Back up camera (Page 3): If your livelihood depends on it or you'll be sued if your camera fails, you need a backup camera. Any other situation, you don't need one unless you just like...

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Back up camera

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Feb 24, 2017 04:12:32 #

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

catchlight.. wrote:

I am curious why anyone would need a "back up... (show quote)

If your livelihood depends on it or you'll be sued if your camera fails, you need a backup camera.
Any other situation, you don't need one unless you just like the idea of having one!
No, I've never had one fail. I've had a few stolen, so I bought an Instamatic(film days) for snapshots!! 📷 📷 📷
SS

Feb 24, 2017 06:07:57 #

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

When I got to a shoot I usually carry 3 or 4 cameras. They all have the same quick release base plate for my geared heads and they have different lenses mounted. I don't consider them backup cameras. I do carry backup strobes and other backup equipment. I've never had a failure and I've never not completed a job. When I shoot for pleasure I might carry 2 cameras. There are lots of reasons people carry backups. I don't consider any of my equipment a lesser piece of equipment. They are different but I could do the job with any of them.

catchlight.. wrote:

I am curious why anyone would need a "back up... (show quote)

Feb 24, 2017 06:23:29 #

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

catchlight.. wrote:

I am curious why anyone would need a "back up... (show quote)

I have top models of both cropped sensor and full frame. If something happens to either I can switch for a short period of time pending repairs on the other camera.

Feb 24, 2017 06:51:52 #

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

You speak of a personal situation where you are at risk at most of a small inconvenience . A professional always has a backup as you cannot take time out on a client shoot with a failure. If you go on an extended trip having a backup is essential as a failure can mean a wasted trip.

Every dslr will at some point fail; shutter wear, you drop it, it gets wet etc., if you only shoot round home. If you travel this is more serious.

Feb 24, 2017 06:58:34 #

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

As others have said, if you are working as a professional you MUST have back-up equipment!
Anything mechanical or electrical will eventually break.
"Murphy's Law" says it will break at the most inconvenient time- such as in the middle of a wedding.
This has happened to me a number of times over the years.
It is difficult to tell a bride and groom, in the middle of their wedding, that you are going home
because your one camera is broke. I never had to do this, because I ALWAYS carried spare equipment.

Feb 24, 2017 07:02:14 #

Les White

my backup camera is my iPhone --I had a backup for a few months and sold it. I would rather have one really good camera with first rate lenses so that is what I have done with my Fuji equipment--very unusual to have problems with good maintenance and care of equipment

Feb 24, 2017 07:08:47 #

cthahn

When you do have a failure, don't whine to everyone on UH about all the shots you lost.

Feb 24, 2017 07:31:25 #

barrdennis

I shoot the d800 and it failed right as the kiss took place in a wedding, I thank god I had a second camera ready to go. Denny Barr

Feb 24, 2017 07:36:08 #

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

A professional needs a back up but for other photographers it is fear of a camera that could fail, let's say during an expensive trip or vacation that prompts them to get a back up.
Like you I have never felt the need for a back up. None of my cameras in over 50 years have ever failed to operate and I continue to travel with one body only.

Feb 24, 2017 07:40:53 #

Impressionist

Only needed the right one to start with. Situations and improvement in finance allowed the accumulation of additional tools to address specifics. Have been subtracting more then adding or replacing. Only needed a spare tire once in many years of driving. Experience was enough to teach me the value of having one.

Feb 24, 2017 07:55:32 #

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Ever been in Monument Valley and switch between a wide angle lens and another lens constantly....exposing your sensor to dust....not to mention the inconvenience? That's when it will dawn on you why a second camera would be handy. Ofc, what you do is when you buy a new camera is to keep the old one, which becomes your second camera. In my case, it became the dedicated wide angle lens camera, esp. since the wide angle lens was a 10-24mm Tamron dx and the new camera was an fx.

Feb 24, 2017 07:55:41 #

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Les White wrote:

That's fine for someone who takes photos for themselves. A pro would have to have two really good cameras with first rate lenses.
I'd say it's much less common for the lens to fail than for the camera. However, you have to consider all the failure modes including things like having a kid running into your tripod. In a case like that it could get both the camera and the lens.

A pro has to be paranoid about such things.

The OP didn't state it, but he's probably coming from a personal shooting environment rather than a pro environment. Otherwise he wouldn't have asked the question. (And he asked about the situation where the primary camera is the "lesser" camera. Every camera does something well, so why one would choose one camera over another could depend on the shoot).

Feb 24, 2017 07:57:30 #

Satman Loc: Indy

Had a bent pin on my CF Card in Italy, sure was glad the S110 was there.

Little S110 goes in the case, just in case, and many time is in the pocket...

I also back up my pictures....

Feb 24, 2017 08:03:01 #

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

When I upgraded to a Nikon D7200 (was ready to move up and wanted a couple of features not available on the D5200) from my D5200, I kept the D5200 as a "back-up". I researched what I could get for the D5200 and decided it had more value to me as an extra/back-up. We take those once-in-a-lifetime trips (over 5 months last year we were in Alaska, Greenland and environs, and then Antarctica) and it is very comforting - read that as I have one less thing to worry about on the trip - to know I have the D5200 as a fall-back.

On the home front, I often go out shooting BIF and BON with both cameras - a different lens mounted on each of the 2 cameras. Very convenient.

It's been a year since my D7200 came to stay and I am happy with my decision to keep the D5200.

Feb 24, 2017 08:05:27 #

Bill_de Loc: US

A friend of mine enjoys model railroading. He has more engines than he can run at the same time.When it's a hobby having more toys to play with is part of the fun. Woodworkers have more saw blades than they will ever use, but when a better one, or perceived better one, hits the market word gets out and everyone has one. Fisherman, backyard mechanics, the list goes on. Business people need a reason, hobbyists just need to derive some pleasure.

I often carry more than one camera. One might be set on a tripod with a long, heavy lens attached. The second will have a shorter zoom that I can hand hold and grab a shot when something gets closer. Last spring while out shooting birds I kept a light camera with a 35mm f1.8 handy. I got a few nice flower shots while waiting for some action in front of the tripod.

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