I did pretty much the same thing on a recent trip to India. Shot Fuji XT-2 and 50mm f/2. One body. One lens. I had major anxiety about this, but decided to trust my nearly 40 years of professional experience. Like Daniel said, I had access to almost anywhere I went and nobody got camera shy. Each night I would edit and each night I was rewarded with great images. And...on top of that, my back never got sore!
I agree 1000%. I spent 6 years between 2012 and 2018 solely dedicated to the 50mm lens and the body of work I created was the best of my career. You just begin to compose the shot in your mind and see the world as a potential photograph when you're limited to a single focal length.
I did just what is suggested yesterday; as I was finding things to photograph, people paid no attention to me at all (just what I wanted). Imagine how smart I feel now that I watched this. Once again, the idea of keeping things very simple is shown to be a very effective technique. Looking forward to more of your suggestions.
As a camera dealer in N. Ireland, some of my customers do not understand why, in their eyes, I would limit myself to one lens & one body. I always explain that it will let you “see” better & as you say, why spend time fumbling. Really enjoyed this clip. 😊
Excellent. It reminds me of a couple of things... 1) The man that wears a watch always knows what the time is, but the man that wears two watches is never quite sure. Less is more 2) Printing - do it, do more of it, as it has a profound effect on you, your clients, whoever holds and sees it in the flesh. If you want to sell more prints, print them, let your clients hold them, but then take them away - more often than not, they will buy them. Great specs, what model Oakleys are they?
btw, the most precise modern quartz watches have actually 2 different quartz freq generators, for thermocompensation, a single quartz drifts too much in -40 - +50 temp range. oh, actually, a third element is event better, get a watch with that radio freq synchroniser with atomic watch signal... mean, you end up with a quite complex system in fact, not with just a plain single watch... oh, and with that quality watches, they will all show the same time up to a 0.001 sec precision, 2, 5, 20 of 'em
In total agreement. I shoot with a Leica Q. There is only the one lens. So you have no choice but to learn it inside out. And absolutely no fumbling . Not ALWAYS convenient. But always ready
I have been shooting DSLR for more than 15 years and also film SLR before that. Now, my most used camera for travel and street photography is my Oly TG4. It is so discreet and capable that no one really bothers me or consider me as a photographer. That's so liberating that I can get more shots that I couldn't do with a DSLR. For the focal length I just shoot at its widest angle which is 25mm equivalent. It is also one camera which I can take everywhere, even underwater. The best camera is the one which is always with me.
The Sony A7 bodies are nice like that too. Put a small lens on the front and you just look like a tourist with a point and shoot when you're really packing a 42MP full frame.
I totally agree! A single lens will improve your photography, especially a 50mm or a 35mm lens in full frame terms. Mine is a 17mm 1.8 (35mm Full Frame) on a Olympus Pen-F.
When I was between cameras I got accustomed to the 28 fov on my iPhone. I'm usually a 50 guy, but beggers and choosers. It really opened me up to being creative with a style, or consistent look. Now I shoot Fujifilm with the 50f2 because it's how my eye sees, and I find it more natural when pulling up the EVF. The 35f1.4 is still there for low light or nostalgia, but really it's that 50f2 that stays on everyday.
Most of my time I follow your rule with the one body and one lens philosophy because it's the best way to shoot press pics. My 50/1.5 is almost glued to my M240. Beside of two extra batteries I also will recommend some extra high quality SD cards ;-) - You've got a thumbs up from Denmark!
Like Daniel, I went and got a photojournalism degree. I have a job that is completely unrelated, but continue to spend several hours a day working on my photography. I agree that less is more, but will be the in the minority as I disagree with only shooting with one lens. I travel with a Nikon FM3A or Leica body and then medium wide, normal, short tele lenses. Such as 28/50/100. I don’t change lenses unless I have made a specific decision and the photo requires it. But from a storytelling perspective, there are times when something as tight as a 50 can’t include all the elements. There are times when you can’t back up or move forward, and you need a wider or narrower field of view. Less is more. And I buy lightweight gear when I can, but one shouldn’t intentionally handicap themselves to the point where they are missing photos.
