# Photography: The Navigation of Choice *January 2014* ![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666486042-POGZDVGRXM9805E0DLOI/63776-img.jpg) Photography is all about choices.  As the photographer discovers himself, they encounter a number of polarities that they feel they must chose between. These simple decisions have a dramatic impact on the **set and setting** of the observer capturing the moment.  * Prime Lenses vs. Zoom Lenses * One Lens vs. Many Lenses * Full Frame vs. Crop Sensor * Autofocus vs. Manual Focus * Film vs. Digital * Color vs. Black\-and\-White * DSLR vs. Compact * Invest in Body vs Lens ## My Path After many years of experimentation (and thousands of dollars), I found that having a single camera with a single lens is exactly what I want and need as a photographer.  In the past, I had an incredibly versatile Canon setup —  [Canon 5D Mark II](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G5ZTLS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G5ZTLS&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=OUBKTJDCBCZA47KQ) with the trifecta of L Lenses: the [35L](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R6WY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009R6WY&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=RWMXBWTEYL7YEB6W), [50L](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1YIDQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000I1YIDQ&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=TTHH5UUTOELSVBA4), [85L](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EW9Y4M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000EW9Y4M&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=M265KCBSQFSFN6WE), [135L](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000053HC5/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000053HC5&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=ZDV6FEGAQTR4QJ4W), and [24–105L](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AZ57M6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000AZ57M6&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=CCT6JUSC6RBDUQEI). What a dream setup, right? **Wrong.** ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666494810-RD2K3SM9FXJMA3D0EK1T/86ad0-59f7a-image-asset.jpeg) ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666511220-GRKAVV4C6W8B2EDEU5UV/c2436-575ee-image-asset.jpeg) ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666512513-3BTS16NFLRVF7WGPU12D/c79a0-eee49-image-asset.jpeg) Every time I went out to shoot, or even travel, I found myself preoccupied with the current lens that I either did or did not have on my camera or on my person. I was constantly distracted with which lens I was currently using, and this lack of confidence showed in my photographs.  Eventually, I ended up buying a [Fuji x100](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RS864/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0043RS864&linkCode=as2&tag=bookforkind-20&linkId=UQYDVYXSIXB5S2FU) for travel. Much to my surprise, the elegant constraint and simplicity of of the x100, with its 35mm lens, was so freeing that I never touched my $8,000 worth of top\-of\-the\-line Canon gear again!  ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666528231-22X6MYQHX4OMW85YFFL9/fa987-c67b9-image-asset.jpeg) ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666514996-S3FJZIUAWWAFJCX9G9T3/ce08f-df9a7-image-asset.jpeg) ## Making the Switch Eventually, I sold it all (including the Fuji) and made the move to the Leica M System.  This was one of the boldest and best decisions I've ever made as a photographer.  ![](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666490504-13CK1UY5ORGUWI39X7QA/7a565-be0cd-image-asset.jpeg) I now have a single camera and a single lens. When I go out to shoot, there's no question of *"do I have the right lens with me"*? I always have the perfect lens with me, because there is no choice. I always have the perfect camera, because there is no other option.  And, because I've stuck to one focal  length for so long, my lens has become a true extension of my eye. When I look at a scene with my bare vision, I know *precisely* where the Leica 35mm framelines will appear once I hold the camera up to my eye.  # # CONSTRAINTS FOSTER CREATIVITY ![Cleveland, Ohio](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666459408-DZGR6RCKTIPXH6147UJ5/0262f-e0d82-img_0193_2.jpg) Cleveland, Ohio ![Jerusalem, Israel](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666509228-7M3SF82FWI71PYOFT49K/bd5cf-0ed71-img_0147_2.jpg) Jerusalem, Israel ![Tokyo, Japan](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666516843-58OLMP5P07PY6FCSGPUU/d25c1-83707-image-asset.jpeg) Tokyo, Japan ![Winchester, Virginia](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666501601-HDSBEL5K6DYO2KWXEL7X/a4122-a0460-l1006054.jpg) Winchester, Virginia ![Winchester, Virginia](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666526156-QXEDWYKOOF0QE7BDOFW1/f268e-543f1-img_0008_2.jpg) Winchester, Virginia ![Singapore, Singapore](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666518112-1351YKR9OYZEXGRTLGG4/d9d7b-2648b-l1004499.jpg) Singapore, Singapore ![San Francisco, Califorinia](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666525803-6540IOKTNZU5OQL4T269/f1418-a5989-l1004846.jpg) San Francisco, Califorinia ![New York City, New York](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666484602-KGFARVYJWBLFRJYJ2QHL/5d8d6-43b0f-l1004280.jpg) New York City, New York ![Stockholm, Sweden](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666472913-XVT3RNIEGPVFS92AJKI0/2b90c-e458e-l1003978.jpg) Stockholm, Sweden ![Amsterdam, Netherlands](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666473011-CKXO5O2Z9EWLKL1YAXRU/2c104-5498a-dscf3891.jpg) Amsterdam, Netherlands ![Winchester, Virginia](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666525466-XIATA54V29BH4QGLO1ZN/ef9b5-cdb53-l1004164.jpg) Winchester, Virginia ![Portland, Oregon](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666529609-EEUXY7Z771812I1PKK41/fccd6-50872-dscf3874.jpg) Portland, Oregon ![Montreal, Canada](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666494403-WAR9J3VWTW57T78JDKAX/85ef5-e6ca3-dscf3279.jpg) Montreal, Canada ![Dublin, Ireland](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666507873-J3XOR29X6AVQ9VOYU8L9/b9bf0-c80b0-l1021273.jpg) Dublin, Ireland ![Relax](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/665498111876725f7613f1e6/1719666481696-ZEGBGP2GLP6D171K3CGE/59947-2b49d-65df4005-419e-4969-8945-0b29e978234b.jpeg) Relax My name is Kenneth Reitz, and I'm truly in love with my camera. In case you missed the memo, [Love is all you need](/essays/all-about-love).  --- Want more? Check out my [photography](/photography/) page.