Only one - which one would you take?

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Chipper

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Linda
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I know this has been posted - or variations at any rate - for those of you with more than one camera and lens: which lens and body would you take if you could only ever have one? Please humour me - I had a knee op on Tuesday and am still on 'medical house arrest' and getting a bit of cabin fever amidst the painkillers! :oops: :$
 
Leica Q(2)..

Couldn't do all my professional work with it, but it'd be my one camera for personal use and perhaps I could use it for some professional work.
 
Since getting my Fuji XT2, I love using it. I have lots of Canon gear but it's my fuji I'd take. Small light even with their 'heavier' lenses.

Hope you recover quickly! [emoji3]
 
At the moment I use an X30 and an Xe2 with 18-55 and 50-230 lens, I take what ever is the more appropriate on the day.
If I could only take one...... I would probably buy an XT30 body and take that with the 18-55 lens
But I would probably keep the others and lie.
 
Sony A7 and a 35mm f1.8 macro.

It doesn't exist so life will have to be a frustrating compromise with a 35mm f2.8.
 
A DSLR with a 28mm lens - or something with the equivalent field of view.
 
Fuji X-T2 with 18-135 or Nikon D750 with 24-120. Probably the Fuji.
 
It is hard to pick! I might chose my Oly over my Canon - :exit:so 5D4 with 24- 70 or Oly 1Mk2 with 12 - 40. Hmm.... lots of us seem to prefer the wide end of the spectrum. Any more offerings out there?
 
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As I shoot wildlife 95% of the time, the lens I would take would be my Canon EF 500mm F/4L II plus both 1x and 2x Extenders so I have the options of 500mm, 700mm, or 1,000mm full-frame. I would take my Gitzo GT2545T with FlexLine head which all amply supports that combo. The tricky decision would be whether to take my EOS-R mirrorless (with battery grip and EF Adapter) or 1DX-2 body. Fast action would be better shot on the 1DX-2 but the EOS-R has some valuable advantages including 36Mb RAW files (more than the 30Mb advertised).

If it was for landscape snaps or general shooting I would consider taking my Canon EOS-R with RF 24-105mm F/4L IS instead.

The choice of gear has to depend on location and what the target is!
 
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D800 and 70-200 V2. I actually think 70-200 on full frame can be used for a huge range of photography if you move your feet into good positions.
 
DSLR with 28-105. If it had to be lighter then DSLR with 50 f1.4
 
Nikon D850 with a 35mm f1.4 Zeiss Milvus (to replace my Nikon D600 with f2 Zeiss Milvus) BUT as others have had two shots, I might also choose a Fuji X100F (to replace my Fuji x100s). I could be very happy with either. But would really really really miss not having a Bird photography option.

Actually, given this more thought, it would be the Fuji I would choose, just because its that bit easier to always carry around.
 
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If I could choose to have only 1 camera for every day use for the rest of the foreseeable future it would be a Canon 5D iv with 24-105 IS L lens. I could cope with that set-up for most of the photography I do, but could I be cheeky and ask for a flash and diffuser too, I'd settle for an old 580 EXII Speedlite… or a 600 RT II if you'd allow me something newer? That camera/lens/flash set-up should be robust enough to last, and give good enough image quality to future-proof me for quite a few years to come, plus spare parts should be readily available for a good while if it did need repairing.

If I were allowed only 1 film camera it would have to be the Canon EOS-3 with 28-135 EF IS lens (if I had to keep to a similar era for the lens). I'd miss the convenience and speed of the eye controlled focus point selection if I chose anything else. The EOS 30 camera I have would come a close second, but the EOS-3 would edge it on build quality, durability and features, such as the 45 focus points.

Hope this answers you question and I wish you a speedy recovery. (y)
 
D500-70-200 FL just find although I little long, can get good results in most conditions.
 
I love it... the two choices and now accessories! I still have a film camera in a box but suspect I have forgotten how to use it!:giggle: I did like the eye controlled focus on my EOS film camera - was it a 30? I of course am now changing my mind and pondering my 5D4 with a 35 prime.
 
1DXM2 and 400 2.8 as this combination has produced my favorite pics.
 
Now, do you need an accessories for that weighty selection? Monopod perhaps?!:D
 
Chipper said:
I love it... the two choices and now accessories! I still have a film camera in a box but suspect I have forgotten how to use it!:giggle: I did like the eye controlled focus on my EOS film camera - was it a 30? I of course am now changing my mind and pondering my 5D4 with a 35 prime.
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Yep, two choices and accessories, how quickly these things snowball... that's photography for you! ;)

There were a few EOS SLRs with ECF, I think it started with the EOS 5, but the 3, the 50 and the 30 also had ECF.

