One camera, one lens

[Chipper]

‘one camera, one lens’ - does it work for you? As usual, I sit and ponder what kit I will take on an upcoming trip.

I was wondering what that set up is for those of you who actually do this.

I am also curious what you would chose if you could only have one camera and one lens. I’m aware that it depends on what you shoot etc etc. so please just play along.

 

[ashishtamhane]

Full frame with 50mm.

 

[Micro-four-thirds]

Full frame with 50mm.

Up until a couple of weeks ago I would probably have said the same, lately however I’ve been finding 50mm a little tight and seem to be preferring 35mm on full frame.

 

[nandbytes]

Either RX10 iv for a Sony body with tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6

 

[LeeRatters]

A7Riii and 35GM for me

Or the X100f

Depending on what and where though I sometimes chuck something longer in with the Sony - 85mm or 70-180mm.

 

[Peter123]

Z7 with 24-120 usually works for me.

 

[Sangoma]

G9 with a 14-140.

That is what is on the G9 I use every day, and I very rarely change it.

 

[F1.2]

Canon 5D mk 3 , 24-105 F2.8

 

[Paulie-W]

Depending on what mood I'm in...

Fuji xt5 with either 16-55, 35 or 23mm. Rarely take more than two out ant any given time nowadays.

 

[droj]

Referral to a zoom as a single lens is valid I suppose, although my instant reaction to the thread title was to imagine a single focal length. So I admit to having an inbuilt thought bias. No zooms here!

For me one lens, from what I've actually got, could be a 35 or a 50. Equally, if I had one, a 45 would do.

 

[gjhill]

Had a clear out so
Sony nex5 and 16-50 is all I’ve got now

 

[ancient_mariner]

Increasingly A7III and GM 50 f1.2. if I need to go wide then I'll often pano and stitch.

 

[LeeRatters]

Increasingly A7III and GM 50 f1.2. if I need to go wide then I'll often pano and stitch.

I went out twice the weekend for sunrise. 24GM and the Voigtlander 40/1.2 - on both mornings I shot 40mm panoramic rather than 24mm

 

[troutfisher]

if you really insist then Fuji XE-2+18mm f2

 

[skullfunkerry]

I only have one camera, so that part is easy

I do quite often only take one lens out with me. Often it's the Fuji 16-80mm which covers pretty much everything I need and it's weather sealed too. Generally though I take two or three out.

I'm off to Wales for work later today and I think I'm going to take the 16-80, plus 35mm & 13mm primes (might get a chance to do some dark sky stuff).

 

[fujilover]

Fuji X-T4 + 16-80mm f4 OIS

looking at the replies there is all different answers so it goes to show there is no one best go to combo or anything

 

[nandbytes]

Fuji X-T4 + 16-80mm f4 OIS

looking at the replies there is all different answers so it goes to show there is no one best go to combo or anything

I actually don't even own the combo I suggested because I don't travel with one lens.
but if I was forced to I'd buy one of the options I suggested or X-T5+16-80 or Z7ii+24-120 (hadn't thought about those, good ideas I think)

 

[davholla]

Canon crop with 60mm macro because macro is the most interesting thing for me and I am used to canon (other brands are probably great).
Ideally I would want a longer lens for birds and my MPE-65 for very small insects.

 

[trevjm]

Sony A7RIIIA with the 24-50 F2.8 G

 

[Craikeybaby]

I would go 35mm equivalent, so my X100V.

 

[myotis]

For "everyday" photography, I've used a 35mm (FF) as my "one lens" for years, and for the last 10 years or so a 35mm equivalent on a Fuji X100s. My "standard" lens on medium format and large format has also always been a 35mm equivalent. (Pimarly landscape)

For everyday photography, I like having a 35 and a 50 available, I generally prefer the 50, but find it not wide enough to be a single lens. I'm also beginning to prefer the 50 for landscape, which is a little strange after around 50 years of preferring a 35mm.

I'm seriously considering a 40mm, but wonder whether that will turn out to be neither one thing nor the other.

I think two lenses is the "ideal" and with higher resolution sensors, I might think about a 28mm + 50mm or maybe a 28mm + 40mm as an ideal minimal carry.

I tend not to change lenses very much, I seem to only change when I feel forced to, and then tend to carry on for the rest of the day using the lens I just changed to.

Having said that I've also had periods using a 24-70, 24-120 ,28-200, and the equivalent of a 24-400 zoom as my one len. With the zooms, I love the convenience but hate the experience,

An interest in wildlife means the longer zooms are handy to grab the occasional dragonfly/insect photo to help with it;s identification. I haven't yet come up with the ideal solution for this.

 

[Nostromo]

Canon r7 I use the canon 17-55mm f/2.8
It'll cover most of the opportunities I come across, but there'll always be times you think 'i wish I'd brought another lens with me'.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

If I had to, I suppose my choice would be the FZ82 (or the TZ70)...

 

[swanseamale47]

5d4 with 24-105mm sigma art. Ideally though a 16-800mm 2.8.....

 

[justpix]

Hi, if I had to decide on one of the cameras I currently actively use (OLYMPUS PEN Ep-1, SONY A7, A7ii, A7Rii, Leica M9, NIKON D500, 850) and one of my around 90 lenses

it would be my dear LEICA M9 - VOIGTLÄNDER Ultron 2/28 asph.

