Which camera for one camera one lens one year project?

[Iodosan]

Goodmorning everyone. on January 1st 2021 I would like to start my one camera one lens one year project. after months of testing with various cameras and lenses I narrowed down the choice between these cameras: which of these would you recommend me?

- pentax me super / pancolar jena 50/1.7
- rollei 35te 40/3.5
- kiev4 jupiter 8 50/2
- prinz 35er (minolta hi matic sII) rokkor 40/1.7?
I shoot mainly in black and white, for this project do you recommend that I also try color films or better only black and white maybe even just one type of film alone to reinforce a style?

 

[ciniframe]

You are going to need advice from a one armed photographer, so they can’t say “on the other hand”.

But seriously, if you have already worked with these cameras, then your personal preference, which only you know, will be the deciding factor. What I mean is, if the consensus of advice supports say, the Rollei, because it’s so light and compact. And then you get 2-3 months into the exercise and you start to hate the Rollei’s quirks, then what was the good of asking for advice?
One thing I will say is, if you occasionally shoot closer than 3 feet, then the viewfinder cameras won’t be as handy as the Pentax ME.




,

 

[Craig75]

the smallest lightest one so you can always have it with you - would be my choice.

 

[MattKing]

The camera that you are least likely to want to use for all the rest of your photography.
That way you can devote that camera to the project, and not have to worry about unrelated photography being intermixed.
Some suggestions:
1) get yourself a pocket calendar that has room to write notes about each day's photography. You can do this digitally instead, if you so prefer; and
2) consider doing something to help you keep track of the days on the film itself. A date back is the fanciest solution, but taking a photo of a calendar page once a week works well too; and
3) be sure to use film with frame numbers!
Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Huss]

The Pentax. It's the most versatile and won't leave you frustrated like the others will in certain situations. e.g the Rollei once the light gets low and so you can't use DOF to help stuff being in focus.

 

[Ariston]

I have two somewhat contradictory recommendations:

1) Smallest and lightest, with at least the option of auto exposure,

2) Although this wouldn't apply to me, opinions differ: If you are worried about the coronapocalypse and you are talking about street photography, you might want to lean toward a long lens. People on the street will probably appreciate you keeping your distance, too.


If you shoot and are comfortable with black and white, I would probably stick with what you know for any serious project.

 

[Iodosan]

The camera that you are least likely to want to use for all the rest of your photography.
That way you can devote that camera to the project, and not have to worry about unrelated photography being intermixed.
Some suggestions:
1) get yourself a pocket calendar that has room to write notes about each day's photography. You can do this digitally instead, if you so prefer; and
2) consider doing something to help you keep track of the days on the film itself. A date back is the fanciest solution, but taking a photo of a calendar page once a week works well too; and
3) be sure to use film with frame numbers!
Good luck, and have fun!

Thanks a lot for this tips. Tomorrow I'll buy a pocket calendar. If I can I work without digital stuffs. Film with number but I'll use the same film for all the time o I'll change?

 

[removed account4]

I'd use the one you are most comfortable with and that is the easiest and cheapest one to have overhauled. Have it CLA'd and enjoy yourself. If it was me? I'd use the Pentax. most reliable and easiest one to use

 

[MattKing]

Thanks a lot for this tips. Tomorrow I'll buy a pocket calendar. If I can I work without digital stuffs. Film with number but I'll use the same film for all the time o I'll change?

You may wish to change film with the seasons - higher speed for this time of year, and lower speed for the bright days of summer.
If you want both colour and black and white, either devote two cameras to the project, or do something like alternating films or choosing films by season.

 

[Iodosan]

The Pentax. It's the most versatile and won't leave you frustrated like the others will in certain situations. e.g the Rollei once the light gets low and so you can't use DOF to help stuff being in focus.

pentax.pro it's a great camera with wonderful viewfinder and with aperture priority too. But are two cons I have 17mm, 28mm, 37mm and Zeiss jena pancolar 50. All great lenses but can be a problem through the year if I wanna change ...
I add to the difficulty of the choice other choices and if during the year I feel the desire to change will I be able to resist? And isn't pocketable like the others... Thanks for your reply and your vote!

 

[Iodosan]

I'd use the one you are most comfortable with and that is the easiest and cheapest one to have overhauled. Have it CLA'd and enjoy yourself. If it was me? I'd use the Pentax. most reliable and easiest one to use

Another vote for pentax! Thanks. I thinked to add some challenge in this project and use only the 17mm with the pentax but maybe it's too much . The pentax me super is the only slr survived in this choice. My first camera. After year and years of digital I came back to the digital months a go and now I wanna make this project to study my limits. Maybe is not silent like the other range finders... Thanks a lot for your time!

 

[BradS]

Isn't the CZJ Pancolar an M42 mount? Doesn't that make metering with the ME Super a little tedious?

I'd definitely use the Pentax ME Super but I'd get an Asahi Opt. Co. 50mm f/1.7 SMC Pentax-M lens to go with it.

 

[Iodosan]

I have two somewhat contradictory recommendations:

1) Smallest and lightest, with at least the option of auto exposure,

2) Although this wouldn't apply to me, opinions differ: If you are worried about the coronapocalypse and you are talking about street photography, you might want to lean toward a long lens. People on the street will probably appreciate you keeping your distance, too.


If you shoot and are comfortable with black and white, I would probably stick with what you know for any serious project.

I don't like lens over 50mm and I like make landscape and street photo too. I bought a 17mm too but still never tried.And I hope the corona virus will not be a problem in 2021...

