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Author Topic: One week, one camera, one focal length.  (Read 26468 times)

BW

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One week, one camera, one focal length.
« on: October 27, 2016, 23:43:01 »
The title says it all! If you had to pick one camera, one focal length for one week (seven days), what would be your pick?

My choice of camera is real simple, The Df :) The lens however would be much harder. My photography covers a range of subjects, from birds and wildlife, plants, macro, landscapes to people and portraits. To cover this range, I would need a macro lens. My two favorites are the Sigma 150 mm and the Nikon 45 mm PC-E. I would have a hard time choosing between these two, but since birds and wildlife are another favorite of mine I would go for the Sigma 150 mm f2,8. I think these two items could give me a variety of photographic opportunities during the 7 days.

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Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2016, 23:49:20 »
Try the combination, then report back.

In such cases one should commence by accepting there is just one lens and hence not lament the absence of alternatives. Rather, begin looking at the world with the eyes trimmed to the properties of the chosen lens instead.

I often select a 35 mm lens for the FX camera or 28 mm for the DX, but there is no rule set in stone and I sometimes spring for quite 'niche' options such as a fisheye or a really long lens. Either way, one can get a lot of enjoyment out of the challenge.
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Jakov Minić

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2016, 23:52:54 »
If you use a 45P as a body cap you can tag along the 150 Sigma:)
I would either go for 20/1.8 or 135DC if I were to choose only one lens right now.
Whichever you choose, I bet the results are going to be excellent!
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MFloyd

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2016, 00:16:10 »
Lens: 35mm, which I have available with my very sharp 16-35mm f/4 Body: D5, what else ? 😉
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Akira

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2016, 00:22:08 »
I have almost always been with one body and a standard (50mm-ish) lenses since the film days.  :)
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Frank Fremerey

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2016, 02:44:06 »
The choice of lens will limit onself in such an experiment. Earlier in life I would have said: Any FX/Film and a 35mm or a 50mm. Then came a time when 85mm hit me and I did in fact shoot nothing but.

Just now I am hard pressed to choose between the D500 & 1.4/35 Ai-S or the D500 & 1.4/24G ... probably toss a coin on these excellent options.
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BEZ

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2016, 03:27:43 »
Fuji X100T 23mm f2 (DX) or Nikon D800 28mm f1.8 (FX)

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

BW

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2016, 07:49:33 »
Quote from: Bjørn Rørslett on October 27, 2016, 23:49:20
Try the combination, then report back.

I am already doing a 365 project, so I will have to wait until the light returns (someone obviously want us to do meaningless work during daylight hours ;D)  to my part of the planet until I embark on one more.

Exciting to hear the rational choice of camera and lens, but I am pretty sure that a wide angle and a normal lens wouldn't do it for me, even though I love to use them.
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Frank Fremerey

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2016, 09:10:43 »
 
Quote from: BEZ on October 28, 2016, 03:27:43
I did once commit to using a Pentax LX with just a 85mm f1.8 for one year, including paid work.

You are my hero!  ;D
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Jacques Pochoy

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2016, 09:40:41 »
I once spent 10 days in Turkey with a D3x and only a 50mm/1.8. As Frank, I also stay several weeks with the 85/2 AI (smaller size then the AFD) and the Df at times.
I've tried to do the same with the 28mm or the 35mm but I'm more a 50/85 sort of guy... :o
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Harald

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2016, 09:42:57 »
Hi,

a hard question. Actually i would use a Micro Nikkor 55 or 60mm. ;)

Harald
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Akira

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2016, 09:52:02 »
Quote from: Harald on October 28, 2016, 09:42:57
Hi,

a hard question. Actually i would use a Micro Nikkor 55 or 60mm. ;)

Harald

Ais Micro 55/2.8 was my favorite all-rounder to go with F3.  The only complaint about the current 50/1.8G is the greatest magnification factor of 1:6.6.  I would like it to be 1:4 or 1:3 on its own.
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Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #12 on: October 28, 2016, 09:53:42 »
One of the untold virtues with an exercise such as the suggested challenge, is the insight gained by 'breaking out of the box' as in using say a lens you wouldn't normally rely on.
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Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2016, 09:55:02 »
Quote from: Akira on October 28, 2016, 09:52:02
Ais Micro 55/2.8 was my favorite all-rounder to go with F3.  The only complaint about the current 50/1.8G is the greatest magnification factor of 1:6.6.  I would like it to be 1:4 or 1:3 on its own.

You probably mean lesser, not greater, magnification of detail? The ratio 1:6.6 is less than 1:3.
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Akira

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Re: One week, one camera, one focal length.
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2016, 09:58:07 »
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.
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