Vacation with 50mm only: is it possible?

[narsuitus]

Has anyone ever gone on a vacation with a 50mm only?

Yes, but it was not my first choice. If forced to take only one prime lens on vacation, here is what I would choose (in order of priority):

35mm f/1.4 (Zeiss on Leica M6 rangefinder)
35mm f/2 (Nikkor on Nikon F4 SLR)
40mm f/1.7 (Canon Canonet QL17 G-III rangefinder)
45mm f/2 (Zeiss Planar on Contax G1 rangefinder)
50mm f/1.4 auto focus (Nikkor on Nikon F4 SLR)
50mm f/1.4 (Takumar on Pentax Spotmatic SLR)
50mm f/1.8 Series E (on Nikon EM SLR)

However, if given a choice, I would rather take a low-cost, mid-range zoom (such as an 18-55mm f/3.5 to 5.6 on an APS-C dSLR body.

 

[ChipMcD]

Earlier this year I drove cross country and took a Nikon DSLR with 28mm, 50mm and 200mm lenses and a Leica MP with 28mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses. Except for two cities, all of this was landscape photography. I estimate that I made 90% of the shots with the 50s and 5% each with the 28mm and 200mm (didn't use the 90mm)

As pointed out above, what you bring depends on where you will be shooting. I'd say a 50mm would be the most versatile lens and would not be difficult to use for almost all purposes, unless you will be doing mostly urban shooting, in which case a 28mm or 35mm would be better.

I'm doing a long weekend in NYC later this year and plan on taking one camera and either a 28mm or a 35mm.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I've done that, in fact just rolling with a 50mm lens or equivalent depending what you're using, reduces decision making, your back will thank you because you're lugging a whole bunch of lenses around and force you to look for shots that will fit this focal length. It is actually a really good exercise.

 

[olifaunt]

But does changing lenses not make you lose the decisive moment too? One lens removes any doubt about which lens to use and so you go for it.

Yes, which is why I don't change lenses.

 

[Russell W. Barnes]

Yes, which is why I don't change lenses.

Ah... You don't! Just read your post in the quiet of my living room and not in the office with a team of chattering monkeys.