Changing Lens

[bwidjaja]

Hi Everyone,

As much as I like having a camera with the ability to put different lens on it for flexibility, I somehow find it cumbersome to change lens while walking around and shooting with no particular objective. I somehow feel that the fact that i need to carry around an extra lens, worrying it not being damaged, time taken to change (and maybe change back later) too tedious.

Does anybody feel the same way? Any suggestions?

Cheers,
Berhen

[Fraser]

carry two cameras so you never need to change lenses.

[presspass]

What Fraser said. If I go one lens, one camera, it's either a 35 or a 50.

[Brian Legge]

For a while, I was going out with two fixed lens rangefinders (before I'd shot them enough to trust either camera) or one and a TLR/folder. Nit much lens variation, buri found that pretty easy.

These days I often take a ltm camera with a 35 and 50. Even more of a hassle as I take the finder in and off when I switch lenses. Maybe I'll leave it on now that I'm using a variable finder.

[Livesteamer]

Two years ago Sherry K. upgraded the finder on my M6 .85 and it became a wonderful camera. I carry it with a 50mm on it and my early M6 .72 with a 35 on it. Turns out to be a great combination. Joe

[Ronald M]

For lazy, Rollei 35 with tessar 40 mm.

For SUPER lazy, Nikon D40 + 18/135. Maybe some day I will get a 35 1.8 for it.

Neither of these happens frequently.

[Guaranteed]

Well if you've got the wherewithal and your using an M mount body you could try to find one of the Tri-Elmar lenses.

If I had the extra scratch laying around and if I could find one I'd like to give the 28-35-50 one a go. I've no idea on the performance of either of them but it would be nice for a one body one lens outing.

[CorreCaminos]

I'm thinking of getting an M3 so I can avoid changing lenses so frequently. I'll use my 50 'lux on the M3 and keep the 35 'cron on the M4.

In the meantime, lens changes are much easier and less likely to result in dropping a lens, if you follow a routine.

When I need to change lenses, with the camera hanging from its strap, I'll take the lens I want on the camera and set it against the lens on the camera, with the lens caps on both lenses and front to front, while holding the two lenses with my left hand. I proceed to unmount the lens from the camera, switch the lens rear cap from one lens to the other with my right hand, turn my left hand and mount the new lens on the camera. All the while, I have a firm grasp on both lenses and don't have to put anything down where I can lose it. It works very well.

[sonofdanang]

Here's what I do and what nearly every one of my colleagues does when using one camera and two (or more) lenses and we're working: we get the second body out.

Okay, okay. Body number one fails, now it's the 28 and the 90 on one body or more likely, a 20-35 and a 80-200.

Ditch the caps - both ends. In media scrums they are a liability and in more delicate (everything from wildlife to a photo essay in a funeral home) moments they are an obtrusive annoyance. Use a pouch on a belt or a bag with padded pockets. A mis-handled end or front cap will do more damage to a rear lens element than any contact with padding will. If you must use a hood, make sure that it is solidly attached.

Carry a lint-free cloth in your pocket.

When you consider that some of the lenses that we use, on Leicas in particular, are worth many thousands of dollars, the cost of a second film body is a form of low-cost insurance.

My father - an award winning PJ was working with three lenses and two bodies. He left the fisheye on the terrace above Macchu Pichu. The altitude might have had something to do with that, but perhaps the point is clear.

Certainly the preferred method of working is a body per lens. It's quieter, and you'll miss fewer shots.

[kossi008]

I'm not a pro, so I don't need insurance. Plus, I don't own another M body.

So if I need to change lenses: I change the lens. Voila!
(I will tell myself to really, REALLY slow down - once put a lens on the pavement from about waist-high, never want to hear that sound again).

On those days when I can't be bothered, the second lens stays in the bag, or even at home.

[lxmike]

Yaers and years of practice I thought I could juggle most photographic kit, changing lenses no problem, until I got a Contax G, for some reason still cathces me out a bit and the odd FSU lens can be a bit of a bugger. I normallly take two cameras out fitted with a 35mm and 50mm lens, I just swap between the cameras

[calebk]

It might get cumbersome at first, but go slow and be deliberate. You'll find it's not such a hassle after all. Just, yeah, be careful not to let the lens have a concrete kiss.

[Luddite Frank]

Being an LTM shooter, and usually carrying 35-50-90-135 in my kit bag, plus hoods, I have changed lenses in the field... it's fiddly.

I've gotten better at it, but it's still fiddly...

Usually I just leave the 35mm on the body and shoot that.

If changing lenses really bugs you, then probably best to opt for a film SLR with a zoom-lens, or a P&S 35mm with a zoom.... or digital w/ zoom.

OR, head out with a fixed-lens camera, like a Retina I or II, or just your RF body and a "standard" 50mm lens, and learn how to work with that alone.

[calebk]

I have never changed a lens in the field in the countless years I have owned interchangeable lens cameras. I certainly would NEVER consider changing a lens on a digital camera in the field and filling the sensor with dirt.

Are you serious? Wonder how wedding photographers get by then. :D

[Steve Bellayr]

I find that carrying a spare rear lens cap facilitates the changing of lenses enormously. Remove the lens that is on the camera (it is capped at this stage) and place the lens cap on the lens. Put the lens in the bag and take out the second lens remove the cap, putting the rear cap in the bag and put the second lens on. I find that it is faster than loading film.

[sonofdanang]

Oh boy......

[Michael Markey]

Hate changing lenses out on the street so two bodies for me but your comments Shane, make a lot of sense .

[calebk]

I have no idea, I have only been to a couple of weddings, and I barely noticed the photographer, the whole thing is a mystery to me. :cool:

I've been on digital four years now (cue gasps of horror from the film fanatics). I use a 5D and I change lenses as and when I need to. I blow-clean my sensor, what, every three to six months? The dust problem is overstated most of the time. As long as you use a bit of common sense, you won't be getting a mucked up sensor all that fast.

[healyzh]

When I'm shooting with my Nikon SLR's and DSLR I don't even think about it, I change the lenses if I need to. I agree with the one comment above, and that is that a spare rear lens cap helps.

With my M6 TTL, I'm thinking seriously about picking up a 2nd body.

[healyzh]

I've been on digital four years now (cue gasps of horror from the film fanatics). I use a 5D and I change lenses as and when I need to. I blow-clean my sensor, what, every three to six months? The dust problem is overstated most of the time. As long as you use a bit of common sense, you won't be getting a mucked up sensor all that fast.

Is the 5D self-cleaning? When I was using a D70 dirt was a problem, with the D300 and the self-cleaning set to run each time the camera is powered up, I've not had any real problem.

[calebk]

Is the 5D self-cleaning? When I was using a D70 dirt was a problem, with the D300 and the self-cleaning set to run each time the camera is powered up, I've not had any real problem.

No, the 5D isn't, and what's more it's got a huge sensor. As long as you're not changing lenses where dust is swirling around or it's real windy, you should be okay. Also try to face the lens mount downwards when you're doing so.