Daily User

[FrankS]

The luxury of having several cameras is that one can choose the best camera for different applications. I've hit on a particular combination of camera and lens that (for now) is my daily user, the one I schlepp to and from work, when photography is not a priority and I just want to have a camera with me just in case a photo op. arises. My criteria are: ease of use (this means built-in meter), small size and light weight, not so valuable that it would kill me to lose it or have it stolen, and fully capable. For me, this means my Bessa R with I-22 collapsible lens. (50mm, f3.5, Elmar copy)

It's a bit odd that my daily user is not my favourite camera or lens. For favourite 35mm, I'd select the M3 with 50mm M-mount collapsible Summicron.

Are there others with multiple cameras who do this too?

 

[back alley]

i carry my digital canon g2 mostly.

joe

 

[wlewisiii]

Well, I carry my favorite just about everywhere I go - my bag with my Kiev 5 kit and lenses. I do keep my Agfa Karat 36 in my glove compartment though so that I always have some camera along. I need to find another camera to stash in the glove compartment of my wife's car as well; perhaps another folding 35... hmm... or that Fed 5 I broke down and got for $9.99...

One of the reasons I love my Kievs so much is that I can have them be my daily users without any significant worry. Yes, I'd be deeply bummed if the 5 were lost/stolen/broken, but it wouldn't break the bank to replace it unlike a Leica or other such camera.

William

 

[GeneW]

I like small fixed-lens RF's for schlepping cameras. The one I currently use for this is the Oly 35RC I picked up from Joe.

Gene

 

[FrankS]

i carry my digital canon g2 mostly.

joe

Oh, Joe! Say it isn't so! How about your rc35 like Gene?

 

[back alley]

the problem i have with carrying a film camera for daily use is that i rarely actually take a pic, so the film sits in the camera forever.
with digital, i can see & process it when i get in at night.

joe

 

[impact07]

I usually carry a beater camera with me, "just in case". Maybe my Kiev, or a Zorki, but more often something different; a holga, my Pentacon, Rolleicord (when it worked), Zero Pinhole, Lubitel, etc. My favorite combo is my MP, with the collapsable Elmar, and my Zorki C with the collapsable Industar as a backup. I just don't feel comfortable having my main bag sitting in my office for someone to steal all day.

 

[denishr]

Frank, you should not have sold me your Canonet!
It fits the bill perfectly 🙂
Just two days ago rain caught me in the woods, and boy, was I glad I had the Canonet with me, and not the M6 😉
No, the Canonet DID NOT get wet. I did, though...

Denis

 

[chenick]

Today I have an Olympus XA with me, an Olympus 35SP (w/B&W film) in the car and a small digital P&S (Pentax Optio S)

-Nick

 

[FrankS]

Denis, I'm glad the Canonet went to you. I could never have shown it those lovely European vineyards that you take it to. (pic from Camera and Coffee) Fixed lens RF cameras don't do it for me for some reason.

 

[Solinar]

Frank, does the Industar clear the innards of the Bessa R when it collapses?

This Spring my daily schlepper has been a FED 2 with a collapsible Industar 50 with color film. On special occasions I run a roll or two through Zorki 3, which is my other daily driver. A daily driver is something that can be readily replaced.

Previous daily drivers include an Oly 35RC and before that an XA.

 

[kiev4a]

Most often I haul around my Contax II and a Gossen meter almost as big as the camera. Once in a while I carry a Nikon FM. Recently, I've been keeping a Mamiya C220 within reach -- not really a "pocket" camera.

 

[FrankS]

Andrew, the I-22 (FED) lens is collapsible and it does clear the innards of the Bessa. Larger collapsible lenses like the 50mm Summicron and Canon F1.9 get hung up.

 

[Solinar]

My 50 Cron barely, just barely squeezes into my Bessa R, but alas I'm not bringing that rig to my work place. I'd never see a pay raise again, if I did. It's better to humour the muckity mucks with Russian range finder and a sprinkling of Oly 35's.

 

[FrankS]

Andrew, my Summicron fits too, but with a slight bump or hitch. I don't want to keep doing that because the damage would be cummulative and the camera's light meter sensor is right there.

 

[Kin Lau]

Like Joe, my daily camera is a little Canon A70 digicam (when my sister isn't borrowing it). Small, easy to use and I don't have to wait till I shoot the whole roll first.

I do keep a Minolta SLR kit in the car, and I'm usually shooting a different RF each week or two.

Even then, all three serve completely different functions. The digicam is a p&s, and the zoom range is limited. The SLR has a wider range and I usually have colour film in it. The RF's almost always have b&w film only, so my shooting style is different.

 

[GeneW]

the problem i have with carrying a film camera for daily use is that i rarely actually take a pic, so the film sits in the camera forever.
with digital, i can see & process it when i get in at night.

I have that problem with my carry-around cams as well. You got me thinking.
Bulk loaded short 12exp rolls of Tri-X would be perfect. The light switched on! 🙄

Gene

 

[peter_n]

Are there others with multiple cameras who do this too?

I only wish. 🙁 Maybe I should invest in a daily user...

 

[Roman]

Andrew, the I-22 (FED) lens is collapsible and it does clear the innards of the Bessa. Larger collapsible lenses like the 50mm Summicron and Canon F1.9 get hung up.

That is great news!
Since the J-12 does not fit, I never even though about trying the I-22 on the R - which I will do right away!

Roman

 

[Roman]

OK, just tried - does your I-22 collapse all the way on your R? Mine hits a ledge inside the body a few mm before being completely collapsed...

Roman