teleparallel
Established
Hi
I have a Bessa R4A, and love it. Use skopar pancake lenses 21mm and 35mm. I live in Brazil and it's quite hard to find equipment here. Recently an other R4A came up for sale, for a really nice price. So I was thinking. Is there any advantages of getting a second body? Aside use two different film speeds/types. For the record, the price is like US$ 300.00.
Thanks
I have a Bessa R4A, and love it. Use skopar pancake lenses 21mm and 35mm. I live in Brazil and it's quite hard to find equipment here. Recently an other R4A came up for sale, for a really nice price. So I was thinking. Is there any advantages of getting a second body? Aside use two different film speeds/types. For the record, the price is like US$ 300.00.
Thanks
saturnales
Established
You know the advantages already. Next, it’s up to you and your practice of phography!
FrankS
Registered User
It is nice not to have to switch lenses.
Livesteamer
Well-known
Some like having two bodies with different rangefinder magnifications. In Leica, the .72 and .85 finder make a very good pair. Joe
muser53
MUSER53
If it is within your budget I'd say go for it. The second body is convient for many reasons. Saved my butt in Nepal when my Nikon F3 gave up the ghost and I pulled out the FM that had remained in my pack awaiting its chance to shine. With the two M's I own one usually has B&W the other color so I'm always ready to go no matter what my mood is. In your case if one body is in need of repair you can keep on shooting!
Brian Legge
Veteran
If you don't want it, sell it to me for $300+ shipping. 
In all seriousness, I'd consider buying it and trying it just for the frameline difference. You'd break even or better selling it here if you don't like it.
In all seriousness, I'd consider buying it and trying it just for the frameline difference. You'd break even or better selling it here if you don't like it.
back alley
IMAGES
Is there any advantages of getting a second body?
there are many...buy it!
there are many...buy it!
Guaranteed
Well-known
I'd do it if I were more into film just to have two different film types/ISOs loaded. Plenty of times have come up when I've been out and about mucking around with my Bessa where I wish I had something else loaded.
raid
Dad Photographer
The real question is "Is it worth it to buy a ffiteenth camera"?
At 300$ I´d just buy one and sell for a profit if I dont like it.
I dont know how much "like US$ 300.00" is worth in brazil though.
charjohncarter
Veteran
I like two bodies, especially on vacation: two bodies, two lenses, two films: equals four options.
teleparallel
Established
When I say US$ 300.00, it's is because if I buy from US, for instance, adding duties it would really cost about US$ 480.00. That's around what the seller is charging for it. Just emphasising the bargain. Here that kinda equipment cost a lot more.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
Currently I have an M in for repair. If I did not have a second as a backup what would I do until the repair is completed? If you have more than one lens and shoot both black and white and color it is wise to consider a second camera.
Murchu
Well-known
My experience with second bodies is that they gather dust, your mileage may vary.
back alley
IMAGES
i use both bodies regularly...mix my 25 and 50 together or the 21 and 40...or the 40 and 75 as a team...beats having to change lenses and with a drf i don't worry so much about dust. and if i don't feel like using a camera bag i just hang both cameras with different lenses on me and walk.
loquax ludens
Well-known
I wish I could get a second body. The one I've got now is old, fat, and wobbly.
umcelinho
Marcelo
opa dificil ver alguem com rf no Brasil, ainda mais com uma R4A!
having a second body is great because it keeps you from the hassle of changing lenses on the go, which can be a real pain in the derrière. i usually shoot with either a 21/50 combination or a 35. i have an M4, so fully manual and no meter, and just got a Hexar RF, fully auto, AE, higher top speed, that complements the M4 well.
i shoot with portra 400 pushed to 800 or 1600 most of the time, so there wouldnt be a benefit from using two different kinds of film (different iso, e6/bw/c41 etc) in the cameras in regular use, but having a 2nd body allows you to have a broader shooting contidion latitude, as you can have iso100 in one camera and iso800 in another, for instance, you can shoot wide open in daylight, have finer grain in one camera and low light or fast shutter shutter speeds stopped down in another. i think it's worth a try.
i had never used a one lens dedicated body until a trip this january where i was shooting with a x100 and a bessa-L with the 15/4.5, it was quite easier and quicker to shoot. M4 focus was screwed up so I only shot a 50 with it, from f5.6 to f16. makes things much easier.
abs e bem-vindo ao rff!
dificil ver alguem com rf no Brasil, ainda mais com uma R4A!having a second body is great because it keeps you from the hassle of changing lenses on the go, which can be a real pain in the derrière. i usually shoot with either a 21/50 combination or a 35. i have an M4, so fully manual and no meter, and just got a Hexar RF, fully auto, AE, higher top speed, that complements the M4 well.
i shoot with portra 400 pushed to 800 or 1600 most of the time, so there wouldnt be a benefit from using two different kinds of film (different iso, e6/bw/c41 etc) in the cameras in regular use, but having a 2nd body allows you to have a broader shooting contidion latitude, as you can have iso100 in one camera and iso800 in another, for instance, you can shoot wide open in daylight, have finer grain in one camera and low light or fast shutter shutter speeds stopped down in another. i think it's worth a try.
i had never used a one lens dedicated body until a trip this january where i was shooting with a x100 and a bessa-L with the 15/4.5, it was quite easier and quicker to shoot. M4 focus was screwed up so I only shot a 50 with it, from f5.6 to f16. makes things much easier.
abs e bem-vindo ao rff!
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
+1. And I passed the 15 mark several years ago. There is a lot more reason to buy a second body than a 20th one. You have our permission to buy that second body!
Murchu
Well-known
Elaborating on my previous comment, and also I guess providing a counterpoint to argument that second bodies are gods gift to photographers, I would add:
- If you're the sort of person who doesn't like carrying excess weight, only shoots one film at a time when out, and prefers to work with a single focal length, a second body may not be of much use to you.
- If you're the sort of person who does not mind carrying extra weight, would like the flexibility offered by a second film stock, or other lenses without the need to change lenses, then a second body may be right up your street.
Myself, I fall into the former camp, and all second bodies have offered me were expensive paperweights, where they would sit at home on a shelf, when I was using my main camera for everything. Now, I shoot with one body and lens, often just slung across my chest, with TriX, my 50mm f1.5 and soon 3 stop ND filter ensuring I can shoot in all light I come across (indoors and outdoors), as well as offering me depth of field control even in bright daylight. For me, it's simplistic, zen perfection, but the reason for that, is that it is optimised to the way I shoot. The key is optimising things for the way you shoot.
By the way, I believe in the backup argument, should something happen to your main camera. What I would add though, is that many of us have more than one camera already, with the amateurs amongst us rarely in situations where we cannot return and shoot again (travel usually excepted), with a small point and shoot probably sufficing for most of the occasions we would like a backup with us.
Murchu
Well-known
Only thing I would note, the bargain argument is an insidious one, and down the line you might find yourself with all sorts of stuff you never really needed.