I was perusing groups.google.com, which archives old Usenet posts. Remember rec.photo.*? Anyhow, I recall an interesting thread that I would like to propose it here (a little different from "If I had to do over again"):

If you had to part with all your equipment, what one lens and one body would you keep?

Why ask Leica users? Perhaps few others have thought so carefully about their equipment (I mean, it takes a bit justify the expense), and have used other equipment, etc...

As a newbie with just a telephoto lens (90E) and M6 (.72), I still think I would go with my trusty Hexar original. When and if I get the 35/2 Asph, I may change my mind.

Others?

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001

Answers

.58x M6 TTL and 35 Summilux asph. Hands down.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), July 12, 2001.

M6 TTL .58x and Tri-Elmar

-- B.D. (barney.dinosaur@netzero.net), July 12, 2001.

....An 8 x 10 Deardorff with a Goerz Dagor 12"...

Just kidding...I'd keep the M4-P and the 35 pre-ASPH Summicron.

If allowed to upgrade first, I might spring for the 35 1.4 ASPH and an M6 .58 - but maybe not.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), July 12, 2001.

My nikon F5 and a 35/2 (or if I can have a zoom 17-35/2.8). There may never be a camera that feels as good in my hands and mind as that one.

But if we're talking Leica style rangefinders. Black M6 with the latest non-asph 35/1.4. I combo I regret having given up at a low point in my finances.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), July 12, 2001.

M6 TTL 0.72 and 2/35 ASPH. Originally, I had the newest 2/50.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), July 12, 2001.

M3, type 11817 50mm summicron

-- david kelly (dmkedit@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

M3, 50 Summilux (if I get to keep something I don't have, make it a Noctilux).

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), July 12, 2001.

M6 TTL .72 & 35/2 ASPH

I'm pretty new to this Leica game but totally love what I have been getting with my M6. I also love my M4 / 50mm setup and I'm looking for a used f2 90mm to add to my lenses. I also love my D1 and 20-35...

Mark

-- Mark Griffin (gripper@mark-griffin.com), July 12, 2001.

M6J + 50/1,4 (last version with separate lens hood).

-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), July 12, 2001.

If it's absolutely one camera and one lens among what I own, then it'll be the Minolta CLE, and either the Leica 21mm f/2.8 ASPH (used with hood removed) or the Konica M-Hexanon 28mm f/2.8. If my choices include those that I don't own, I would have the same lens but a M6TTL body (preferrably the one with the .58 finder).

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 12, 2001.

M3 + 50 Summilux, if I had them, but of what I do have, M4-2 + 50 Summicron.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), July 12, 2001.

M6ttl + 50 1.4

-- Hank (hgraber@narrativerooms.com), July 12, 2001.

R5 + Macro Emarit 60/f2.8

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 12, 2001.

M3 and Rigid Summicron

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), July 12, 2001.

Last month I would have said M6 TT 0.58 and 50mm Summicron. However, now that I have used the 35mm ASPH Summicron, I am going to say:

M6 TTL 0.58 plus 35mm ASPH Summicron (all black). You have to love the uncluttered viewfinder (no 135 framelines) and comfortable view of the 35mm framelines.

Next month my answer may revert to the 50 'cron, howevver.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 12, 2001.

M6 TTL .72 & 35/2 pre-ASPH.

-- David Cunningham (dcunningham@attglobal.net), July 12, 2001.

My M-4P and my 50/2 (not latest). Of course, that is the only camera body I own ('cept for a point and shoot Leica). If I could pick "any" lens, I'd probably pick the tri-elmar, or the Nocti.

-- Eric Platt (ericplatt@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

One body and one lens... for the body, any reasonable copy of the one in Mike Dixon's photo from above. ;-)

A classic M6 - I don't want to learn to change the direction of my shutterspeed dial after all of these years. I am convinced that my 1988 model is simply indestructible.

A next to last 50mm Summicron with tab - A real coin toss with the 35mm Summicron, but my last roll of film was made with the 50, so today it is my favorite.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 12, 2001.

No question -- a IIIFst and late 50mm f:3.5 Elmar.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), July 12, 2001.

