Alright, don't laugh!

I see a used M lens holder gizmo at a nice price in the used camera shop down the road from my office. Has anyone actually found these to be useful? I can carry one extra lens in a pocket (35/50) but sometimes its nice to have two extra lenses on a walkabout without having to carry a camera bag.

But fell free to opine if it is just so much useless clutter.

-- Mani Sitaraman (mscommerce@hotmail.com), May 08, 2001

Answers

Silly me, I did not search the archive categories diligently enough. I have a few opinions from there but additional ones are always welcome.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 08, 2001.

I've never used this gizmo - which just seems awkward to me. However, I can recommend a good way to have two lenses on you without a camera bag is to wear cargo pants (lots of film can fit in these pockets as well as lenses). It's worked will for me in the past and not required anything special.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), May 08, 2001.

I really need to learn to spell and use grammar correctly (you would think 18 years of school would have taught me that) – or maybe I just need to proofread before posting a comment.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), May 08, 2001.

I don't know how the gadget you mention works, but I assume it holds two lenses together end to end. Why not epoxy or otherwise wed a couple of rear lens caps back to back and attach a lens to each? I generally just drop extra lenses in separate pants or shirt pockets.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols@iopener.net), May 08, 2001.

By "lens holder" do you mean the one that has a bayonet mount, lets you cantilever a heavy lens stressing the M6's offset tripod socket, making a small camera big and risking damage to 2 lenses at once if it swings against something or gets dropped? That gizmo?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 08, 2001.

Is this what you're talking about: Leica Lens Carrier M 14404?

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), May 08, 2001.

My advice: Dont' buy it! I owned a Benser Baseplate lens holder (for holding 2 lenses to the bottom of a Leica M) and hated it. In addition to the dangers that Jay mentioned, consider this: 1.)if the lenses being held are not bayoneted in securely or come loose, your expensive Leitz glass will take a straight vertical crash (front element first) to the ground! 2.) when you want to change film, you have to take off the lens holder, take off the baseplate, change film, reattach the baseplate, and reattach the lens holder. Repeat this process several times a day and you'll soon yearn for a small carryall bag for your extra lenses!

-- Dan (dhtalbot@aol.com), May 08, 2001.

You don't buy, we don't laugh...:~)

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), May 08, 2001.

I once droped one of my M3īs, it hit the concret grownd on one of the corners of the base plate, the knock made the baseplate opened, from that experience I better donīt hang any thing from it, and beside that you losse what the Mīs are so precious for: itīs compactness. By the way sorry if any gramar errors.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 08, 2001.

Mani, I think everyone else has basically covered all the reasons not to use this thing, but I couldn't pass up adding my 2 cents. I think Roberto probably said it best, but why take a camera that's good partly because it's small and agile, and make it into a heavy, ungainly, clunky thing. Get the cargo pants, as Matthew said, or a photo vest, or a nice small bag.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), May 08, 2001.

OK, folks (Jay made the case against quite well) its time to buy my next camera bag and/or add to my wardrobe.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 08, 2001.

PS: Does Cartier-Bresson wear cargo pants, by the way? :-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 08, 2001.

for film? he didnīt need it, he used just one lens and one camera, jumping and dancing along the streets all day; any extra cargo would diminish his ballet capabilities.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 10, 2001.

Dan, the Benser baseplate is a catastrophee - you're absolutely right. But the Leica lens holder (for just one lens instead of two) is way more practical. You can keep it fastened to the baseplate or even the rapiwinder or the leica winder while changing film. It has a centered bajonet for the additional lens thus proving additional grip if you carry a long lens with it. I love it. With this accessory plus my Sling I change lenses in five seconds, without any additional bags, pants, or tabletops. ;o)

See it in use: http://www.konermann.net/sling.html

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), May 11, 2001.

HC-B, as with all Parisians of his generation, i.e. those who came of age in the 1920s, was extremely dapper when at work, judging by the few photo examples that are around. But then, judging by his pictures, so was everyone in the world back then. People used to dress up before stepping out of the house, y'know...

Sorry to go off-topic, but I had to respond to Mr. Watson.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 13, 2001.

Yes Mani, a suit and tie, and formal shoes can still alowd us to move around freely, but not some pouds of equipment in a bag, altough I have seen pictures of HCB with one of those ugly hard photo bags of the 50īs hanging from his shoulder, but canīt imagine him like that all the time.Best Regards.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 14, 2001.

I like it too.

The bayonet is secure; the lens on the bottom is not going to fall off. The lens acts as a handle. Changing lenses is fast and easy--I can change lenses in about 10-12 seconds. Anyway, I hate putting lenses in my pockets, especially w/o caps.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), September 27, 2001.