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

bascom49 · Mar 26, 2011

I got a lot of insight from everyone's opinion, thanks for all the input, and I look forward to more.
I've been carrying my camera on a hand grip with my spot meter and a 50 mm lens.
Working this way with a small setup is a great way to go. As another poster pointed out,
it does not really matter which lens, whats important is to go simple and easy.

brian steinberger · Mar 26, 2011

75/3.5 for my Mamiya 6

mawz · Mar 27, 2011

While I've got a decent collection of lenses for my 645, I normally just carry the 80/1.9. On 6x7 my preferred lens was the 105, but that's with the Pentax setup.

Frankly, for MF work, All I need is a normal and a good wide. 60-70% of my shooting in 645 is done with my 80, 2/3rds of the rest is my 55 and most of the remainder is my 150 (I very occasionally use my 300).

phelger · Mar 29, 2011

lens for walking around

the moving around is essential - then I only use my Rolleicord with its 75mm, or my MP with the Summicron 50mm - zooming in and out is done with my sturdy shoes
peter

bwrules · Mar 29, 2011

For me it would be an equivalent of 28mm. Since I want to just use one wide angle lens and one film for a looong time. Best way to learn photography.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2011

bascom49 said:
I got a lot of insight from everyone's opinion, thanks for all the input, and I look forward to more.
I've been carrying my camera on a hand grip with my spot meter and a 50 mm lens.
Working this way with a small setup is a great way to go.

Yep. But note that you can go considerably lighter with an rz and a 110/2.8. As an rb lover, I was reluctant to try the rz, but once I played with the 110... sold. The 110/2.8 is so small and light, and so bright.... it's really the best all 'round lens I know. Plus it's very inexpensive.

For an rb kit, though, I think a 65 would be my choice.

Athiril · Mar 29, 2011

I do carry one lens.. and its the Sekor C 180mm f/4.5 for my RB67

2F/2F · Mar 29, 2011

The RZ 110 is a gem at any price, but considering the low prices they sell for when attached to an RZ body, they are worth getting an RZ, even if you prefer the RB!

I started with an RZ, because it came along for a good price at a good time. But ideally I will add an RB Pro SD and KL lenses for use on both bodies.

My other favorite RZ lens is the 210 mm APO. My friend has it, but never uses it. Bloody shame, but at least I get to borrow it pretty much whenever I want. I borrow his 65mm W as well. It's a nice lens – about as wide as I usually want, and great for using hand held.

Supposedly there is an RZ-only 50mm that is notably better than any of the RB offerings as well. 50 is too wide for me most of the time to make it worth buying, but I know people love them.

There may well be an RB equivalent or near equivalent of the 210 APO. I am not sure.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2011

2F/2F said:
Supposedly there is an RZ-only 50mm that is notably better than any of the RB offerings as well. 50 is too wide for me most of the time to make it worth buying, but I know people love them.

Yes, the 50 uld exists only for the rz. Unfortunately.

2F/2F said:
There may well be an RB equivalent or near equivalent of the 210 APO. I am not sure.

I have the rb 210 KL apo. It is magnificent, and you can use it on the rz body too. For a while, there was a big price difference between the new rb and rz 210s. So I got the rb one.

P.S. As I mentioned a few times elsewhere, you can actually use the rz 110/2.8 on an rb by pulling a couple little pins, with no damage done to the lens... but there is no infinity focus (without further modification), and there is no mechanical shutter. You have to hand shutter or use the mirror to define the exposure. So it's not an attractive solution for all 'round use. I only do it for a few special things. A smart person with a multimeter could probably figure out how to fire the electronic shutter; I am currently not that patient.

2F/2F · Mar 29, 2011

So the truly unique lenses are the 50 and the 110.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2011

Yep. If I remember correctly, all the others including the fish have analogues. That said, there can be *huge* price differences between them. There used to be a >2x difference between the rb and rz 500s!!! Which is why I often suggest to rz users to consider using rb lenses. Sometimes you get a great bargain.

In my opinion, the rz 50 uld is worth the extra money, especially if you do color or plan to shoot digitally. That said, I don't like the 50 so much in 6x7 format, for some reason- I prefer 65. So I don't have the 50 any more.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2011

P.S. Wait, I think the 75 shift also only exists in the rz version, and I think the 150 SF only exists in rb version. So... you can just use the rb 150 SF on the rz body.

2F/2F · Mar 29, 2011

I also prefer the 65.

I thought I had seen an RB shift lens. Maybe not. That is one lens I would be all over if it was a 65 instead of a 75.

MattKing · Mar 29, 2011

keithwms said:
P.S. Wait, I think the 75 shift also only exists in the rz version, and I think the 150 SF only exists in rb version. So... you can just use the rb 150 SF on the rz body.

The L75 f/4.5 shift and L500 f/6 APO are are available in the RB mount, but are only usable with the RB67 Pro-SD, not the RB67 Pro-S or RB67 Pro.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2011

Let me just say that the mamiya tilt-shift gizmo is crap, in my opinion. Hated it.

Katie · Apr 7, 2011

vpwphoto said:
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.

Because we just buy what we want and not bother ourselves with the "what if" nonsense that you men do...

NJS · Apr 10, 2011

in 35mm it's 35/2 nikkor, in 6x6 it's 80/2.8 but I'd really love to get my hands on 65mm someday.

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

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