[Leica] More than 1 Ms?

[TTAbrahams at aol.com (TTAbrahams@aol.com)]

 I tend to use at least two M-bodies, one with a 35 on it and the other with 
either a wider lens or a 50 (depending on what I am shooting). There is 
usually a third body stashed in my rather scruffy Brady 'Ariel Trout" fishing bag. I 
am travelling there is a 90 somewhere, either in the bag or in a pocket. It 
used to the a Elmarit-M but now it is the CV Apo-Lanthar (90/3,5) as it is 
lighter and as good, if not better than the 90/2,8. Currently my favourite kit is 
the MP 0,58 in black paint, a M2 in black pant and a second M2 in the bag. The 
MP is used for non-TriX, ACROS/Delta or even Efke 25. The M2's have Tri-X in 
them only. This way I know what film is being used and I dont have to any 
mental gymnastics with exposures as the MP has bright little red lights that tells 
me what it is supposed to be! The other advantages is that the M2's can take 
my 21/3,4 Super Angulon without having to compensate for the 'intruding" rear 
element.
 It is possible to carry and use 3 M's without problem, short strap one body 
(usually the one with the 35) and a longer strap for the 21, these go around 
the neck and then the 50 or 90 over the right shoulder. Unexposed film in the 
left pocket, exposed in the right pocket.
 As I do have more than 3 M-bodies (many more)! I tend to cycle through them 
every month so that they dont feel neglected. This also keeps track of any 
potential problems with shutterspeeds. Every body has notches filed in the 
film-gate and by using triangular, round and square files you can quickly identify 
which body is acting up.
 I find that the meter in the M6/MP's slows down my speed. The eye wanders to 
the diodes very quickly and you loose a bit of concentration. Not a big 
problem if you are working in a more organised fashion, but for quick, reactive 
shots, you can lose it. A veteran press shooter taught me a trick in the late 
50's. Every time you bagged a camera, you put it at 1/250 and f8 with the lens at 
infinity. If you have to quickly get that camera and lens combo out, you now 
no which way to turn the shutterspeed dial, the aperture ring and the focus 
and you really dont have to look at the camera until the last second for a fine 
tune of the focus! It becomes 2nd nature after a while (just like turning the 
aperture ring on a Nikon F when you change lenses - I still do that even if 
the camera has a sports finder
or a prism on it).
 I was never a great fan of the M3 as my primary lens is a 35 and the 
'goggled" 35's are a pain to use. They are too big to stuff in a pocket and they do 
'dim" the view through the finder. The MP is good, just as good as my 
Millennium M6 or any of the older M6's. The 0.58 finder is the first finder since the 
M2 that I really liked. With the 35 on it there is only that frame to contend 
with, no confusion any more. It works with the 50 too, but by the time you get 
to 75/90, forget it. Thus three 0.58 bodies (1 TTL, 1 Millennium 'special" and 
the MP), a couple of 0,72's (older M6 classics) and a 0.85 LHSA TTL. I will 
not reveal how many M2's and, yes M3's I have stashed in the camera cabinet or 
in my bag!
Tom A