Most favorite photography item

[Krosya]

I was wondering what people consider their most favorite (or most used) photography item to be?
Can be anything - a particular camera, or a lens or an accessory, or ...... well anything really, but JUST ONE!

I'm still trying to figure out what it is for me. As soon as I know - I'll post it here as well. ;)

[sepiareverb]

Tough one Krosya. I've been shooting Leicas for a year and a half and they quickly rose to the top of the list. For most used, currently it would have to be the Summicron 50 (built-in hood version). For favorite I have a harder time- the M5 is a really wonderful camera, but in my work Apeture Priority is missed sometimes. The M7 is nearly perfect, but there are those annoying DX issues from time to time.
But I think my LPL 4500VC enlarger would be the winner for favorite- couldn't be better in any way- design, build, ergonomics.

[mfunnell]

My number one photographic interest is still wildlife photography, so it would have to be my Canon 100-400mm IS lens (and whatever SLR happens to be attached to it).

Confining myself to the world of RF photography, though, it would be my Hexar RF camera - so much so that I bought a second one just in case the first one breaks.

...Mike

[sienarot]

Ilford HP5+. Delicious in 35mm, salivatory in 120.

[RayPA]

I have a lot of cameras and a lot of lenses, various kits (ways to justify the excesses) but for me the most used photographic item would be my Cal-culite XP Light Meter.

[nikon_sam]

Most Favorite Item to use in photography...Nikkor 180mm 2.8 AF lens...
I can use this lens for most things (subject wise) sharp and you can drop the background like a bad habit...
Color or B&W...it's just a great lens...
I noticed the other day that the crinkle finish is wearing (smooth) from use...

48526
click for larger image

[trittium]

M2 0

[thomasw_]

This being a toss up for me: either 1. my M3 + 50mm lens; or 2. my M2 + 35 lens. I use these 2 combos for roughly 90 out of a 100 shots.

However this may change, as colinh and back alley have shown me enough of the ZM 25 lens that it become a habit...on my M2 of course.

[physiognomy]

Not sure I can pull a favourite from the bunch, but my only camera without dust on it at the moment is a Kiev II... I haven't had nearly as much time to get out & shoot lately (or visit RFF), but that will change come the end of Nov.

Peter

[Kin Lau]

Favourite but not the most used... Leica IIIa + 50/2 Summar. It just feels good.

[eli griggs]

Not a rangefinder but my trusty Canon F1N with the AE finder. Thirty plus years of 35mm photography and I still rate a Canon F1 of some incarnation above all others. If only Canon had proved as trustworthy as their camera...

[JimG]

My Leica IIf + Elmar 50 f3.5 + HP5 = La buena vida

[cary]

My favorite is a set of Broncolor Impact monoblock strobes and my Leica M3.

Cary Chin

[Keith]

My Fed 2 ... not my most used camera and probably not really my favourite camera. It's just a special part of my photographic collection and sometimes I just like to pick it up and muck around with it when I can't think of anything better to do! It's like a good friend ... it's always there for me! :D

[richard_l]

Leica IIf + Elmar 50mm/3.5

Richard

[wintoid]

There are all sorts of cameras on my shelf but the one I love the most is the Olympus 35SP.

[Krosya]

Thank you for the posts - keep them coming!
I'm surprised a bit that there are not many fixed lens cameras - that would make it still one item - yet a whole camera. No Rolleiflexes - for example? People often like to comment how great these are and yet - noone chose one?
As some of the posts show - it's tough to pick a favorite ONE item - most people list camera AND a lens, or even several combinations!
Still, try to make it just one - it's more challenging and fun. I'm still working on mine.....

[varjag]

Really tough one :)

I'm split between the 1953 KMZ Jupiter-3 1.5/50, and my M4. There is no question which of them costs more, but one gives me images that I love to look at, and the other makes the process of taking them so enjoyable.

[350D_user]

Just one? Well, as I can't mount the Kiev-fitting J8M onto my 350D. the favourite item will have to be the Kiev 4.

... for now...

[jack palmer]

My chrome MP w/ 50mm Summicron (tabbed version w/ 12585 hood)

[steamer]

That is a tough one. Guess it would be my Contax IIa and Zeiss opton sonnar 50mm f1.5. The Contax T is a very close 2nd.

[dexdog]

Contax II with 35/2.8 Biogon. Close second would be a 100mm macro lens on my SLR.

[clintock]

OM-2
Since I was 15

[alex909]

Nikon FE2 with Nikkor 50/1.4 lens. I know, it's not a rangefinder, but it's the only non-digital camera I have where I feel confident that I know exactly what I'm going to get when I fire the shutter.

[Finder]

My heart. Everything else is really secondary (and I carry my heart everywhere I go).

[richard_l]

Just a single item? Rollei 35, of course!

Richard

[mtbbrian]

These are some good favs!
My all time, would be Tri-X in 35 and 120 format.
One that I don't own anymore and was mentioned by someone else the is Nikon 180 f/2.8, that was/is an excellent lens, I have had two, at different times, in my photographic experience.
Brian

[Krosya]

After some serious thinking, I decided that my most favorite item is Voigtlander VC hot shoe light meter. It's a great small meter that brought back many cameras for me - all the old MF ones without meters, older Leicas, etc. I have regular light meters as well, but this one just clip it on and go - small and accurate. And lets me enjoy my old cameras even more.

[John Rountree]

M7 w/ 40mm CLE

[Ara Ghajanian]

At work: Canon 5D and 100mm f2.8

Otherwise: Leica M6 (it's all I use anymore)

[markinlondon]

M2 and 50 of the day.

[Paul K]

Nikon SP. Can't decide which lens.

[kmack]

Simple, my gadget bag.
It doubles as a man purse, it's with me every day.
The gear may change but it all goes into the same bag.

[BigSteveG]

it's the MP....Blk Chrm....light...quiet...sweet....showing a bit of use now....it's fine...not worried about selling it

[HuubL]

The M4, 35 cron for using, the IIIf for fondling!
Not that I don't fondle the first and or don't shoot with the second :)

[bean_counter]

the SBOOI on my IIIf Elmar 50/3.5

[micromontenegro]

I find it hard not to say "Rollei 35"

[Samsam]

My black Leica MP, i always want to kiss the MP body :D