Multiple cameras with Multiple Emulsions

[madNbad]

First off, for years I have been a one camera user. Early on there was a time of multiple cameras and formats followed by the occasional purge toward simplification. The formats varied but for the most part it stayed one camera. About fifteen years ago the one camera became a Leica M6 TTL with the only major change being the first M6 TTL was traded in on a Millennium edition. The Millennium got the royal treatment, including a vacation to the factory for the finder upgrade. It's a joy to use and still my favorite. Then three years ago I retired, allowing more time to peruse the forums and camera shops. First came the M2. An M2 for B&W with the M6 for color, a pretty good combination. That was good for about a year until I came across a Retina IIIc. A nice pocket camera and it was cheap. While the IIIc was having the viewfinder cleaned, I stumbled across a IIc and thought they would make a nice pair. Then there was a thread about bargain cameras and suddenly there is a Nikkormat FT2. So my question to all of the users who have been juggling multiple cameras with different film for years is, do you have any system for matching a film with a particular body or is it just grab a film when it's empty? Yesterday, I decided to give the matching a try:

M6 TTL Millennium: Portra 160
M2, yellow filter: T-Max 400
Retina IIc, yellow filter, T-Max 100
Retina IIIc: empty for the moment
Nikkormat FT2 with 43-86: Portra 400

None of this is carved in stone, the films are familiar and I would like to work with them for a while before branching out. In some ways life was simple with one camera but it is nice to have choices. Any input is always appreciated and I think I'm done with different cameras for a while.

 

[oftheherd]

I too have many cameras, too many. When I have an opportunity to take photos, in 35mm I normally use my Contax 167mt with three zooms, or and a Yashica FX 3 as a backup, or my Fujica ST 901 with a couple or three lenses. I don't worry about changing films as it is easy to do and go back to. I only lose a couple of frames if I have to do that.

 

[Michael I.]

I am a simple guy, leica m2 with 35/2.5 cv color, leica m4 with 35 cron bw. Vivitar 2800 flash for both. Ocassionaly when I need a 28 or 105 lens or ttl flash i use a nikon f90x.

 

[farlymac]

While I have some cameras that seem better for one type of emulsion or another, I'm not adverse to using whatever combo is right at the time. I first pick the camera, then decide what I'll be shooting, and would color or b&w be better. When there is no plan, I like to have color film loaded, since it can always be converted in post.

I've shot events with up to four cameras (3 film, 1 digital) at the same time, always matching film to whatever look the lenses are going to give me.

PF

 

[rbsinto]

I use multiple cameras for multiple lenses, because I always like to have a variety of focal lengths available.
But the film is always the same in all bodies: 100, or once in a while, 400 ISO colour slide.
Robert

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi madNbad,
Absolutely. Different cameras, if they are indeed different (max. shutter speed, metered or not, etc.) are better partners for different emulsions, and even more if different kinds and amounts of light are involved...
90% of my shooting is 400ASA film pushed with a 35mm lens stopped down, so that's my everyday camera, always with me. But sometimes I carry a second body with a fast 50 for 2 reasons: lower light, and selective focus. I used to do it with slower film in the selective focus camera, but some years ago I prefer the same emulsion and neutral density filters: a 3 stop one and a 6 stop one seem to cover everything. All this not even considering color film, just b&w... This way I can open my lens no matter the light, and also be ready for really low light. Same mount is optimal for obvious reasons and emergencies... For trips, I add a long tele too.
When travelling, if I feel like believing less is more, I use just one of the 2 cameras inside my bag. For street shooting I go out with a 35 only, one camera, one film, and yes, that's most of the time. But seriously, there's no way to do everything that way, I mean street/prefocus & portraiture/selective focus & direct sun/overcast/low light with a single camera, lens and emulsion... That doesn't exist, and I wish it did.
That's what I love about RFs, less sound, less weight, less volume, so it's possible to carry a small bag ready for lots of things from fast shooting to slow composition outdoors and indoors.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Spanik]

Different cameras but far less types of film. The main setup has enough backs to have different films in use at the same time: 400 and 100 slide, 400 b/w and something else.

The other cameras get loaded with a type of film because I want to use that camera and that film at that moment. Mostly it then stays in it until the film is used and then or I load the same film or it goes back into the case.

 

[unixrevolution]

With my Pentax bodies, and with most other bodies, I tend to match the features of the camera to the type of film it usually holds. In a multi-camera situation, the AE bodies get slide film or color negative, the metered ones get CN or fast B&W, and meterless get slower B&W. I don't always adhere to this, but it's the method to my madness when I know I'll have multiple films to shoot.

With my RFs, the Electro 35 gets slide, the Leica M2 gets B&W and the Bessa usually gets color. The bessa is also painted green so that reinforces the choice of using color in that 🙂

No matter the implementation, the general concept is sound. You have multiple bodies, put them to work. This is like having interchangeable backs or film holders for a Medium format or Large Format camera.

 

[madNbad]

Thanks for the comments. In the years when I was using large or medium format it was easy enough to have holders or backs loaded with a variety of film. I'll stick with this combination for several months but may swap out for different films of the same speed to see how they compare.

 

[sepiareverb]

I shoot many different cameras, different formats and different films and digitally. I don't dedicate any body/format to any particular film/lens.