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Shooting with two bodies

published by Kalle Björklid on Fri, 04/13/2007 - 3:13am

Using two cameras is something I don't get to do frequently because of the lack of space in the press pits in clubs.

However, here's a revelation I once had: in addition to having a wider range of focal lengths at your disposal, you can have a prime in the secondary body to capture low-light moments. I guess this is quite trivial observation, but I did not come to think about it until late last year.

I photographed the Disco Ensemble gig at Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki. The gig was well-illuminated, because it was televised. Here's an example with exifs:

1/160 s, f4.5, ISO1600

But then there was the subwoofers in the press pit. No direct light - just reflected from the smoke and the audience. I had a 85/1.8 lens at my secondary body (The previous shot and this next shot were both taken from the side of the stage after the three songs):

1/60 s, f1.8, ISO1600

So, unless my calculations went wrong, there is a four stop difference between the captures.

I've used two cameras around my neck, but it is troublesome to get the camera which is lower because the lens and the lens hood of the top camera make it hard to access. I'm planning on buying a photo vest which has a sort of loop on the shoulder where I can secure the second camera so that it hangs on my shoulder. Not sure how well that will work, though.

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Taking & Processing Photographs

Submitted by Valerie on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 3:12am.

I can almost see myself banging a 1D Mk3 with a 35L into a 30D with the 85/1.8 and getting the straps all twisted around my neck. I carried two bodies when I was in high school. I don't think my father ever found out about that lens...

Of course I'll have to try it again ;)

Submitted by emt on Tue, 05/29/2007 - 2:45pm.

Valerie wrote:
I can almost see myself banging a 1D Mk3 with a 35L into a 30D with the 85/1.8 and getting the straps all twisted around my neck. I carried two bodies when I was in high school. I don't think my father ever found out about that lens...

Of course I'll have to try it again ;)

Camera armor comes to mind. Would love to have two cameras in the pit at some point

/E

Gear List

Submitted by shooter-boy on Mon, 06/18/2007 - 7:56am.

I always shoot with two bodies. Usually a 24-70 in one hand, 70-200 in the other.
Fast primes in the pockets, and toes crossed cos my hands are full.

I don't do the whole "different length straps" thing, as i only use hand straps on my bodies. I found that regular straps only got in my way, and the hand strapped helped me gain a more stable shot.

Rob

Robert Bell (Rob)
Shooting for the love, but hoping to still eat next week ;)

Submitted by shooter-boy on Mon, 06/18/2007 - 7:56am.

Nice shots Kalle BTW. Especially love the first.

Rob

Robert Bell (Rob)
Shooting for the love, but hoping to still eat next week ;)

Submitted by Rene Damkot on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 7:16am.

Robert Bell - Inspired Graphix wrote:
I always shoot with two bodies. Usually a 24-70 in one hand, 70-200 in the other.
Fast primes in the pockets, and toes crossed cos my hands are full.

I don't do the whole "different length straps" thing, as i only use hand straps on my bodies. I found that regular straps only got in my way, and the hand strapped helped me gain a more stable shot.

Rob

So, you shoot left handed with one camera?
That would be a neat trick...

Submitted by shooter-boy on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 9:52am.

Nah, just put one down, pick the other up etc :D

Cos i shoot alot of theatre, i don't have too much trouble with crowds.

I am trying to figure some sort of belt clip system to stop having to put them down though.

I like the E1 hand straps too much to go back to the old shoulder slingin' method i used to use.

Rob

Robert Bell (Rob)
Shooting for the love, but hoping to still eat next week ;)

Submitted by tinnitus photography on Wed, 07/11/2007 - 11:09am.

i am tempted to fork over for another body; this would be really nice for the shows where i'm limited to the 1st three songs (which to be honest, isn't all that many), so i don't waste time changing lenses.

currently i've got a 30D, and my conundrum is to whether to choose a 5D or used 1D mkIIn for the other body. either of those would involve shuffling some lenses; if i get the 5D, i'd keep my EF-S 17-55 for the 30D and put the 70-200 f/2.8 on the 5D. if i went w/ the 1 series, i may be tempted to sell my 30D due to overlap, but then i defeat the stated purpose of two bodies. :-

however, i'm wondering if the autofocus capabilities of the 1 series camera would be a better upgrade than getting the 5D. does anyone here have direct experience w/ both cameras?