M6 and the girl in Mike Dixon's picture.

-- David S Smith (dssmith3@rmci.ent), July 12, 2001.

Easy: .58x M6 TTL and 35 Summilux Asph. Even after purchasing several new lenses, that's my favorite combination. The single frameline set at 35mm on the .58 is wonderful.

-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), July 12, 2001.

Of all my cameras: Hasselblad 503CX + 60/3.5CF Of my 35mm SLR cameras: Nikon F100 + 28-105 AF-D (sorry, the R's go) Of my 35mm rangefinders: Konica Hexar RF and Tri-Elmar

These outfits would all get me as much range as possible within the formats. I would *really* miss the F5 + 300/2.8 and teleconverters because it would mean giving up shooting wildlife, but that's only about 30% of what I shoot.

If I had to pick just one of the above it would be the F100/28-105. Why? Because eventually I could afford to expand that system the quickest, including into digital.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

M3 modified for .7 meter minimum focus + current 50mm f2.0. Close second is Minolta CLE + 40 Rokkor.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 12, 2001.

I will keep m6 0.72+ 21 asph. Close second is m6 0.85 ttl + current 50 'cron.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), July 12, 2001.

I tomorrow I would go to a trip with no return, and I needed to take one camera and one lens, I wouldn,t go!; but if a must, I love my M4P- 35/2 preasph combo, but I may try the M6 classic-35/1.4 asph., before the launch they will tell me there is not room for film.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 12, 2001.

That's easy- Leicaflex SL, 400mm f/6.8 Telyt. See why at http://www.wildlightphoto.com

-- Doug Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), July 12, 2001.

Leica M6 and the latest 50 Summicron. This combo is as competent as any 35mm shooter out there.

-- pedro lastra (plastra@bellsouth.net), July 12, 2001.

M6 and current 50 Summicron (with added focus tab...) I settled on the 50mm a long time ago, it's the only focal length I think in anymore. It's liberating.

-- jeff voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

My 1995 M6 and a latest 50 Summicron,(narrowly outing my 35f2 Asph).

-- Gary Yeowell (gary@yeowell.fsnet.co.uk), July 12, 2001.

Ah, more equipment blather. Can't resist.

"newer" M3, (serial number over 1,000,000) and the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux with the reversable hood. Hands on!

The Noctilux, while being nothing short of amazing optically, (It's as good as the Summilux, in the non rigorous test I've done) is just too big.

I can drop the Summilux into one pocket, the M3 in another, and hardly be bothered by the camera, while carrying it around. The Noctilux would rip out my pockets.

For those of you who want still more photographic ramblings, check out my boffin@gis.net), July 12, 2001.

Again, the HTML is screwed up!

Click here

Is there a way to preview a submission on this site, like you can the ads?

-- Tom Bryant (boffin@gis.net), July 12, 2001.

Popular subject, isn't it? I hadn't thought about it before so this answer is somewhat precarious: I think I'd keep my FM2-n and 35-70mm f2.8 in order to get sure that I have the widest possible range of photo needs covered by existing pieces of my photo gear. . . and long my M3s for a lifetime.

- Iván

-- Ivan Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), July 12, 2001.

R8 and 60mm macro. But you'd have to be fully armed to part me from my 90mm Elmarit!

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

I just bought a M6-TTL (.85) and Summicron 35mm f2 ASPH based on suggestions from various sources. Quite satisfied with the result.

-- Su Yang (suyang63@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

I can't choose from my 18 cameras,... fell in depression ,...and have chosen a single malt

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), July 13, 2001.

M6 TTL .72 and 35 Summicron pre-asph.

-- Jackson Loi (jsloi@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

M6TTL .72 (black) w/ 35mm Summicron ASPH is easily my first choice! The current 50mm Summicron is easily a very close second.

-- KL Prager (www.pragerproperties@att.net), July 13, 2001.

M6.072 + 35/2 Asph. or M3 + 50/2 SummicronM

-- Dimitris Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), July 13, 2001.

M6 .58, with the 3E (I know, 3 focal lengths in one lens is cheating) or the 35/1.4 ASPH. Oh, and the Motor-M. Nice, nice, nice package!