This is an emotional decision, I must confess ...

 

[sparky415]

OOo.....Well, my main subjects are macro. So, with this in mind I love my OM-1 and 60mm Z lens...... suits me perfectly...

 

[Phil V]

For purely 'holiday shots' I rarely use more than the RF24-70 on the R6. But I carry the 16,50 and 85 too, which I'm often too lazy to swap to.

 

[troutfisher]

5d4 with 24-105mm sigma art. Ideally though a 16-800mm 2.8.....

And weighs less than 800grms!/s

 

[gramps]

How about one of these?

 

[nandbytes]

And weighs less than 800grms!/s

I take you meant for the whole setup?
Pancake or no sale

 

[rd6743]

I had a lot of love for my D610 with 50mm 1.8D (sold Nikon for micro 4/3) Fantastic up close, and also for stitching panos too.

Perhaps cliche to by a nifty fifty lover (still taking lens) but it worked well for me.

 

[boliston]

Full frame and a single 28mm lens is all I have ever really used since about 2010 - currently using a Canon 1Ds and 28mm Nikkor f/3.5AI with adapter

 

[droj]

For "everyday" photography, I've used a 35mm (FF) as my "one lens" for years, and for the last 10 years or so a 35mm equivalent on a Fuji X100s. My "standard" lens on medium format and large format has also always been a 35mm equivalent. (Pimarly landscape)

For everyday photography, I like having a 35 and a 50 available, I generally prefer the 50, but find it not wide enough to be a single lens. I'm also beginning to prefer the 50 for landscape, which is a little strange after around 50 years of preferring a 35mm.

I often used to spend days in the hills photographing the land with just an 85mm.

I'm seriously considering a 40mm, but wonder whether that will turn out to be neither one thing nor the other.

Many focal lengths in the 'middle sector' can fit that description, but I think that such an attitude is something of a red herring, and just an adopted mindset that can be risen above.

I think two lenses is the "ideal" and with higher resolution sensors, I might think about a 28mm + 50mm or maybe a 28mm + 40mm as an ideal minimal carry.

Currently I may carry a 24, 25 or 28, & a 50 ... or just one of them. Or just a 35.

I tend not to change lenses very much, I seem to only change when I feel forced to, and then tend to carry on for the rest of the day using the lens I just changed to.

I often do that.

 

[ancient_mariner]

28mm Nikkor f/3.5AI with adapter

I have one and like it very much. Not the highest resolving lens, but certainly renders pleasingly.

 

[boliston]

I have one and like it very much. Not the highest resolving lens, but certainly renders pleasingly.

I quite like the way it was quite a cheap lens - only £30 on ebay, so my total investment in camera equipment is less than £200

 

[myotis]

I often used to spend days in the hills photographing the land with just an 85mm.

When I was hill walking regularly, I carried a 35 and 85, I like the 85, and still use one occasionally.

Many focal lengths in the 'middle sector' can fit that description, but I think that such an attitude is something of a red herring, and just an adopted mindset that can be risen above.

I think you are right, And within that "middle sector" I feel you just adapt to work with what you've got.

Currently I may carry a 24, 25 or 28, & a 50 ... or just one of them. Or just a 35.

I could live with this set of lenses. But my core set is the 35, 50 and 85. I've had 20mm, 24mm and 28mm in the past, and as I suggested in my post I might look at something a bit wider than the 35mm at some time

 

[Dale.]

Depends on the trip, family holiday, 5Div and 24-105.

Wildlife, R7, 100-400Lmk2, + 1.4xTC.

I really don't think I could take just the one on a landscape trip, so I will endulge if I may? 5Div, 16-35 f4L, 24-105 ART, 100-400Lmk2. if I had to chose one lens, 24-105.

 

[viewfromthenorth]

I’ve just come back from over 2 weeks in Japan and took my Z7ii, 24-200 and 14-30. I barely used the 14-30 so might as well have left it at home. So for a trip, I’d say Z7ii and 24-200, as I found that I really used the full zoom range of the lens - it’s not the greatest lens I own but it’s the most versatile and definitely ‘good enough’.

 

[rob-nikon]

I’ve just come back from over 2 weeks in Japan and took my Z7ii, 24-200 and 14-30. I barely used the 14-30 so might as well have left it at home. So for a trip, I’d say Z7ii and 24-200, as I found that I really used the full zoom range of the lens - it’s not the greatest lens I own but it’s the most versatile and definitely ‘good enough’.

I’ve got the same lens set up. It’s great for landscapes as covers all bases. Both are relatively small and light so I don’t mind carrying both.

normally I’d put one or the other on the camera depending on where I was. If it’s a trip to the grit stone edges in the peaks then 14-30 usually. If in the lakes then the 24-200 would likely be on the camera. Such a versatile single lens for mountains.

 

[d00d]

How about one of these?

I bought this about a year ago, body & lens. I've got half a dozen other M43 lenses but this Lumix 42.5mm hasn't left my tiny GX800. It's a combo I love. My Ricoh GR3X is getting neglected.