Backup Camera

I prefer using an M3 with longer lenses like an 85, 90, or 135 but I also use the M3 with the 15 and 21 where I need a seperate finder anyway. I always have the same film loaded in all the cameras. No mistakes that way, and I treat the bodies the same way I treat Hasselblad magazines. It's faster to switch bodies than reload them. I've gotten quite adept at grabbing a lens in each hand, depressing the release buttons with the knuckles on my thumbs and doing a fast switch between cameras. Usually once I'm down to just a few shots left on a roll and there's a break in the action I'll sacrifice the unshot bit of film and do the switch. It sure beats running out of film. Three cameras is ideal.

Remember The A-Team TV show? I have this fantasy of joining them on a mission, documenting it on film, as they land the chopper on Tom's roof, go in through an upper floor window, and liberate all of those IXMOO cassettes from their lives as slaves to a perpetual tester! They deserve to have some fun in their lives, don'tcha think? What say you, Tom?
 
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robklurfield said:
I pointed out a 35/3.5 summaron in the store to her; she said she thought it was "cute." I think my wife was abducted and replaced by an alien pod person. 26 years of marriage and she starts making comments that encourage me to spend money on gear? definitely an alien abduction scenario. my real wife would never say such a thing. the alien is close match to the real thing, so I think I'll stick with the alien for now. Tom, you can be my explanation for why I need another 35.
Click to expand...

Please do refer to me for that "spare" 35. I much like company in this madness of duplicating (and, yes, in some cases triplicating kits!!!) It is an excellent excuse for trying out various combinations too.
 
Remember The A-Team TV show? I have this fantasy of joining them on a mission, documenting it on film, as they land the chopper on Tom's roof, go in through an upper floor window, and liberate all of those IXMOO cassettes from their lives as slaves to a perpetual tester! They deserve to have some fun in their lives, don'tcha think? What say you, Tom?[/QUOTE]

Hah, I have the ultimate defense. Mr B would shred the A-team with one paw tied behind his back. I would just point out that his food bowl was part of the "heist"!
 
Backup camera ? I am glad that I have my M4-P as some kind of "back-up". My main user cameras seem to fail only shortly before going to a trip... Two years ago, my MP and this year my M7. :bang: Without my M4-P I would have lost many photo opportunities.
 
Follow up question. Which is a better choice for backup camera:
Canon P
Bessa L
Bessa T

Of course most of the time it will be attached with the super wides.
 
Of course the answer is no, if you're not a pro. Convenient, yes. But necessary, no. It would probably make more sense to spend your money on another lens, more film, or something else that can help you produce, rather than a backup body.
 
bwidjaja, neither of the three are great all around back-up cameras. The Canon P won't accept M bayonet lenses. The Bessa L lacks both a rangefinder and built in viewfinder, while the Bessa T still requires an accessory finder regardless of which lens you stick on it.

What camera, which lens mount, are you backing up? Will it be used as an all around back up (go for an R model) or spend the majority of its life wearing an ultra-wide (pick the L) or a 135 Tele-Elmar (go for the T). You'll still have to deal with the screw/bayonet conundrum but an adapter takes up little room in your bag

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
 
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I am planning to have a second camera as an addition to a Leica M2. I was leaning toward the Bessa L as that is the primary use of it for the super wide LTM lenses. However, I was thinking just in case i need a backup, at least Bessa T has the rangefinder. Canon P would work, but heavy.
 
I don't have a "backup" (unless it's the IIIf that sits in the cupboard) but I do usually have two cameras with me if I'm on a project or traveling. I used to carry two Nikkormat FTn's plus about six lenses, but the bulk and weight got to me. I kept one and gave the second one to my daughter.
Now I have two Bessas - R3A and R4A using the same lens pool. Depending on circumstances I will have colour in one and B&W in the other, or two different speeds of B&W in them - ISO 100 and either 400 or 1600.
If I'm just out for a walk or a drive then I only take one.
 
ferider said:
Think about it like this: does anybody carry two copies of the same lens ?

Canon P is great, BTW.
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No, but I do usually carry at least two lenses. If one goes down, I'll still have one.

But I will say that I was much less concerned about backup cameras when I used film exclusively. Digital cameras are computers. And there are too many things that can go wrong with computers for me to have that same level of trust.
 
Not saying a second body is bad, Tim. But: if you decide to carry a second body, pick it not only for backup purposes. But for a different viewfinder, different film, AE versus manual, etc. Then its primary purpose is to be used along the first body.

IMO, the ideal "backup" for an M2 is an M3. Just like carrying two lenses.

My 2 cents.
 
Still there, Thomas. Bodies are interchangeable. I'm down to a spartanic set of 2xM2, 2xM3, 1xM4P and 1xM6 🙂
 
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ferider said:
Not saying a second body is bad, Tim. But: if you decide to carry a second body, pick it not only for backup purposes. But for a different viewfinder, different film, AE versus manual, etc. Then its primary purpose is to be used along the first body.

IMO, the ideal "backup" for an M2 is an M3. Just like carrying two lenses.

My 2 cents.
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Oh, I don't necessarily disagree. I guess that is one of the reasons the backup for my M8 is actually a Nikon D300. I find the DSLR to be much better - for me - when it comes to telephoto. I really love my 85/1.4. And just picked up a 180/2.8. If the M8 goes down, I can always use the D300 with wider lenses. Not ideal. But not an awful solution either.
 
There are good reasons besides GAS for having a backup! 😀 Years ago I got some good advice in another context... When you find the gear that suits you best, get another one like it. This will fill in when the other is in for repair, has been lost or stolen, or if seized as evidence in court!

They need not be exactly identical; I'd say they might be different models, very similar, that work the same and take the same accessories. Maybe one chrome finish and the other black, just to make it easy to tell one from the other.

For those who mention carrying two different format sizes (say, 35mm and MF), how do you decide which to use for what shot? I would figure all my shots deserve the best available resolution... unless it's a matter of being able to have the smaller one at hand and not the larger. In that regard, when traveling I do carry a tiny Canon p&s in a belt pouch that is easily reached at times the camera bag isn't.
 
bwidjaja said:
I am planning to have a second camera as an addition to a Leica M2. I was leaning toward the Bessa L as that is the primary use of it for the super wide LTM lenses. However, I was thinking just in case i need a backup, at least Bessa T has the rangefinder. Canon P would work, but heavy.
Click to expand...

Like you, I have an M2. I also have a Bessa T and a Canon P. As a second body to use w/ wide lenses, I'd go w/ the Bessa T, particularly if I'm also carrying around the M2. M2 + 50, Bessa T + 28 (or wider in your case) is a great combination, and not too heavy.
 
Last weekend we went down to San Francisco for a couple of days and my wife put a stop to my usual angst about which camera, Leica or Rollei TLR. "Take both of them!" So I did just that, and just as we arrived up at Twin Peaks, the Rollei shutter packed up. No problem, says my wife, and out came the Leica. Henceforth, I'll keep doing that. Solves two problems. I like to shoot landscapes sometimes and the Rollei does that very well. Leica's a great street shooter, but so is the Rollei.
Vic
 
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