How do you use your cameras?

[Smogg]

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If you have more than one camera, then I'm curious to know how often and in what situations do you use them?

Outside the home I use the M11 60 percent of the time, the X2D 30 percent, and the Sony A7R5 10 percent. 

In general, for a city walk, I always choose 2 M11 cameras with 35 and 50 due to the compact size, zone focus and rangefinder; 

if a beautiful color is especially important to me, then I take X2D with 38 or 55; 

to shoot dynamic scenes with my children (usually during various school events), I take a Sony 24-70 because of the zoom and quick focus on people.

In 80 percent of cases I shoot ordinary events inside the house on a Sony 24-70, 10 percent each are occupied by M11 and X2D.

When traveling I exclusively take M11 with 35 and 50.

There is also a separate case of walking in the rain, when I can take interesting shots, but I have an umbrella in one hand. In this case, I take a Sony with 40/2.5 so that the camera can be easily maintained with one hand

How do you use your cameras?

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[hepcat]

I am semi-retired from commercial work.  I do snapshots and fine arts work at my leisure now, so my work has changed quite a bit in the past few years.  Subsequently so have my cameras.    Currently, my M10-P probably sees 85% of my general use.  I used to use my Phase One XF and Leaf Credo back for the majority of my studio work, but I sold it and now my Lumix S1 is my primary studio workhorse, unless I need some of the unique features of the Lumix S5 like Live View Composite in the studio.  If I need something outside of the studio with the R lenses, the S5 is my go-to simply because of it's compact size and weight.  And when I want a small, easy, unobtrusive camera the D-Lux Typ 109 comes out to play.  The Lumix S1, S5, and D-Lux Typ 109 comprise the other 15% of use. 

Edited January 31, 2024 by hepcat

[spydrxx]

I have a ton of cameras scattered about my place. These days the Iphone and Sony A7Rii (usually with Leica M or LTM lenses) get the most use for virtually everything. When the snow melts and spring comes around I'll be hauling out some of my film Barnacks and M2 as I wander thru the forest preserves and local trails. Come summer, I'll probably bring out a few Canon FD with L glass and Nikons (film & digital).

[ShowBiz]

I work in entertainment and shoot stills for TV productions and direct with entertainers' publicity teams. Sony A9 are the bread and butter, Leica Q has been a workhorse for years, and recently upgraded to an M11. 

[newtoleica]

Street photography M10-P and 24/35/75

hiking, holiday, family trips and if it’s very wet. Q2. 

[LocalHero1953]

Q2 for travel, social, family and ad hoc photos. 

SL2-S for theatre, music, dance, portraits etc.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6k for video (L-mount), with SL-2S as backup. 

Film cameras, large and small……

[tom0511]

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M for fun if AF is not so important.

Canon for Sports, Action and Tele

SL2-S (or M) for family events, vacation, travel

X2d has adorable IQ but not flexible enough for my needs-will be sold

GrIIx/G1xIII for outdoors/ take everywhere cameras 

[Stevejack]

Unless I have a technical need (super telephoto lenses / autofocus) then I just take whichever camera I feel like carrying that day.   For my portrait work in the studio I use both a Sony camera and an M11M in tandem. The Sony is mounted and tethered on the studio stand, and the M is around my neck - both with flash triggers mounted, so whenever I want to move in close or get a different angle I just switch to the Leica. It's seamless and a lot of fun using a rangefinder in the studio.

For personal / family work, it's usually the Leica or Hasselblad. I'm using the Hasselblad film camera with a digital back a lot more these days which is a lot of fun.

Very few exceptions aside, it's all about what I feel like using on the day. Even if I'm going out to shoot black and white, I'll leave the Monochrom at home if I'm feeling like shooting with a different camera. 

[Leica Filmmatic]

My everyday camera is my M11 for controlled settings I use my X2D.  When traveling I use my m11 while my lady friends sports the x2d and just one lens.  I go between 28 and 35 on the M.  Thinking about either offloading my x2d or m11 as I want to explore other systems and this is a hobby with some paid work for which I use the hassy. 

