Why Do You Have a Backup Body?

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Snake Man

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I know it's an obvious answer in a lot of cases, first camera might breakdown during a wedding/photo shoot. Sports photographers can quickly switch between bodies for different primes.

But what other reasons are there for keeping a backup body? Upgraded and just kept the old one?

The reason for asking, is that I upgraded to the D300 in January and the only time I've picked up the D80 is to take a picture of the D300 lol. With rumors of the D90 coming out, the D80 will take a nose dive in price. So, do I sell now, while it still has a decent value, or hold on to it in the unlikely case it will be used again?
 
Crap. Just realised I posted this in the welcome forum. If a mod could move, appreciated.
 
I have two 1dmkII... I named them "One" and "Two" ..then if one breaks I still have.....


Sorry I just woke up in a silly mood.:)
 
I kept my 20D when I bought the 5D.

One reason was as a backup on a shoot, you don't want to be paying for a studio and not being able to use it if there is a problem with the 5D.

The second reason was that the 20D is a crop sensor so gives me a different field of view with my lenses as opposed to the full frame 5D.
 
Joe T said:
The OP has a large collection of snakes! :D
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Thanks for that Joe - I thought you'd gone :nuts::nuts::nuts:



Back-up is a funny one isn't it. If it is truly a 'back-up' i.e. something you never use but there just-in-case, then get a mate and borrow a 'back-up' for important stuff - i.e. Weddings

In 30 years as a tog only 2 camera have ever stopped working, both Chinons (an old cheap Pentax copy), one was 19 years old at the time, the other about 16. So you'll gather for years I carried two everywhere, but only used one at a time (swapping for 'safety')

I've had Nikons for the last 10 years and nothing has gone wrong with any of them, so unless you do loads of important stuff that can't be repeated, I'd say sell it now and get a mate!

DD
 
Not really classified as back-up bodies but I have a 5D for detail type togging and 30D's for the rest....one with a split prism focus scrreen for macro and two without for longer lens stuff.

Bob
 
I just kept the replaced D60 when I upgraded to a 20D, But I do find it useful to have totally different lenses on each when out and about.

It has also been very useful when out on safari, one trip when I managed a day in SA as part of a works trip I was able to lend one to a frend wo didn't have an SLR and his first ever trip into Africa.

I also do like the very rich colours from the D60
 
Joe T said:
Its for when a snake eats one of you bodies, you still have another one to take a picture of the huge bulge in the snake's body! :p :D
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I definitely didn't think of this! :lol:

I've had a sleep on it and I'm still unsure. Sods law being, the second I sell the D80, the D300 will break down.

I'm thinking now maybe an alternative camera would be better, rather than a backup, something that would get used. I really like the Fuji S5 Pro, the high dynamic range would make it good for portraits but I would have to make up the difference and I don't really want to spend anymore on cameras this year.
A compact is another idea going round my head. Or, go for some sort of film camera and get back to basics, either a Nikon 35mm or MF (any chance of finding a medium format camera for under £400?).
 
Although I only had the D200 for a few months, I decided to buy the D300 and sell the D200. When I realised the price I would be selling at was near £300 less than I paid for the D200, I decided to keep it as I wasn't that desperate for the money at the time.

I have never expected either camera to break, but having both bodies with different lenses on a walk really helps in not having to change lenses. Not that lenses take that long to change, therefore it must be that I can't bring myself to sell it.
 
AliB said:
I kept my 20D when I bought the 5D.

The second reason was that the 20D is a crop sensor so gives me a different field of view with my lenses as opposed to the full frame 5D.
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:plusone:

Also, I keep the 20D on my desk all the time, with the 28-75mm attached, just in case a photo opp arises. The 5D is used more for planned shoots.
 
Snake Man said:
With rumors of the D90 coming out, the D80 will take a nose dive in price. So, do I sell now, while it still has a decent value
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This was one of the main factors for me selling my D80 body. I watched about five D80 bodies on eBay and they all sold for the £350 mark, and then mine went for the same! :thumbs:
 
I would never concider a 2nd body a 'backup' body. I'd always concider it a 2nd body.

The reason i'd use a 2nd body (which I hope to do soon when the 5D MKII comes out) is for different lenses. I'd keep a ultra-wide angle like my 17-40 or replace it with a 16-35 or 24-70 on the 5D for wide shots, then keep a 70-200 on my 40D.

DSLRs are pretty reliable generally, i'v never had any problems whatsoever with any of the SLRs or DSLRs that i'v owned.
 
I actually use my second body as an alternative lens choice and not a "backup". Depending on the shoot at hand one would have either an 80-200 f/2.8 or the 300 f/2.8 and the other a 17-55 f/2.8 or 50 f/1.8. Or one with the 80-200 f/2.8 and one with the 300 f/2.8. If one broke or had a malfunction it would be replaced immediately.
 
