camera combos

FrankS

FrankS

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...warning: gearhead thread...

While there are some RFF members who think owning more than one camera is folly, I know that most of us do have more than one. My question is, how do your multiple camera bodies work together for you?

I've recently shaken up my 35mm RF gear by selling my M5 and M6, something I never thought I'd do. But now I have 2 M2's, an MDa, and 2 screwmount Leicas. When I put a kit together in my bag, I can put a 50 lens on one M2, a 35 lens on the other, and a CV21 lens on the MDa. This is everything that I would need in any situation for RF photography without needing to switch lenses. If I'm feeling more elemental, I could put a 50 and a 35 (or 28) on the 2 screwmounts, with ext. finders.

How about you? How do you rationalize your kit?

I've left out MF for simplicity's sake.
 
I just hope you have a good chiropractor.

You are certainly a gearhead - but that's harmless enough in the great order of things.
 
I am lucky. I only own a Kiev in 35mm RF interchangable lens cameras. I have a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm. I add some film, Gossen Luna Pro SBC, and whatever is my choice of MF folders, usually a Fuji or Welta. Oh, a Russian finder of course. Still a small kit. Wish I had a 28mm, I would probably carry that in place of the 35mm.

You are probably right to leave out MF. There is no simplicity there. They are big, althought with a relatively small aluminum case, I make do.

EDIT: I forgot the Vivitar flash which I never seem to use.
 
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I've also gone through a lot of body sales/replacements in the last year. I now just use two MPs, one a 0.72x and the other a 0.85x mag. I have a 35/2 on one and a 75/2 on the other. This covers about 95% of what I shoot. Both of these go into an F-803 type satchel along with a 24/2.8 in case I run across the other 5%. For me this is also a perfect travel kit. I'm thinking about getting a third body ostensibly for backup but that wouldn't fit in the small satchel but would comfortably fit in the Domke F-2. I'm on the fence - I do want to keep my gear to a minimum and if I spend these days it is to try out glass. These two bodies are great and I may just stick with them.
 
I got rid of an M2 body recently. I hadn't planned on buying one but it came with a whole bunch of other stuff at a give-away price. I usually carry an M-2R set up with a 35 Summicron and an M3 set up with an 85/2 Nikkor. Sometimes I'll have another M2 with either a 135/2.8 (rarely) or a 21/3.4 depending on the shoot. I always carry my Bessa L with the 15mm Heliar. If I'm "travelling light" and think I'll need something not as wide as the 15 I bring along a CL with the 40mm Summicron. I used to also have a Leicaflex SL with a 180/2.8. I like working with the three M bodies because they all feel the same. I usually carry the body with the 35 hanging from my right wrist, a few wraps of the neck strap around the wrist. It'll just hang from my wrist while I'm using another camera/lens combo. The 15 and/or 21 rigs are around my neck.
The 85mm rig hangs from my right shoulder, a bag from my left. If I'm using a 135 or 180 it hangs from the same shoulder as the bag. A Weston Master V meter with incident converter is in my shirt pocket. I carry a 1976 vintage original Leica bag, the tan canvas one now sold as the Leica Classic. Sometines I'll carry extra film in some little belt pouches.
 
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I tend to do something like this if traveling: One "system" camera body and several lenses (could be an SLR or a rangefinder), then a good point and shoot such as the Ricoh GR1 for when I don't want to carry lots of stuff, and finally the Bessa L with the 15mm for interiors.
 
Count me as contrary, but I usually have one (gasp) SLR and one RF... or occasionally, a DSLR and a RF. Any combo of Olympus w/several fixed lenses (for play) or a Nikon F801 w 28/80(?) zoomer (for work) and either a CV Bessa L or R or one of the Canons.

PS - also always have a waterproof 35 with me - Nikonos or my lovely (ugly, really) Konica AF.
 
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Frank, as my Momma used to say, "A place for everything and everything in its place!" Grabbing a camera for a shot should be intuitive. No time to think. Which lens to use? The frame lines are engraved in my brain. Always keep the lenses focused closer to infinity so you KNOW which direction to turn them. Don't fiddle to fine tune, just stop turning when the rangefinder patch images mate up. Notice the jump in contrast when they do? I use that to focus when there's no time to remove my reading glasses. Always guesstimate the exposure before making a meter reading. Use the reading to confirm your exposure. If you meter first you'll never learn to judge the brightness. Today, outside, it's in the mid 80's, hazy sun, so I'll use the "hazy 11 rule"...LOL
 
Al Kaplan said:
Frank, as my Momma used to say, "A place for everything and everything in its place!" Grabbing a camera for a shot should be intuitive. No time to think. Which lens to use? The frame lines are engraved in my brain. Always keep the lenses focused closer to infinity so you KNOW which direction to turn them. Don't fiddle to fine tune, just stop turning when the rangefinder patch images mate up. Notice the jump in contrast when they do? I use that to focus when there's no time to remove my reading glasses. Always guesstimate the exposure before making a meter reading. Use the reading to confirm your exposure. If you meter first you'll never learn to judge the brightness. Today, outside, it's in the mid 80's, hazy sun, so I'll use the "hazy 11 rule"...LOL
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Al, that's exactly what my goal is and what I'm working towards.
Throw in pre-focus/zone focus as well, so all that's left to do is raise the camera and capture the moment.
This is why I prefer manual everything cameras.
Getting closer and closer.
 
