If you could only carry one lens, which one would it be ?

bascom49 · Mar 21, 2011

I shoot a mamiya rb67 pro sd and have three lenses : a 90 k/l, a 150 kl, and a 50 C.
My job as a landsurveyor includes traveling around my local area and working outside in unexpected places on a daily basis, so I have a lot of oppurtunity to shoot pictures. I typically travel with a Nikon d200,
a Nikon F100 with assorted lenses and my RB67 gear including extension tubes.

I've been using the F100 35mm as my walk around camera, but just can not get into working with the small negatives compared to the 6x7 negatives that the 67 gives me.

So, I've decided to 'walk around' with my RB67 and just one lens.
Can anyone give me their opinion as to which lens I should carry, assuming a variety of subject matter ?

Thanks,
Charles

BrianShaw · Mar 21, 2011

bascom49 said:
So, I've decided to 'walk around' with my RB67 and just one lens.
Can anyone give me their opinion as to which lens I should carry, assuming a variety of subject matter ?

Normal (90mm)

jovo · Mar 21, 2011

I'd take a look at the majority of photographs I've made, and figure out what lens best represents the bulk of the images I like. I think most people tend to favor a particular point of view, and that would inform your choice. Even so, with a non-zoom lens, you can adjust your camera position to get in closer or farther away if the one lens you are carrying isn't the "right" one for the subject.

OBTW, my favorite lens is usually a short telephoto - 135 mm for my Mamiya C330, 135mm for my P67, and 250mm for my 4x5 kit.

Jeff Kubach · Mar 21, 2011

I have 3 lenses for my RB67, a 50,90, and a180. I would go with the 90, even tough I love the other two.

Jeff

jpreston · Mar 21, 2011

I also have three lenses for my RB 67 Pro S, but would probably go with my 65mm. Since you have the Pro SD, I would get the 75mm tilt/shift for my one lens.

bblhed · Mar 21, 2011

I have a Pentax 6X7 so it is not exactly the same, but my favorite lenses are the 105 and the 135 macro, the 105 for general landscape and people, the 135 for head shots and detail shots. If I had to pick a single walking around lens I would use the 105.

Based on that with the 6X6 my choice of your three lenses would be the 90, it should be wide enough to get most of what you want wide angle, and narrow enough to shoot smaller scenes like cars and houses, it might be a bit too wide for 1 or 2 people.

vpwphoto · Mar 21, 2011

Questions like this make me nuts... Depends on what you want to do with it. Stalk holywood celebritants? Go with a tele.
Gonzo street photography, a superwide.
This is why I did like my rangefinder kits as I could stash a lens in a pocket.. ah but they were screw mount lenses and I didn't change them much.

Why do women photographers not concern themselves with these questions? I know a women that did her whole master's thesis portfolio with 16x20 prints from a K1000 with 50mm f2.0 and they look fabulous.

Robert Hall · Mar 21, 2011

What format?

Probably 50mm for my leica or 355 for my 8x10 or 12x20.

Tom Stanworth · Mar 21, 2011

A 65mm. I love 65 on 6x7 and 35 on 35mm and could live with these two alone if forced to.

Alternately, get a Mamiya 7 and carry a few lenses for the same weight as the RB and one lens. The thought of carrying a RB about with one lens seems a lot of weight for not much flexibility.

holmburgers · Mar 21, 2011

my right eye

Vaughn · Mar 21, 2011

Normal -- I do mostly landscapes.

DWThomas · Mar 21, 2011

Well, until GAS caught up with me, I had expected to work forever with an 80 mm on my 6x6 Bronica. One can always cite instances where a certain lens is ultra necessary or woefully inadequate, no matter how many exotic bits of glass one has.