[ianforber]

I use my M11 and Q2 for about 50% of the time each. No particular reason to choose one over the other but if it is really wet I might lean towards the Q2. I have an Olympus EM 5ii in a cupboard somewhere that I kept just in case I wanted a long telephoto capability but I haven’t switched it on in over 3 years. 

[Anakronox]

For street I’m usually carrying the M10M or Q2M.  I don’t worry too much about snow but rain makes me prefer the Q2M.  Excited to try out the Nikon Zf for street - it looks promising so far.  For landscape and urban exploration type stuff I have a Mamiya 7 and a Z8.  Just took those on a week and a half long road trip through US Route 66 and they performed very well. 

[costa43]

Documenting my life and some street/travel is the m10r and M8u with a 24/35/50/90 kit. Primarily the 24 and 35. 
 

For tele lenses, AF, video and weather sealing I have a Fuji kit that I am using less and less. I’m tempted to trade this in for a Nikon ZF. 
 

edit : I also have a small collection of Russian film cameras and lenses that I use very sparingly. 

Edited February 2, 2024 by costa43

[dpitt]

• M9 most of the time, because I enjoy using a RF, it stimulates my creativity,
  travel shots, city walks (just in my coat pocket with the lens mounted), family life...
  Summicron 40C / Macro Elmar 90/ Elmarit-M 21
• X2 for longer walks and just as every day companion,
  or when I feel too lazy or tired to really work on a shot... AF and the X2 save the day
• TL2 when traveling and there is need for a zoom,
  or just need for a high quality unobtrusive camera that can be used in the 'iphone way' if needed. Most of the time used with a small M lens like the
  Summicron 35 v3 M / 21 mm Elmarit-M / Summilux 35 TL / Lumix 20-60 / Vario Macro Elmar 35-70 f4
  I love the results with the Summilux 35 TL, but then the combo loses the light wight small size character.
• SL+ R lenses for testing lenses, shooting macro and long tele.
  This one stays at home or close to my car because it is too heavy and large for my  taste...
  Vario Macro Elmar 35-70 f4 / Summicron 90 R / Macro Elmarit 60 R / Summilux 50 R/ Elmarit 28 R / APO Telyt 180 F3.4 / APO Telyt 280 F2.8...

Edited February 2, 2024 by dpitt

[JoshuaR]

This is a good question and it’s been fun to read everyone’s replies!

* My M10 is my everyday camera. I use it for family photographs, travel, work…. I think occasionally about upgrading to an M10-R or M11 but in truth I can’t see any way that would improve my experience. I don’t print big and am very happy with the images I’m getting now.

* My M10M is my second-most-used camera. It comes out in low light, or when I want to shoot black and white, which is maybe four days out of ten. 

* I also have a Q2 and an M6. Sadly these are now “just in case” cameras. The M6 I still have just in case I want to shoot film, which I hardly ever do. The Q2 I have just in case the weather is really bad, or just in case I want to take a camera somewhere it might get beat up. But I use the Q2 only once in a blue moon.

* My Ricoh GR III is another just in case camera. I use it while hiking, which I hardly ever do. Supposedly it’s my discrete camera, but I always prefer an M.

* And finally I have a Pentax 67ii, which I used heavily back when I shot a lot of film and also hardly ever use now because I’m too busy for the workflow.

The bottom line is that I have a very simple set of requirements which are totally satisfied by my digital Ms, but own other cameras for no really good reason, or for reasons of nostalgia. I’m often tempted to sell the M6 and Q2 and GR and Pentax, and probably would if there was something I wanted instead. But I don’t want to upgrade my M10 and don’t really need any new lenses and don’t have any interest in another camera system. So I’m hanging on to them until some sort of need arises. 

Edited February 4, 2024 by JoshuaRothman

[Stevejack]

1 hour ago, JoshuaRothman said:

This is a good question and it’s been fun to read everyone’s replies!

* My M10 is my everyday camera. I use it for family photographs, travel, work…. I think occasionally about upgrading to an M10-R or M11 but in truth I can’t see any way that would improve my experience. I don’t print big and am very happy with the images I’m getting now.

