A trusty Leica owner, do you carry extra body or extra lens?

dovevadar said:
You have a camera known to withstand some knocking - A film Leica.
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Too true. My M3 is my most trusty camera, and has withstood its share of knocks. My most pleasant photographic travel experience was the M3+50 summilux and a 50 pack of HP5+. (I also had a 90 summicron, but never even took it out of my kit bag)

I shot over 1000 frames in just over two weeks without a hitch. The M3 had beer spilled on it, was dropped, bounced around in the back of a van and baked in the desert sun, all while attached to myself. It's still going strong.

If I ever get time to travel again, I'll take the M3 again, and maybe a wide. maybe.
 
I suppose it depends where you're going and for how long. I would bring a very different kit if i was going to Paris for 2 weeks or on an Alaskan cruise for 8 days (did both so i have tried this). I wouldn't even bother with an SLR or digital in Paris, i had my M6 with a 35mm f1.2 and a friends M3 with a 50 f2. Never felt the need for anything else. In a very colorful place, like asia i've bothered bringing 3 cameras, all different systems, an m6 with a 35mm f1.2 + 50 f2. A canon 5D with a 20mm , 50mm and 70-200 and a hasselblad 501 with an 80 (the hassy was a mistake for sure, but i got great shots for sure)

If i was to get a second M- mount body as a backup/ second body, it would be an R3A, it's got a 1:1 finder and AE if things get crazy.
 
for sport shooting, an M3 and an RD1s always. a CV 15, 21 and 40...they make a great mix and match combo of focal lengths for both cameras. Kodak BW400CN for the M3.

since i still shoot for a living, for jobs in the field i carry an RB67 w/65 or Fuji GW690 and a Digilux3 with standard kit zoom.

i like covering my bets.

-dd
 
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Tom A said:
Out of habit I carry two bodies "in regular use" and three when on a trip. Usually wide,normal (35/40) and a 50/75.
The bodies are all the same mount, usually M-mount and one body serves as a back up in case one of the two working bodies acts up. Depending on where and for how long I am going (one week+) it would be a Bessa R4M for wides (21 and/or 28), a M2 for 35/40 and a MP for 50/75). It all depends too on where I am going, Europe has narrow streets and alley's so the 21 is occasionally supplemented by a 15f4.5 ( it is small enough that it can rattle around in the camera bag without problem). At least one of the lenses would be a higher speed f1.4 or f1.2 - usually the 35 as that is my primary lens.
Everything is tried out before going, bodies have a roll or two going trough them, lenses are checked out and any batteries are replaced with fresh ones before leaving - and even the spares are checked as batteries are prone to discharge or die in its packaging.
The trick is to establish a "standard" kit and keep using that until it becomes second nature. Nothing then worse looking like a tourist. peering at a small screen on the digital or trying to change lenses in the middle of a busy piazza in Italy.
AND never park the rental car, open the trunk and sort through stuff. Always stop a couple of km away, sort out the kit and remove anything looking "touristy" from the interior of the car (maps, jackets etc) and leave the view of the interior clean.
If you are a film shooter. estimate your consumption of film and double it! Standardize on the film too and get to know it before leaving. Experimenting belongs at home, not on a trip you have forked out big bucks for.
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Great sound advice from Tom A!!

Depends where you are going. I've done most of it just a M series and a 35mm lens. If I wanted more it would be another body and a 28 or a 50mm. Also it depends on your style of photography. Lugging DSLR's is for the dogs. Film will withstand x-rays. I have had some 400ASA 120 film slightly damaged, but printable. Travel light, stay safe.
 
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I try to keep it simple and light when I travel:

M8 w/24mm & M6 w/35mm - 75cron and a few rolls of tri x in bag
or
M8 w/24mm & Xpanw/45mm /90mm and a few rolls of fuji 160c
 
Combinations I like and use:

MP and M3 with 50 Summicron and C/V 28f3.5 lenses
M6 w/35 Summicron and R4m with 21f2.8 ASPH lenses
M6 w/50 Summicron and M2 with 35 Summicron
(Canon 50f1.4 and 28f3.5 lenses are rotated in as well)

...and here's my "Let's pretend it is 1960 Mad Men" kit: M2 with 50 rigid Sumicron and M3 with 35 Summicron with eyes
 
Historically, one camera and one lens (M6, 35mm Cron). Sometimes a PS as backup. In the 21st century, one camera and two lenses, (35/50mm Luxes).

