Two Film Ms - B+W and Color

[Ionex56]

Anyone out there shoot with two film Ms, perhaps one for each film (B+W and color, or different speeds) or maybe one for each lens/focal length?

I recently saved up and got myself a MP and I love it. Most of the time I prefer shooting B+W since it's easier to develop by myself but sometimes I find the need to switch to color. Til now I've been using a F3HP as my second body. It's a workhorse and excellent for longer lenses, but I would prefer carrying something smaller and of the same mount, so I don't have to lug around two lens systems.

Just wanted an opinion on whether it is worth it to buy a second M (or M-mount camera like the Bessa R2M/A) solely for the convenience of switching from B+W to color, and if anyone else does this too 😱

 

[Rob-F]

Yes I have often used a pair of film Leicas. It could be two Ms or two IIIc. Black and white and color is one reason. Or, two cameras, both with Black and white, with different lenses. The max I will ever bring on a trip is three Leicas: Typically two film Ms and my M9.

Sure, it's worth it!

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Garry Winograd did it, apparently. There are obviously benefits to taking that approach, some of which you mentioned. As well as costs. So, it’s just the usual cost/benefit analysis, something which will yield different results for different people.

Personally, I get more benefit from carrying two different makes of camera bodies, or two cameras in different formats, as that gives me a much, much wider range of photographic results than just choosing between color and B&W, or being stuck with nothing more than different focal lengths from the same mfg.
Most people don’t think that way, however.

 

[Michael I.]

I do, M2 and M4. works pretty well

 

[shimokita]

For me it's the F3P or MP (b&w & a 50mm) plus the x100t (23mm fixed / 35mm equiv). Shooting both film and digital has the advantage for me of instant social media updates. The film process takes longer and usually, but not always, "better" images. I print 1-2 enlargement per year... not the "best of", rather an image that I enjoy for any of various reasons... on average it's about equal between film and digital prints.

 

[Gregm61]

Sending my M4 off to DAG today for a service. Out this morning with the M6 shooting some Porta 400 landscapes.

Soon as the M4 is back, one for color and one for b&w is exactly what I will be doing.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've done this before with an M4 & M3, but I found that I use the camera with B&W 95% of the time, so I stopped carrying the other one.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Tim Gray]

I have in the past. Not for black and white/color necessarily (though that has happened), but more for focal lengths. One for 50/90 and one for 28/21 (x0.58 finder). It works well for me.

 

[Ionex56]

Thanks everyone for the all the input. Looks like I will be looking for a second M body soon 🙂

 

[bhop73]

I have a few times (M6 and M2) When I do it, I tend to use the M6 as a meter instead of my usual handheld for the M2.

 

[jnalepa]

I'm curious about this setup as well, but the added weight I find to be an annoyance. One of the biggest advantages of the Leica system (ltm or M) is the smaller lenses, but adding an extra body seems like a distraction to the process, and even a hindrance when it comes to walking around all day.

Do most people have a bigger bag/backpack for this kind of setup? I'm currently using an ONA bowery bag, and enjoy it for its size and weight ratio.

 

[Bingley]

To keep the weight and size down, I often take a Leica IIIc, or a Rollei 35, or an Olympus XA as a second camera, along with a Leica M.

A Leica M2 (with black and white) and an Olympus XA (with color) has been a great travel combination for me.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

If you can afford one Leica, why not get two for twice the price!

Seriously - carry one body (one system) and multiple lenses. I've always managed to get the shots I needed this way.

 

[Canyongazer]

Not a Leica shooter but I bought a second Fuji X Pro 2 just so the Fuji 35mm 1.4 would always be mounted. The rest of the lenses have to take turns on the other body.


No doubt many M shooters use the same strategy for their favorite 'cron, 'lux or whatever.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

HCB at some point has three M. One was for assignments with color film.
I currently have M4-2 with bw and R2M with E6.

Every time I load color film in separate camera it lasts very long in this camera.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Back when I deployed to Iraq in 2004 I shot with two Leicas only so I didn't have to change lenses often or ever. I used two bodies, an M2 and an M4, as well as three lenses, a 28mm Kobalux, 50 DR Summicron, and a 90 Elmar. The 50 lived on the M4 and the M2 usually had the 28mm on it. It had Abrahamsson M2 rapidwinder 003 as well. The M4 almost always had Plus-X loaded while the M2 had either Plus-X or Kodachrome.
Phil Forrest

 

[Tim Gray]

I usually carried two on trips, that way I had a backup camera in case something happened. I didn’t always carry both but most of the time I did. Easier than swapping lenses. I use a think tank retrospective 5.

 

[kiemchacsu]

depends on your style
I once used M2/35mm and M3/50mm (90mm)
but after several years; I found that i tend to use 35mm lens 90% of time.
Hence I sold all and Keep ONLY M2 and 35mm lens

Anyone out there shoot with two film Ms, perhaps one for each film (B+W and color, or different speeds) or maybe one for each lens/focal length?

I recently saved up and got myself a MP and I love it. Most of the time I prefer shooting B+W since it's easier to develop by myself but sometimes I find the need to switch to color. Til now I've been using a F3HP as my second body. It's a workhorse and excellent for longer lenses, but I would prefer carrying something smaller and of the same mount, so I don't have to lug around two lens systems.

Just wanted an opinion on whether it is worth it to buy a second M (or M-mount camera like the Bessa R2M/A) solely for the convenience of switching from B+W to color, and if anyone else does this too 😱

 

[Aaron Hellman]

For a while I carried two Leica film cameras - one loaded with B&W film and the other with color. Where I ran into frustrations was the film speed. I use a handheld light meter. I shot the B&W at one speed and the color film at another speed. I often messed up converting the reading on the meter to match the camera I was using. Sure, I can set two different ISO's on my meter, but I still got it wrong as often as I got it right. I guess if I were working slowly, I could have managed it better, but I was often trying to take pictures of my daughter, whose patience is limited. If I were to try this again, I would shoot both cameras at the same ISO. I hope you have better luck than I did!

 

[Ionex56]

For a while I carried two Leica film cameras - one loaded with B&W film and the other with color. Where I ran into frustrations was the film speed. I use a handheld light meter. I shot the B&W at one speed and the color film at another speed. I often messed up converting the reading on the meter to match the camera I was using. Sure, I can set two different ISO's on my meter, but I still got it wrong as often as I got it right. I guess if I were working slowly, I could have managed it better, but I was often trying to take pictures of my daughter, whose patience is limited. If I were to try this again, I would shoot both cameras at the same ISO. I hope you have better luck than I did!

You should get an on-camera light meter like the VC meter II! That way you can differentiate the metering between two cameras. I've used both the VC meter and a handheld meter, and I actually prefer using the handheld meter, but in your case where speed is critical an on-camera meter can do wonders.

I have a MP so there's a built in light meter but if I do pick up a second body, most likely a M2/M3, I will probably get a VC meter II to avoid the frustrations you pointed out.