What do you do with 2 film bodies?

michaelbialecki said:
I usually work with just one body and have a "back up " m2 or an m3 in my bag without a lens attached.....the back up body is often loaded with a roll of slide film...I've been using the same film now for a long time and when I'm out shooting I usually only bring one type of film ( sometimes a roll of tri-x will be thrown in just in case)......if I see something really nice I'll shoot it with both, slide and print film.......I think I do this because at some point in the future I'll want to sit down and watch a slide show of "memorable" places that I've been to in this world....

Using 2 bodies at the same time with different focal lengths doesn't really work for me....I prefer to switch lenses or just use the lens that I have on my camera and "make it work"

Cheers, michael
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I would echo with Michael, I have 2 Ms and 4 lenses but seldom carry 2 bodies at the same time. I decide what to take and normally ONE body and ONE lens for ONE shooting session. My M3 is paired with 50/90 and M6 is with 35

I will bring 2 bodies and bunch of lenses for a long trip, say several days and make decision later on.
 
sebastel said:
it depends on my shoes.

if i wear black shoes, i prefer the black body.
if i wear brown shoes, the chrome body suits better.
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So usually it's because I want a different lens on each body. 21/50 or 50/90 most often.

BUT....
The M3 lives in a tan 1/2 case with a brown strap,
The M6TTL in a black 1/2 case with a black strap.

yep, sometimes it makes a difference which one I take if I'm taking one.

Unless I'm wearing black shoes and taking the brown domke out. Then anything goes.:rolleyes:

-Brian
 
Way back, I used to put slide film in one and B&W film in the other, and I made sure the lenses would work with both (same mount.) NOW, I use one for a portrait tele, and one for a wide angle. I put different length straps on each, so I can carry them both without knocking together, and shoot events that way.

A few months ago, I put some slow, saturated color film on one with a macro lens, and also carried a 3D camera with fast film. Most recently, for a stage based, talent show, I used two digital slurs: one a crop sensor with a short tele (105DC Nikkor) and the other, a full frame with an ultra wide to wide zoom. Didn't miss a thing.
 
One body with slow colour film and long lens for daylight, another body with fast B&W film and fast lens for low light.
 
Well it's actually too early to tell, as I got my second body only the day before yesterday. As stated elsewhere, my intention is different speed film (e.g. for city trips where you come from a sunny street into a dark church etc.).
But I might just do (a) the color/bw-thing or (b) the 2-different-focal-lengths-same-film thing from time to time.
 
Wednesday's kit was 2 M6s, one with either a 50 or 90, the other with either a 35 or a 135. Shot both at a high angle rescue, didn't have to reload, and always had one that could take in the entire operation. Good useable shots from arrival to patient turned over to EMS. Always at least two bodies - I miss fewer shots that way.
 
If its daylight, I usually take one with B&W and one with a roll of slide, mostly ISO 100.

If its slightly murky, late afternoon or indoors, I swap them for ISO 400 or 800, still keeping B&W and slide.

I'm not too bothered with focal lengths and usually decide on the day before I leave the house. Quite often it's a 35mm lens and a 85mm or 100mm. A 50mm on each body is also quite fun, nice and restricting yet strangely liberating.
 
I have the same film in the two bodies (HP5plus), but use one body for contrasty light and one for flat light/"pushing" a bit. Films then get different dev. times. It is not perfect, because I have 35mm lens (used about 80% of the time) and a 50mm lens, and there is some lens switching necessary. Would be sweet to not have to do that, but that would mean my negatives would be a bit harder to print, and also the contact prints more uneven. But all in all it works very well for me.

Greetings, Ljós
 
I used to keep two cameras handy (not the same bodies, but same lens capability), if not on my neck, usually one with slide/color, the other with the b/w of the day. The focal length was always 50mm unless the shot I wanted demanded something else.

I still keep an extra body in my 167MT kit, but haven't used it in a long time. If I have my Fujica ST 901, I probably won't have an extra body, but have a choice of another 901 or an 801. I will also likely have an MF folder along for the ride.
 
I find that I use one as my "main" body (M6), while the other is used on days when I just want to use that body (M3), or when the M6 is in for a check-up. When I travel, I have been using the M6 in concert with the X100, and just swap lenses when I need a different view/perspective. The X100 helps me keep 100 ISO slide film in the M6, and then I can simply use the X100 for anything that is lower light, or if the film runs out and I need to grab a shot between rolls.
 
When I do carry two bodies, it's usually a metered M with slide film, and then a meterless M or Barnack with either C41 color film or else b&w. These aren't rules I impose on myself, though, and I often change things up depending on my mood. I don't own two identical bodies of any one camera.
 
Tried the two body thing with film, but would usually result in one of the bodies gathering dust. Was nice to have the same film in both, but two focal lengths, in my case an M3 with a 50, and an M4 with a 35. It turned out I didn't really like to lug two cameras around though, so only went out with one, and imagine I could have given myself the same flexibility by simply bring out the M4 with both 35 & 50mm lenses, changing as needed.

These days I shoot with digital, and a bulky dslr, so am in no way tempted to bring a second one with me. Plus after owning many Nikon dslr's I have yet to see one fail on me, so between that, and usually bringing a zoom lens, I never see the need for a 2nd body when shooting. If I was doing paid work, on a once in a lifetime shoot, or travelling I would be inclined to have a second body or some form of backup, but right now, am just happy with one camera.
 
I sometimes shoot on the street with an M that has a 21 or 35, and an FE2 or FM2 with an 85. I prefer SLRs for longer lenses.
 
Thanks for the ideas, gang.

I should try this.
My typical setup works for this method.

Two OM bodies, one with 24mm the other 85mm or 135mm.
Plenty of room in my Domke F2 for extra film and whatnot.
 
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