Hey Zach, a PJ degree is interesting because being a PJ is so much more than making pictures. Sure, photographs are the backbone but being an observer, in general, is a great skill.
Print is so important, not to mention fun. Print forces you to make decisions and apply critical thinking to your work. And it forces you to hone your editing, sequencing and design skills.
I love Pentax. I'm 51 and never owned a digital camera until last year. I've been shooting all summer on my Pentax qs1 with a single lens. You can see my stuff on my latest RU-vid upload.
I totally agree with this. I have learned over the last several years that zooms are definitely not my thing. This after buying and selling them all. I only shoot with the 35 mm lens 95 percent of the time for any work.
Seriously great video man. When I bought my camera 5 years ago I bought 1 lens- 50mm 1.4. I used this lens and this lens only for about 2 years straight before I considered buying another lens to have in my arsenal. I truly believe this helped my growth as a photograph so much. I had no choice but to use one lens, and because of this I naturally was able to give 100% of my attention in the moment. Kudos again to your beautiful perspective.
On a recent trip to the Czech Republic I shot inside a lot of abandoned buildings. I could only step back from the subject so much until I hit a wall inside of the buildings, so I was incredibly glad to have the cheapo 16-55mm kit lens with me. I ended up shooting almost everything at 16mm, even though 50mm is my preference as well. But while watching this video I realized that, even though I wouldn't have gotten those wide shots with 50mm, I would have gotten different shots. Maybe better ones, since I would have had to put more thought into it. You're definitely onto something here!
I’m a committed “single lens” guy. Although I have several cameras, most of my photography over the last two years has been in either a Rollei 35 (40mm lens) or a Voigtlander Perkeo II (80mm lens, which is the 50mm “normal” equivalent for 6x6.) Not only are they single lens, they’re fixed lens. This was a great video, thank you for it!
Wise words! Love a 50mm - shot most of my pro work on one when I did that sort of thing. Went to Vietnam a few years back - took 1 x35mm body , 40mm f2 lens and a 85mm f2. Could easily have done without the 85! If you use a lens a lot you get used to how the world looks through that lens so you can almost see the shot before the camera moves to your eye. KISS
I used to do like you students do in my Canon days. Now I use mainly my Fuji X100 or my X-pro1 with the 35mm f2 on and that's it. It covers 99% of my needs and my mind is free and I have fun and inspiration
You're so right about the lack of attention people with cell phones or smaller cameras get vs. the larger, more professional cameras. I'm still relatively new to photography, so I'm experimenting with different lenses. It's a great idea to stick with one body, one lens for a project, but my (inexperienced) sense tells me I still need to figure out what the one lens is going to be. So, for now anyway, I'm probably a lot like your students. Good video!
Glad to help! back in the day we all learned with one lens (50) before moving along. Its not about how many lenses in your bag, it's about how you use them. Thanks for watching, stay tuned!
I very much agree with you! .....I think too many of us are entirely became of expert wanna be cameras and half way forgotten the purpose of a camera. Can you imagine if writers have taken much of their creativity, of talking about pen and choice of inks and word-processor software ?
Some people have all the gear but no idea... still a beginner, but happy my funds are not endless so i have to use what i got, forcing me to think about what i do. Great video!
Very good point.. I mostly shoot with one camera, one lens and really enjoy that more than a bag with a bunch of stuff in it. My Fujifilm X100F does what I need for what I like to shoot...
I was taught by a guy called Earni Lattori in Rhode Island, that one lens is all you need. 'Use your legs to zoom in or out' he said. I always remember that lesson. Less is more. Be well, Pette in Blighty.
One would argue that it's better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it. Before cameras with interchangeable lenses came along the standard was the 50 mm. Photographers took phenomenal images with the nifty fifty. I used a 50mm f/1.4 on my EOS 5D FOR landscape photography last week and I'm very pleased with the results.
