I don’t know about you, but I have having gear taking dust at home while I am enjoying myself with my favorite camera system on a once in a lifetime trip.
Also I cherish the idea that carrying a different camera format will let me bring back home a broader range of pics. I then end up carrying two cameras (and sometime a point and shoot for my son).
First things first, I am a Nikon shooter. My common camera is a D700, that I usually bring for each outing. My best combo is the 17-35 2.8, the 50D1.8 and a 70-200D2.8.
I have brought different second cameras in my past holidays and here are a summary of my thoughts:
– Agfa Isolette III: The Agfa has been my second camera since the early 90’s where I was shooting with a Minolta SRT101. It is great because the medium format fulfill the requirement of providing a different type of pictures. The quality once scanned is amazing. This is a small camera but has no metering so you need to carry a light Metter. Of course with age, the Agfa is at this time in not such a great condition and it’s a pitty to miss those great shots.
– Leica M4: king of camera is it? Small, a bit heavier than the Agfa, friendly looking but no mettering. I love shooting with the Leica. However, I think the drawback is the film format. 35mm is the same as full frame DSLR, so I always end up asking myself why bother?
– Nikon F3, Nikon F4: that’s the good news. One manual, one autofocus; one small one big. Although they have the same drawback as the Leica in term of film format, they are more interesting because they share the same lenses as my DSLR. So I can act as a real pro with two bodies, each with a different lens, so I end up taking different pictures. And if I want to swap lenses it’s even easier with two bodies than with a pouch. Only drawback, my latest AF lenses are not great for manual focus on the F3.
I know, I have to elaborate a little more, but in conclusion I think a second Nikon body is great, because you just bring along a single set of lenses. However I love the appeal of medium format, so probably next toy for tavelling around will be a Hassy why not?
Camera::Leica M4, summilux 50mm1.4
Film:Kodak Trix 400
Scanner:Epson V500, Epson Scan
Post Processing:Lightroom 3.3 and Photoshop Elements for the frame and dust removel
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