think, would I be a fool to part with this abundance of equipment? Thanks for your input.
 
I think you are on the right track. As a long time fan of your photos, I think you could do most anything with the 50. I understand the pull of that other stuff sitting on the shelf. Go for it!
 
Hi there,

Here's an idea - choose 1 camera, 1 lens and give the rest away to someone you trust for a while and see how you get on...
If you sell some stuff away you might regret and want it back later - you might even pay more than what you had initially.

Just a thought :)
 
Have you tried using a diopter, or wearing contacts? That really makes RF viewfinders much more pleasant in my experience.
 
Why don't you get a SLR and a zoom lens 28-70mm?

Seriously, you can get a Leica SLR if its any sort of consolation.
 
You know, back in highschool, before I understood the siren call of gear, all I had was one camera and one lens (an AE1 and a 50) and you know, I spent more time just making photos. I don't recall really being bothered by no selection. Without the option of different focal lengths, the desire for them never arose. Of course, now that I'm older and more worldly, I can inherently recognise my need for other lens lengths while shooting rather than just making it work like I used to. Sigh.
 
kevin m said:
Have you tried using a diopter, or wearing contacts? That really makes RF viewfinders much more pleasant in my experience.
Click to expand...

I agree. Diopters are great.

As for your question, my completely biased answer is go for it. I'm probably going to cut down my RF kit to one body and one (ok, maybe two) lenses shortly. Some folks find that a lot of gear inspires creativity or acts as a motivation to shoot. I'm not one of them. I just get annoyed with stuff cluttering up my apartment.
 
For those like yourself that use photography as tool to help understand or clarify the world in which he or she lives, I am an advocate of the one lens/camera approach. I believe that minimizing the choices one has to make allows for a more immediate response to visual stimuli.

I think the one single focal length lens approach works very well with an RF camera which allows you to simply put a frame around a piece of the world.

For me at least, simplification is liberating.
 
I trimmed down to a 2 bodies/2 lenses RF system a year ago; the 35/50 combo is the bread and butter of my RF shooting and so it makes sense to focus on using those focal lengths and eliminate distractions. But I have recently acquired a 75 for portraiture which is very useful at times. Presently I am trying to decide whether to sell some gear and keep to a 2 bodies w/ 3 focal lengths 35/50/75 RF kit; as those lenses do seem to do all that I could want with a RF. In short I agree with the minimalist approach; keep it simple and don't manufacture lens 'needs' out of wants, become as strong as possible with a focal length, focus on trying to master the main RF focal lengths. It will take a fair bit of self-control. But often I find the things requiring the most effort are the most rewarding.
 
Personally, I find almost impossible to sell camera gear. Probably because I learned the hard way that replacing something you sold is always more costly than you expected. So I have a relatively huge collection of gear.

But like you, I find it easier to work with less, so I often make deliberate decisions to only use one film, one lens, one format, etc, for an extended length of time, sometimes for months. But even after I may have not used my 21mm for six months, I will suddenly find the I really do need it to make that photograph in my head and I am glad I have it in the drawer.

I also go through different phases of photography, I concentrated almost solely on street photography for 2 years, my Nikkor 35mm f1.4 was the only lens I used during this time. But then I met a fellow photographer who got me involved in fashion and editorial work, and suddenly I was using my Nikkor 105mm 2.5 as my primary lens. I had not taken a landscape photo in months and months, my father visited from the US recently, he is a mad landscape photographer, suddenly I am reaching for my wide angles again.

So while I often photograph as if I only have one camera and one lens, I could not limit myself to this in practice, unless I needed to because of exceptional circumstances.

So if you are not paying interest on your camera collection, I would recommend putting your extra gear in a drawer and forgetting about it for a while. You will probably find one day that you will be very happy to reach for that 90mm or 28mm to get the one shot that is eluding you.

Your choice, so just be sure you are content with the choice you make in the end. And all is good.

As for your photography, I was just on your site tonight admiring your work. In the end all that matters are the photographs.
 
Matt,
I've hardly ever seen you shooting with 28 or 90 mm, so I don't see any problem - I'd even say that narrowing the scope to 50mm will eliminate some of these wall shots... :)
For 1 camera 1 50mm lens I'd go for an 0.85x M7 or M6, If instead you want to stick to 35mm and experience a superior VF at the expense of some solidity, keep the Biogon and get a ZI.

My style of shooting likes a 2 body combo: a 28mm and a 50mm, and for this I use the Bessa R4A or Minolta CLE for the 28mm (you could probably keep a Hexar) and the 0.85x M7 for the 50mm.
 
i hate threads like this one...makes me want to sell off gear and be a minimalist.

i think the one camera one lens idea is romantic at best and harmful at worst. what harm is there in having extra lenses and a back up body or 2?

but on the other hand a part of me easily understands the pull of a simple approach.
my answer is to try to 'fool' myself by creating kits. the zeiss kit, the cv kit and the cle kit.
the cle kit is very simple, small and covers 99% of most anyone's shooting needs and it all fits in the tiny domke 5xa bag.
the cv kit is great for really feeling covered to shoot most anything. all it needs is a cv 75.
the zeiss kit is the 'prestige' kit, extraordinary lens quality and a body that can handle anything and it looks great in all it's silver glory.

but, like you, i usually just take one camera and one lens when i go out shooting. these days, it's the zi with 35/2.8.

so, i'm pretty sure that i have been of no use whatsoever!
so i'll add this.
follow your gut and do what's comfortable for you. sell and evaluate and
buy it all again if you really miss the extra gear. i have done that and with no regrets.

shooters have a saying - 'beware the man with one gun'.
we are not alone.
 
kevin m said:
Have you tried using a diopter, or wearing contacts? That really makes RF viewfinders much more pleasant in my experience.
Click to expand...

I've never been able to get on with contacts, but even if I could that would somewhat defeat the point by encouraging the use of a wider range of lenses.

And why would someone looking to simplify get an SLR and zoom? That would also just make things worse. Wouldn't it?

Or are both of these comments a way of saying that you think I should go the opposite direction?
 
There have been a number of threads like this lately. Could the group psyche here be changing? Should the sponsors be a little nervous?

My response pasted from another thread...

With just one lens, the possibilities are infinite. I don't need more than that.
In these threads, you always hear people bring up the "Right tool for the right job" argument. I don't disagree with that at all. But I think maybe my approach to (or philosophy of) photography differs from their's. When I'm out taking pictures, I'm just exploring. Hopefully with my mind open and receptive. I don't have any particular picture in mind that I need to make (no job to do). So I'm happy just to see what I can do with the camera & lens I have.

Cheers,
Gary
 
I don't want to live without most of the lenses I got now, the Nokton 35/1.2, Elmarit M 90/2.8, Super-Angulon 21/3.4, Ultra Wide Heliar 12/5.6, etc.. Most of the time, however, I just walked the street with the R-D1s + Summicron 35/2 IV combination.

I love it. So far.
 
Or are both of these comments a way of saying that you think I should go the opposite direction?
Click to expand...

Nope, just that it sounds like wearing glasses is making you lean towards a 50. I think "one lens" is a great idea.
 
I keep two bodies (old SLRs) so it's easier to try different films. Usually one body has Superia 200, the other Superia 800 or a B+W 400 film.

Of course, if your philisophy extends to "one camera, one lens, one film," then there's no need for an extra body.

As for lenses, all you need is a 50!
 
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