One or two bodies for street? (Screwmount)

One or two bodies for street? (Screwmount)

 

I recently bought another SM body for street work after considering for a while, but I'm still not sure if it's needed! I have 4 lenses, well technically 3 since I'm wanting to sell my canon 50/1.2 LTM (PM me if you are interested!) Thanks :)

There is very little you can't accomplish in street photography (or journalism) with a 35 mm or 50 mm lens. However there's not enough difference to warrant carrying both at the same time. Walking around with two cameras marks you as somewhat of an eccentric, which is the antithesis of being discrete and "invisible". Save the "two camera" scene for covering a news event, social event or sports. Having a backup is a good thing in the event of a failure, but one at a time.

1. One camera: "Oh what an interesting camera!"
   
2. Two cameras: "Are you a photojournalist?"
   
3. Three cameras: Muttered "Don't make eye contact!"
   

If you are in the mood to deploy 2 different lenses, it will be faster to have them on different bodies. - I don't do street photography due to legal constraints but for everything else I am way happier with at least 2 cameras. - Make up your mind by tossing a coin and don't spend it on the 3rd body within the next 5 rolls. While Ed & JDM are of course right a recent conversation makes me wonder if people really notice all cameras worn. At a local festival I chitchatted with a co-shutterbug who only noticed the M8 in front of my chest, not the Mono on my left shoulder (Black bodies straps & jacket + some backpack worn). - Isn't being discrete based upon radiating the confidence about "I'm doing my usual thing"? And don't 21mm require shooting from your hip to make people look normal?

to me the main reason for two bodies would be to use one for b & w and one for color.

However there's not enough difference to warrant carrying both at the same time.

For some there is and for some the isn't. One additional distinction could be to load one camera with B&W and the other with color film. Or two different film speeds. But from the OP's previous posts, it appears that he wants one body with a 21mm lens on it - and the other with either the 35 or 50. Given that I don't see how a 21 can be utilized often in a street photography scenario, the two camera approach definitely makes sense (but I would keep the second one in a bag).

Thanks for your opinions guys :)

 

Yea, I have 1 35, 1 50 and 1 21. Gonna only shoot b&w at the moment like I did before, since I like b&w more and c41 developers are kinda expensive

Also, I just found a iiif which is a little but more expensive than my if (with shipping of course). Is it worth having a look? In case I really don't like my if

LOL! - Didn't I already preach getting something with rangemeter as your 2nd body in a previous reply? - I believe I read the Fs have complicated error prone flash sync cobbled into the previous construction? But repairn techs need work too. The big question about all screw mount bodies is: How long will they go without a CLA? - While worth repairing they'll still cost. Personally I don't see a need for a 2nd III, since compared to a II it only provides extra shutter speeds that shout for a tripod. Tripods slow you down enough to rather change your lens on the mounted body instead of changing cameras. Even if you are using QR plates on all bodies you still have to migrate the cable release. But yeah if you get the III at a good price, take it.

I always found one camera best for street, first to be at least a bit less obvious, and second, because there is already enough going on that you don't need to worry about a second camera. Extra film, even a small lens in pockets. That said, if I wanted to carry two, there is a neat clip for Leicas that screws into the tripod socket and lets the camera to clip to a belt. DAG camera used to list the clips for sale.

C41 chemicals are more expensive, but if you have someone else do it, usually cheaper than black and white. That is one reason for C41 black and white films.

My camera is also an iPhone. It works fine for shooting on the street. The lens is around 30mm, pre-ASPH, of course.

 

<BR><BR>For shooting on the street almost anything works. It's not critical. Getting close to subjects is important, thus a 50mm (for me) is like a telephoto and too long. Given a choice, 35mm is ideal - that allows decent environmental context, also critical - and is still fine for engaged portraits of strangers.

Edited March 6, 2017 by Brad_

Which has what do do with the OP? Trolling?

Thansk for the replies :)

Yea, gonna see if I really like having 2 bodies or not

one

With two bodies you can use b/w in and color on the other, and also use 2 different lenses and/or both. Whatever feels like you want to do when you go out.

With two bodies, one or both will have the wrong film at the time ;)

 

You can never have too many Leicas (or cameras). That doesn't mean you wear them around your neck all the time. Some situations are better handled with two or three bodies. Street photography is not on that list.

Well I just got it.. Ha! Will see if I like having 2 bodies or not

I do believe we take better photos when we are really enjoying the process. I generally find holding more than one camera and walk the street for hours very distracting and burdensome. Yes, more options, in theory, but I am not enjoying when I hold two bodies. I find them heavy, and want to sit down from time to time, or go home early...

Fair enough, well I might put one in my bag

Another interesting thing I discover after taking street photos longer is that, at least for me, my ability to "look" when holding a camera improve when I begin to "forget" irrelevant points of view. When I have all the options (such as holding a 24-200mm outdoor day time), almost everything appears to be relevant to me, making me too busy, too many possibilities, where am I looking? When I hold a 35mm Summilux only for several months and walk on the street, interesting things happen: I see only photo opportunities from the perspective of 35mm automatically and immediately, everywhere, anytime. Your brain automatically "give-up" other perfect chances which you don't have the gear to execute, as if you don't see them at all, as if they are irrelevant background noises that your hear but not heard. When that happens, likely you would not miss those other options so much (and start give up zooms for good), because when you can really focus on seeing just 35mm perspective automatically (or a 24, or 50, or your other favourite), you discover you already have more than enough photo opportunities than you can handle. And just like a specialise can do magic to the very limited area that he/she focuses on, you may actually "see" better pictures in the street than your otherwise could be.