Thinking of taking the one camera, one lens plunge.

The one camera, one lens sounds great. But, sometimes it may be nice to carry along a wide angle lens such as a 28 (in my case) or a 35 for those times when you "just can't back up enough."

Rangefinder lenses are so small you can forget you have it until you need it.
 
I carry just two cameras at a time: one film body - with a 50mm lens over 90% of the time - for taking images that interest me, and a digital p&s for recording images I need, say for my (non-photo-oriented) blog.

That's my version of "one camera/one lens". Gear asceticism holds no interest for me.
 
Do you desperately need the money you'd get from selling your other gear?

Are you prepared to put up with the hassle of selling it?

Are you ready for "I wish I'd never sold..."?

Are you convinced that you will never want to shoot another way?

I mostly use 2 bodies and 2 lenses -- but I like the option of specialist kit for specialist purposes, e.g. Noctilux, Thambar. I also like the movements on my Linhofs; contact prints from my Gandolfi 5x7 inch; extreme tele shots from a 600mm 'Solid Cat'; a Retina IIa that goes in my pocket and stands me in $25...

So I have more than one camera and one lens.

Cheers,

R.
 
I must say that I am always slightly amused when I read about all the equipment some members of this board have. I also have to ask myself, do they really use all that stuff? Many years ago, when I worked for newspapers in the Chicago area I went to cover a fire. I had my bag of cameras and assorted lenses (no zooms then). There was moment when a firefighter, inside the house was framed by a broken window, flames behind him. I pondered, should I use a short telephoto and isolate the fireman, or should I use something wider and show the whole house with the fireman and all the context of the event. By the time I made up my mind, the shot was gone! From then on I determined to only carry the least amount of gear necessary. Once I quit working for newspapers I pared down to a single body and a 35mm lens. Since then I have been liberated into the realm of just shooting photographs, not worrying about the "look" that a certain lens might produce. Sometimes I have to work a little harder to get my image, but so what? Nothing wrong with a single body and lens, and if you change your mind later... the problem can easily be fixed with money.
 
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The good side of one camera, one lens, is that it affords the ability to acquire a really good lens with the extra cash.

Too much gear kills momentum on a shoot and introduces the element of indecision. The primary concept of shooting RF is working light.

Ralph Gibson and HCB do/did pretty well with a minimalist kit.
 
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I'll throw in with the camp of "you may regret it later". Like others have said I usually go out shooting with one lens and one camera but I like to have a choice of which one lens I'm going to use for the day.
I don't like to be burdened with gear either but sometimes carrying extra lenses pays off. I was shooting at the horse track last week with the intention of only using my new 35 1.4 but luckily I had my 21 and 90 in the bag because I found a use for them and got some shots I would not have made otherwise.
As others have said sometimes I go for months on end without using a certain lens and contemplate selling it (especially the 90mm!) but when I need it, it's there and I'm glad!
So far my favorite one camera, one lens combo is the Fuji GA645!
 
Matt made a comment that I, as a learner, was intrigued by. He said he used photography to better understand his world.

I'm not going to suggest that having alternative lenses and bodies won't help in that regard, but isn't there something interesting about the idea of documenting one's personal world with a single lens/body/film? It might kind of level-set the perspective through which that world is viewed.

It's probably a silly thought, but I found it interesting anyway.
 
I have started a similar thread some months ago about yours trully getting on and got caught up by adverse health and therefore needing lighter gear. For many months I have been out taking pictures normally with ONE and, at the most, TWO cameras only. The Leica M3 system has not been used for a long time (3 or 4 years), and the same applies to many other cameras. I am also seriously thinking of selling most of my cameras as I may not be able to use them again. The philosophy being that at least these perfectly good cameras can find new masters who will exploit their utilities to the full. The selling will start soon. I have already given away 2 Rolleiflex TLRs. Soon I will end up with very few cameras. So, as circumstances further dictate, ONE LENS ONE CAMERA will eventually be the order of play!!!
 
I've been thinking the same with my DSLR set lately.

I have:

12-24/4
18-55/3.5
24/2.8
35/2
50/1.8

I thought I should sell everything else, but the 35 for street and buy a 20/2 for music photography. Or just wait until I can afford a full frame digital to see which lenses are worth keeping with it.
 
I've wanted to do the same, for a long time. But, there are just too many issues.

