Which camera for one camera one lens one year project?

Kyle M. · Dec 23, 2020

I'm giving the "one camera" my first go but I've always been a one lens per body guy. for 35mm I always go with a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4. Except with my current plain prism Nikon F2 which came with a 50/2 and I see no reason to buy a 1.4 for one extra stop. I tried shooting the 35mm focal length for awhile and often found it too wide in situations where I could not get closer to the subject. Anything over 50mm has been too long for my shooting style. So yeah I'd say I could easily do a one camera one lens one year project with my F2 and 50/2. YMMV.

FWIW if I had to go a step further and go one film it would be Tmax 100. With 400 speed film I often find myself stuck at F16 at 1/1000 on sunny days. I much prefer 100 ISO for any condition I shoot in.

AnselMortensen · Dec 23, 2020

I have been shooting 35mm B/W with 1 camera / 1 lens since September...
A Nikon F3HP with a 50mm f1.4.
I have other lenses, but have done this as a self-assignment...It has made me more aware of composition, and more selective.
Sure, there have been times where I could have used a telephoto for a distant scene, but the 50 covers a lot of ground.

eli griggs · Dec 23, 2020

The Pentax will give the best range of abilities, especially with filters, magnifying and colour contrast and, if you allow yourself both a teleconverter and extension tubes, will easily out match all the other choices you present and the best of a single slr lens.

IMO.

Ko.Fe. · Dec 23, 2020

Iodosan said:
...

- 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?
...

One roll a month should be not a problem with any of those, if they are still working. More film involved, I'm not sure of any of those.
I would choose Nikon F2 these days or just Smena-8m.

John Free is using nothing but F3 with 50 macro for decades, BTW.

bdial · Dec 24, 2020

Whichever one is the most comfortable to use, the one that feels like an extension of you.
That will let you devote your attention to what you are seeing without thinking about the camera. Some of the cameras you have listed may fit some situations better than others, but the point is working with what you have. If the camera you choose doesn’t help you with some particular shot, there are others it is perfect for. Go find those.

alanrockwood · Dec 25, 2020

Iodosan said:
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?

It really depends on what you want to accomplish with the project. If you want to use a single camera with one focal length, but want the maximum versatility then choose the Pentax.

If you want to take a more minimalist approach, i.e. challenge your technical and artistic abilities in a way that provides maximum potential for growth of your art then choose the Rollei.

Each of your choices has an excellent lens, so that is not going to be a limiting factor, assuming that the f-number is not of great concern to you.

As far as what film to choose is concerned, again it depends on what you want to accomplish. Let's assume you want very good quality black and white images, not necessarily the highest quality (very low-iso film) or very grainy quality (very high iso film). That puts you in the range of 100 to 400 iso. Within that range, If you want better quality and the chance to challenge yourself then choose a 100 or 125 iso black and white film. This will force you to be resourceful in certain circumstances, such as how to get a good shot when the light is low (chance for maximum growth in your craft). If you want to make it easier on yourself as well as to minimize the possibility of missed shots then choose a 400 iso film.

So the easiest path would be to choose the Pentax and use Tri-X or HP5 film. The more challenging path would be to choose the Rollie and something like Tmax 100 or Delta 100 film.

How much challenge do you want?

Iodosan · Dec 25, 2020

alanrockwood said:
It really depends on what you want to accomplish with the project. If you want to use a single camera with one focal length, but want the maximum versatility then choose the Pentax.

If you want to take a more minimalist approach, i.e. challenge your technical and artistic abilities in a way that provides maximum potential for growth of your art then choose the Rollei.

Each of your choices has an excellent lens, so that is not going to be a limiting factor, assuming that the f-number is not of great concern to you.

As far as what film to choose is concerned, again it depends on what you want to accomplish. Let's assume you want very good quality black and white images, not necessarily the highest quality (very low-iso film) or very grainy quality (very high iso film). That puts you in the range of 100 to 400 iso. Within that range, If you want better quality and the chance to challenge yourself then choose a 100 or 125 iso black and white film. This will force you to be resourceful in certain circumstances, such as how to get a good shot when the light is low (chance for maximum growth in your craft). If you want to make it easier on yourself as well as to minimize the possibility of missed shots then choose a 400 iso film.

So the easiest path would be to choose the Pentax and use Tri-X or HP5 film. The more challenging path would be to choose the Rollie and something like Tmax 100 or Delta 100 film.

How much challenge do you want?

Thanks a lot for this reply. I'm starting this project for growing my technique and style. Maybe for do this I must choose the hardest way.maybe after months I will not see results I'll take the easy way..

alanrockwood · Dec 25, 2020

If you decide on the Rollei you will be accepting the challenge of a zone focusing camera. With a little practice that's not as big of a limitation as you might first think.

However, it is also possible to make an external hand-held focusing device on a small card that can help in some cases. For lack of time, I won't describe it in detail here. You might be able to find a description on the web. It involves setting up some marks on a card and viewing the card and the scene alternately between the left eye and right eye.

