Carrying and using two cameras simultaneously/alternately ... how do you do it?

[akptc]

A friend of mine street photographer swears by his belt / waist pack to carry the 2nd camera.

 

[Doug]

A most interesting discussion, and I appreciate hearing the various experiences. I usually carry just one camera at a time, or if driving, I'll have a camera bag with two cameras in the rear seat footwell or trunk, and take out the one I want to use at the time.

Decades ago when wandering the urban waterfront or downtown I had two around the neck on different length straps so as not to bang together. M2 w/35 above a Spotmatic w/85. Not particularly discreet, but more importantly fast into action.

Just a couple years ago on a visit to Puerto Rico we used a parking garage and walked up into Old San Juan for the afternoon. I had two Contax G2 in a camera bag just large enough for both plus a couple extra lenses. I'd pull out whichever camera had the focal length I wanted at the moment. Pretty handy, really, but... Likely I need a gym subscription, as I was soon switching the bag from shoulder to shoulder, and it got to be a real pain.

I kinda like working out of a bag in the car, as someone (Edward Weston?) supposedly opined there was nothing photogenic more than 100 ft (or was that yards?) from the car. 🙂

 

[drewbarb]

I keep straps and leashes on most of my cameras, a habit my dad taught me as insurance against costly accidents. I like straps to be thin and strong, and just long enough so that I can hang a camera around my neck or over my shoulder if need be; though like Raid I often just wrap the strap around my wrist and carry the camera in my hand.

As for bags, I like something small, unpadded, and light weight to sling over a shoulder so it rides on the opposite hip. While I shoot, it holds film and maybe a spare lens or two. It's mostly just a bucket to catch whatever I don't need in my hand. When I'm done, I can chuck everything in the bag and go have a beer.

 

[Turtle]

The easiest way? For me, a Low Pro slingshot 100. Re-do the compartments so when it is against your chest you can pluck the camera of choice. Cant get easier than this and its what I do for my documentary work unless I need more capacity.

Another option is one camera on a long strap but over the shoulder so it falls by your lower right or left ribs. Have the second on a much shorter strap around your neck. The side camera you slide up and across to your eye and it tends not to snag significantly. By doing it diagonally it also controls the camera as you walk about better than in front.

The slingshot 100 option is by far the best solution I have found tho... I use the 200 with three bodies or the Mamiya 7

 

[Turtle]

I have a Domke F6 and although it holds more than the slingshot the latter is far quyicker to use if quickly moving from body to body. The alternative with teh domke is to leave the flap open and tucked away, which invites theft if in a busy environment. The slingshot sits right against your chest so you will spot anyone trying to access it. I have also carried it long distances on my chest (zipped and clipped) in busy high crime places and makes theft very difficult.

 

[FrozenInTime]

You may have to check with a German War Museum for the availability of this. It was apparently standard issue for the Wehrmacht during WW II.

Depending on the parties, openings you cover, you may want to give some thought to the Mauser in the boot.

--Steve

I think I will have a go at making one of these for my pair of M6s : (

 

[Robin Harrison]

Bags and coat pockets, usually. Today I have the Contax TVS in the left pocket, the M8u in the right pocket, and the Polaroid 110A in the bag. 'Change over' time is obvisously not instant, though. I never got on with straps fighting with each other in the same location.

At times I've needed quick change overs, I've made sure both cameras can be held in the hand comfortably, and both cameras can be hung comfortably around the neck, vertically or diagonally. So....exactly what tbarker13 said!

 

[konicaman]

That's easy - two Sun-Snipers. They stay in place and will not make the cameras hit your private parts 😉
No, I was actually thinking of the triple-harness - available soon.

http://www.sun-sniper.com/

 

[easyrider]

How about the wife?

How about the wife?

How about the wife carries the one that's not being used + all other equipment. When you are ready to shoot, she hands you the Leica! When you have finished, you hand it back to her. Why did you get married after all?

(I am ducking for cover 😀 )

 

[Roger Hicks]

But that means I have to carry her ZI SW and 18/4 when she's using the R2 and 50 Summarit.

Cheers,

R.

 

[andrewmore]

Double SLR rig

Double SLR rig

Based on the German Army Leica device.

Strap hangs from one camera to the other.

Works fine.

Made from standard aluminium bar and strip and small metric nut/bolt sets.

Regards

Andrew More

 

[andrewmore]

I guess you actually use this, it is most interesting. Not for me but I can see it useful for some. I usually focus a lens with it cradled in my hand from underneath, I can't see myself able to do this with this arrangement.

With the paired Oly's it is probably lighter than a motorized Nikon F2 or Canon F1 with a short zoom. What lenses do you have on these bodies?

I'm left eyed and right handed so I hold the bottom of the lower camera in my left hand and then focus with the right hand and then move my right hand to press the shutter when I'm happy with what I'm seeing. This would be the way I would use a bigger older camera with a bulky motordrive too.

One has a normal 50mm lens and one has a wide angle (28mm) - just what was on the cameras when I put them together. Could both be the same or one a prime and the other a wide-angle zoom. I need to swap the S/P camera over for another ordinary OM-2 as the S/P model has a flat battery and they are notorious for eating batteries for some reason - my design has four screws that need undoing. I could probably simplify the design and use just two screw sets with wing heads into fixed boses for speed.

Regards

Andrew More

 

[narsuitus]

Compact digital body with wrist strap and f/2-f4 lens (35mm equivalent = 35-140mm)
APS digital SLR body with wrist strap and 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (35mm equiuvalent = 21-36mm)

35mm film body with wrist strap and 35mm f/1.4 lens
35mm film body with wrist strap and 85mm f/1.8 lens

In both situations, I leave the camera bag with my other lenses in the car.

 

[Keith]

Interesting advice so far!

I've now complicated the situation somewhat by deciding to ditch the M8 in favour of a D700 for these shoots ... and it's a lot bigger and heavier than the Leica! 😱

😀

 

[konicaman]

Interesting advice so far!

I've now complicated the situation somewhat by deciding to ditch the M8 in favour of a D700 for these shoots ... and it's a lot bigger and heavier than the Leica! 😱

😀

One of them little elctrical golf cars would be great, me thinks...😀

 

[bean_counter]

I tried two IIIf's with long/short neck staps on a vacation (one 50, one 35/90). It worked, but the experience :bang: convinced me to break down and buy an M.

Now, when I need two, the M is on a neck strap, the IIIf is in the bag w/ a Gordy wrist strap; sometimes if switching between the two a lot, I will let the IIIf dangle from my wrist while I use the M

 

[remegius]

Interesting advice so far!

I've now complicated the situation somewhat by deciding to ditch the M8 in favour of a D700 for these shoots ... and it's a lot bigger and heavier than the Leica! 😱

😀

It's when working with limitations that the skilled craftsman reveals himself. Forget about two cameras. Carry one and make it work.

Cheers...

Rem

 

[migtex]

With RF I usually carry 2 cameras (35/85 or 21/85).
With DSLR depends on the assignment.. lol 2 cameras.. (24-70 on D700 and a 80-400 on d200)
With SLR... one camera.

RF 's, on the neck with different lengths and use the belly ;-) to split them left/right.
DSLR's each on different shoulder.