BACKUP CAMERA
Jul 16, 2016 07:53:50 #
Definitely take a backup. As someone else said, you may not care to take both cameras with you every day as you are out and about, but you have it available if something goes wrong with the primary. If you want the quick availability or two kinds of lenses, having two bodies is a plus, i.e. one with a wide angle for landscapes and one with a longer telephoto for other shooting requirements. As a minimum, I always take a smaller "point and shoot" to use for shooting in places where carrying a larger camera is inconvenient...like in a restaurant, museum, etc.
Jul 16, 2016 07:59:21 #
mikedidi46 wrote:
When I travel, I usually only take my Canon 70D. I am not a Pro, and have never thought about taking a backup. I have an older 60D that is in excellent shape, and now I am wondering if I should take along both of them to Croatia in September. what are everyone's thoughts.
I always carry a backup camera. I have a D610 full frame that I keep a (depending on the shoot) wide 18-35mm or a 50mm AF-S f/1.4 and a D7100 with either a 70-300 or an 80-400 lens. This gives me the ability to pretty much capture any shot by grabbing the right camera. I also carry a Tamron 10-24mm DX lens and an 18-70 DX lens which work (though will not take advantage of the full frame) on either camera. The 80-400 is an FX lens but (as all FX lenses do) works well on the DX camera. If necessary, I can always change lenses either way depending on the situation. Sure, carrying an extra body is a little extra weight, but the ability to change lenses immediately by grabbing the other body, without having to go through the removing a lens and putting another lens on then storing the removed lens, may be the difference between getting the shot or missing it.
Jul 16, 2016 08:37:26 #
Only you know what is good for you. For me, I would never take so much equipment on vacation to lug around unless you bring along a caddie! When I travel, it is a body with lens attached(18-200) and 11-16. If I really felt compelled to bring a backup, I would either use my phone or a small point and shoot that I can stash in my pocket or my wife's bag. To schlep or not to schlep-that is the question!
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Jul 16, 2016 09:01:35 #
Elsiss wrote:
Only you know what is good for you. For me, I would never take so much equipment on vacation to lug around unless you bring along a caddie! When I travel, it is a body with lens attached(18-200) and 11-16. If I really felt compelled to bring a backup, I would either use my phone or a small point and shoot that I can stash in my pocket or my wife's bag. To schlep or not to schlep-that is the question!
It really depends on what you are shooting. If you feel that you are going to need to alternate between wide and long shots, then by all means carry a backup. If you are in the woods shooting nature and everything is long then there is no need for a wide lens. It also depends on if you reasonably think that the "prime" camera might have issues during the shoot or that you absolutely need to get the shots (wedding or some paid shoot). You may not have spare batteries or different types of memory cards (SD and Compact Flash for instance) so you would need the second camera (if both used different types of batteries that were NOT interchangeable) so the second camera would be necessary incase you shot more than you could with one.. Everyone's situation is different. I carry 2 bodies because it gives me flexibility and both are on Black Rapid shoulder straps so it isn't a big deal.
Jul 16, 2016 09:07:12 #
berchman
Loc: South Central PA
jerryc41 wrote:
When people are planning a big trip, they often post here asking about what compact camera they should get for the trip. I would never bring two DSLRs on a trip. Do you have a decent compact camera you could bring, just in case?
Well, on three trips to SE ASIA in my 70's (Burma, Cambodia and Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) I walked around wearing a Nikon D700 with a 70-200 f/2.8 and a Nikon D800 with a 17-35 f/2.8 because I didn't want to miss a shot.
I think I may have come to my senses because I'm now carrying only the Fuji Xt-1 with the 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 and an iPhone 6+ as I travel through Sicily and Calabria. Who wants to be shlepping two FF bodies with pro zoom lenses when it's 93 in the shade and humid to boot? I just hold the Fuji in my hand with a Gordi wrist strap. I will wait until I get home to decide whether or not I got enough keepers. I'm a little concerned because of the shutter lag and my seeming inability to achieve a spot exposure on people's faces. When my pre-order for the Fuji Xt-2 gets delivered, I'll have to decide whether or not to keep the Xt-1 as a backup or just use the iPhone as a backup. I do have an old Canon S3is that could serve as backup and maybe that makes more sense than the iPhone since it has a zoom lens and an optical viewfinder.
Jul 16, 2016 09:11:35 #
The best combination for me is my a7r2 (main camera w/24-70mm lense) and my a6300 (backup camera w/28mm lense.
