Why do I need a second body?

[antistatic]

I am lucky enough to be the proud custodian of a BP MP however next week I will be in a city that has a shop with a good range of vintage Leicas and with the Aussie dollar diving like a submarine it suddenly makes more sense to buy local. I've been thinking of adding to my Leica family with a M2 and a 35 cron preasph or a M3 and a DR 50 cron. I am thinking of all the usual justifications for two bodies such as not needing to swap lenses so often, different speed film in each, one colour, one B&W etc etc but a niggling voice says this is just GAS gone wild

I should make it clear that I am in no way needing my cameras to earn a living, in fact I earn a living to afford my photography addiction.

I should also point out that I turn 40 next month so it would be possible to play the "it's a special occassion and you deserve a treat" card.

So those of you with multiple Leici (the plural of Leica ), how did you talk yourself into it and any regrets afterwards?

[NZDavid]

Of course you deserve a treat when you hit 40! I did. Go for M2 or M3 -- great choice. Good old 50 'cron rigid is a reliable performer. Just make sure they are all in the best condition.

[marke]

Congrats on the BP MP, David. I have an M6TTL with a 0.58x VF, mostly because I wear eyeglasses and I like shooting 35mm for street. I also have a BP MP with 0.72 VF, and mostly use it with a 50mm/f1.4 Summilux or 50mm/f.2.8 Elmar-M. Although I've grown to love shooting with the MP so much and have found myself using it even when shooting my 35mm lens. I rarely use my M6TTL anymore, and just keep it around if I decide to carry two cameras, one for B&W and one for color, or if shooting real wide with my CV 25mm/f4.0. I often consider getting rid of my M6TTL, but as Leicas with a 0.58x VF become less common, I feel I should hang onto it. The only thing that would make it easy to get rid of is if I could find another MP with a 0.58x VF, but that's just over my budget for now (I'm in the process of buidling my own darkroom).

So, I probably haven't been of much help, but I think turing 40 is a great reason for getting another Leica.

[JBA]

I've been using two bodies for about a month now and would highly recommend it. It makes lens swaps much easier and also allows you to shoot two different types of film at the same time. You'll be better prepared to capture that perfect, fleeting moment.

Plus you'll have all the joy of pure, unmitigated, unapologetic GAS using the best possible rationalization!

[peter_n]

I use two MPs, one a 0.72x mag and the other a 0.85x. Weekends and travel I put them both into a small Domke F-803 type satchel. I use a 35/2 on the 0.72x and a 75/2 on the 0.85x, and I put a 24/2.8 in the bag too just in case. Same B&W film in both bodies. The 35mm and 75mm cover 95% of the situations I run across and I am always ready and I always have a backup. I've been doing this now for about three years and I can't imagine not working with two bodies any more and definitely no regrets.

[RITskellar]

I'm another strong proponent of the 40, thing. I'm now 41 and have three!!! (one for each year I make it through the previous year)

[antistatic]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. How did I know that I would meet little resistance to the idea of owning another Leica?

David, you make a good point about checking the condition. This is one of the reasons why I want to deal with a bricks and mortar store rather than online. After all, if I'm going to buy something that could be at least as old as I am, I need to make sure it is not about to fall apart.

[Adrian Lord]

Go for it - got my M2 when the MP was away being serviced as a stand-in. Now the M2's being serviced...

I never carry 2 cameras at once though, big believer in minimal encumberance.

[darkness30]

Because you can and you should why one needs a reason to get a second body?
I mean camera

Mehmet

[chuber]

Buy a body which was manufactured in the year of your birth.

[alifie]

At 48 the beer fags and food, what was called 'good living' have taken their toll, I need a new body!

That aside, I have a few bodies 3 Leica LTM, 1 Voigt LTM 1 Leica M and a Voigt M. Apart from a friends wedding where I took the M6 for available light and the R2 for flash I only ever take one body out. Nice to have a selection before leaving the house/hotel.

[michael_boylan]

You don't 'need' a spare body, in fact you don't 'need' a Leica in the first place. But if you can afford it no more justification is needed.

Go for it.

[antistatic]

Originally Posted by chuber

Buy a body which was manufactured in the year of your birth.

Nice idea. I hope I will have that option.

[jacarape]

I really want a point 85 VF. I have a 72 MP, but want an M7 for my 75 Lux, then the 35 could live on the the MP with the 0.72. KEH has one listed but I'll have to sell something to afford another body.

[Photoskeptic]

You don't. However, I used to carry two bodies at the same time - one for bw and one for color. That aside, I've never had an M body fail me.

[enboe]

Sorry, but it's in my nature. I have to provide one contrary viewpoint.

You'll find it hard to beat the MP experience from a handling and utility viewpoint. It has he best viewfinder of any M, and you will notice a difference. I have used every M except for the M1 and the postal models, MD, etc., and the modern finders in the MP, M7, and M8 are the best. Having a meter integrated into the body is handy too. Much quicker to look at when your eyeball meter is unsure of a scene.

Purely my opinion, but I would ask what gear would expand your enjoyment of the hobby. For me, that's lenses. It might be amusing, at least for a little while, to try a iii-series just to understand the feeling at workflow of the 1920's-1950's. You may find that you miss your MP and all of it's conveniences quickly, though.

Another idea - set a photographic goal and pursue it. For example, buy 100 rolls of Kodachrome and make it a goal to shoot them all by your next birthday. You'll spend less, learn more, and hopefully have some real fun along the way.

Enjoy the hobby.

[alun]

Of course you don't *need* two Leicas; but you do _want_ two Leicas. That's enough reason, as others have said. There's no doubt that two bodies is a great additional flexibility. I use an M6 and M7 interchangeably, one with a 35/2, one with a 50/2, both loaded always with identical film, both usually set at the same speed/aperture. I switch betwen the two for composition, POV and DOF andsometimes switch the 35 lens across to the other body when one film is shot in order to avoid reloading if something is going well.

I guess everyone has their own reason/justifiation: I kid myself that the justification is flexibility!

cheers alun severn

[thomasw_]

I use 2 Ms almost always. My favourite M for most street shooting is my M3 with either my summilux 50 or my elmar-M 50/2,8. But my MP is my favourite all-round camera because I shoot my 28, my 35s and 75 on it; it is much less obtrusive to use the MP at indoor social situations than a M without a lightmeter -- trying pointing a lightmeter toward someone at a party, it just sucks big time for killing the decisive moments. If you have a MP it makes loads of ergonomic sense to have another M like it for a second body. The one you choose will depend on the focal length you plan to shoot with it. In my case, for shooting with a 50 or 90, the M3 just rocks. That said, I think the M2 is the most versatile all-mechanical M.

[tbarker13]

Having two bodies can be a beautiful thing. I've usually done it to take advantage of two different focal lengths with minimal downtime spent changing lenses. Load one with a wide angle and the other with a telephoto and you are set.
Or you could of course load with two different types of film.

Funny - the comment about getting a camera made in the year of your birth. That was one of the reasons I bought an M4. I don't know if mine was actually made in my birth year (1967), but I figure it has to be pretty close.

[pleeson]

Originally Posted by antistatic

So those of you with multiple Leici (the plural of Leica )

Actually, that would be "Leicae" in Latin ;-)

And I agree with prior posters -- Life is short, so no need to justify want vs. need in this situation!