One or more

[Bill Pierce]

If I don’t think I’ll be taking any pictures, I carry one small camera with me anyway. When I’m photographing on the street or in other situations where I don’t want to attract attention, I carry one small camera. Outside of that I’m definitely in the “more than one” school of camera carrying.




I’m scared of getting dust on camera sensors and having to remove the dust spot on every frame of a digital take; so, I don’t like to change lenses in situations where I can’t do it carefully, slowly and usually with an air blower at my disposal. Therefore, multiple bodies are certainly understandable, especially when using fixed focal length lenses for their speed and smaller size, but I see folks, including myself, using multiple zoom lenses in situations like sports, public meetings and theatre where you work from a fixed position.




While dealing with that old devil, Dust, is an unpleasant necessity, but there are other obvious advantages to using multiple bodies. Changing lenses on a single body creates downtime where you can’t shoot. And there is the worst case scenario - camera failure, never pleasant but a little less devastating if you have a back up.




I remember once, in the pre digital, film-only days, seeing Gene Smith with 6 camera bodies strapped around him - wide angle, normal and longer focal lengths with three bodies loaded with black-and-white film and three bodies with color film. That was unusual, even for Gene, but there they were - 6 identical camera bodies. I think in most cases two bodies, sometimes three, do the job. But I also know there are a lot of folks saying, “You are an idiot. Why do you need more than one camera?”




So, which camp are you in? (1) Cartier-Bresson only used one body and one lens. No one needs more than that. (Actually, he did have a wide-angle and a longer lens; he just didn’t use them much. And, I bet, he had a back up body, just in case.) (2) Freedom of choice is important to me; so, I use more than one camera.




And, of course, the really important question - if you use more than one camera, how do you carry them?

 

[lynnb]

Like you Bill, I when I'm out but not anticipating taking any pictures I carry a small camera in addition to my cell phone. Usually an XA or Rollei 35S.

Otherwise I'm in the multi-camera group - I usually carry a small Billingham for Leica bag with either a CL or Barnack with just one lens, and either a compact medium format camera (most often a folder; sometimes a TLR but that's a squeeze), or an Instax camera.

Sometimes I'll pack two Barnacks with different films or lenses e.g. a 21mm and a 50.

If I need more space I'll take a cheap generic canvas satchel bag I bought from the markets, with a camera bag insert that will take 3 cameras, or two with some additional lenses. That's a more comfortable fit for the TLR or an SLR with some primes, and I can usually squeeze in the Rollei 35 or XA.

Most times while I walk around I carry one of the small cameras in my hand with a wrist strap. I like to be able to respond quickly when I see something.

 

[JeffS7444]

For stuff close to home, I usually carry one camera, whichever one happens to suit my whim at the moment (this week: Olympus Pen-F + 14-42EZ pancake zoom lens). I'm pretty good about ensuring that the battery is charged and SD card is installed.

Farther afield, I'm happy enough to back the primary camera up with a compact camera, and the second camera can do more than provide a little extra insurance, it can extend my range of available focal lengths. In the case of Sony's HX99, up to "700 mm equivalent". Small-sensor performance to be sure, but my FF lens arsenal may be as simple as 35 and 50 mm

 

[Timmyjoe]

For event coverage and sports it was always two DSLR bodies and zooms. For personal projects, especially more than 100 miles from home, it's always two bodies, but of late it has been two bodies and primes. My heroes Robert Frank & David Douglas Duncan carried two or three bodies and primes. I think a lot of the event, sports and war photographers in the 1960's carried two or three bodies and primes.

The older I get, the lighter I try to make my camera package, especially when traveling, and doubly especially when traveling by train & foot. Of late it's been two Leica IIIc bodies and Nikkor 2.8cm, 3.5cm, 5cm, 8.5cm & 13.5cm lenses.

The digital bodies I would like to carry, are Leica M9 & MM, and like you Bill, I am very concerned about dust and humidity on the sensors when changing primes. So they aren't getting used as much these days.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Regarding HCB. One camera, lens about him comes from totally clueless. They just didn’t read anything about him.
He would have one on hm, one in the small bag and third one if he has to do it in colour as well, in the pocket.
For lenses he used, 35, 50 and kept 90 as well.


I don’t need to pretend to be him. On assignment I used to get zoom and 50. And was just switching to 50. In most common situation I just use one camera, one lens I feel today.

