One week, one camera, one focal length.

[Hugh_3170]

The Pentax LX was a truly magical camera; even better than its much loved competitor, the Nikon F3.

...................................................................................

I did once commit to using a Pentax LX with just a 85mm f1.8 for one year, including paid work.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Bjørn, with "the greatest magnification factor", I was referring to the magnification factor of a lens set at its closest focusing distance.  I would like the lens to be able to focus a bit closer so that I can achieve 1:4 or idealistically 1:3.

You got me thoroughly confused, no matter how the concept of 'greatest' is perceived.

Oh well, back to the main topic of this thread.

[Akira]

You got me thoroughly confused, no matter how the concept of 'greatest' is perceived.

Oh well, back to the main topic of this thread.

Okay, I should have to say the "largest" magnification factor.  Sorry for the confusion.   

[Bjørn Solberg]

Bought my first DSLR this spring, D3s and Voigtländer 125/2.5 APO, no optional lens. Advantage is no confusion in the learning process. And with this lens, some shots are bound to be good.

[rosko]

If I had to choose a single lens according my destination, with Df :

7 days to the mountains : Zeiss 35mm f2. I would put in my bag a BR2 reversing ring in case...

7 days to a town : also the 35mm.

7 days in the countryside : micro nikkor AIS 55mm f/2.8.

Bought my first DSLR this spring, D3s and Voigtländer 125/2.5 APO, no optional lens. Advantage is no confusion in the learning process. And with this lens, some shots are bound to be good.

Well, I went recently to Cornwal (South west UK) for pure countryside shots and some architecture shots of mining buildings with the 125mm apo lanthar only : I missed a shorter focal, so I got the following day my venerable little zoom nikkor 36-72mm to complete the combo and I was satisfied.

(Cornwal pictures to come soon).

[David H. Hartman]

I never subscribed to the Photo.net life of optical poverty but I did start two Nikon systems with a 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor and my first AF lenses was an AF 60/2.8 Micro-Nikkor. I think I shall skip the NikonGear life of optical poverty also.

At a time a friend joked that I spent so much on lenses that I could not afford film. Almost true but I always had 100' of Tri-X and 25 to 100 sheets of Super-XX. What I learned from months of shooting nothing but B&W was to previsualize in B&W. Finally I bought a couple of rolls of Kodachrome, loaded my F2 and walked out the door. The first thing I saw as a magenta bougainvillea and then a red poinsettia. The colors really stood out against the green foliage. The colors really popped. If I had, had B&W film in the camera I would have previsualize how these colors would translate to grays in a B&W photo and what filter I might use to differentiate the magenta and red from the greens. 

My counter proposal: take at least a 50mm, 105mm and 20 or 24mm lens but set your camera to shoot monochrome. Do that for a day or a week or several months...

Dave Hartman who once subscribed to a life of chromatic poverty. 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

We're talking about a challenge, not a life style

The combination of 24(35) & 105, plus a Micro 55, was the standard for my the first decade or so as a photographer. Quite handy kit compared to what one often travel with these days, I'd say !!

[Akira]

I think today it is rather easier to go with just one body and one lens, thanks to the highly developed processing software.  For example, you can stitch the images taken with a 50mm lens to create an image of an ultra-super-wideangle lens or anything in between, according to the amount or the placement of the images to stitch.

[Jacques]

When my 58 arrived in the shop in February 2014 it was fitted immediately and remained on the camera until the 105 arrived 1st September 2016. My age prevents me participating from some of the more active pursuits of my youth but working with the one lens it was essential I engaged my brain fully rather than my body when seeking images.

[Hugh_3170]

Jacques, Old Age & Cunning will Always beat Youth & Intelligence - as you clearly demonstrated with your 58mm lens!   

When my 58 arrived in the shop in February 2014 it was fitted immediately and remained on the camera until the 105 arrived 1st September 2016. My age prevents me participating from some of the more active pursuits of my youth but working with the one lens it was essential I engaged my brain fully rather than my body when seeking images.

[BEZ]

You are my hero! 

I daydream of selling all my kit and buying a Leica M, 35mm f1.4 and be done. For sure the hobby side of photography, playing with toys, dilutes my output.

The Pentax LX was a truly magical camera; even better than its much loved competitor, the Nikon F3.

Yes Pentax67, LX, MX was the perfect trio for me in the 80's and 90's.

Cheers

[Asle F]

Anything between 50mm and 105mm. 55mm/2.8 micro, Voiglälnder 90mm/3.5 or a 105mm can do the job for me for a week.

We're talking about a challenge, not a life style

If it is meant as a challenge, I would choose something shorter than 28mm. 20mm/3.5 or 16mm/3.5 fish-eye for a week would be a challenge for me, and for sure it will give me unusual results.

[Airy]

Camera : easy - Df
Lens : less easy. Depends on the week. Probably a 50 (40 to 58); down to 28 still ok, up to 105 ok too.

Zeiss Milvus 50/2, Voigt 40/2 with close-up lens if I need sth lighter, or Voigt 58/1.4 would be three safe answers.
105/2.5 is less versatile (MFD a bit long) but sure to bring back good shots. Tamron 90/2.5 (52B model) would have been a more versatile alternative, I find the FL more convenient and it reaches 1:2 without extension, but contrast is a bit low and background bokeh is not as good. A pity.

Nikkor 50/2 AI : it often surprizes me (favourably), and is comfortable to use.

[Frank Fremerey]

Bjørn, with "the greatest magnification factor", I was referring to the magnification factor of a lens set at its closest focusing distance.  I would like the lens to be able to focus a bit closer so that I can achieve 1:4 or idealistically 1:3.

Bjørn: how does the 1.8/50G take extension? It renders wonderfully in the near field

[Frank Fremerey]

The Pentax LX was a truly magical camera; even better than its much loved competitor, the Nikon F3.

I had dreams of her. She could generate ALL times mechanically without battery ... oh BEZ!!!