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

Last week I went for a walk around town just out shooting and the bag got heavy. M3 on my neck, Canon 7 and 50 .95 in bag, and some film and I think I had the 21 biogon with adapter too. My point is, I realized that when I go on vacation ( four weeks from today ), I need to lighten the load, and decide if I really want to take the 50 .95 with me.

I'm thinking:

M3 and Canon 7, Millennium Nikkor or LTM Nikkor 5cm/2, Leica 3.5cm/3.5 LTM ( it's light and tiny ), and Zeiss 21/4.5 Biogon. The Millennium Nikkor and Zeiss 21 require I bring adapters, while I could use the LTMs on the 7.

And then some sort of film P+S--maybe two 🙂

Which film in which camera is another topic.
 
Always a second body: in almost 40 years of Leica use I have had bodies (usually very old ones) stop working.

As I am normally carrying at least two lenses (35+75 as the base outfit) the number of bodies doesn't affect this, though sometimes it's just 1 body, 1 lens.

Cheers,

R.
 
One body and one lens, usually a 28mm, as I did here. A bundle of film. All in a backpack or something else that doesn't look like a camera bag. Usually when I travel the most conspicuous thing about me is me, not my camera. I am 6', 130lbs and have a red beard. That puts me into the distinct minority just about anywhere, even right here at home. 🙂

I've only traveled once with two bodies and two lenses (28 & 50,) and that was here. I find the more camera equipment I carry, the less I am able to travel collaboratively with my wife. And since I like my wife, I limit my camera equipment. I still take plenty of photos, but we have more fun together while traveling.

But there is no right or wrong answer to this question. You have to make up your mind for yourself.
 
I just returned from a trip to Arizona where I brought three cameras: an M2, Canon AE-1, and a Holga. When the M2 was loaded with b&w (Tri-x/Arista 400) the AE-1 was used for color (Kodachrome 64) and vice-versa. The Holga was usually loaded with b&w (Arista/Foma 400). I took the AE-1 because it has a meter, so I could keep my handheld meter set for whatever the M2 was loaded with. I took only the 50/1.4 for the AE-1, but brought a 40, 50, and 90 LTM for the M2. Weight wasn't a problem-- everything fit comfortably inside my bag and I was never particularly far from my car.
I would have taken my IIIc instead of the AE-1, but as mentioned above, it's better to make sure everything works before you leave. I only just got the IIIc back from repairs, and I'm not entirely certain that the shutter is working as it should. If I were certain that it worked correctly, I would have left the AE-1 and the 50 mm M-mount home and taken the IIIc plus an Elmar collapsible in their stead. I have adaptors for the 50 and 90 screwmounts, so I could use 3 lenses on the M2 and 2 on the IIIc.
 
I go with a Ricoh GR-D I as my second camera.

When I want to only use film I'm with Roland, my backup is an SLR with a 28/2.8 AIs combined with my 180/2.8 ED. The 28 is left in the room most of the time, she's really small so it's OK to schlep if I really feel it.

While I had 2 Leicas I can not think of a time when I carried both. Perhaps that is the reason they are gone now. I'm down to on RF.

B2 (;->
 
wjlapier said:
Last week I went for a walk around town just out shooting and the bag got heavy. M3 on my neck, Canon 7 and 50 .95 in bag, and some film and I think I had the 21 biogon with adapter too. My point is, I realized that when I go on vacation ( four weeks from today ), I need to lighten the load, and decide if I really want to take the 50 .95 with me.
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😀

I'm so used to carrying MF and LF gear around, that anything under 20lbs sounds like heaven.
 
Pondering about this questions is one of my favourite pastimes...
A weighty decision to be made over and over again... 😛

Basic: M6 and fast 35mm lens.
Medium: M6, 35mm and 50mm.
Heavy duty: M6, MP, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and Panasonic LX3.
Leica usually loaded with APX 100.

So normally I'd go for the extra lens...
 