Submitted by exposed.bz on Wed, 07/11/2007 - 11:38am.

tinnitus photography wrote:
currently i've got a 30D, and my conundrum is to whether to choose a 5D or used 1D mkIIn for the other body. either of those would involve shuffling some lenses; if i get the 5D, i'd keep my EF-S 17-55 for the 30D and put the 70-200 f/2.8 on the 5D. if i went w/ the 1 series, i may be tempted to sell my 30D due to overlap, but then i defeat the stated purpose of two bodies. :-

Just a thought, would it not make more sense to use the 70-200 on the cropped body gaining more focal length with the crop factor and the 17-55 on the 5D to get a true 17mm on the wide end?

Submitted by tinnitus photography on Wed, 07/11/2007 - 1:53pm.

unfortunately the 17-55 is an EF-S lens, so it won't work w/ a 5D (gets in the way of the mirror, i think?).

Submitted by Kalle Björklid on Wed, 07/11/2007 - 4:23pm.

tinnitus photography wrote:
unfortunately the 17-55 is an EF-S lens, so it won't work w/ a 5D (gets in the way of the mirror, i think?).

It doesn't produce a large enough projection (image) for full frame sensor (the lens mount also is artificially constructed so that you cannot fit it on a 5D).

http://www.bjorklid.net/
http://www.huumakuva.net/

Submitted by Teemu Juutilainen on Mon, 07/16/2007 - 3:49am.

I shot an open air festival (my first ever) last weekend and had a second body loaned. It worked well to have both 17-55 and 70-200 available. I'm really convinced now that two bodies can save few great moments and shots. Now I need to ask for that loaned body for next weekend, too.

Live hard, die hard

Submitted by Kalle Björklid on Mon, 07/16/2007 - 4:12am.

I've also used two bodies for many of the open air festivals this summer. I have had the secondary body typically in my shoulder bag (which has hanged from my shoulder), and picked the second camera from the bag when I needed the focal length provided by it. It isn't too quick to take it/put it away, but it's less awkward to have the bag on my shoulder (I have the strap on the opposite shoulder, over my head) than have the camera itself on the shoulder and worry about dropping it or hitting it against something.

http://www.bjorklid.net/
http://www.huumakuva.net/

Submitted by rockstarimages on Wed, 07/18/2007 - 10:24am.

I usually have my second body around my shoulder and slung behind my back, using both shoulders. That way I can bring one up to the front and the other around to the back with one movement (I guess it looks really wierd when I do it but it works). You really need to trust your straps though. I get them replaced every year...
I've heard that these guys go a great job http://www.upstrap-pro.com/

Stefan Schaufelberger
Fotografie
Switzerland

Submitted by Kalle Björklid on Wed, 07/18/2007 - 12:15pm.

I thought just making a comfortable and easy to detach loop that you put around your neck l0osely and thru the camera strap (the loop the strap creates), so if the camera slips from shoulder, it will not hit the ground, but will hang from the loop (which hangs from the neck). And you'd use one loop for two cameras. The Op/Tech straps have a separate padding, and you could put the loop-thingie through between the nylon strap and the padding, so that the loop wouldn't be a discomfort.

http://www.bjorklid.net/
http://www.huumakuva.net/

Submitted by DwightMcCann on Mon, 11/05/2007 - 5:44pm.

I normally work my concerts at the casino with two bodies walking with me: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS and 300mm f/2.8L IS on 1DMIIN and 1DMIII. I often shoot one until the buffer fills, put it on the carpeted floor and shoot the other until the buffer fills. I know this is very different from being in a pit or outdoors, but I paid my dues and now live in luxury, at least in terms of shooting convenience. In addition to this opulence, I often have my 5D with 15mm or 8.5mm fisheye on a tabletop tripod that I shoot high f-stop exposures with. And sometimes, if I suspect that I will get to shoot only from the lightboard, I have a 1DMII with 400mm f/2.8L (and 1.4TC if I can remember to put it on) on a Gitzo legset and leveling base and full Wimberley head. I know this sounds like a lot of stuff, and it is, but I have done very well in my photography business for the last three years and put all my earnings into equipment. I usually haul a Pelican 1610, Pelican 1510 and the 400mm case and big tripod into the casino an hour before the concert to find out what is going on and to review and setup my cameras.

Dwight McCann