Jul 16, 2016 09:24:45 #
I always travel with one camera and one versatile lens, but not a superzoom. Carrying two bodies and lenses in Croatia, or anywhere else, does not sound like a good thing. With a crop Canon body, take the 15-85 EFS or 17-85 EFS lens and this will be all that you need. You want the wide angle for the interior shots/people shots, etc.
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Jul 16, 2016 09:39:47 #
A paranoid photographer once told me that he never brought 2 bodies because he didn't want to give a thief an easier way to make a buck.
Jul 16, 2016 09:49:55 #
Funny, but Europe has many thieves-reality sometimes hurts.
Jul 16, 2016 10:43:08 #
What is the informed opinion on taking two cameras with different lenses. Seems you could avoid losing time by having to stop and change lenses and eliminating the risk of getting crud in side.
Jul 16, 2016 10:49:36 #
berchman wrote:
Well, on three trips to SE ASIA in my 70's (Burma,... (show quote)
I remember seeing people like that in my travels, usually with a camera bag - maybe carried by a wife or child. I felt sorry for those families.
I prefer a compact for traveling, although a D750 with a 28-300mm might work, depending on the location.
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Jul 16, 2016 10:58:47 #
berchman
Loc: South Central PA
jerryc41 wrote:
I remember seeing people like that in my travels, usually with a camera bag - maybe carried by a wife or child. I felt sorry for those families.
I prefer a compact for traveling, although a D750 with a 28-300mm might work, depending on the location.
I prefer a compact for traveling, although a D750 with a 28-300mm might work, depending on the location.
The backpack that brought these two cameras stayed either in the hotel room or with the driver of the van or car that was taking us around. My wife would never agree to carry any of my equipment. I wore the cameras and would often be mistaken for a pro which I most definitely am not.
Jul 16, 2016 11:28:58 #
My choice in traveling anywhere is the Nikon d7000 with a Sigma 18-250 lens. In one pocket is a Kenko 1.4 telextender and in the other is a small Nikon Point and Shoot. This covers everything I have needed so far, at least it is all I have.
Jul 16, 2016 11:36:43 #
When you travel abroad, you might worry about your expensive equipment, thieves, lens and camera dropping, dust and the weight of your photo bag.
I own 9 SLR cameras from 24x36mm, 645, 6x7 and 6x9 and I would never take those on a trip when I consider walking longer distances.
Because I don't want to miss images with my elaborate equipment.
However, traveling with SLR gear in a private car might be OK.
Lens changing in a crowd or rain is always a pain in the ..... (location is your choice).
So, instead of lugging a larger photo gear, I would vote for one or two good bridge cameras.
Don't forget, the 28 mm wide angle lens is NOT enough for those pretty, but very narrow European streets and other tight places.
By the way, when in Croatia region, (formerly Yugoslavia) I wouldn't miss the spectacular National Park called PLITVICE.
Prepare yourself for the anticipated activities and have a great trip!
I own 9 SLR cameras from 24x36mm, 645, 6x7 and 6x9 and I would never take those on a trip when I consider walking longer distances.
Because I don't want to miss images with my elaborate equipment.
However, traveling with SLR gear in a private car might be OK.
Lens changing in a crowd or rain is always a pain in the ..... (location is your choice).
So, instead of lugging a larger photo gear, I would vote for one or two good bridge cameras.
Don't forget, the 28 mm wide angle lens is NOT enough for those pretty, but very narrow European streets and other tight places.
By the way, when in Croatia region, (formerly Yugoslavia) I wouldn't miss the spectacular National Park called PLITVICE.
Prepare yourself for the anticipated activities and have a great trip!
Jul 16, 2016 11:53:37 #
A number of years ago my wife and I took a 4 week trip through the eastern Mediterranean. My primary camera was a Sony A100 with a pair of lenses. An 18-55mm and a 55-300mm. I brought my old Olympus C470 (3.2 MPixel, 10x optical zoom) point and shoot as a back up. I'm glad I did. The 18-55mm lens had been making ugly noises when the camera was turned on and it packed it in while we were touring Masada in Israel. I have a number of pictures from that trip using the point and shoot. I mounted the 55-300mm on the A100 and used that when 55mm wasn't too long. Walking in Jerusalem I just took the C470 but in Petra I carried both. Not the best solution, but I'm sure glad I had a backup. Some trips you don't expect to repeat and having only one camera and having it go down would not be good.
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
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