What's your backup camera?

Kirks518 · Jul 19, 2014

When shooting analog, I've never even thought of needing or carrying a back up. I seriously have hundreds of analog bodies, and only bring one when I got out. My current daily carry is my Minolta HiMatic 7sII, and never even fathomed the thought that it may fail at some point.

Now if we're talking digital (which we aren't), I always have 2 bodies with me. Canon 50D is primary, and then either a 20D, Rebel XT (350D) or an old D60. Those I expect to fail at some point in their life simply because of all the electronics.

ericdan · Jul 19, 2014

What about when you're traveling? Only one analog body?

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 20, 2014

When shooting analog

I would like to see that!

This is Analog by inetjoker, on Flickr

All for a laugh!

Kirks518 · Jul 20, 2014

ericdan said:
What about when you're traveling? Only one analog body?

Yup. Most of what I would use only requires a battery for the meter, and half the time a correct battery isn't even readily available, so I will typically sunny 16. An all mechanical camera that has made it this long most likely isn't going to crap out on me just because I'm not home. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, or naive, but just have never even thought of a back up for analog.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 20, 2014

ericdan said:
I have an M6 with a biogon 35mm. When I travel I also carry my Ricoh GR1v in case one of the cameras breaks.

What do you carry as a backup?

I spent my money on camera maintanance to avoid the expense of a back-up camera.if really needed,I would just buy a point and shoot whereever I am.How important can it be?

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 20, 2014

Years ago, I would take a "backup" after having a problem with an EOS 1N (PB-E1 drive gears) during the Golden Jubilee (UK) weekend. Fortunately I had taken an EOS 3 as a backup.
It was the only time I ever needed to use a second body.

When I switched to Nikon over 10 years ago, I never had a need to use a backup again even though I still carry a second body. More often these days I carry a small Olympus XA2 or the Trip 35.

Russ - SVP · Jul 20, 2014

Nikon FM or Vivitar ES rangefinder.

Tinykin · Jul 20, 2014

Do you all have a designated 'beach' camera?

Except for my Nokia N8 phone, I don't have a backup as such. But my Minolta 7xi is always in the back of my car and I use it as my 'beach' camera. I just came back from a holiday in Cornwall. I used the 7Xi for those beach shots where I could wade into the water for close-ups and not worry about salt water spray on my camera. Afterall, I only paid £15.00 for it including 35-70 lens, so not a great loss if it falls into the water or tumbles onto the rocks.

bdial · Jul 20, 2014

For the first 30 or so years of my photographic life I had no back up camera, never had any problems.
Now I have cameras that could be back-ups for the back-ups, but don't often go out with more than just one.

removed account4 · Jul 20, 2014

everything i use pretty much is a backup camera ..
nothing is new except for the 4x5/5x7 convertible retina camera
or the ulf retina cameras i make .. but even now they are a few years old ..

Charles Wass · Jul 20, 2014

Over the years I have sometimes carried two cameras so as to have two different lenses ready, but I do nor see one as a back up to the other. Apart from my RZ67 only last year, my last camera failure, the meter of a Canon F-1, was in 1984.

naaldvoerder · Jul 20, 2014

2 Contax Aria's. They back up each other.

fotch · Jul 20, 2014

Main camera would be Nikon F3HP, with a Nikon FE as back up.

DannL. · Jul 20, 2014

I can only carry one camera at a time.

narsuitus · Jul 21, 2014

Pentax Spotmatic backs up my Nikon F2
https://flic.kr/p/ahCiMp

Auto focus Nikon N70 backs up my auto focus Nikon F4
https://flic.kr/p/8X9tdp

Nikonos backup when shooting under hazardous weather conditions
https://flic.kr/p/8WWa9S

Jeff Kubach · Jul 21, 2014

For 35mm, my old Canon F-1 is my main camera with the Ft-b as my backup.

Jeff

Too old to care · Jul 21, 2014

Leica M6 main camera, Rollei 35SE back-up.

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 21, 2014

For the rare occasions where I shoot 35mm, my Contax G1 is the backup to my G2, as it can use all the same lenses as the G2. It frequently does double-duty though, handling either a different film speed than in the G2 or just giving me a handy way to bounce back and forth between two favorite lenses in the same scene, like the 45 and the 21. For medium format, my backup to my Rolleiflex 2.8E is another Rolleiflex 2.8E. I think it's a bad idea to carry something other than a duplicate copy of your main camera as your backup, especially if they don't take the same lenses. If your main camera suddenly fails mid-shoot, why would you want to have your backup camera be unable to match it function-wise? If I'm photographing a horse race, for example, and I need the 1/8000th of a second shutter and/or 5fps motor drive on a Canon EOS 1V, if my backup was a Rebel (or even an Elan II), I wouldn't be able to finish the shoot.

Ipno Tizer · Jul 21, 2014

Mobile phone.

CanonShot · Jul 21, 2014

Canon AT-1 backs up Canon AE-1P and A-1. Similarity makes for ease in switching. Usually carry two with different lenses or one with B&W film.

narsuitus · Jul 21, 2014

TheFlyingCamera said:
I think it's a bad idea to carry something other than a duplicate copy of your main camera as your backup, especially if they don't take the same lenses. If your main camera suddenly fails mid-shoot, why would you want to have your backup camera be unable to match it function-wise?

I have 3 Nikon F2 bodies that can serve as back-ups to each other.

I have 2 Nikon F4 bodies that can serve as back-ups to each other.

However, if I know I will be shooting in a situation where my F2 or F4 bodies and Nikon lenses may be lost, stolen, or damaged; I carry less-expensive and expendable back-up bodies and lenses instead.

https://flic.kr/p/aBohWo

https://flic.kr/p/aq72zb

bri-- · Jul 22, 2014

My Nikon F3 is my main camera. I usually have an Olympus XA in my pocket. Just bought an FM2n as a backup but I can see it becoming my main camera. The meter readout is easier to see in low light, compared to the F3.
Maybe having two cameras that compliment each other, each with their own strengths could be a good thing?

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 22, 2014

narsuitus said:
I have 3 Nikon F2 bodies that can serve as back-ups to each other.

I have 2 Nikon F4 bodies that can serve as back-ups to each other.

However, if I know I will be shooting in a situation where my F2 or F4 bodies and Nikon lenses may be lost, stolen, or damaged; I carry less-expensive and expendable back-up bodies and lenses instead.

https://flic.kr/p/aBohWo

https://flic.kr/p/aq72zb

Certainly true- but in the case that your primary system is stolen/damaged/lost, there is a good chance that your backup is in similar conditions, if you're carrying it. THIS is what insurance is for.

dynachrome · Jul 22, 2014

It's attached to the back of my Honda.

OldBodyOldSoul · Jul 23, 2014

I have two F3HP. Maybe I should get another two to serve as backups? But then, what if all four fail? OMG I need another four F3HP... oh, wait

What's your backup camera?

Kirks518

ericdan

Ricardo Miranda

Kirks518

RalphLambrecht

Ricardo Miranda

Russ - SVP

Tinykin

bdial

removed account4

Charles Wass

naaldvoerder

fotch

DannL.

narsuitus

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Jeff Kubach

Too old to care

TheFlyingCamera

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Ipno Tizer

CanonShot

narsuitus

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bri--

TheFlyingCamera

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dynachrome

OldBodyOldSoul

What's your backup camera?

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