“If you could take only one lens, which one would it be?” We have seen or heard that question a hundred times before. Usually the question is posed as a hypothetical and seldom does anybody actually does it. After all, who would be that crazy? Ahem...

The 50mm Summilux-M ASPH was the only lens for the M8 during our last vacation to Mexico. The Mamiya ZD made the trip also; however, the Mamiya ZD was used only aboard the ship. I chose not to take the Mamiya ZD ashore because its size tends to draw attention. And the weather was hot with +90 F temperatures and topical humidity. Carrying the Mamiya ZD and a bag full of lenses for 4-6 hours was out of the question. So the Leica M8 traveled lean and mean with a Thumbs-up, a leather half-case for protection, a neck strap and the lens. There was no wondering about which lens to use and there was no bag or accessories to fuss with. I focused on taking pictures and nobody really focused on me. The Canon 1Ds bodies usually draw attention. It has never been a problem, but knowing people are watching can be an uneasy feeling.

Overall the Leica M8 and 50mm Summilux did well. There were several times when something wider or something longer would have been nice, but I do not feel like I missed a once-in-a-lifetime shot. If there is one thing to bitch about, it is the frame lines. “Precise framing” and “Leica M8” do not belong in the same sentence. Potentially the frame line upgrade or a Leica M8.2 would remedy the problem. My solution was to shoot a little looser and move on to the next shot. One mistake was not having a fill flash. The sunlight was extremely bright, thus strong shadows which compromised some of portrait pictures. I thought I could squeak by without fill flash. Next time I will know better.

So, the verdict? Traveling with one lens worked out fine and I learned some valuable lessons. Will I do it again? Probably, maybe... I like shooting mid-range telephotos such as 100mm on full-frame, so giving up portrait lens is very hard. I am going to continue with the two system approach - that is working well. I might add one lens for the M8, possibly a 28mm Summicron-M.

All the images in the gallery above were taken with the Leica M8 and 50mm Summilux. For Mamiya ZD pictures, go to the new Photo Galleries (click here) and select “Vacations” and then click “Mexico”. The pictures in the gallery above and in the Mexico gallery are in chronological order.