Two Film Ms - B+W and Color

Before digital (B.D.), two cameras were often used by pros out on assignment, but a lot of those photographers refused to shoot both at the same time. The reason, which is still valid today, is that when shooting B&W one needs to look for shots that are conducive to that in terms of tonal values, and the same when shooting colour film.

With B&W film, things are obviously not as we see them in colour, so we have to understand how red, green and blue will appear on a B&W print.

One trick that us painters use is to take a picture of a painting in progress w/ B&W film so that we can see the values. Our eyes are constantly tricked by colour tonal values and lighting, so a B&W shot of a colour anything will give you the REAL tonal values.

I sometimes wonder how this works w/ digital? But as I only use my phone for digital, I don't know. Those shots are mostly pics to show and not print.

If you're shooting colour film in one camera and B&W film in the other, the metering may be different as well depending on what you want to emphasize, and we need to understand that when we photograph that gorgeous yellow flower w/ a yellow filter on the lens we're going to get a white flower! Want to lighten your foliage? Put a green filter on the lens, etc. If it's B&W, maybe we want to see a lot of grain so we will expose and use an appropriate developer to achieve that. W/ colour, we probably don't want to see a lot of grain, so we won't be developing that roll of Kodak Gold w/ Rodinal. It's a lot to keep up with w/ two cameras that have two completely different types of films in them.
 
For my last few travels (adventure, not assignment), I have been carrying an m4 with a 35mm summilux and a Brooks Plaubel Veriwide 100. The 35 gives me a very flexible and responsive tool for bright or dark situations. When I choose the Veriwide 100, (a 6x10cm medium format camera with a 47mm lens that approximates an 18mm view on 135), it is intended to give me a larger sized reproduction. Both cameras are most likely loaded with Tri-X but I will bring along a couple of rolls of color for each format just in case. In general, I appreciate wide angle photographs when they are big (16x20 and larger). Here, medium format excels
 
I am of the one camera, one lens school. If I do take a second lens, I wait till I think that I have finished with the first lens and then switch lenses and do another lap with the second lens. Otherwise I find the constant changes disorienting and time wasting and I end up with little to show for my efforts.
 
When I had a M2 I would use that and a medium format camera. Now I use my T2 and Fuji GS645. It's my favorite setup by far. I do plan to get another ltm body once I sell my r4m.
 
I have a pair of Fuji X100S bodies, one with the WCL (28mm FOV) and one with the TCL (50mm FOV). In my working days as a newspaper shooter, I always carried two bodies, one with a wideangle zoom and one with a telephoto zoom. Since leaving the profession, I have restricted myself to the two prime lenses. Sometime I carry both but quite often decide ahead of time to restrict myself to just a single focal length. If I had two film cameras my affinity is to shoot just black and white and would shoot two focal lengths (probably 28mm & 50mm) rather than one with color and one with black&white. It all depends on what you are looking for as a end result. Good luck on your quest. I have you find a answer. I know I did not help much if at all.
 
Rarely do I shoot colour films, a few rolls of Porta over the last 10 years since Kodachrome 64 ceased being developed by Dwayne's. Normally I find shooting with just my M2 and one lens and bunch of 400 speed works most effectively with the least distraction. The most significant decision that I have to make prior to shooting is the focal length, unless I am prepared to haul other lenses with me. But one lens and one M -- as someone stated above, it simplifies the deal.
 
Methinks second body gives advantage by having different focal length than the first, and frees photog from swapping lenses as often. Downside is extra bulk.
 
I'm a really wishy-washy guy, and trying to cover all of the bases is a temptation I have to fight constantly. It's caused me nothing but trouble! My recommendation is to pick either color or B&W, commit to one thing for any given occasion, keep it simple, be patient, and have faith in the process that you'll catch more fish by being focused rather than by trying to be ready for everything. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
 
Anyone out there shoot with two film Ms
Highly recommended! I have two M4s, one with a 21/3.4 Super Angulon and one with a 50/2 Rigid permanently mounted. Way faster than changing lenses in the middle of the action, you have 72 frames instead of 36 before you need to reload, and you'll have one camera available if you need to send one M for CLA/repair.

I actually have everything in pairs ... except wife, of course 😉
 
On paper, I like the idea a lot, as you can have two or three lenses and your favourite focal lengths on either camera at any given time. But the weight of two Ms would bug me for extended walks, so my preference would be a decent quality compact camera. Some might suggest the Olympus XA, others a Contax T2 or T3, maybe a Nikon 35Ti or 28Ti. No need to change lenses. I think a Contax T3 is a fine complementary camera to a MP.
 
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