I'm about to head out to shoot SXSW in austin.
I Shoot with both of my M8's, and I'm thinking of procuring a third so when and if one of these fail I'll have a spare. Peace of mind is a special thing, I also bring a M6 to get the most out of my wide angles...

Cheers!
 
Most of us probably have the dream of just carrying 1 body/1 lens. That dream of picking up a Round the World ticket, a shoulder bag with a extra set of pants/shirt/underwear/socks and plastic freezer bags with film. Sling that M2/35 or whatever on the other shoulder and go for 3-4 weeks. "Around The World on 80 rolls".
Unfortunately, I used to shoot commercial stuff - everything was duplicated and needed large cases to shift (4x5/Hasselblad/ multiple F or F2's with motors, lenses from ultra wides to longer ones. Flash equipment, reflectors, cables and power cords, flash synch stuff etc. I used to have a beefed up Ford Econoline 250, just to shift the stuff!
I consider it being a vast improvement to be able to carry what I need in a small fishing bag (and so does my back!).
The R4M Bessa is a recent addition (2 years +) to the package - it is used in lieu of carrying multiple finders. It can be used with 21/25/28/35 without a problem and even the 50 works, though smallish. For the last year it has had the 21f4.5 ZM Biogon stuck on it and it is usually paired with either the 28f2 Nokton or the VC 28f3.5. My M2's have 35's on them and the M6/MP takes care of the 50 and/or the 75.
We are heading to Japan for a week towards the end of this month, and that will be 21/4.5 and 28f2 on the R4, M2 with the Nokton 35f1.4 and possibly the R3M for the 75 and 50 (it has free standing 75 frames which makes it easier to use - no "mix" up as with the M6/MP). Not a small package, but it is portable, even for long hikes through cities.
OK. I am still dreaming of that kit, the M2 and a 35 and bags of Tri X!
 
Like Tom said, an extra body is good in case something goes wrong or you want to use different kinds of film. I usually take a serious camera and a small camera (e.g. rangefinder and P&S).
 
I'm used to bring a Leica M3 for low light and a Konica Hexar AF for the quickies. Carrying 28mm, 50mm and 90mm and external multifinder.

Might also consider bringing an M5 since X-mas, and will continue to bring an M8, but the Hexar always is second body. Flash, IR-focus, Auto-focus, spot metering, etc. Best bang for the buck ever
 
I'm going through this decisioning process at the moment as I'm off to Rome for a long weekend in a fortnight. I'm planning on taking my M7 with 15, 28/2.8 and 50/1.4 lenses but I know I'll probably quaver and stick the MP in the bag too and possibly the 75/2....

I took largely that setup on a long SE Asia trip this time last year and decided it was just too much to carry, so I may discipline myself for the Rome weekend and see what happens.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Believe me, it'll go white distressingly soon. Red/gold beards are very poor on colour-fastness.

Cheers,

R.
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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!
 
I was a serial overpacker for years when I would bring my M7, several lenses and maybe even a DSLR with me. I soon realized that schlepping all that gear gave me "too many" choices if that makes any sense. I had a much better experience just bringing one body and one lens for short trip and one body and two lenses for longer trips. Made me concentrate on shooting and not worrying. You are bound to miss some shots, but with TSA and air travel, more gear = more trouble. That being said I am thinking of picking up a G9 and stuffing it in my briefcase.......
 
historicist said:
Nearly always I just take one camera and one lens - most often a Rolleiflex. But if I was going on a big trip, I would take another camera as well, in the past a small af compact for snapshots.
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That's me. I love all my RF stuff, M3,, IIIa Contax and all the lenses, but for travel I find the Rollei TLR ideal. My wife always has her little digi.

Vic
 
I used to carry two Barnacks, one dedicated 50mm, the other 35/90 (with VIOOH(?) finder).

I now carry an M, and usually one Barnack w/Elmar 50/3.5. All my lenses are LTM +/- adapter. The Barnack slips in the pocket easy enough to carry when I don't want to carry the M. And it's a back-up, tho I have never needed it.
 
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