Leica digital M is notorious for dust and due to very limited R&D they still unable to implement dust reduction and correct glass cover.

 

[Michael Markey]

One body and a couple of lenses for day to day stuff but I`ve started to carry two bodies and three lenses if I`m going to some special event .

 

[JoeV]

Regarding HCB. One camera, lens about him comes from totally clueless. They just didn’t read anything about him.
He would have one on hm, one in the small bag and third one if he has to do it in colour as well, in the pocket.
For lenses he used, 35, 50 and kept 90 as well.


I don’t need to pretend to be him. On assignment I used to get zoom and 50. And was just switching to 50. In most common situation I just use one camera, one lens I feel today.

Leica digital M is notorious for dust and due to very limited R&D they still unable to implement dust reduction and correct glass cover.

I don’t understand why mirrorless cameras don’t have a lens changing mode where the shutter closes to protect the sensor when changing lenses. It could employ a countdown timer to inform the photographer how many seconds they have left before the shutter resets.

 

[JeffS7444]

I don’t understand why mirrorless cameras don’t have a lens changing mode where the shutter closes to protect the sensor when changing lenses. It could employ a countdown timer to inform the photographer how many seconds they have left before the shutter resets.

Shutter on Leica M8, M9 (and other?) is normally closed, but it makes no difference as far as dust is concerned.

 

[shorelineae]

I have a tough time deciding on which pair of cameras to take out, and I end up using one more than the other anyway. So I'm in the multi camera camp but I have to confess that I enjoy most when I have only one camera and one lens.

 

[willie_901]

...

I’m scared of getting dust on camera sensors and having to remove the dust spot on every frame of a digital take; so, I don’t like to change lenses in situations where I can’t do it carefully, slowly and usually with an air blower at my disposal. Therefore, multiple bodies are certainly understandable, especially when using fixed focal length lenses for their speed and smaller size, but I see folks, including myself, using multiple zoom lenses in situations like sports, public meetings and theatre where you work from a fixed position.


While dealing with that old devil, Dust, is an unpleasant necessity, but there are other obvious advantages to using multiple bodies. Changing lenses on a single body creates downtime where you can’t shoot. And there is the worst case scenario - camera failure, never pleasant but a little less devastating if you have a back up.

I haven't had a dust issue for years. With newer cameras vibration-based out removal works well. Of course this only apples to normal conditions. In dusty environments changing lenses is a bad idea and a water resistant body and lenses is useful. I would not change lenses when there is blowing dust or sand nor would I when there is rain, snow or blowing mist.

...So, which camp are you in? (1) Cartier-Bresson only used one body and one lens. No one needs more than that. (Actually, he did have a wide-angle and a longer lens; he just didn’t use them much. And, I bet, he had a back up body, just in case.) (2) Freedom of choice is important to me; so, I use more than one camera.


And, of course, the really important question - if you use more than one camera, how do you carry them?

I no longer carry a camera every day. But when I did it was a FUJIFILM X-100 or X-100T.

In some cases I use one-body/one-lens. For some projects I use one lens because I tend to stand about the same distance from subjects. Other situations require changing lenses. I don't own a zoom lens.

I carry several types of shoulder pads. The bag depends on how many lenses I plan to use. When I need a lot of gear (including flashes), I use a small backpack. I aways had a back up body on gigs. These days I rarely take two bodies anywhere.

 

[neal3k]

I tend to carry a compact bag, filled with Barnacks. I can fit 3 of them into my small Domke. 1 for B&W, 1 for color and 1 for infrared sensitive film.

Bag of Barnacks by Neal Wellons, on Flickr

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I don’t understand why mirrorless cameras don’t have a lens changing mode where the shutter closes to protect the sensor when changing lenses. It could employ a countdown timer to inform the photographer how many seconds they have left before the shutter resets.

And I don't understand how dust gets on digital M sensors while it has light tight shutter blades between lens mount and sensor.

 

[Bill Pierce]

I haven't had a dust issue for years. With newer cameras vibration-based out removal works well.

Willie - I don’t have problems with dust on the sensor with most of my cameras. But my full frame Sonys, even with vibration, do pick up dust. It could just be fate or evil dust gods, but it’s interesting to see that in a recent announcement from Sony that in at least one of the recently released cameras there is now a cover that slides over the sensor when the power is off while changing lenses.

