Anyone with one lens by choice?

I tell my wife....." I have ONE lens!"

(One for low light, one for sports, one for weddings, one for portraits, one for wide angles...)

In the so-called "golden age" of photojournalism - the 1930s into the 1950s - many, if not most, of the great news photographers used just one lens. Robert Capra reportedly carried two 35mm Contax cameras covering D-Day, both with 50mm lenses. Alfred Eisenstadt usually worked with a single Leica. Many of the photographs of that era, while maybe not as technically perfect as today's technology would make easy, still stand as great compelling images. It's the photographer.

Agreed with a lot of the sentiment here. I "could" get to just one lens, (35L as well) if I had to. For me, I don't need much else 90% of the time. I guess I could go with the 16-35 as well, since then I'd have a bit more options, but as others have said: the 35L is just perfect.

Anyways, go for it. I forced myself (kinda, I didn't really have any money) to use nothing but a 50mm for two years. I truly credit that time for enhancing my "eye" and it was a great experience.

I wish I could live with just having one lens.

I have a few, but the 50 1.8 stays on the camera 100% (for now). I just take family photos, and a fast, normal prime is perfect for it.

cdifoto wrote in post #10745357
Nothing wrong with having only one lens if it does all you need and want.

Agreed, 110%!

Jason C

No you're not insane! When I got my 50mm F1.8 it stayed on my camera for mayby 98% of my shots (my 17-40 and 70-200 stayed in the bag). Then I moved to 5D and 35L and boy, I was in love! It was my main lens for a long period of time. In the mean time I bought and sold a lot of lenses, but the 35L never left my body. Some months ago I bought the 35mm F2.0. The lightweigth version of the 35L. I just love 35, but the L was to big and to heavy for just an occasional shot. I like both, but prefer the L.

But in my signature there are more lenses:
100-400L for trackdays
24-105 for events where I need to be fast
100L is just to try it, but I don't use it that often.

(I do want to give the 50F1.2 a try but I'm afraid of the focussing issue )

i think you will fall in love with the 85L if you use it.

so, if you can not afford the extra money right now. Just don't think about it (85L) until you can.

You already tried the 50 but did not like, you propably still won't like it.

There is nothing wrong with just using 1 lens.

Maybe because you only have one lens, you work with it so well to create beaufiful photos ( i admire your work greatly)

I tried to survive with only my 85L, but I couldn't resist and had to get the 85/35 combo. Besides I had to have at least one zeiss lens.
Hopefully these two will be enough now...

I just use a 50mm, although I might add a 28mm...but at this point, happy with what I've got.

Yeah, if I was a drummer (which I once was for various garage bands), I would not feel compelled to play every type of music on the planet, and my minimal drum set up would reflect my preferred music.

Likewise, with photography, I'm not out to be a generalists, so I don't feel I'm missing out by not having an expansive arsenal of lenses.