Only One Camera and Lens Challenge

[dnjl]

Canon F-1n with 35mm f/2. I wouldn't miss my other equipment. If I had to pick one film, it'd probably be Plus-X or Fomapan 200.

 

[benjiboy]

It would have be my Canon EF with the 35mm f2 Thorium lens that one of my sons who is a bass player calls " my Fender '62 Jazz Bass".

 

[Sirius Glass]

Talk about the basic reviving a moribund thread ...

 

[zeta3]

SLR: Canon T90 - but tough to choose between the FD50/1.4 or the 85/1.8 ... the 85 would be much more challenging as every photo would be h&s portrait, so let that be the one.

RF: Simple, Zeiss Ikon with collapsible 50.

MF: Hassy 203 with 110/f2 ... or does a TLR count? Rolleiflex 2.8G

 

[Pumalite]

Nikon F, Nikkor- SC Auto 1:1.2 f= 55mm

 

[ravenheadphoto]

I have been wanting to take this challenge for about a year now. Actually, the challenge I'm wanting to take is similar to this one, only over a longer period of time. The challenge I saw on another photo blog called to use one camera, one lens, and one type of film for one year, shooting two or three rolls a week. That challenge called for the user to use a Leica rangefinder.

I've purchased some rangefinder cameras (including a Leica), and I have to say that I think I'd do better with this challenge using an SLR. I'm shopping right now for a nice, used Spotmatic with a 55mm f1.8 Super-Takumar for just that purpose. The idea, of course, is to learn a camera so well that you no longer have to think about it, which allows you to be creative unimpeded. "The best camera is one that gets out of your way."

I think I may start this challenge, though, as it's stated here: Using one camera and one lens for one month, and seeing what comes of it. Does anyone know if the Arista.EDU Ultra is still the same as Fomapan?

 

[Thingy]

I'd take my Ebony 45SU and my Cooke PS945 lens, though I'd try to save my Schneider 110XL too!

 

[perkeleellinen]

It would have be my Canon EF with the 35mm f2 Thorium lens that one of my sons who is a bass player calls " my Fender '62 Jazz Bass".

Ben, It was interesting to read through this thread and see your post from 2006:

Canon FTbn with FD 85mm 1.8 lens.

This challenge reminds me of the Swedish photographer Christer Strömholm's saying "one camera, one lens, one film, one developer". I've always found the 'one film' part to be the most challenging.

 

[jbbooks]

Well, I won't require the moderator to delete this post by naming what I would be using if I could only save one camera and one lens, but it would not be anything that uses film.

 

[Steve Smith]

Well, I won't require the moderator to delete this post by naming what I would be using if I could only save one camera and one lens, but it would not be anything that uses film.

My one 'alternative technology' camera would be the first one to go. At the moment I would save either my Rolleicord V or my Spotmatic F with 55mm f1.8 lens.


Steve.

 

[ninjarider]

I would use Zeiss Ikon ZM with the C Sonnar 50 / 1.5 lens.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

With specific reference to the OP, I went through a phase of buying every "cheap" but attractive camera that I lusted after when it was new, but could never afford at the time. I ended up with a collection of nice but unused cameras. Waste of time and money, for me.

So, I've now decided to buy the best example of a camera I really like and only have one example of a particular type - i.e. 1 x 35mm Manual SLR, 1 x 35mm Autofocus SLR, 1 x 35mm rangefinder, etc....

By default, I tend to rotate using the cameras I have and I've also found I tend to gravitate to one lens of choice. Right now, it's my Nikon F2S and pre-Ai 20mm f3.5 Nikkor (or Ai 35mm f1.4). Other 35mm options are my Leica M6 TTL and 50mm Summicron-M and Nikon F5 with AF-D 35mm f2 Nikkor.

I'm also trying to distill down to two main film stocks. Right now, for colour, I tend to go with Fuji 400H. For Mono, I'm enjoying using Tri-X 400.

 

[mtngael]

I'd save one of my Canon F-1s, and either the 50mm/f1.4 or the 35mm/f2...still can't decide! If I picked the 50 I'd switch it with one of the "chrome-nose" BL 1.4s first though! I'd prefer one of them but I like haveing the same 52mm filter size for all my lenses. If the rest went down a sinkhole that would be moot however!

Tougher to limit to one film...I currently use 3. If I were taking Crister Stromholm's approach I'd say F-1, 50mm/f1.4 BL, Plus-X, and D76 1:1.

If this was a MF post, my answer would be really easy. Hasselblad 500CM, 80mm/f2.8, and Tri-X.

 

[DanT]

My lack of equipment makes this question easy. My Canon EOS 7 and 50mm 1.8 II.

Although, if I could grab something other than 35mm I would probably go for my Fuji GW690III.

 

[ColdEye]

Mamiya dtl 1000 and a helios 44-7. Can't get enough of the bokeh. Film would be Portra 400.

 

[KrankyKraut]

My Bessa R2M with Summicron 50mm tabbed version. Just for the lens.

 

[paulie]

crown and a hellier 180mm

 

[paulie]

oh its 35mm post,,,,me super and pentax 28mm f3.5

 

[Pharaoh]

Nikon F90x with a S-M-C 1.4/50 - adapted. No flash and Tri-X/Arista 400...

 

[Pioneer]

A Cool Idea

I know its a 35mm thread but if it were one camera, one lens and a flash it would have to be my Pentax 645Nii, the A 35mm and my AF 280T flash. And I am going to shoot one frame per day with that combo (excepting the flash) for the next 30 days.

If I somehow missed my grab as everything was on its way down the sinkhole my 2nd choice would be my Pentax K1000 and the 50mm f2 lens, same flash. OOPS...ain't supposed to do that, huh?

 

[Thingy]

I know its a 35mm thread but if it were one camera, one lens and a flash it would have to be my Pentax 645Nii, the A 35mm and my AF 280T flash. And I am going to shoot one frame per day with that combo (excepting the flash) for the next 30 days.

If I somehow missed my grab as everything was on its way down the sinkhole my 2nd choice would be my Pentax K1000 and the 50mm f2 lens, same flash. OOPS...ain't supposed to do that, huh?

If I could choose ANY camera, then mine would be my Ebony 45SU & Schneider 110XL lens.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

This is how I operate most of the time. I try to bring one camera and one lens, and just work with it. Having too much choice makes the decisions about equipment, and I don't like that. I want ALL of my decisions to be about the subject matter.
I bring my Hasselblad for landscape, portrait sittings, cityscapes, and so on, with one lens purposely chosen.
Or I bring my Pentax KX with the 35mm or 55mm lens for more casual stuff, or low light hand held photography. But it's usually just one camera and one lens, and that, to me, is the key to letting go of thinking about the equipment too much.

- Thomas

 

[narsuitus]

My Nikon F2 with MD1 motor drive, Nikkor 35mm f1.4 lens, and a Vivitar 283 flash would not only meet 80% of my needs for 30 days but it would also be a very reliable combo.

How interesting!

After all these years, if I had to cut back to only one lens and only one camera body (film or digital) (small, medium, or large format), my answer would be the same.

 

[fstop]

Nikon FA and 35-70 macro zoom

 

[UK Roger]

Sinkhole survivor(s)

I made a grab and saved the Nikon S3 c/w Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4

But as I was wearing a strong OP/TECH strap I also saved my F6 c/w 24-70 f2.8

Now comes the hard part, which one to use and which one is consingned to the depths . . . . . . hmmmmmm . . . . . . I`ll have to come back to you on that one!

Roger