It's actually possible to use a little trigonometry to figure out how to make the focusing device, or, as mentioned above, you can probably find the instruction somewhere on the web. This external focusing device works surprisingly well in my experience, especially after a bit of practice.

Digger Odell · Dec 25, 2020

I would chose the Rollei. Mostly because it's small enough to carry all the time. However it has a superb lens and a very useful 40mm focal length. It will be a little harder to compose your shots than a SLR but ultimately will allow for the most personal growth.

He is a link to the human distance finder card mentioned above.

https://tomchuk.com/rf/

Iodosan · Dec 25, 2020

Digger Odell said:
I would chose the Rollei. Mostly because it's small enough to carry all the time. However it has a superb lens and a very useful 40mm focal length. It will be a little harder to compose your shots than a SLR but ultimately will allow for the most personal growth.

He is a link to the human distance finder card mentioned above.

https://tomchuk.com/rf/

I know this card . I printed few days a go. My problem will be the light meter. My rollei 35 is the te model with old 5.6v Volt. I tried with 4 L43 alkaline but its not correct. I'm trying a light meter app but with 100 iso film I'll must be better correct possible

Digger Odell · Dec 25, 2020

Yes, the light meter is a problem, I have had excellent results with the light meter app, but it is a pain to use. Here is a battery solution for the px27 problem. A bit expensive, but would be worth it for an intensive project like yours. http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_v27px_adapter.htm

Also, with B&W film, you have a couple of stops of latitude. Over and Underexposed will look fine after scanning, If you don't scan yourself, this is done automatically. You can test this by shooting a series of the same shot, with +\- 3 stops and take it to your photo finisher. I think you will be hard pressed to see the difference a stop or two makes. Of course, for gallery work, this my not be true.

Digger Odell · Dec 25, 2020

Here's a cheaper place to get that adapter. http://www.kantocamera.com/english/adapter/adapter_en.html

RalphLambrecht · Dec 25, 2020

Iodosan said:
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?

I'd pick the Pentax but it doesn't really matter and that is partly the point.

Iodosan · Dec 25, 2020

RalphLambrecht said:
I'd pick the Pentax but it doesn't really matter and that is partly the point.

it doesen't true. I'm reading and replying
I am reading and replying to everyone taking everyone's advice into consideration. I love the pentax. in my opinion it is one of the best cameras there is, very underestimated because it is always linked to beginners. But in reality the super also has the manual mode, it is built in an excellent way and has lenses that do not disfigure compared to the much more expensive ones for the leicas. The problem is to always carry it around. Even if the 50 / 1.7 lens is small I should always have it around my neck. It is not easy. For this I am torn between the underrated pentax and the rollei and prinz 35 laptops ... A positive thing from this project is already there. I will definitely not buy any more cameras or lenses for all of 2021 reducing my problem with GAS

StepheKoontz · Dec 25, 2020

I have always felt my growth as a photographer came when I was shooting only B&W film with only a Rolleicord 75mm f3.5 xenar for a few years. Being forced to work with a normal focal length expanded my vision and I had to learn to make that camera/film work with anything I wanted to shoot.

From the choices you presented, I would try the prinz with the rokkor 40mm f1.7. Make sure the rangefinder is accurate, buy a bunch of Ilford FP4+ and have fun with the project.

Iodosan · Dec 25, 2020

StepheKoontz said:
I have always felt my growth as a photographer came when I was shooting only B&W film with only a Rolleicord 75mm f3.5 xenar for a few years. Being forced to work with a normal focal length expanded my vision and I had to learn to make that camera/film work with anything I wanted to shoot.

From the choices you presented, I would try the prinz with the rokkor 40mm f1.7. Make sure the rangefinder is accurate, buy a bunch of Ilford FP4+ and have fun with the project.

Thanks for reply!You are the first who advice me the prinz. Can i ask you why this camera and no the rollei?
I tried with one roll this camera and i found the lens really amazing.rangefinder accurate and fast focus. This is one shot without post production!

StepheKoontz · Dec 25, 2020

Iodosan said:
Thanks for reply! You are the first who advice me the prinz. Can i ask you why this camera and no the rollei?
I tried with one roll this camera and i found the lens really amazing.rangefinder accurate and fast focus. This is one shot without post production!

For all the reasons you just stated. I'm assuming the exposure system is easy to use and you can just focus on picture taking. Rate the FP4+ at 100 and you likely will always have usable negs even if the meter misses a little. It's compact enough, fixed lens and will make a great learning tool

removed account4 · Dec 25, 2020

bdial said:
Whichever one is the most comfortable to use, the one that feels like an extension of you.
That will let you devote your attention to what you are seeing without thinking about the camera. Some of the cameras you have listed may fit some situations better than others, but the point is working with what you have. If the camera you choose doesn’t help you with some particular shot, there are others it is perfect for. Go find those.

+1

Which camera for one camera one lens one year project?

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