I kept my D70s when I upgraded and it still gets used, especially on days where I dont want to lug heavy kit, or I have the kids with me [its easier for them to use on auto] or when the D200 is attached to tripod and I am too bloody lazy to take it off for handheld stuff, and indeed, as a 2nd body with a different lens attached out on specific shoots, such as goodwood last year, and so on. PLus, I love it. If I was to go for a further upgrade now, it would be the D200 that was looking for a new home, not the D70s
 
just in case.
were doing mainly wedding work.
ok weve never had one die YET, but if we did, you havent got time to mess about, certain shots MUST be got. having a backup would enable a quick swap, and not miss owt.
if my mrs camera died, i,d hand her mine (shes the boss and proper tog). if mine died, i dive in the bag (which i,m usualy carrying) for a backup.odd times when were not shooting together(pre wedding bride AND groom) we both take backups. nnot so critical to need a fast swap, but keeps the flow going.she has a 5D, i am just learning my way round her "old" 30D. and my old 350 is the spare.
although if i,m out wandering, i still often use the 350.
mark.
 
Owing to finances I have always had to sell each camera to buy the next...350D went when I got the 30D, and 30D went when I bought the 40D.

But having done a wedding or two.. and with two more booked, Im thinking I should be looking about for a reliable 20D as a back up.
So if anyone has one tucked away ... ;)
 
Oi, you young whippersnapper!!! :bat: ;)
 
if i'm being paid for work i always carry a spare camera and lens - but tend to use it as a second body, and i find this works best if the camera's are the same, but with different lenses.
 
Luckily I don't have that problem...I use both bodies at the same time with different lenses attached...
 
If i was doing weddings etc i would definitely have a 2nd camera you never know what might happen, my Dad fell down some stairs at my stepsisters wedding and dropped his camera, luckily a D2x and its fine but it is not always Camera malfunction to worry about it could be an accident or other unforseen event that breaks a camera
 
Interesting reading all the replies. Seems that most see it as 2nd body, rather than a backup body. I think I need to change my mind set and make use of the different opportunities 2 lots of focal lengths can provide.
 
I like to have two bodies loaded and ready to shoot so i can switch between, to use my most common example, 17-50 to 70-200 without having to fiddle about. Both bodies are synch'd for time and settings are exactly the same in camera.

Oh and back up, never do a wedding without back up.
 
I keep my old Eos 5 as back up/second body (along with spare film in the camera bag), but when I upgrade my 20D, I will relegate the Eos 5 for when I feel like shooting film...
 
My 350D now has a couple of roles:

When I use a studio I take the 350 as a "spare" just in case the 40 breaks, gets dropped, has coffee spilt on it etc.

When the Mrs is with me and we're out "togging", she now has full use of the 350D and any of the lenses (except for maybe the lens I'im using! :lol:)

When I want to go lightweight, I take the grip off of the 350 and just take that and one lens.

The 350 even has it's own bag with the 50mm f1.8, the 70-210 f4, and a flashgun too. I have considered selling it as a kit but can't make up my mind if I want to or not....

Steve
 
One body with a wide-angle round your neck and another with a telephoto on a tripod .....?

And/or, full frame body with a wide angle round your neck and cropped sensor body with a telephoto on a tripod ....?

When the tripod falls over and the cropped sensor body dies, you've still got a back-up body for your wide-angle :lol:
 
I have two slightly different cameras (5D, 1D2), and this setup allows one to backup the other, and also have a different lens on it to be a different focal length. I like to shoot primes, and often I will have a prime on the 5 with a zoom on the 1D2.

It does become a pain when I am traveling, and I have to carry battery chargers, and two types of batteries.

@Snake Man: If I were you, I would probably sell the D80, and think about getting a Fuji S2 or S3 pro (cheaper then the current model), as you will then have two types of cameras. Or better yet try a Kodak SLR 14/n if you can streach to it.
 
I have a 1d and a 30D.

I use the 1d for birds in flight or any action where good AF performance is needed.
The subject is close will be close enough to me so that i don't need the crop factor of the 30D

30D for if i need the added crop factor for more distant subjects.
Wide angle lens camera in addition to telephoto so i don't have to change lens in dusty or salt spray conditions, or if i just cant be bothered to have the weight of the 1d around my neck for general use.

Its not really a case of backup but what camera i think fits the bill for what i want to do.
 
This is a situation I am about to face, getting rid of the 350d in place of a 40d. In my situation I will have both so my girlfriend can take pictures when we go places as well, she has been getting ever more into it over the last 18 months.
 
Another one here who has a 2nd body rather than a backup.

Goes back a few years to when I used a Spotty and an S1 - quick lens changes aren't a real option with M42 kit! Carried the habit on in the "modern" era of AF, AE etc with different emulsions in the bodies - either B&W and colour or print and tranny or Velvia 50 and Sensia 400.

Come the digital revolution, I stuck with the D70 on its own for a while then got the D200 when I could afford it without chopping the D70 in. Generally keep a wide angle on the D70 and a tele on the D200 (but normally only carry one round my neck at a time!)
 
I think a backup body would be quite useful. I'm looking for decent second hand K10D at the moment, if i find one i will be keeping my K100D as a backup.
 
I almost always shoot with two bodies (D300) - saves changing lenses and you get the shot while others are messing around in the bag! Last week I did a job - 500 odd frames and shot with 3 bodies (D300 - 12-24mm + D300 - 28-70mm + D2Hs - 80-200mm) - huge advantage - now I need to get another as back-up!!
 
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