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i could not be happier with my kit. it seems odd but i have not been tempted to change a thing (except for adding an rd1 down the road).

i love the smaller 21 and 35 zm lenses. the 25 is sweet and the 50 sonnar is perfect for something a bit different. i have 2 bodies, the zi and an r4a which is mated to the 21 so no finders. the 25 on the zi w/o a finder also.

my problem these days is figuring out what ultra wide zoom for the a300 ;

joe
 
Recently, when going somewhere by car, my messenger bag (some spare rolls of film and one M-lens), one M around my neck and the Rolleiflex over my shoulder. Without car (or going to work), it is usually only one M with one lens in the bag. If it starts raining I can store everything inside this bag (Rolleiflex + M + extra lens). I usually don`t change lenses except for landscapes, when I have enough time (21 or 90mm).

Minimalistic approach, IIIf with the Summitar or the (hopefully soon arriving Summaron).

I always carry my small Sekonic with me but since I shoot 90 % at night, the usual setting is f/1.4 1/15s or 1/30s or f/1.0 1/30s or 1/60s (using Tri-X at box speed). Focus is always pre-set to 3m.
 
Keith said:
These days I go out specifically to shoot mostly with the R4a with a 25mm and the R3a with a 50mm and a 35mm lens in the bag just in case. The camera that seems to go everywhere generally is the R3a and 50mm!
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Same here... same gear... even same first name :D

On extended trips, a Biogon 25/2.8 on an R4A, a ZM Planar 50/2 on an R3A and a Nikon 105/2.5 in the bag. Or, if I go with an SLR kit, a Nikon 24/2.8, ZF Planar 50/1.4 and Nikon 105/2.5 on an FM3A.

When I'm just out for the day, either a ZM Planar on the R3A or ZF Planar on an FM3A.
 
I have owned alot of gear over the years. somewhere along the line money got into the mix.

Fortunately, I am not a "professional photographer" where I have to think about every contingency. I have whittled down my street gear to an MP/35 summi ASPH combo. Gives me a tremendous sense of freedom travelling with a single camera/lens. In the past I have combined a Nikon with my Leica on planned shoots -- seems to work for me.
 
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ClaremontPhoto said:
I use three serious cameras all ready to go, and with different film in each one.

But I only ever carry one camera with me: the others stay behind on the desk.
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Hey Jon, how about lenses? Do you go with just one on the camera, or do you put an extra one or two in your pocket ad then switch lenses in the field? I suppose if you know your area well enough, you can anticipate what you're going to shoot and may require only one lens.
 
FrankS: Good point. I take one camera with a lens, and a film in my pocket if I'll be more than five minutes from home.

The light will not change during the next hour or so. The location I have in mind has not changed in a hundred years or so. That determines the film in the camera, the speed of the lens needed and the focal length of the lens.

Anything more is GAS.
 
I'm happy with my current kit, the rationalization:
A ZI with my 50mm summilux has a look that I really like and now I'm a little more use to the lens so it has been working well for street. This lens is my available light lens and on the ZI it is easy and fast to operate. The AE on the ZI really is great and is very similiar to my other camera in the kit...
The xpan. I have the 45mm lens on this camera and this allows me to go wide and get those shots, but with a unique pano view. Both these cameras have a similiar feel and work great for my main photographic interests, street and landscape.
Between these two cameras I have the freedom I need... and I have fun being able to switch back and forth: from wide to tight, or color to B&W, and the summilux really helps in balancing the 45mm available light limitations. By limiting my choices for lenses, it has really helped me focus on composition and being quicker with my gear.
This kit is pretty light and fits into a small bag for travel or just out for the day.

Cheers.
Jason
 
Based on my experience in Europe last summer, photo opps are more highly concentrated there than around where I live. I need to drive to get anywhere interesting. That influences the amount and variety of gear I take. When we stayed in that southern French village for a week, I often walked around with just a camera and a 35mm lens. If I found anything that this couldn't photograph, the rest of my gear was just a 5 or 10 minute walk away.
 
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