 

[Evergreen States]

I don’t understand why mirrorless cameras don’t have a lens changing mode where the shutter closes to protect the sensor when changing lenses. It could employ a countdown timer to inform the photographer how many seconds they have left before the shutter resets.

Canon R series cameras have a feature where the shutter closes when changing lenses as well as when the camera is turned off.

 

[Evergreen States]

I have a hard time thinking in different focal lengths so I like to keep it simple. On top of that, I live with a chronic illness where carrying weight can send me into spells of dizziness and disorientation.
When out on a walk shooting digital, I usually go out with one APS-C camera and one lens. Before COVID I would often take two lenses to cover events: either a 23/35 combo or a 23/60 combo. Longer lens for speakers, shorter lens for crowds and marches. When shooting 120 film, I bring one 120 format camera and one lens. Sometimes I bring an APS-C digital backup camera and a single lens, either a 23 or 35.

When traveling I have been taking a digital camera with one lens, two at most. I went to Whistler for a week this year and only took my Fuji X-Pro1 and 35mm ƒ/1.4. On our last trip out there two years ago, I took the same camera but with my 23mm ƒ/2 and 60mm ƒ/2.4 macro. This is a very nice compact combination but having such a gap frustrates me at times. Next time I travel out of town I will bring two X-Pros in case something happens to one of them.

 

[jsrockit]

I’m a one body, one lens type … typically. I like to really know what will be in my frame before I even bring the camera to my eye. I also do not stress missing photos. If I’m not photographing there are no photos and there are always more anyway. As for a pocket camera, I use digital and normal lenses. Most good pocket cameras were 28mm and I’m no longer a fan. Now Ricoh made a 40mm GR so I will again use a pocket camera.

 

[Saganich]

I go out with one body one lens and whatever else can fit in my pockets. It's easier in the winter with bigger pockets.

 

[Bmoze]

In the car, on daily errands, I take an small Ona Bowery bag with a Barnack iiif and a VC 28 color skopar lens/finder. The bag also has my phone, keys, mask, wallet, etc. The Barnack seems to be able to handle the awful climate inside a locked car. I probably find one or two scenes a week that I’ll stop to photograph. For intentional photography I take one camera/one lens, and choose a format/ focal length for the day.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

While I had multiple reasons for abandoning digital, dust was one of the biggest. Even restricting myself to one zoom and no lens changes didn't help when shooting landscapes in dusty, windy desert conditions. Dust always found a way onto my sensor. In abundance!
How many cameras currently? Usually one body, two lenses maximum, usually one lens, a 40mm. The body, film, and lens are chosen in anticipation of the subject matter and conditions. Do I sometimes miss a shot because of these restrictions? Yes, but seldom (and usually because of too slow a film). I have a peculiar attitude toward "missed" shots; my feeling is that the world is full of an infinite number of potential photographs. If I miss one, there is still an infinite number. No need to be greedy!

 

[Archiver]

If I'm covering an event or doing doc work, I carry two cameras on straps. One has a zoom, the other is a fast prime. Usually, it's the Panasonic G9 with either the Panasonic 12-35 f2.8, or the Sigma 24-105 with Speedbooster XL. The other camera is either my M9 with Distagon 35, or the Panasonic S5 with Lumix 50mm f1.8. The bag is often a Crumpler Dry Red Boarding Bag, a 7 litre shoulder bag, to which is attached a Billingham shoulder pad.

When shooting for fun, my primary camera is either the M9 with Distagon 35, Panasonic G9 with maybe the Olympus 17 or 25 f1.2, or the Panasonic S5 with Minolta W Rokkor 35mm f2.8 MD III. The more I use the Rokkor, the more I like it. The rendering is smooth, details are sharp, it's entirely sharp across the frame at f8, and the lens is compact. A secondary camera is always in my pocket, usually the Sony RX0. Same bag applies.

But when I'm traveling, it's a slightly different story. The M9 with a 21 or 35 is primary, and a m43 camera with either a zoom or complementary prime is the other. Like many, it's good to be able to switch focal lengths without changing lenses, and to have access to fast apertures. Because I'm carrying two bodies that I might want to stow quickly, and I'll be walking a lot, I use a slim Incase backpack with a small padded camera insert from Lowepro.

The other day, I was out with the G9 and S5, and used a Lowepro sling.

And if I want to travel light, it's the Panasonic LX10 in a Bellroy sling. Very slim and compact, and yet it can expand to fit a bottle of drink it necessary.