Possibly adding 21mm. I prefer a small backpak (Tamrac Adventure-7) as it makes long walking easier than carrying a satchel. On major trip, two Leicas, three lenses.
 
M7 with a 50 'Cron

And a Bessa R with a 35 CV Skopar as a back up

Carrying the M7, with the R in the safe in the hotel

Tons on Tri-X
 
Also depends on ultimate destination. In less safe places dont want to carry best gear. Last weekend in New Orleans made it clear to use caution. Conversely, on a cruise ship no big deal.

Dress down, carry non-photo bags.
 
I take identical bodies (sometimes with diff viewfinder mags). I just prefer to work this way so whichever camer I am using feels exactly the same. I could not work intuitively if using a m6TTL and MP due to different shutter speed dial directions.

If travelling light: 1 body (0.72) with either 28 or 35 and 50. Maybe all three, maybe one (35)
Bit more: 2 bodies (0.58 and 0.72/0.85) 28, 35, 50 and maybe 21.
Bit more still: 3 bodies (0.58, 0.72, 0.85) with 21, 28, 35, 50, 90.

It all depends on what I am doing. A two camera 3-4 lens kit is very versatile and fits into a nice small bag (try a Domke f6) with plenty of room for film.

I think the CV cameras' shutter dials rotate the same direction as the old Leicas a la m6 classic, MP etc. Am I right? For me, having them rotate teh other way would be a show stopper. I deliberately bought MPs in the knowledge that all old Leica bodies would operate the same way. If one has a m6TTL it makes sense to look no further than another TTL or M7.

Rgds
 
notturtle said:
I think the CV cameras' shutter dials rotate the same direction as the old Leicas a la m6 classic, MP etc. Am I right?
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You are right.

I find the 'backwards' dial of the M8/M8.2 less of a problem than I expected, thanks to the simple expedient of leaving it on 'A'.

I've suggested to Leica that when/if they do an à la carte version of the M8.2, they offer a 'right way round' dial as an option.

Cheers,

R.
 
jke said:
What? Aw crap. Next thing you are going to tell me is that we all die in the end or something equally depressing.

Infinity forever!
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Isn't that WAY better than dying in the middle? ;) And the answer for greying beards is just to clip them close. I set the trimmer to 2, in winter, maybe a bit more so I have the deluded belief that it keeps my face warm.

Back On Topic:

Usual- I usually carry one camera, one lens. Depends on how I feel that day. Probably a 35, but now with a Brian Sweeney Zeiss conversion in my hot little hands, I have a funny feeling it will be with me almost always.

Feeling Good- I will bring 2 cameras, a Leica and either the Canon P or Bessa R. The Bessa R, having a meter, saves me from bringing along my Luna Pro, therefore more room, and one more lens. A 35, a 50, and either the 85 (Jupiter 9) or the 100 (Canon 100/3.5)

Load up the Trunk- All the Feeling Good Equipment, a tripod :cool:, the Canonet, the Canon EF :eek: (FD SLR) with the 19mm Vivitar and maybe the Canon IS S3 P&S digi. :eek::eek: In case I run out of film. :mad:
 
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Went on an out-of-town trip today. Took the M5 w/50mm Canon F1.2, slung over my shoulder. In my Camo Army bag, I carried my new M4-2 with winder and Canon 19mm F3.5, extra film, my Minolta Autometer, and my usual day crap.
A good combo.
 
I did a 12 month trip through South America, India, and SE Asia in 2006 with one body (M7), one lens (35mm) and one film (Tri-X) - anything much more is dead-weight (as my quickly discarded SLR found out to its chagrin)

There's something quite liberating about carrying less, and adapting your technique around limited parameters.
 
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