You have a good point, but allot depends on what kind of photography you are doing, there are shots i did, i consider good, or at least i love them, that i just couldn't make them without a zoom, and i talk about shots that i phisicaly couln't get closer, no possibility to zoom with my legs. Shots done from a rooftop for example.
Seba K. Paul Of course it depends on the type of shooting and such a set of choices does assume a lot of field experience. I brought two lenses based on my knowledge of what I would need. Otherwise I would have taken a single lens! 👍
You also learn to see through the lens, see the world at that focal length/POV/width of the lens. Also it limits you and forces you to get creative and not lazy to just zoom to get the shot. My first ever lens was the canon nifty50/plastic fantastic. Bought a body only and the 50mm, Love my 50mm’s
I began serious shooting in the Sierra Nevada and started with the A7 and 35mm 2.8. It was a wonderful package and very portable. My main concern was the 35mm was not wide enough for the up close shots of lakes with mountains above them. I now have the 16-35 2.8 GM and the A7R3. More weight and bigger package but I can also shoot the photos cropped to give me even more versatility.
Much wisdom in what you say. I find that interchangeable lens cameras are both a blessing and curse to our profession. I consistently get more joy and artful renderings from shooting my fixed lens viewfinder than any combination of camera body and lens in my possession. I’m currently down to four prime lenses (25/35/55/85) and still believe that I have a couple too many.
I saw a couple of my older photos and thought I really love them. all the exif showed that it was the Fujinon 50mm f2 with the x-pro2. I need to get back that lens quickly.
BOOOM. #facts My photo journey began 11-12 years ago. The first 6-7 years were wasted time because I spent 95% of my time on "this vs that" and 5% on the field. And goodness those pictures sucked. Sold everything a few years back and has a Leica m-240 and 28 Elmarit and Ricoh GR ii. That is all. Now I'm 98% on the field and 2% drinking beer. Peace
Same story here , I bought my first Camera in 2007 , a Nikon D40, I spend all the time buying and selling cameras, trying to get the best , my goal was a 5D with L lenses, when I finally got my 5D , I didn’t use it too much , then I bought a X100F , and I started using it ! , i sold all my equipment and now I own a Leica M10 with 35mm 1.4 and that’s it ! , less is more ! Now I use it everyday, ! (Sold my x100f thinking to upgrade to V or Ricoh GR, )
Apart from anything else, getting to know your lens allows you to imagine (previsualise) what your images are going to look like as a finished print before you even get to the location. This also applies to commercial work too, when discussing a job with a client, you can previsualise the images during that discussion and advise your client on whats likely to work and not.
Love it ! I did shoot 24 mm on Nikon for years... After I discovers Leica Q. do all my personnal and professional photo with that. It's simple and when I am Up for taking picture I don't think at anything else.
Couldn’t agree more. I sold my Fujifilm XT2 with 4 lenses and replaced them with a Fujifilm X100V with fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent FF) lens and I’ve taken some of my best images with this setup. I never have to think about changing lenses or zooming backwards and forwards to get the right perspective so I can concentrate more on what’s happening around me. Less is more!
I also experience the shift, where photographers are noticed much more than they used to be. Some photographers embrace this unashamedly with good results (letting subjects enter their space, etc.). I'm not so comfortable with this approach, and I now shoot street scenes when I travel, and am getting good results with a nikon z50 and the surprisingly good 16-50 kit lens. After years of on again/off again photography with a nifty fifty, I shot for 3 years with an x100f and my photography improved immensely. I gave myself permission to crop like crazy when editing, and this helped me learn a lot about composition (simplifying, isolating the subject, leading lines, etc.). With the zoom lens, I tend to shoot (approximately) at 3 focal lengths, wide open (24 mm equiv), at about 35 mm equiv, and zoomed in (75mm equiv). If I was to pick one (probably will in the near future), it would be a bit wider (say 28 mm equiv). I can usually move forward if needed, and I like the context the wider field of view offers.
I agree wholeheartedly about the suspicion that comes with using a "professional" camera these days. I find using a Fuji set-up actually makes many people more comfortable because the assume it is an old film camera. That said, if I show up to a public event with a Canon body like a 5d and a zoom lens people let me go where I please because I look "professional."
