2 bodies?

[Robin P]

Just taking a camera along on the off chance of a snap I'm happy with one but for travel or a specific day out then taking two bodies can save a lot of lens changing.
Apart from the occasional fun with a 60's or 70's fixed lens RF I'm strictly digital thse days and use a Samsung NX20 (with short zoom) and an NX10 (with long zoom). The 16mm and 30mm pancakes are so small they can be slipped into the bag too and both cameras are set to do automatic sensor cleaning at start up so no worries with dust so far.

 

[twopointeight]

For pro work that can't be re-photographed: 5DMK2 with 3 primes. A 40D stays in the hotel safe for back-up. At night I might switch to an OMD with a 25mm and 45mm, just to wander lightly. I'll carry more if there's a car and/or assistant. Otherwise, if not working on anything, the OMD for now. Miss a good optical viewfinder.

 

[Tijmendal]

Most of the time, I only have a single body with me (that is to say I always have AT LEAST ONE body with me), but that's because mostly I don't go 'out shooting'. I'm more the type of shooter that always has a camera on him and shoots whenever he 'needs' to.
When I'm away from home it's a different story of course.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I carry two bodies (currently a Leica M and a Ricoh GXR-M). There are a couple of reasons. One is that I like to avoid lens switches in case something happens all of a sudden but I have the wrong lens mounted.

The other is that I'm afraid I drop stuff. It's bad enough when it's lenses (I have had to have three of my M lenses repaired for this reason), but sometimes it's bodies. On a rare trip to Cuba, I dropped my Olympus OM-4 on a stone floor. The next day I realized it was giving me wrong exposures. Luckily I had an OM-3 body to use instead. Bad things happen....

Tom

 

[helen.HH]

done with film cameras helen???

Well just sold my M4...Got an M5 & a IIIc
Its Time to use what I have for the next few years, push & see my two 'new' friends capabilities

 

[lukitas]

M3 with the summitar and the leicameter, M2 with the jupiter 35mm, an elmar 90 for in case, a light meter and film.
If one body should fail, the other will serve.
I need a better wide angle.

 

[jbielikowski]

2 bodies concept is the main reason of my GAS lately. Trouble is I'm searching for a buddy for my Nikon F, and its too good to end up as a back up camera. But a back up for the F? Thats a blasphemy, they dont need one. So I'll end up with second Dynax 7 for money making- last wedding with one body and two primes (24+50) was a juggle madness.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Redundancy was part of my rocket science education.
So...
If you are in the capsule back to Earth. Some things needs to be redundant, or you are not going to make it. X5 factor redundant, for some parts.

Photography.
If you have contract where you promise to have your picture in digital MF, or you take it on M9 (FF) for unique look with lens which costs $10K - you might want same body backup, at least. For IQ reasons.
If you are in the Mountains Nepal, where they flash down to the river their feces and dead bodies - any camera will do if you need it to be documented.

99.9% of us here going to make it with iPhone 🙂 or good consumer level digital camera. I included.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Having 2 is a waste of time/money, unless you are Pro or have very specific needs imo. If the one you use fails, just go to the shop and buy a new better cheaper one. 2nd body digital is just an over invest and money trickling steadily away while it sits in your bag ...

Waste of money maybe but time? How can you possibly waste time by carrying a second body around? Also money can be discussed because missing a picture is also a waste of money. If you are a pro this is trivial but also if you are not it is so in my opinion as you get somewhere, spend money on your hobby and you come back with nothing...

I never use two bodies, I have almost always three: two DSLR and a small camera for snaps.

GLF

 

[sanmich]

Film= more than one body is useful

RF (exclude zooms) = more than one body is pretty darn useful, specially considering different VF magnifications.

Using a leica in a remote country = long and complicated to repair your camera. You need a backup.

All of them together: you got the point, I have 4 of them and feel ok with that 🙂

 

[Calzone]

Having 2 is a waste of time/money, unless you are Pro or have very specific needs imo. If the one you use fails, just go to the shop and buy a new better cheaper one. 2nd body digital is just an over invest and money trickling steadily away while it sits in your bag ...

Having and using are the difference to me. I often will carry two M-bodies with lenses with different FOV's. I also sometimes carry two Nikon F3's with spread FOV's; sometime a Plaubel 69W Proshift and a Rollie 3.5F; sometimes a Fuji GL690 and a GM670...

I'm no pro, using two cameras is never a waste of time, none of my cameras I would consider cheap, and each camera is rigged as the best tool for each shot. If you don't use your backup, meaning second camera, I would agree with you that it is a waste.

Cal

 

[Rodchenko]

I often carry more than one camera, for various reasons.

In the past, I used to carry an OM-1 loaded with black and white, and an OM-40 (yeah, I know) with colour. I used to swap my various prime and zoom lenses between them as appropriate.

With digital, I'm not sure what I'd gain from carrying two bodies. Sure, I'd like to have a back up (maybe at home) if some of the magic woofle dust inside the electrickery decided to play up. But for shooting? Would I carry an EP5 (I wish!) with a 17/1.8 (ditto!) alongside an EPL1 with a 14-42 zoom? I'm not sure I wouldn't, but it's only really the laziness of not wanting to change the lens on the main body that would make me, I think, which is rather lame.

 

[benlees]

I usually have my phone with me. Makes a handy back up. Do the results look like MF? No, but oh well.

 

[doolittle]

When traveling I will usually bring two cameras, one digital and one film, which take the same lenses (usually M8 and MP). Or if traveling light one serious camera and Olympus XA in my pocket. I like to have it for a backup and for the different creative options it allows (e.g. different film etc.). If I am just out for a while, I will just bring one camera. If I am going out to capture something special (family event etc.), I will bring a second body.

 

[seakayaker1]

Have two bodies with me the majority of the time.

1. MP & M6, one for color, one for B&W, and occasionally take along a 3rd lens.

2. Rollieflex 75/3.5 & Mamiya 7II, one for color, one of B&W.

3. M9 & (GF1 or K5IIs)

 

[taemo]

my go to camera is the x100s, fixed focal length and non-interchangeable lens keeps me focused on composition and subject instead of worrying about gears.
but when I feel like I need a change I have an M6, X-Pro1, QL17III, XPAN and 500cm depending on my need.
when travelling I tend to bring the x100s and X-Pro1 and maybe the Xpan or the M6

 

[zwarte_kat]

For personal work, just the X100, or sometimes my Canon 6D if I think I need my telephoto zoom (festivals and events where I probably can't get close).

For pro work, 2 Canon bodies, plus usually also my x100 just because I want to, for when I am commuting/drinking.

If I shoot video too, we are talking trolly suitcase with loads of stuff.

For pro work, I often think that people starting off are way to obsessed with the camera body, and don't realize they need other stuff as well (like a second body).
For that I always say: Don't buy a camera body of which you cannot afford two. I think this applies to a lot of things BTW...

Went to Malaysia for a month with just a X100, didn't regret it for a second! Same thing now that I am 2 weeks in Rotterdam. Just bring plenty of batteries!

 

[2WK]

Lately I have been carrying an Xpro1 with the 18mm, and Monochrom with 50mm. I like the 27/28 equivalent for environmental shots and then the MM for portraits. I can then also use the Summilux on the fuji as a telephoto, and that is pretty amazing.

 

[shadowfox]

I only have one bag that goes with me practically everywhere.
So at least 2 bodies.

Besides, I haven't yet found a way to use only one body and be able to shoot both 35mm and 120 film.

 

[Dirk]

Yup, always need to have a back-up body to justify GAS. 😉 However, I have never really needed one in real life.