Do you use two of the same bodies?

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Archiver

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@emraphoto mentioned recently that he likes the Panasonic G9 so much that his work kit is now two G9s. Edmond Terakopian uses two G9s and a S1 full frame. I've never used two of the same body because I tend not to buy more than one of any given camera, although I often use a Panasonic GH4 for video and Leica M9 or Canon 5D Mark II for stills when I'm working.

Does anyone use two of the same body, or have you in the past? I've heard of shooters carrying two M3s or M7s on assignments.
 
Yes. I have 2 XPans, 2 M4s, 2 MPs. This is not necessarily to shoot simultaneously, but I do like having color/BW options in the same way as having different film backs in medium format. It’s also because I’m a camera collector, but I do use all of them...
 
Yes, I have two Pentax P3n(s) that I take on trips: 50mm on one and 28mm on the other. I then can change from B&W to Color and 28mm to 50mm.
 
Yes, as a professional photographer it has always been vital for me to have backup equipment. I have two Leica IIIf bodies and a Leica IIIg. I have two Olympus Micro Four Thirds bodies with 20mp sensors (a Pen F and an OM-D E-M1 mark II).
 
When I want to shoot both black and white and colour I'll take two Leica R bodies - the R8 for bw and the Leicaflex SL2 for colour. Both have spot meters that are seemingly exactly the same in result. It also means no doubt about which is which. The downside, I now stoop at a 45 degree angle carrying them around...
 
I have two M4s. One is fairly mint, and I’m somewhat careful with it, the other is user condition and it goes anywhere. The main benefit, though, is being able to load one with FP4 and one with HP5, and to easily choose the film.
 
I have carried two 35mm SLRs at the same time in the past, and I like to maintain the option to do so, but in reality I'm disinclined to do it now.

Having two cameras swinging around at the same time can be maddening, though I realize there are available solutions for this phenomenon.

I have two Minolta X-570s with autowinders, two SR-T 102s (one chrome and one black), two SR-T 101s, and an SR-T 201 that I bought new.

My two main focal lengths are 85mm (my normal) and 28mm. I rarely use anything in between.

Interestingly enough, I prefer the 85mm f1.7 on an X-570 with winder and the 28mm f2.8 on an SR-T. So, If I were to carry two cameras simultaneously, it would be this combination.

In practice, however, I prefer to explore a subject with one focal length at a time, rather than to switch back and forth (or worse yet, zoom).

- Murray
 
I have two OM1n bodies with winders and 28, 35, 50, 85, and 135 lenses. Great for shooting different film stocks and more importantly it gives you the ability to make a "New York Reload". Ever tried to reload a film camera at the height of action and missed the shot completely ? Much easier to swap over and keep right on shooting.
 
All through my film life I carried 2 Topcon bodies and 5 lenses. B&W and Colour slide.
Changed to Nikon in 1972 and repeated the formula. Topcon was discontinued but results between Topcon and Nikon were indistinguishable.
On several long trips I carried an extra body in case of failure. It happened twice with Topcon. Never with Nikon.
Now in digital I still duplicate bodies , a Leica CL and TL2 and sometimes an M10.
I have been known to wear belt and braces.
Philip
 
Archiver said:
Does anyone use two of the same body, or have you in the past?
Click to expand...

I needed two bodies for the following reasons:
1. As backup in case one failed during an assignment.
2. As backup to use while other body was sent to a repair shop.
3. When I needed to use two bodies during an assignment (wide lens on one body and telephoto lens on the other body).
4. When I needed to use the second body while the first body was being reloaded.
5. When I needed to shoot with two different types of film.
6. For weddings, I routinely use two identical bodies and have a third body as a backup in case one fails.

Only once did I have to use all three bodies. I was shooting a wedding in Jamaica and the two bodies (and lenses) I was using became covered with condensation. Thank goodness the third camera (and lens) had not been exposed to the sudden temperature change.