Timely seeing this! I just bought a 35mm 1.8 on my Sony, the last few days I’ve just been using it out and about and it’s so unassuming (like you say here) easy to keep with me and people don’t freak out because it’s not a huge 70-200, 90, 24-70 etc (which I use most the time for video as a day job). Anyhow, basically it’s been fun just taking photos of the environment and not having to worry about which lens because only having one! Great clip thank you! Subscribed! 😃 (next up is to do some prints!)
Great advice. I still struggle somewhat with the 50mm focal length for photojournalistic, street (candid), documentary shooting. I am at one with the 35mm and/or 28mm focal lengths (based on 35mm equiv). But 35mm just feels absolutely right for me with how and what I typically shoot everyday. I do love the look of a 50mm however. The versatility for better looking portraits. Thinking of just sticking my 50mm on the camera for a few weeks, shoot nothing but and force myself to figure it out.
It can be too tight for street, although I'm NOT a street photographer, so that's now how I spend my time shooting. The 35mm, or 23 in Fuji speak, is a good option.
One lens is perfect. I use mainly the 24-70mm f2.8. This allows for just about everything I shoot. Yes, its larger than a fujinon 35mm but I believe size of a lens doesn't really matter in the field. At least you dont fumble with equipment and will allow for more visual variation is the images. For a working pro a must. I get the idea of consistency, but you can also work that way with a good zoom. Keep up the good video's and motivational talks. Thanks!
I used to take a bag with a full frame DSLR, the trinity of lenses, a couple of primes, a flash gun, everything else. Now MOST of the time I shoot with just an APS-C point and shoot and I’m taking better, more original photos than ever.
This is very wise! While you are fumbling, you could be positioning your body, which you do intuitively, ANTICIPATING, as the man says, where/when the shot will be. And positioning is more important for composition than zooming around and fumbling with your settings. Now I have to have enough faith to leave all the gear home and tell my client, "It's ok, all I need is this one camera and this one fixed lens..." Scary!
I find that 80% of photos on my Fuji x bodies are with the 35f1.4. Agree with all of your points, in particular that you get comfortable with the focal length and just know how to use it. Why mess with that? Interestingly on my gfx my favorite is the 45mm which is wider than the 35 on the x. It’s just a great lens. Question for you: what tools and publishing service do you use for the magazine like publications ? They look amazing. Thanks
This exact reason is why I don't like focal length overlap. Each lens I have is for a certain purpose. When I had overlap, I never knew which lens I wanted to use and would cause a lot of stress. But now that I seperated all of them, I feel better and less stressful. Some have every lens and multiples of overlap and if that works than great but doesn't for me. I like to keep it simple.
I think it’s interesting looking back at my photography past, I basically started into it with the decision of just limiting myself to prime lenses and only a carefully selected few. The first lense I bought was the canon 50mm 1.4 and it changed my photography life. I still have it today and and it is still in perfect condition. Today, I have two other primes (one 35 and one 85). And I still mainly use the 50mm. Depending on the shooting location or my intention, I usually choose one and use it for the whole shoot. Others often wondered how I manage to shoot events and other stuff with just a single lense especially prime lenses but in the end they are often very surprised with the result. So far, I have never found myself in a situation where I wished I had a different lens. And I think this may be because by choosing a single lense, I am always and at every time fully aware of my composition and equipment. If something is about to happen at an event, I am usually already there at the right position an time, as I always know where I have to be in my mind. I think if I would have chooses a zoom lense it taken x amount of lenses with me, I would be less careful about what’s actually going on at the specific events, less „selective“ and I am sure that just because of that alone, esch photo would be of less quality and situational as it could have been. In the near future, I am going to exchange my 50mm 1.4 for a better one, but it will again be a 50mm prime again even if I was thinking about a 28-70 zoom. On paper it sounds amazing, but thinking about what I was blue to achieve with my prime (at the obvious benefits of a prime of course) I will stay on my path
I 100% AGREE!! I had a big couple of projects last week and I had to make a similar set of choices: I chose to take a single body and TWO lenses. A 17-35 2.8 and an 80-200 2.8. It was the smallest rig I have ever travelled with. My images were seen internationally. And to your point...life was SUPER easy. I chose my biggest inconvenience to be lens swapping but anticipated it would be at a minimum; which it was. I even relied on the built in strobe vs bringing an external speed light. I also took all of my batteries and got on the plane. Easy Peasey! Did I miss any of my other lenses or the speedlight? Not one bit. Bravo!!! Thank you!! Happy Shooting, gang!