* My M10M is my second-most-used camera. It comes out in low light, or when I want to shoot black and white, which is maybe four days out of ten. 

* I also have a Q2 and an M6. Sadly these are now “just in case” cameras. The M6 I still have just in case I want to shoot film, which I hardly ever do. The Q2 I have just in case the weather is really bad, or just in case I want to take a camera somewhere it might get beat up. But I use the Q2 only once in a blue moon.

* My Ricoh GR III is another just in case camera. I use it while hiking, which I hardly ever do. Supposedly it’s my discrete camera, but I always prefer an M.

* And finally I have a Pentax 67ii, which I used heavily back when I shot a lot of film and also hardly ever use now because I’m too busy for the workflow.

The bottom line is that I have a very simple set of requirements which are totally satisfied by my digital Ms, but own other cameras for no really good reason, or for reasons of nostalgia. I’m often tempted to sell the M6 and Q2 and GR and Pentax, and probably would if there was something I wanted instead. But I don’t want to upgrade my M10 and don’t really need any new lenses and don’t have any interest in another camera system. So I’m hanging on to them until some sort of need arises. 

It's nice to have a few different cameras at hand and it definitely helps when you're in a funk to get some motivation by picking up a camera that forces you to think and work differently, even if it's only a couple of times a year.

I thought very hard about a GRIII but the RAW photos out of the current iphones are sort of 'good enough' now that I don't think I would carry the Ricoh often enough when I have the phone right there.  

[gunther35]

60% of my photography is Travel/Street which usually means 2 cameras around my neck: M10-P or M6 with a 35mm lens and a Ricoh GRIII with 28mm lens for situations I need autofocus or being discreet.

20% of my photography is Sports/Wildlife so I would use my Nikon D5 and various zooms and tele's.

Last 20% would include family snaps or hiking/biking and traveling light so I would bring my Sony Rx1R.

 

[Q2dude123]

I only really need the M11 with my two 35mm and 50mm Summiluxes for my personal enjoyment and mainly use it for my photo walks. Otherwise, I also take it with me privately when autofocus is not so important. The M11 is the most fun of all the cameras I own.

As soon as I'm out and about with the family or photography is not the main focus, I pack the Q2. This is mainly about creating memories. Apart from my private life I'm a professional wedding photographer and, in addition to my Sonys on a Moneymaker, I always have the Q2 around my neck, which is super practical.

I ALWAYS have the Ricoh GR III with me and mainly use it for street photography. It's particularly practical when you're out and about because it fits in every jacket pocket.

I rarely use the Minilux. From time to time I take it with me instead of the Ricoh, but rarely.

[Derbyshire Man]

M11 and Q2M landscape, portrait, environmental portrait attempts at something serious/lasting.

Fuji X pro 3/100V indoors, poor lighting rapidly moving portraiture, need colour autofocus essentially/optimally

Canon 5d mk4 sport, critical party/wedding portraiture (although to be fair the 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2L and L zooms haven't been out much, mostly the Fuji is good enough for the task)

iPhone 15pro, low key people photo's, places, travel, memories rather than attempts at art, times where mucking about with a camera will be a detriment rather than benefit.

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[JTLeica]

1 - Nikon Z Sysem - Landscape photography, when I feel the location or trip I am going on will be a little risky for whatever reason… just got back from Iceland in winter and broke one camera and a lens.

2 - Leica M11 - My favourite camera. Will use this at every opportunity I can unless the situation isn’t ideal like above. Crazy high resolution with some amazing prim lense. This is the best and most fun landscape photography camera I have ever used.

3 - Q3 for simplicity and a one camera solution. It also always comes with me on every trip as it’s compact and really doesn’t take up much space. Amazing IQ too and a great walk around camera

 

[84bravo]

I use my M10-R and M11 professionally shooting editorial and commercial work. That's probably 75% of my work. I also shoot pro sports and anything that requires lighting with Canon R5.

My camera that I use daily for BW street, etc photos is M8.2. I love it as a "poor man's monochrom."