 

[Iodosan]

Isn't the CZJ Pancolar an M42 mount? Doesn't that make metering with the ME Super a little tedious?

I'd definitely use the Pentax ME Super but I'd get an Asahi Opt. Co. 50mm f/1.7 SMC Pentax-M lens to go with it.

with pk Mount
I have the smc 50, the 28mm and a tokina 17mm too. But the pentax for street will not be a problem? (size, slr sounds like shutter sound... Or maybe are only my thoughts?)

 

[narsuitus]

Any should work for you.

I have used Pentax ME and Minolta Hi Matic cameras and prefer them to the Rollei 35 and the Kiev4 which I have never used.

I prefer Pentax ME body to the other bodies.

I prefer the 40mm focal length over 50mm focal length.

I prefer the f/1.7 lenses over the other lenses.

 

[Iodosan]

Any should work for you.

I have used Pentax ME and Minolta Hi Matic cameras and prefer them to the Rollei 35 and the Kiev4 which I have never used.

I prefer Pentax ME body to the other bodies.

I prefer the 40mm focal length over 50mm focal length.

I prefer the f/1.7 lenses over the other lenses.

Then you advice to use the me super with the rokkor 40/1.7 from minolta hi matic? Maybe the best Solution indeed!
I make a test roll with prinz/minolta and i will see if this lens are sharp and so good.

 

[narsuitus]

I was trying to say that I am unable to give you advice on which of the four cameras you should select for your project because I do not know you well enough to give you advice.

I was, however, trying to give you advice by telling you what I would use for a similar project.

If your Prinz 35er is similar to my Minolta Hi Matic camera (on right), that would be my first choice.

If your Pentax ME Super is similar to my Pentax ME bodies, that would be my second choice.


Minolta Hi Matic on right by Narsuitus, on Flickr


Pentax ME by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[leicaliker]

leica m4 and 50 planar. maybe tri x, maybe fp4. but these are super enjoyable.

 

[leicaliker]

I was trying to say that I am unable to give you advice on which of the four cameras you should select for your project because I do not know you well enough to give you advice.

I was, however, trying to give you advice by telling you what I would use for a similar project.

If your Prinz 35er is similar to my Minolta Hi Matic camera (on right), that would be my first choice.

If your Pentax ME Super is similar to my Pentax ME bodies, that would be my second choice.


Minolta Hi Matic on right by Narsuitus, on Flickr


Pentax ME by Narsuitus, on Flickr

those are some good looking cameras. never seen a hoot on a canonet like that!

 

[narsuitus]

If I could pick any body and any lens for a one-camera/one-lens/one-year project, I would select my Leica M6 with 35mm f/1.4 lens.

 

[narsuitus]

never seen a hoot on a canonet like that!

It is the rare Canon Canonet Hood 5.

 

[Iodosan]

I was trying to say that I am unable to give you advice on which of the four cameras you should select for your project because I do not know you well enough to give you advice.

I was, however, trying to give you advice by telling you what I would use for a similar project.

If your Prinz 35er is similar to my Minolta Hi Matic camera (on right), that would be my first choice.

If your Pentax ME Super is similar to my Pentax ME bodies, that would be my second choice.


Minolta Hi Matic on right by Narsuitus, on Flickr


Pentax ME by Narsuitus, on Flickr

The prinz 35 is similar to minolta hi matic sII little and pocketable then minolta hi matic s and with shutter priority and (it's not sure) tbe same lens rokkor 40mm/1.7 (maybe the lens of minolta cle but it's not sure)

The me super is similar to pentax me with aperture priority .

 

[Iodosan]

leica m4 and 50 planar. maybe tri x, maybe fp4. but these are super enjoyable.

Leica m4 wow. A dream. One m4 i can buy 20 me super or 10 rollei 35

 

[Alan Gales]

How about an old Pentax M42 screw mount camera with an Auto Sears 55mm f/1.4 lens?

Can you say "Bubble Bokeh" ?

 

[Down Under]

Oh, dear. This shibboleth has popped up again, but why not, it's Christmas...

I grew up in an era of photo-minimalism. In the 1950s, most people could only afford one camera, and even with film at 50 cents a roll or often less, a few rolls every year, usually to shoot groups of family or friends lined up in self-conscious lines in front of the camera. Most photo albums are full of these static images. As are trash bins after the photographers pass on.

Thankfully, we no longer have to indulge in such parsimony. Nowadays almost all of us can afford good cameras and additional lenses, thanks to discount camera stores, charity shops or Ebay. The price of film has gone up, but then so has our disposable incomes.

We have the luxury of choice. If one wants to go out ad shoot with only one camera and one lens, so be it. I have no wish to be the grinch in this thread. But to me, to try to do this over a year smacks of masochism.

Fortunately, most of us would give up this little game long before the twelve months have passed. A few will persevere. Whatever one's choice, I reckon the resulting images will be about equally good, with some quite superb from both camps. Which is really what good photography is about, not the choice of gear.

When I go out shooting, I take one camera and three lenses. Let's say my Contax G1, which I regard as one of the finest and most often maligned rangefinder cameras ever made. I usually carry a 28, a 45, and the also greatly criticised 90. (I also have a 21, but it usually stays at home, also a 35-70 which I bought before realising it works only on G2s and not G1s, never mind). Often as not I shoot only with my 28, but that's my choice. The other lenses are there if I need or want them.

Lest I be accused of trying to spoil everybody's fun, let me say I've written the above purely as my own opinion.

Do try to get out and shoot images with your one camera and lens or your many cameras and lenses over the coming end of year break.

To all of you, my best wishes for a happy and safe holiday period.