Agree so much. I got an old film camera at some flea market like 10-15 years ago and just fell in love with its lens, a Pentacon 1.8 50mm. To this day 99% of what I do is with that lens, with an EOS adaptor. Used it in filmmaking as well. It's the smoothest thing ever and almost indestructible. Dropped it once and it broke a tile on the floor. Ofc this means manual focus forever, but I got used to it after so many years. Part of the beauty of using the same gear is that you end up knowing it so well and your muscle memory just syncs with it. I'm considering switching to a Sony mirrorless camera and there's no way I'm giving up on that lens.
I agree with you 100%. I’m big fan of minimalist photography, that is using only a single camera and a single, fixed focal length lens. I often also use my lens on manual focus, too. It forces me to slow down my photography and get the shot right in camera rather than “run and gun” and fix my photos in post production.
I have fun using X100f . No second opinion/ option available. To be sure of what I intend to, instead giving space for variables / doubts in mind. Lots of positives, minus flexibility.
I used to make small books of my projects, but have gotten lazy and haven't in awhile. I need to get un-lazy and start doing it again. And the Magcloud digest you mentioned in another video sounds perfect. Sometimes we need to hear what we already know.
I can’t agree more with your advice. I have being doing exactly the same for many years. Using one lens at the time allows more focalization and better photos. Thanks 🙏
My all day walk around lens is the Nikon 40mm 2.8 macro. I will also use my 20mm 1.8 but I commit to a lens for that day I only use primes and my lens lineup includes 20mm 1.8 40mm 2.8 50mm 1.4 85mm.18 180mm 2.8
As we say in certain vernacular, you are walking down my street with this video! Earlier this year (2020), I noticed that 21-yrs of my life and experiences were missing from film/photography. In Jan, I purchased an older Canon DSLR and began classes. But this time I thought, at my age I want direction and intentionality to my photos. So I decided, once I’m familiar w/ the basics again, I will primarily shoot Black & white and research one camera and one lens and learn them thoroughly. I have not invested in expensive glass because I knew my camera choice would change. I’m considering a used mid-range Fuji mirror-less and 50mm lens as my rig. I’m partial to the range-finder configuration. Thank you. Be well.
Great advice! I'm actually one of those people who travels with at least three lenses, but for the most part use, at the most, two. I'm be wanting to go out with only one lens which means I'll have to commit to moving closer or farther away to get the footage I want.
Thank you for this video. I’ve been pondering getting a new lens, but have been putting it off because, really, I love my Sigma 60mm ART lens combined with my Sony a6000. This video actually put my mind at rest that I have “enough.” I also have a Sigma 16mm which I love too but for the kind of images I like to shoot, the 60mm is perfect. Thanks!
I started with just an Olympus OM-10 and Zuiko 1,8/50mm back in 1978. Eventually I had other bodies, shifted to fast f2.8 zooms and even spent a decade late in life as a freelance news shooter. Now retired, I have come full circle with a Fuji X100S w/TCL attached as my main camera and all the heavy pro gear I needed at the time is sold. Still struggling with it but your thoughts give me hope that it is the way for me to go at this point in my photography life.
This is the best video on photography that I have ever watched, I photograph portraits, but in our country they are not particularly ordered, all the usual crowd shooting, for this I bought sigma 18-35mm, but I feel that I did it in vain, I changed so to myself, my desire and goal to shoot portraits, due to the fact that one lens deprives you of a lot of problems, I agree to 1000%. It's better to earn less than to shoot something that you don't like!