-- Paul Chefurka (chefurka@home.com), July 13, 2001.

No camera manufacturers like the philosophy of one body one lens, who is going to buy all the fisheye, super wide, super tele, super zoom , mirror lens ?

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 14, 2001.

Black paint M6 TTL .72 + 35mm Summilux Aspherical.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), July 14, 2001.

My alternate one camera: Minox Tlx;

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 14, 2001.

In the August 2000 issue of Shutterbug (I think it was August), there was a list of 'desert island' cameras- the one camera one might choose. Does anyone have this issue still, and would they be willing to post the list here? I can't seem to find it at my local library and my subscription to S'bug long ago lapsed.

Thanks!

-- TSW (tsesung@yahoo.com), July 16, 2001.

I haven't read the desert island camera.

But I do have a few camera ready for dessert island : Zeiss Ikon Contaflex super B automatic SLR reflex camera with selenium meter and Minox B camera with selenium meter.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 16, 2001.

TSW,

I have the issue of Shutterbug (it was August 2000, Good memory!), and the question is specifically, "What lens (no camera)would you carry if you could carry only one?" Not too many Leica people in the survey, mostly SLR and zoom people. The article might have been more useful if they mentioned a biography on these mostly unknown photographers.

Steve Sint: 24-120mm Nikon

Tony Sweet: 35-70mm (no brand)

Robert Rathe: 105mm Nikon

Jon Adams: 20mm (no brand)

David Akiba: 80mm Hassy (med format)

Gary Gladstone: 28-200mm (no brand)

Lou Jones: 20-35mm (no brand)

Mark Wayne: 24-85mm (no brand)

Rick Sammon: 15mm UW Nikon for Nikonos

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 16, 2001.

re: Shutterbug list

Many thanks, Al.

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), July 16, 2001.

reading this one lens lifesalver, made me realise how limited is a slr with only one lens, with my leica I´ve never felt I needed any other lens no mather wich one I was carring; may be too much coffe, and too little single malt.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 16, 2001.

My M6 Classic and my 35mm 3.5 Summaron.

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), July 20, 2001.

Ideally for SLR: R6.2 with 50mm Summilux new type For M: M6 TTL with 35mm Summilux ASPH or Summicron 50mm. CL with 40mm a close second

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), July 20, 2001.

Holga with plastic fantastic 60mm . The overall look of the photo's i have taken with the Holga are very similar to those i have taken with my 50mm noct, same fall-off and edge aberations & at $16 US you can't beat it.

-- Tim (timphoto@ihug.com.au), July 21, 2001.

re: Holga

Tim, is it a single malt?

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), July 26, 2001.

re: Holga

Tim, is it a single malt:?)

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), July 26, 2001.

Minox CLX

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 26, 2001.

If I had to do it over again, I'd do the same thing: Classic M6, current 50mm Summicron.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), July 28, 2001.

My first choice is M6 + 50mm Noctilux. With today's fine-grained fast films, the combination provides huge flexibility with or without the sun, with or without tripod. Noctilux is expenisve, but is only 15% more expensive than the 35mm Summilux, which is my second choice. D.

-- Damond Lam (damond_lam@hotmail.com), July 28, 2001.

M6 TTL .85 with the current 50 summicron. I love the 50 mm focal length and the 50 summicron can't be beat.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), August 04, 2001.

M3 w/50mm f/2 Summitar.

I've got MF, I've got digital, I've got the lastest whiz-bang 35mm SLR. The Leica/Summitar gives me something completely different.

http://www.ravenvision.com/peterhughes.htm

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), August 05, 2001.

M3 (>1.0 million) modified to focus to 0.7m (does anyone know who does this, and at what cost)and 11817 Summicron.

-- Marco Grande (hektor73@yahoo.com), May 17, 2002.

M6 classic and Noctilux....no doubt out about it. 2nd choice...M6 and DR summicron. Or maybe subtitute the M6 for an M3.....Hmmmmm

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), May 17, 2002.

M6 TTL, .85 + 50 Summicron.

-- Arie (nhaziza@northrock.bm), May 17, 2002.