Rather than changeable film backs, what I like is changeable film inserts. It makes loading/reloading the camera on the move much easier, I usually carry at least one spare, loaded insert with me all the time.
A lot of wedding shooters worked that way too - multiple cameras loaded and ready to go. More recently, I've seen multiple photographers at the event to ensure that they capture it well.
When I think back of the solo weddings I shot - no assistant, no redundant equipment - I shudder.
Wasn't there a phrase used about wedding photography that involved referring to the bride as "bridezilla" to describe some brides' behaviours and demands of the wedding photographer?
pentaxuser
I only have experience of the P645N which uses inserts and unless someone has worked out how to remove the insert mid-roll without a changing bag and then reloading it later again with a changing bag and remembering what the frame counter was at and subtracting that number from 16 (number of frames possible) to work out how many frames left to shoot I cannot see the advantage of a loaded insert other than speed of reloading
In that sense the word "changeable" in the phrase "changeable film inserts" is the same as "extra" in "extra film inserts" Is this what you mean ?
Thanks
pentaxuser
For those of you using medium format SLRs - when do you actually use multiple film backs? Do you find them useful and great or just kinda meh? Would you be perfectly happy without them? What creative situations would you be unable to take advantage of without the interchangeable back?
I have some upcoming projects that I'm considering acquiring my first medium format SLR for and just wondering since I've never owned/used one before. I'm not going to be shooting weddings, or doing anything professional/for money. It seems like outside of the VERY rare circumstance I'm blasting off multiple rolls of 120 in a sitting I'd basically never use more than one back?
I don't think you can generalize that today only (or even mostly) hobbyists use MF. The art photography realm still consist of some die-hard MF users--Michael Kenna for example. On the other hand, 6 or 7 decades ago there were slews of hobbyists (to throw in a stereotype--orthodontists) using MF.When MF was a "pro" thing, 6,7 decades ago, they made sense. Today, when MF is a hobby for enthusiasts the use case is likely to switch between different film types during one session. I had 4 backs for my Hasselblad 500CM, and in hindsight they were just a burden.
Extra is what I mean. Having loaded inserts so you don't have to stop and reload too long.
I used to shoot wedding, always carried preloaded spare backs to keep shooting without missing action.
One practical advantage...as entropy whittles away at our gear...when the film back fails, just replace it with a working one
Good point
A slightly different take. I have multiple backs, so I can always use my RB. Why wouldn't I be able to use my RB you ask? Well, I'm 3/4 of the way through a two year 365 (730?) project. If I didn't have multiple backs, that project would be the only thing I could use my RB to shoot. And sometimes I just want to capture something on my RB. So, multiple backs.
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