I use two identical bodies for the following cameras:
Nikon F2 35mm SLR (have third body for backup)
Nikon F4 35mm SLR
Nikon N70 35mm SLR
Mamiya RB67 medium format SLR
Canon G15 digital mirrorless
Fuji X-Pro1 digital mirrorless
Fuji S5 digital SLR (have third body for backup)

I only use one body for the following:
Calumet 4x5 inch view camera
Leica M6 35mm rangefinder (when I need a second rangefinder body, I use a Contax G1 35mm rangefinder)
Fuji medium format rangefinder camera (I use two bodies that are similar but they are not identical. One is 6x7cm and the other is 6x9cm. One has a fixed normal lens and the other has a fixed wide-angle lens.)
 
I used to use two bodies, each with different film. Each body also had a different lens, so I had numerous ways to set up for any given shot.

After a while, I found that having these choices actually screwed up my photography - I spent too much time pondering. So now I stick with one camera body, one lens, one film for a few weeks and explore what I can do with that. Of course, if I were a professional or even an amateur producing photos for someone else, I'd definitely go back to multiple bodies, lenses, and film.
 
Used to when I was working; usually colour in one, black and white in the other - two Nikon F2s and lenses, with a Nikkormat body as back up for accident or failure.

For my personal work it has always been just one 35mm camera with a maximum of three lenses, or a Rollei.
 
Old habit for me. Learned as a PJ that multiple bodies were a necessity. Now, decades later, I still have multiple bodies of my cameras. I have 7 Nikon DSLRs and 6 Fuji XPro bodies in regular rotation. I know it's overkill but I seldom get rid of cameras if I like them and I often find good used cameras at bargain prices I can't pass up.
 
I have and regularly use two M3's, but rarely carry both bodies. Usually they are each loaded with different film and I'll grab one or the other, depending. I like being able to carry both if I want, and for once-in-a-lifetime trips and big jobs I'll take both; but partly I have the second because I'd hate to ever be without one.
 
I try to take two bodies on trips if possible (i.e. if I don't have to carry them on my back much), but I don't have two that are exactly the same. I've been meaning to buy a second Minolta XD-7. But when considering buying one, I always get sidetracked because having something different is more appealing... And I suspect the same thing would happen if I had them and needed to decide what to pack. I've realized that having two cameras with lenses that focus in different directions really impedes me. And having different films in the different cameras leads to a random distribution of pictures to the films because lazyness gets the better of me and I decide which camera to use based on which lens is already mounted, rather than on which film would be best. So other than having backup, my main reason to have two is to avoid changing lenses.
 
HCB would have three M if assignment was with color. GW used two.
I had three film M once, but sold two because I use only one.
With getting of digital M I was using it with film M sometimes, but I hate how metal cameras bangs against of each over. I have half-cases now, but like one camera only.
Before C happened I was taking two Nikon DSLRs on my work commute. One for no sun time with 3200 film and another with 400.

Then I see paid ones on events with two or three cameras it looks next to idiotic :)
 
Not since I owned a pair each of Nikon F and S2. I have some complementary sets (Leica M2 and M3, MDa and MD-2, Sony A7ii and A7Sii) but I don't feel the need to have more than one of each individual model any more.
 
Learned long ago the need for three.

Once on a trip away from home, a camera broke, but fortunately I had a second of the same which I used for the remainder. So take two cameras on a trip, with at least two lenses, because I've lenses break on me too, (a 35mm Summicron ASPH, and ironically the focusing on two separate 60mm Elmarits).

On a later trip -- knowing the need for two -- I sent one of two cameras out for service, like 6 months before the trip, thinking it would be back in time. It wasn't. I had to barrow a camera to have two on the trip. Ergo the need for three to be reasonably assured two are available.

But my real formula is seven cameras, one for each day of the week, but we know in photographers math that means you can have eight or nine. :)

If I'm just staying around home, it's one camera and one lens. If I'm away from home for a day, it's usually two camera and two lenses, even if I only use one. On multi-day trips away from home it's 2-3 cameras.
 
Every time I’ve been on a paid job. At the least 2 identical bodies.

You can’t take the time to swap lenses every other shot.

Wide Zoom body - Tele/Prime Body.

Making personal photos with a Leica.. I don’t see the need to have more than one at a time.
 
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