In the past I have often combined an unmentionable camera with a 3:1 or so zoom for color, plus a film camera loaded with B&W on afternoon treks. A year or two back I attended a festival which included musicians pickin' and sawin' under the trees and some old farm equipment and stuff on display. I took nothing but my Perkeo II (which is 80 mm on 6x6) and found it very liberating -- no lenses to interchange, no big bag full of gear, and no juggling multiple cameras -- just zoom with feet and take pictures.

aoresteen · Mar 21, 2011

If I had a 6x7 I would use the 127mm; otherwise it would be the 90mm.

eclarke · Mar 21, 2011

My 100-200 zoom for my RZ

hpulley · Mar 21, 2011

I have the 65mm, 90mm, 127mm and 180mm for my RB67. I use the 65mm and 90mm a lot so they'd be the main contenders I think. I often walk around with just one of those, doesn't really matter which. Often I'll two-lens it however in which case the 65mm and 180mm make a great pair, otherwise the 90mm splits the difference well. The 127 seems to be the odd one out but often works well indoors.

narsuitus · Mar 22, 2011

When I carry one medium format body and one lens I choose:

1. A 90mm f/3.5 normal lens on a 6x7cm body for general shooting or
2. A 65mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens on a 6x9cm body for landscapes.

WalterEG · Mar 22, 2011

What I feel is the key factor is really what YOUR view of the world is rather than the views of others. 'Your' view will dictate a motif, an approach, a rendering. The subjects that appeal will also be a big influence — are you seeking PLACES or THINGS? Do you want to render 'things' in context as part of a broader narrative or do you want to isolate them and make them heroes?

I have but one lens for my Mamiya RZ - it is the 110mm. That is what I use. I have no desire to add to that with other focal lengths. This is my walking-around grab-shot camera.

My primary kit is a Sinar P2 with 120mm, 150mm and 210mm lenses. The main lens I use is the 150mm. The 210mm is for studio shooting of nudes. The 120mm is for location 'figure in landscape' motifs. Life does not need to be too complicated.

Cheers,

fmajor · Mar 25, 2011

I've tended toward landscapes and the wide side of views are more my cup 'o tea. So, with my RB67 Pro-S i'd 1-lens with my 65mm C loating element variant).

My only other RB67 lens is a 180mm C and i've just recently challenged myself to 1-lens use. I was pretty frustrated b/c i've seen some great 65mm width shots and simply couldn't get 'em with the 180mm. I never feel frustrated with my 65mm FWIW...

whlogan · Mar 25, 2011

I'd mount the 127mm and have it welded. That baby will do all the jobs you ever need to do \1 No questions asked. No change. Right amount on the table. Try it out. When I was lucky enough to have an RB the 127 was the main guy to have. Check it out!
Logan

hpulley · Mar 26, 2011

Went out this morning to shoot a few rolls of Reala. Took the 65mm, 90mm and 180mm. Used them all but mostly the 180mm today... still thinking about a 250/360mm...

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 26, 2011

In any format if I'm carrying one lens it tends to be a fast lens between normal and medium wide, like a 35/2 on 35mm, 50/2.8 on 6x6, or 135/3.5 on 4x5.

2F/2F · Mar 26, 2011

You're already carrying around a brick. What more could it hurt to just bring all three lenses and the camera in a bag? All three should prove useful for shooting landscapes. If you decide that it really must be just one lens, I guess I'd suggest the 90, as it is the most versatile.

APLJ · Mar 26, 2011

I do only use one lens, 80mm 2.8. It does the job for me!

hpulley · Mar 26, 2011

When I want to one lens it, I take a load off and just take the TLR with an 80mm lens! Generally I must admit if I'm going to bring the beast RB67 then I should really bring at least one extra lens to justify hauling the big SLR about

Sirius Glass · Mar 26, 2011

If, in theory only, you were to limit me to one lenses [Big chance in Hell that you could actually in force that!*]

135: 35mm to 300mm AF Zoom lens
120 Hasselblad Zeiss f/2.8 80mm lens
4"x5" 135mm lens on the Speed Graphic or 7.5" [1905.mm] lens

Steve

* I would merely break off both your arms and beat you over the head with the bloody ends! [Hint: Don't impose restrictions that you cannot inforce! ]

If you could only carry one lens, which one would it be ?

bascom49

BrianShaw

jovo

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Jeff Kubach

jpreston

bblhed

vpwphoto

Robert Hall

Tom Stanworth

holmburgers

Vaughn

DWThomas

aoresteen

eclarke

hpulley

narsuitus

WalterEG

fmajor

whlogan

hpulley

David A. Goldfarb

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2F/2F

APLJ

hpulley

Sirius Glass

If you could only carry one lens, which one would it be ?

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