Street photography: 1 or 2 cameras?

Dali

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Hi there,

Until recently, I carried only 1 camera / 1 lens when doing some street photography.

A few days ago, I took 2 cameras to get 2 different lenses (25 & 50mm) and used each of them in different circumstances (portait-like with 50mm, candid with 25mm). Films are not developed yet so I am sure that it really brought some added value...

What is your preference?
 

GregY

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For travel or street, I use one camera.
For travel roadtrips w landscape work or portraits....i have another camera or LF holders for back-up images.
 

Sirius Glass

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I use one camera and I can change lenses or change film backs or both. Clearly an advantage for Hasselblad.
 

RalphLambrecht

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Two cameras and two lenaea addsa lot of flexibility!
 

Pieter12

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Adds flexibility and capacity, less film changing. But adds to attracting attention. Depends on your style, but I tend to go for no longer than 35mm for street work, sometimes 28. And I'd rather not fiddle with two cameras around my neck.
 

Daniela

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One camera, one lens. I find that having "options" only slows me down; and it's a great skill to learn to make the best with what you have.
 

baachitraka

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one camera and a 28mm lens.
 

Laurent

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Street for me is generally one camera / one lens (either the Rolleiflex, or the M4 with 35mm Nokton).

I sometimes carry 2 (many times it's the IIIa with a 21mm Skopar) but using it is mostly for "non street" images.

(street for me implies candid shots)
 

gary mulder

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Daniela said:
One camera, one lens. I find that having "options" only slows me down; and it's a great skill to learn to make the best with what you have.
Click to expand...

That corresponds with my own experience. Intuitive, knowing, almost feeling, how the camera/lens will frame the picture takes a lot of practise for just one angle of view. To be able to frame and take the picture almost instantaneous seems to be paramount for street photography.

 

Rob Skeoch

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I go both ways on this. Lot's of time I carry a 28mm and a 35mm on two cameras. Sometimes a 50mm instead of the 35mm. The lighter you can go the easier it is to shoot so sometimes I just take one camera with the 35mm.
If it's snowing or raining out, I don't like to open the cameras in the snow/rain so might take two cameras so I have more film to shoot.
 

warden

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Daniela said:
One camera, one lens. I find that having "options" only slows me down; and it's a great skill to learn to make the best with what you have.
Click to expand...

Me too. Some days I go for a wide angle walk, and others telephoto.
 

Tel

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Daniela said:
One camera, one lens. I find that having "options" only slows me down; and it's a great skill to learn to make the best with what you have.
Click to expand...
+1: I usually shoot street when I’m travelling abroad and I like to pack lightly when I travel. My go-to cameras in these situations are a pair of rollei 35’s (one is a spare for emergencies). I like the lens on these cameras, it’s nearly retrofocus and a bit wide so perfect for taking grab-shots in public places but it’s also super-sharp. The camera literally hides in the palm of my hand and yet it holds a 36-exposure roll so I can shoot all day without reloading. And 35mm is often better for flying—the TSA people know what a roll of 35 is; I’ve caused consternation by carrying home-rolled 127 through an airport.
 

Paul Howell

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I have used a number of combinations, in the old days a Leica IIIG and a Nikon F, later a FG. I switched to point and shoots, Konica Z up with 28 to 50, it is slow and with DX coding with no override I use Tmax 400 or 3200. Currently I use a Minolta 5 with older 35 to 70 F4 generally I can get away with a slower 400 speed film or a Chion point and shoot with a 35mm 2.8 lens. The Chinon's ISO is DX or I can fuss with the exposure by adjusting the ISO.
 

RalphLambrecht

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great shot!
 

Sirius Glass

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I only use two cameras when I am shooting black & white and color films.
 
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