Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

A backup for......Travel? For Work? For your Hobby? Will it be just another expensive (B/U) object on the shelf, hardly used? Guess your backup would be determined first of all, by your specific requirements. Enjoy whatever you purchase.

PaulDineen Loc: Fort Morgan, Colorado

When I got a Canon 7D Mark in June 2016, I kept the 7D that I had bought in 2010. The 7D is used as a compliment rather than as a backup. It's on my hip with a 28-135 lens for when the basketball and football action is too close for the 70-200 on the Mark II. Sometimes I put on a tripod and take shots with a remote. I'm intending to use it in more ways.

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

Of course their are advantages using the same camera for a back up. Because everything is the same, dials, menu's, etc. etc. etc. etc.
When I shot weddings I did not have a back up for my Hasselblad. When I shot weddings, I used the Hasselblad and two Nikon's. If (and it never did) the Hasselblad went down I had two Nikon's backing it up. I did however have three back up flash units, all flash units were the same and worked on all three camera's.

Nikon1201

I have a D7100 and a D80 as backup

LittleRed

Why? Am not a pro, just a lowly amateur picture taker. On a birding trip to Newfoundland and more than 2000 miles from home and hanging off the side of a cliff shooting a colony of puffins your camera acts up. No back up, you either give up and go home or boot it a couple hundred miles to purchase a replacement in St-Johns. (auto-focus problem, and with my eyes is something I am dependent on). You put your Canon T6i away, reach into your bag for your T5i backup and carry on. That's why I carry a backup. 😀😀😀. Back home your first line camera goes in for warranty repair and you continue on merrily with your backup till it returns.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi tboro,

We (wife & I) have a D750, D7200, D7100 & D7000. Their button/menu setups are very similar which is handy when shooting events, etc. When not shooting events the D750 is the studio camera, D7200 & 7100 are the field cameras for us and the D7000 stays on the tripod for shooting YouTube videos. Take care & ...

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I purchased a Nikon D610 with the intention of making my Nikon D7100 a backup camera. However, I gave all of my DX lenses to my wife for use on her D7000. I have replaced all of my DX lenses with Nikon FX (professional grade) lenses. These have better glass and metal barrels. The lenses are more precise and better investments than the "entry level" DX and some of the lower grade FX lenses. I now have a Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8, a Nikkor 50mm f/1.2, and a Nikon 80-400mm zoom. This gives me a pretty good spread on lenses. Generally, I will keep the 17-35mm on the D610 and the 80-400 on the D7100. This gives me a pretty good spread. If I need really low light or something at 50mm I will put that lens on either body. I now ONLY purchase FX lenses as they can easily be used on both bodies and I don't have to fumble in the dark for an FX or DX lens. If I decide that I want to use a DX lens, I will get it from my wife.
I guess my point is that my "backup" camera isn't really a backup. I carry enough lenses that either can do the job. However, the DX is better for reach (yes I know that I can put the FX into DX mode but then, I don't have 2 cameras). I generally have both camera hanging from my neck. The D7100 with the 80-400 on my right and the D610 with the 50mm or the 17-35 on the left. Both can be easily reached and used. Both have dual 64gb SD cards and I carry 10 32gb cards in my backpack. I'm pretty well set for most general shoots.

ruwohe

I also have the same model for a backup--Nikon D5500. Have been lucky and have never had to use it, but I won't have to think too much if I do. Good luck!

awis01

I have 2 d300's. I like having the same body for backup. You don't need to worry about different menus and settings.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

IF you use your two cameras complimentary, as one of the other posters indicated, and could use either an excellent low-light or good sports camera (fast fps), you might want to consider picking up a D7500.

If that's not your reasoning, I always found having a second camera handy for my wide angle lens while my first camera was used for the primary lens that I was shooting (oftentimes the 28-300mm). This eliminated the need to change lenses. All I had to do was switch cameras.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Like so many (OK all) other equipment questions, it depends on your preferred subject, your desired outcome and your personal style.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

In my case I used a 7D and when upgraded to a 5D I kept the 7D as a backup. What is so nice about it in my case is the 5D IV and the 7DII are so much alike in your hand that I am not, nor need to be , aware of which camera I have. All my fingers go to the same spot in either camera. I never thought about it till I read your question.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have a D700 that could be called a backup to my D800e. Considering the functions I use are shutter speed, f-stop, and ISO, I don't find it difficult to switch from one to the other. The only thing I have to keep in mind is the ETTR limits of the camera I'm using.
--Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Good question.

What "mission critical" issue is making you want to spend the cash for a "back up" camera?

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Interesting question "rpavich" got me thinking about me again. As I said I use a 7D and 5D and always considered my up grade to a 5D the main camera and the 7D back up. But, in reality when I have both cameras I have the wide lens on the 5 and the long lens on the 7 as it gives me a 1.6 advantage. I guess I don't gave a back up camera I have 2 working cameras.