Although i truly admire photographers who have committed to one format, one lens, one film, etc, i simply am not that type of person. Most of my favorite photographers are one lens guys, essentially, or at least they are in the bodies of work that i most admire. Avedon, Penn, Koudelka, Erwitt, Levitt.... But, then there are the people like Steven Meisel, Steve McCurry, Patrick Demarchelier - who use various tools, depending on whim or necessity. Two types of people. I don't think you can fight who you really are.

You seem like the type of person who enjoys gear. As much as many forum members would like you to feel guilty about that, it's not a sin or a vice. I'm learning to accept that. I feel guilty for having a Canon dSLR, Hasselblad, Ikon rangefinder, Nikon slr, Contax slr.... But, i LIKE all of those pieces, for various reasons. And, i would feel a compromise if i let any of them go, even if i don't particularly use them all 'enough.'

But, i do buy and sell pieces, kits, and systems with too much regularity. The promise i made to myself three years ago, though, was to not buy MORE gear than i already had, and not to spend MORE money. Whatever i do should come from an equal or plus $ transaction. And, the effort should still be toward simplifying everything.

Here's a suggestion. Don't sell anything, except possibly the duplicated/redundant pieces. Keep one of the 35mm lenses. You may want to also choose between the 28 and the 35 instead of keeping both. Whatever you keep, though, choose one lens and pack the others in a box, sealed, and stored somewhere in your house. Out of sight, and too much hassle to retrieve.... If, after six months or a year, you don't miss it, then you can sell. it's not as if the market is devaluing rangefinder lenses.

If, like me, though, you are attracted to too many different types of photography, you may find you want more than just the one lens. It seems like every week i begin to like something else, and i want to try it for myself. Where i used to have no interest in wides, all of a sudden this month i need to experiment with a 28mm. All because i saw something i liked and i found a new appreciation for it. Some people, though, like ONE THING only. Like those who, when asked What kind of music do you like...they have a one word response. I typically have to say, ALL types, except one or two.... And, then i have to clarify...that sometimes i do like those one or two other types. Photography is no different. And anything i don't like now, i'm bound to find an appreciation for soon. And, whatever i like, i need to try to accomplish myself.

It's a difficult set of characteristics, and i agree that those with singular interests have an easier time 'focusing' on accomplishing a singular task. But, my personality doesn't allow me to dismiss the other interests.
 
Matt(1pt4) said:
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.
Click to expand...

You know yourself best. Go for it.

I could never do it... I have too many photographic interests.
 
The ultimate reductio ad splicito is a Rolleiflex, which I increasingly find is the only camera I need. Of course, now I want a Rolleiwide, too...:bang:

/T
 
Of course I have a cast iron excuse in this one: I can always write about it.

But equally, I'm not sure that I'd cut back VERY much if I were doing it for fun. There are cameras that I can't sell because of sentimental attachment (my late father-in-law's KowaSix, for example) and others I don't want to sell because they allow me to do something I can't do otherwise (but do I need TWO 5x7 inch/13x18cm cameras? Or five 4x5s?).

I have to say that if I could get enough money for my 12x15 inch Gandolfi I'd probably buy a Noctilux, because it would see more use. But that's not exactly cutting down...

Cheers,

R.
 
Keep the working Hex triplet (pretty good, and by now rare lenses), give the 28 and 90 to your wife to keep away from you and go from there.

Interests and feelings change. New cameras might show up. 50 might be too long/too short after a while. 28/50/90 is a complete set, IMO. Sounds like a waste to break it up.

Also, if you really want a single lens/single camera combo, Leicas are the wrong way to go ....

Roland.
 
I think its a great idea! I am new here but I am treading down the same path. Started with a big DSLR kit, moved to another big dslr kit. Now I have sold it all and am going with 1 camera (Epson R-D1..risky, i know!) and for now 3 lenses. THe reason I choose 3 to start is that I don't know which focal length is me yet.

I think you don't miss it. The rest is just emotional baggage. When shooting with the DSLR I only ever used 1 lens. 35L when I had the 5D and ZF25 on the D300. The rest sitting at home stressed me out because I thought I should keep them "in case" but whenever I went out I always used the same lens.

You can always buy again.
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I just read your website a bit but it got me thinking. Why don't you keep the ZM 35mm on the Hexar and the 50mm on the M6. Sell the rest.

Just an idea.
 
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You do have a point Dexter Haven. I too am a person who might suddenly become interested in something completely different than a week ago.
 
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