If you have an EOS 30 in a box then you really should use it again when you're up and about. A couple of new batteries for it can easily be found on Amazon or Ebay if it needs them, then get yourself a roll of Kodak Gold 200 film and give it a try. :) I use my EOS 30 regularly and find the 7 point ECF so useful. As for forgetting how to use it, it's virtually the same to use as a modern EOS DSLR, with similar control layout - Canon really were that far ahead in terms of design in those days. So stick it on 'P' and enjoy the ride.

If you do decide to give film a try again, let me know and I can suggest a couple of good film labs that don't cost a fortune. You can always have a look in the Film and Conventional section of the forum while you're laid up and see how the film side of things is these days, we usually have a good laugh in there too. (y)
 
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If there can be only one it would be the Sony A65 with 16-300 Tamron. It can tackle virtually anything...


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Nikon D500 and Nikon 16-80mm lens. I only have two other lenses, a Sigma 10-20mm and a Nikon 70-300mm, and those I could live without if I needed to. But that camera does everything I would want it to do, and on a crop sensor camera the 16-80mm is the sweet spot for size, weight, quality and cost imho. That combo is the reason I no longer have the GAS. ;) :)
 
If I could only have one body and lens then it wouldn’t be any of the gear that I’ve got at the moment o_O
 
Hi, if I had to choose among my currently most actively used "old iron" Leica M9, SONY A7R2, Nikon D800 I 'd pick my Leica M9 with my Leica Summicron 2/35 pre-asph.

(Talking about new cameras, I might consider the Leica M10 (in silver).)
 
D810 and 24-70 out of my current stable.

If I genuinely just had to pick one lens I’d have to go 24-120. Sharpness wise it won’t be as good but 70 is a tad on the short side for too much. Actually so is 120 but with careful cropping/composition I could make do.
 
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Olympus Pen 5 and 60mm lens.

I was tempted to choose a film camera like Mr Badger in which case it would be my Voigtlander Vito CLR with its fixed 50mm Color-Skopar lens.
 
Would have to be a body with ibis and a lens with FF equivalent 24-70mm focal length no slower than constant f/2.8.
Not sure what format or brand though, both need to be weather resistant too
 
tijuana taxi said:
Would have to be a body with ibis and a lens with FF equivalent 24-70mm focal length no slower than constant f/2.8.
Not sure what format or brand though, both need to be weather resistant too
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Sounds like an Olympus to me! :)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Would have to be a body with ibis and a lens with FF equivalent 24-70mm focal length no slower than constant f/2.8.
Not sure what format or brand though, both need to be weather resistant too
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What I have pretty much! The G80 + 12-40 2.8 pro. I don't even have to choose, besides one other MF tele lens it's all I got left lens wise atm
 
With 20mp. 24-760 zoom. 4k vid. Macro. Shoots raw and good battery life. I would go with my lumix TZ90. Not the purists answer but very versatile and fits in my pocket.
 
dancook said:
Leica Q(2)..

Couldn't do all my professional work with it, but it'd be my one camera for personal use and perhaps I could use it for some professional work.
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:plus1: For Leica Q2. Seems awesome. Might just buy one if I can eventually find it used.
 
nandbytes said:
:plus1: For Leica Q2. Seems awesome. Might just buy one if I can eventually find it used.
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Well they will be announced next week, so finding it used will be a challenge :D I want it as soon as it is available.. then i want to revisit everything i love to photograph with it.
 
Depends on the budget really but it'd most definitely be a fixed lens camera if I'd never have any other lens. So LX100ii, RX1R(2), Leica Q(2) etc.
 
dancook said:
Well they will be announced next week, so finding it used will be a challenge :D I want it as soon as it is available.. then i want to revisit everything i love to photograph with it.
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Yes of course didn't mean immediately. Perhaps next year.
Last year money was mostly spent on gear. This year I have already booked 3 vacations and 4th one is being planned, so all the money going on that :D
 
nandbytes said:
Yes of course didn't mean immediately. Perhaps next year.
Last year money was mostly spent on gear. This year I have already booked 3 vacations and 4th one is being planned, so all the money going on that :D
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Sold Hasselblad, selling Leica Q - buying Leica Q2 and going on trips with the change :) all planned out!
 
Chipper said:
OK, I'll bite! What would it be? You have some fine kit on your list there.
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I don’t honestly know but as I shoot anything from landscapes to wildlife I’d have to make a huge compromise and go for one of those all-in-one lenses, or maybe even something like an RX10.
 
My XT2 & XT3 with 16-55mm and 50-140mm f2.8.
 
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