Any Minimalists Here?: Small & Light DSLR + 1 Prime Lens


milesandcoltrane

New Member
Nov 9, 2010
43
0
0
In the days of film, I've always enjoyed times with my Nikon FM2N + 50mm F1.2 vs lugging an F5/F6 with Zoom lenses galore + flash etc.

Now that I'm finally getting with the times and going digital, I'm looking to jump on a Nikon D3100/3000 with a 35mm F1.8G lens.

(A Leica would be nice but cost prohibitive and I'm just too familiar with the SLR way of doing things.)

Any of you out there who enjoy shooting with such minimal kit?

Come out come out wherever you are!
 

Hey welcome to the digital world:bsmilie:

I have another two bodies with a few big zooms for my freelance work but when I am out for leisure I have a canon 1000d with a 35mm f2 in my bag. It's small and light and I can just whip it out to take a snapshot whenever I like.

I am beginning to like minimalist stuff but still haven't master the soul of it.
 

I do have a choice of lugging a selection of lenses (primes) or just going very light with a very small prime if there is nothing specific for the day out.

Using a Pentax K5 coupled with small primes (usually 49" dia filter sized lenses).
 

Me too, I used to just lug a 50 1.8 on my 550D everywhere I go. But too bad I sold it, and now I am considering a 28mm f/1.8 USM for my next purchase.

Going light is good, especially when you are with your family and friends, without taking much time to look after your expensive gears as well.
 

for portability, I think samsung NX10 with 30mm f/2 is very good.
 

In the days of film, I've always enjoyed times with my Nikon FM2N + 50mm F1.2 vs lugging an F5/F6 with Zoom lenses galore + flash etc.

Now that I'm finally getting with the times and going digital, I'm looking to jump on a Nikon D3100/3000 with a 35mm F1.8G lens.

(A Leica would be nice but cost prohibitive and I'm just too familiar with the SLR way of doing things.)

Any of you out there who enjoy shooting with such minimal kit?

Come out come out wherever you are!

How about jumping into mirrorless formats?

for portability, I think samsung NX10 with 30mm f/2 is very good.

Exactly what I was thinking, though NX10 is a little big but has built in EVF,is it the NX100 that's smaller?

Eitherway, Samsung NX10 with 30f2

Panasonic GF/GH with 20mm

Olympus E-P2/E-PL1 with 17mm

NEX 3/5 with some pancake lens of which the focal length has escaped me
 

Last edited:
i'm a prime user.. n my lightweight kit allows me to carry and go~!
 

In the days of film, I've always enjoyed times with my Nikon FM2N + 50mm F1.2 vs lugging an F5/F6 with Zoom lenses galore + flash etc.

Now that I'm finally getting with the times and going digital, I'm looking to jump on a Nikon D3100/3000 with a 35mm F1.8G lens.

(A Leica would be nice but cost prohibitive and I'm just too familiar with the SLR way of doing things.)

Any of you out there who enjoy shooting with such minimal kit?

Come out come out wherever you are!

I have seen people who will just simply shoot with a 50mm lens only for portraits and street photography.
 

My daily bag always included the E-PL1 + 20mm. With the advent of the mirrorless formats, especially those that are shaped like rangefinders, don't have to lug around a DSLR anymore.
 

Exactly what I was thinking, though NX10 is a little big but has built in EVF,is it the NX100 that's smaller?

Eitherway, Samsung NX10 with 30f2

Panasonic GF/GH with 20mm

Olympus E-P2/E-PL1 with 17mm

NEX 3/5 with some pancake lens of which the focal length has escaped me

But only the NX10 has a normal f/2 pancake lens. The NEX/Panny/oly mostly has only WA pancakes. So depends on which focal length you want.

The NX100 is not really that much smaller than the NX10.
 

Heading in that direction too.

Currently using a d700 with a zoom lens but found it really heavy.

Now would use it with a 50mm prime. The setup is still big and heavy but love the viewfinder.


Otherwise, the m43 and mirrorless cameras are so small now. Can pack a full set of zooms and primes into a tiny bag.


The question I ask myself with a minimal setup is which prime to bring. With a 50mm, there are lesser instances when i wish i had a different lens on, compared to either a 28mm or a 85mm
 

But only the NX10 has a normal f/2 pancake lens. The NEX/Panny/oly mostly has only WA pancakes. So depends on which focal length you want.

The NX100 is not really that much smaller than the NX10.

NX crop factor 1.5, so 30mm = 45mm
m4/3 crop factor 2, so 20mm = 40mm

Both are rather close actually.

For my 'miniature' kit, it's a m4/3 with 9-18mm, 20/1.7 pancake and Nokton 40/1.4. Can fit into a small bag, good for travel. :)
 

Last edited:
I've converted to prime some time ago.
Canon 550D with a 50mm (Canon EF 50mm F1.8).
Light enough for everyday and everywhere carry, good enough for decent portraits and other kinds of shots.
 

D700 + Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SL II
I'm having fun with this setup everywhere I go compared to lugging a super heavy zoom lens.
Not sure if I will move into prime lenses because the 24mm and 35mm f1.4G are super expensive.
 

i've been using 50mm for the past one year :)
next year maybe stretch to 85mm...
 

I tried 85mm on my D700 before...it's too tight for general shooting unless you move your legs to shoot at longer distance.

i've been using 50mm for the past one year :)
next year maybe stretch to 85mm...
 

Someone should organise an outing with the criteria on a light setup/prime lens :)
 

Yeah!! Reporting Here!

D80 with 50 mm f1.4. This is all for me. Light and fun.

At times the focal length a bit too much. But all in all, the set-up stirs my juices. :thumbsup:

I am thinking of an upgrade to D700, still saving.
 

Someone should organise an outing with the criteria on a light setup/prime lens :)

someone did. Prime lens only outing. Just a few sessions and it stop totally.
 

Some days I just go out with an A33 + 35mm f1.8