One lens or several (for an outing)?

[semrich]

Like Bob Michaels I'm usually out with one camera and one lens, lately a 50 or 35. I usually have a backpack and the camera in my hand with a wrist strap a light meter in my pocket.

At times I will have an extra lens or camera if I have a specific place or shot in mind and when done will go back to the 35 or 50.

[AJShepherd]

I normally use the 40mm Nokton, as a rule, but if I'm going out for the day I'll often take a couple of other lenses with me, depending on what I'm planning to shoot.
One of the things that attracted me to rangefinders is that the lenses are way smaller than SLR lenses, especially DSLR lenses, so it's much easier to carry a few with you just in case you want them!

[sailor]

When I'm out and about in the van I tend to take an SLR or medium format outfit with at least 3 lenses. I wouldn't dream of taking all this if I had to walk any distance. I did it when I was younger but not now.

As someone who is comparatively new to rangefinder photography I'm amazed at how much smaller and portable the kit is. A Leica M5, 35mm color Skopar and 90mm M Rokkor fits in a small bag which can easily be carried all day and I rarely seem to regret not having any more lenses. In particular, I'm discovering the joy of using the 90mm lens, a focal length I had previously never used.

The M5 has just been returned from repair so I hope to be shooting with it again soon.

[kain500]

I really am over carrying a quiver of lenses and their assorted accessories, So it's one lens on one body for the day to day.

But if i'm going out of town I start to feel compelled to load up, until I stop myself then I'll carry one longer lens--90 or 105/2.5 with the 35 or 28.

[Guaranteed]

I could bring one lens or everything I've got, I'm equally terrible with all.

[Bingley]

I voted for one lens, but I often carry one extra lens in a pocket, along w/ film and a meter. I don't change lenses on a day's outing very often. Today would be typical: I shot w/ a 50 all day, but had a 28 in my pocket. Didn't feel the need to change lenses.

[hausen]

The other night I went for a walk with M6 + Summartit 35 and 135/4 Elmar, was a lot of fun at the 2 extremes. Normally I might have 90 Summicron but took the 135 instead.

[ulrich.von.lich]

Originally Posted by hausen

The other night I went for a walk with M6 + Summartit 35 and 135/4 Elmar, was a lot of fun at the 2 extremes. Normally I might have 90 Summicron but took the 135 instead.

Just out of curiosity, how do you use the 135/4 at night?

[nighstar]

definitely only one lens. the only exception being if my primary lens is an ultra-wide angle, then i'd probably carry around a less wide angle lens for the times that the ultra-wide is just too wide.

i do "cheat" a little using close-up filters to change the focal length of a lens, though.

[back alley]

i'm thinking about a 2 lens set up, a 21 and a 40...one on each rd1 body...and that's it...2 lenses forever and forever...

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by back alley

........................... and that's it...2 lenses forever and forever...

Joe: if you are betting man, I will take some of that action.

[tic]

I decide on 35 or 50 for an outing or a whole trip, I never bring both, usually its the 35. If I know there will be interesting modern architecture I will also bring the 15. If I want to pick out details, I'll bring the 90, but this happens very rarely - I use it for familly portraits more often than walking arround with it. So 90% of the time its just the 35 I bring. Maybe I should get an X100 after all...

[andredossantos]

Hate changing lenses. Don't do it (what i do doesn't require it). I usually leave with two lenses because I like having two bodies: One for B&W, one for color. My combo is usually 35/50 or 28/50 and then once in a while 28/35.

[back alley]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Joe: if you are betting man, I will take some of that action.

i said i was THINKING about it!



you're a mostly one lens shooter so i know it can be done...

[SciAggie]

I guess I'm the oddball here. I usually have a 35 or 50 on my camera and shoot with it most of the time. If i am out for several hours however it is not unusuall to change to 15 or 75 depending on the environment I find myself in.

I really like my Domke 5xc. I carry the M8/50 and M7/35 and then the 15 and 75 in the bottom plus extra film. I'll have one camera out and in my hand most of the time.

[redisburning]

today was an anomaly since more than one lens left the house.

that being said, I started out with a 28 since I havent shot it in forever but once I switched over to the 50mm it stayed on the camera and the 28 sat, forgotten, in my jacket pocket.

I suppose if I were going somewhere with people I might consider taking a 50 as a supplement to a 35mm though.

[Frontman]

I generally carry 2 bodies mounted with different lenses, typically 50mm and 28mm. It is easier (and faster) to simply grab the camera with the lens I want, rather than changing lenses. If I want to carry only one camera, I take my Hexar AF, or my FM3A with a short zoom.

[EdwardKaraa]

For me, it depends on the subject I'm planning to shoot. Very often I take the camera along the whole day with only one lens attached, usually 35 or 50. But if I go out on a more serious shoot, I will take everything.

[FrankS]

Interesting. More people are voting for just one lens. Weird, because I can safely assume that most own more than just one lens. Why bother, if only one is needed?

[seakayaker1]

Lately it has been two bodies/two lens. On occasion carry a third lens, and on the rare occasion a fourth on those indecisive days.

[back alley]

one at a time
not only one forever

[al1966]

I will go out with one camera one lens if it is local easily repeatable. If I am away I take a second camera or third maybe one extra lens or two but most of the time the spares stay in the bag. Except where I am working on one project and have taken/will take all of them on a particular camera. When walking around city streets I get in to a groove (think Miles Davis) with one camera and don't want to break it.

[DNG]

When I go out for a few hours, I have a place or area in mind.
And I also have a Perspective in mind (Wide, Normal, Tele, or Macro)... So after I think about a few areas I want to return to, or find new ones, I pick a lens... I may bring a 2nd lens, but, may not use it either. I pick from these 4..... in a 35mm FOV....
28mm, 40mm, 110 (55mm Micro Nikkor), 170mm (85mm f/1.8 fixed f/stop).

EDIT:
But my 2 Go To Lenses are my 14 and 20 (28/40) on my m4/3... my film is a fixed lens RF with a 38mm f/2.8, So one lens with that

[Godfrey]

I usually carry two, and change only when my mood or subject demands a different approach.

[Ezzie]

One lens normally. Yesterday I could have kicked myself for not bringing the 90mm along as company for the 35mm. Met a pair of inquisitive minks, that came that little bit not close enough to make much of an impact on a frame shot with a 35mm.