For as long as I've owned the various SL digital cameras from Leica I've had an idea for a way of doing photography that most of my photography friends consider borderline insane. After a long career of trying to be prepared for everything, which mostly meant having every lens and lighting instrument I might ever need for client projects, I've had a vision/daydream of winnowing down the burden of gear to pure minimalism. But good quality minimalism! In the best of all possible worlds (for me) I would distill down the gear inventory to just one SL2 camera (for which I retain the right to upgrade when appropriate) and one, perfect 50mm lens. I would also keep a second SL2 body around so that I'd have a back-up when traveling...
That would be it. Everything I might need to do photography on my terms instead of walking around in a perennial state of "ready for anything-ness." Or paralyzed by the endless question of "what gear to use now?"
I''ve long since come to terms with the reality that, for me, the 50mm lens is pretty much the perfect focal length for my own personal vision. Maybe I arrived at that out of endless practice or maybe I'm just wired to like the compromise between too much in the frame and not enough in the frame. For whatever reason when I look through the finder of a camera with a 50mm lens on the front there is a comfort I rarely feel with other options. Longer or shorter. Like perfect shoes. Or a pair of pants that fits perfectly.
In my odd quest for system minimization and 50mm regard I've endlessly researched 50mm lenses. I've owned three different Zeiss lenses, including the very well regarded 50mm f1.4 Milvus, and a Planar f2 for the M cameras. Even a 50mm f1.4 ZF for the Nikon system (adapted for use on an SL variant). I've owned countless Nikon and Canon "normal" lenses. And have been in love with the Voigtlander 50mm APO Lanthar since I purchased one three years ago. It's really, really good.
But the lens I always wanted to try, always imagined would be the lens that stands the test of time, might satisfy my desire for the highest performance lens I could imagine, has been, since its introduction, the Leica 50mm APO Summicron SL. It's an f2 lens with insanely great glass in a complex design with lots of elements and groups. Weather and dust proof to the hilt and very well built. And, at times, the AF would be nice to have...
In my daydreams I imagine myself driving through the arid, spare, west Texas landscape to Marfa and then onto Terlingua with an SL2 camera, coupled up with the 50mm APO Summicron SL, keeping me company from the passenger's seat of the car. A spare body wrapped up in a protective cloth and well cradled in a good camera bag in the car's trunk. Nothing other than a stack of spare batteries for the camera and extra memory cards --- because I tend to overshoot most of the time.
I'd find some rustic gas station in the middle of nowhere and there would be characters sitting around in faded, worn jeans and western style shirts just shooting the shit and they'd do the usual west Texas warm greeting for strangers and, after I filled up the tank and bought more water, I'd ask them if I could make their portraits, and no matter where I aimed the camera the light would be beautiful and the lens would have some special magic that would inject itself into the photo taking process and make each frame a keeper. I'd thank the folks and drive on through the bright yellowness of the high desert light always scanning the horizon for the next opportunity to see something new.
In my vision of the one lens future I'd never pine for anything wider. I'd fit my vision to the lens and the lens to my vision. Nor would I feel the slightest desire for anything longer. If I need to be tighter, well--- I learned how to crop images long ago in a film-era darkroom. Can't be any harder in Photoshop.
The single focal length would eliminate the drudgery of choosing. The semi-panic of arriving somewhere already second guessing whether I'd made the correct lens choice when packing. And with the world's greatest 50mm lens I would never question whether a different brand or style of 50mm lens would ever be better.
I have a good 20 to 25 years (hopeful, optimistic guy here?) left to make photographs just for me. Just the way I want them. I figure I should do them with exactly the lens I always imagined would make all photography fun for me.
I am far too conservative to actually put all my eggs in one basket. I thought about selling everything else but...it's all already paid for and comfortably strewn across the studio in filing cabinets and tool cases. But that doesn't mean I can't pursue the dream of being mostly unencumbered by choice or restrictions. I'd keep the M stuff and sell everything else. Because you just never know.
But here we are. It rained all day yesterday. A cool but not cold rain. I went out for lunch with B. We went to our favorite taco place: TacoDeli. I had a couple of the borracho carnitas tacos. I mentioned my minimalization idea. B. nodded approvingly. I mentioned my desire to buy the "ultimate" 50mm lens. She asked for a bit more detail. Detail delivered she nodded and said, "Why would you hesitate buying the lens you say you always wanted?" I took that as an approval of concept....
.... We'll see how the concept pans out. Car, camera, lens, credit card, intention. Could be fun. Might be fun. Will be fun. See how easy it is to talk oneself into yet another glorious lens purchase?
Arriving shortly.
