Anyone use two or more M bodies at once?

[MPJMP]

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I gather that you used to see this all the time in the 60's, but do people still engage in this practice regularly? I am considering a project for 2011 that would take me more into the field than previously and I would not likely have time to change lenses or swap rolls (I'm a film shooter). I'm thinking about buying an M6 to compliment my MP and mount a 28mm on the M6, while keeping a 50mm on the MP (and a 90mm in the bag in case I need the reach and have time to swap). Tri-X or XP2 loaded in both, haven't decided yet.

 

Anyone else here do this now or in the past? What were your experiences good or bad?

 

-Mike

[gyoung]

I gather that you used to see this all the time in the 60's, but do people still engage in this practice regularly? I am considering a project for 2011 that would take me more into the field than previously and I would not likely have time to change lenses or swap rolls (I'm a film shooter). I'm thinking about buying an M6 to compliment my MP and mount a 28mm on the M6, while keeping a 50mm on the MP (and a 90mm in the bag in case I need the reach and have time to swap). Tri-X or XP2 loaded in both, haven't decided yet.

 

Anyone else here do this now or in the past? What were your experiences good or bad?

 

-Mike

 

I have always travelled with two camera bodies, usually this is to give me both 'normal' (Provia 100 at the moment) film and 'fast', (400 iso). Before it was easy to do prints from colour the secod body had B&W in it. This also gives cover against malfunction as a spare body is available. At the moment the two are normally an M6ttl and an M3, since these are all the Ms I have! Occasionally the Voigtlander R2 will be used in the way you describe, to have an alternative focal length easily available with the same film, or even the Leica III although in this case extra lenses have to be carried and I'm getting a bit old for lugging too much kit about! The extra weight is the drawback of course.

 

Gerry

[Guest mc_k]

This is exactly what I do, right down to the focal lengths 28-50 or 50-90; I keep one camera in an open bag. There was a thread about this earlier this year.

[andybarton]

I use two Ms on occasion. It makes a lot of sense.

[Jager]

I often take two bodies, but anymore it's so I can carry both digital (M9) and film (either M6 or M7).

 

Yesterday I was out on a cold, windy day shooting my last roll of Kodachrome...

[andybarton]

I hope you have a good, reliable postal service where you are...

[Jager]

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I hope you have a good, reliable postal service where you are...

 

Aye. It went out priority mail this AM. Should be at Dwayne's by Wednesday.

 

Now back to Tri-X for that second body...

[norm_snyder]

Yes--two bodies makes sense in fast changing situations, and it has been my habit, first with film [35+90 or 21 + 35, depending on surroundings and distances at which I was working} and then with M8s [28 + 75 or 15 + 28]. Now that I've got an M9, I kept an M8 [not yet up to two M9's], and keep the 75 on the M8 [105 approx. equivalent] and the 35 on the m9. So far, working out great, and if I hit the buffer on one digital body, I can keep on shooting. Using two similar bodies makes things very fluid from an ergonomic standpoint. I don't have to think about the gear, but can just shoot. If your shooting color and B+w, then it would make sense from that standpoint, too.

 

Cheers,

[FrozenInTime]

A friend was amazed at how quickly I could change lenses - until it eventually clicked that I had two almost identical M6 bodies

[Sailronin]

When traveling abroad I always carry my M8 with the M6 as a backup. Often take them out together with a long lens on the M8 (to take advantage of the crop factor) and wide angle on the M6.

[JBA]

3 MPs: 2 0.72s with 35 & 50, and 0.85 with 90/21

 

My last weekend shooting Kodachrome a couple of weeks back, I was carrying my 3 MPs, 2 Nikon Fs with Zeiss ZF 50 & 85 Planars, and a Leica R8 with motor and 50, 90、180. Most of the gear was snugly packed in a handy rolling suitcase, but there were times I was shooting with all six slung over me. Not something I make a habit of, and now that Kodachrome's gone and I'm not under pressure to shoot it all, I'll be sticking with two or three cameras at most.

[MPJMP]

Hmmm...? Now is the question, do I compliment my MP with an M6 or M8??????

[andym911]

Handling one M is more than enough for me:D

 

seriously the type of photography you are planning to do must be very fast and changing if you will not have the time to change lenses or rolls of film.

 

Weddings and sports would make sense to me but if it is regular hobby stuff then I cannot see the need.

 

Would be interesting though to hear what type of project you are looking to take on...this might help giving some answers from the forum.

 

Best

Andy

[MPJMP]

No sports or weddings, and a step beyond casual "hobby stuff." Definitely in the photo-journalism category. I'm not quitting my day job, but I intend to self-publish a book (possibly two) by the end of 2012, or sooner if possible. I did one last year that was a private offering and it went over well enough that I'm looking to expand into subjects with a little wider appeal, hence the desire to be a bit more professional in my approach. We'll see how it goes.

[jplomley]

Always with two bodies. For digital a pair of M9's and for film a pair of M7's....28/50 for the film M's and 35/75 for the M9's. The 21mm is the floater that always accompanies either pair. My reaction time with a pair of M's is just so much faster than swapping lenses.

[wda]

Hmmm...? Now is the question, do I compliment my MP with an M6 or M8??????

As soon as you mix film with digital M8 bodies, you introduce scope for confusion. Most notably is the crop factor, but also vital ergonomics. After shooting digital it is easy to forget to 'wind on', adding valuable seconds to any delay. It can be done, providing you condition your mind to the distinctly different handling experiences.

 

Much easier is having a film camera in the bag for emergencies, or when you just want to shoot film.

[michali]

Always travel with 2 bodies, M9 & either M6 or MP as a back up.

[H. James Wolf]

Almost always two bodies. Sometimes 50 on one and 90 on the other for film or 35 and 50. Sometimes even three, one with 35, one with 90, and one with 21. Always the same film in the cameras - TriX or the Arista equivalent. When working at a fire, there's little time to be switching stuff around until the fire's under control. The same goes for school events, etc.

[pico]

No sports or weddings, and a step beyond casual "hobby stuff." Definitely in the photo-journalism category. I'm not quitting my day job, but [...]

 

Which prompts me to ask if any photojournalist or newspaper photographers use film.

 

I am in the last weeks of my day job, and was approached by a large group of newspapers to do photography for them part-time. (My first career was urban daily newspaper photography.) All those visions of returning to Leica work in regular-life went up in smoke when they said, "Strictly digital. No film." I understand. I passed on the approach. There is no way they will pop for an M9 or two. I won't, either.

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[edmond_terakopian]

Most of my work is news based and I always work with two cameras. Back in the days of film, I used an M4-2 and an M6; these would both be hung from my neck, with different length of strap. They would have a 21,35 or 50 (with the unused lens in my pocket or bag) and for spot news situations I'd have an SLR on my shoulder (either a Leica R6.2 with a 90mm or 135mm, or a Nikon with a 80-200 zoom).

 

Naturally it just speeds up working and you don't have to stop the flow, nor risk dropping lenses when running around! Naturally with film it means being able to load up different types / speeds of film.

 

Alas I only have one M9 at the moment; hopefully this coming year will allow me to budget for a second :-)

 

Edmond