The Discipline of One Lens

Life is too easy for photographers these days! We have wide-ranging, versatile zoom lenses. Those folk using phones also have a choice of focal lengths on many models. Now I usually have a 28/35/50 Tri-Elmar attached to a Leica M digital body. Firstly to enable me to change focal lengths quickly and also to avoid changing lenses and risk getting dust onto the sensor.

I bought an APO 50mm Summicron f2.0 a little while ago (used), at a ‘good’ price and decided to use just that on the camera. It then occurred to me that imposing this disciple would take me back to my first explorations into serious photography when my parents bought me a Praktica IV with a 50mm f2.9 Ludwig Meritar lens in 1965. (See my Praktica article for more information on this range of cameras).

This discipline Is good for you. There’s nothing original about this theme, many magazine and web articles suggest this approach rather than attaching a super-zoom to your camera. Many rangefinder photographers opt for the 35mm as their preferred focal length. For some reason this is my least favourite focal length. I do like a 50mm for the aspect it provides…

Photos from my First Praktica / Meritar

Below two photographs taken with the Meritar back in 1965/66. The first shows the view to Florence Colliery From Cocknage Wood in Stoke on Trent in 1967. While the colliery dominates the middle distance and you can see the industrial town of Longton beyond; the photograph always reminds me of how easy it was for us to get into countryside. We lived close to that colliery and the view from my bedroom window was of the whole workings but a little beyond was Cocknage Wood.

The second photograph is one of a pair. It is taken From the Queen’s Hall Balcony in Burslem looking over the town centre as it was in 1966. Of all the elements in this photograph the only thing that is the same is the old town hall on the right. The shops have all changed. In the distance you will see the misty outline of Shelton Bar Iron and Steel Works, long since closed and, of course, the cars and buses evoke a different age. This photograph was taken on Adox KB14, one of my favourite films, developed in Neofin. It is one of a pair taken to show the whole area. It was enlarged to 20X16 and no one would believe the quality of the result from that little Meritar.

If these interest you then please go and look at some archive photos of Stoke on Trent on my Flickr site. Anyway, enough of the nostalgia.

Photos from my latest 50mm APO Summicron-M

Below are some image I have taken more recently with the 50mm Summicron, reminding myself what can be done when limiting oneself this one focal length.

The Hydrangea: I could’ve framed this a thousand different ways but this arrangement appealed as it seemed to catch the bush while it was still colourful but past its best.

Chesterfield – Londis: while walking to the weekly Chesterfield Photographic Society meeting I tried to capture some night photos. It was also a good lesson in beating the Leica M11 into submission as it wanted to force everything to 18% grey! I under-exposed by 2 stops and occasionally put the camera in manual mode leaving the ISO at 1600.

Rock Face – Stoney Middleton: A café has opened in this Peak District village and we tried it for a birthday lunch. Outside is a steep rock face that seems to characterise the Southern Peak District. Again it was a question of framing and hoping the light would behave itself.

Model Night at Chesterfield Photographic: I thought I’d explore a different approach to everyone else. This professional model and photographer, Graham Curry visited the society and set up his props and strobe lights. He then explained to everyone how to set their cameras to use the strobes at their optimum. He was a bit surprised when I photographed him just using the natural light but his costume and prop seemed to suit a darker, Victorian feel to the set.

The Lenses.

At the top, you can see the 50mm Summicron attached to an M11 and the 50mm Meritar attached to a Praktica IVF, and below, the lenses on their own. The cameras show my latest main camera in 2025 and my main camera in 1965. I still like using my Prakticas but a Leica M of some sort is my more frequent companion.

In Conclusion

Limitation is good for the photographer. It has been good for me to return again to just shooting this one focal length. It has made me think about the composition and my viewpoint. I have enjoyed it, and I hope I have proved how versatile this one focal length can be, I have certainly reminded myself of this fact!

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