2 Cameras a must-have?

[snapshot9670]

Hi folks!

For backup purposes, and ability to switch lenses w/o switching lenses, is it a must to have another camera ready to go?

I'm just starting out, but with videography, we did have backup cameras (actually backup everything). Is that the case with photography? Have 2 or 3 of everything?

Snap

[dengli]

Most decidely so!

Going into a one off event like a wedding without backups is courting disaster. It's not just your camera you should backup but all of the gear - tripods, flashes, batteries, memory cards. Work on the assumption that if something can go wrong then it will go wrong - eventually.

The camera is an absolute must however - no camera, no images ;)

[snapshot9670]

It definitely goes w/o saying.

Just when you think the expenses are already high, you remember you have to buy backups as well....ARRRGGGHH!!

I guess it's time to shop again.


thanks dengli

[SuzyView]

It is almost a miracle when I have a shoot and something doesn't go wrong. I have two or three of everything. I especially think that batteries and CF cards are a must, but it would be a tragedy if your camera stops working for any reason. I have a 10D, EOS 3 at all my really important events because I'm too neurotic to just do film or digital. Now I am getting a 20D and not giving up my 10D just in case. I have heard from friends their experiences with low batteries and no backup or CF cards that corrupt suddenly, it's a mess! Just do yourself a favor and spend a little more on an inexpensive second camera. You won't regret it and the use of all the lenses on both is a plus. Go get something good used.

SuzyView

[snapshot9670]

Thanks Suzy!

Will do. I have an XT (blk) now...think I'll look for a used 20d as backup. Heck, if it's in really good condition, I'll make it my primary :) .


The funny thing is that I'm still needing to order primary on a few things still..i.e. tripod, flash.

And then I'll have to get backups for those things....JEEEZZZ!! Forget taggin along a few shoots before I get the hang of it, I needs to start chargin NOW! LOL... J/K... I know I have to put in my dues...it's all good.

Again, to reiterate, I'm just about to wrap up my last season as a wedding videographer (4 yrs), so I know I have to shell out a little in the beginning to get things going.

[SuzyView]

Yeah, I don't really do photography full-time. I'm a teacher and a mom, so taking pictures is purely for love. I get paid, but it's not something I depend on. Buying equipment is really just fun. I have 2 tripods, 2 flashes, 3 cameras and lots of lenses, but there's always something new, something really needed to buy. I found out about lightspheres from the forum and ordered one. It's great, but as I said, you can always get more stuff. Good luck.

SuzyView

[F. Stop Fitzgerald]

Buy a used late model EOS film camera. That'll tie you over until you get a second digital camera.

[grego]

Yes.

1. You want two bodies because if one goes dead, you can't say you don't have pictures of the wedding.

2. You need to use more than one lens, if you want quality. Those super zooms don't give good quality generally and aren't really fast anyway.

With 2 bodies, you can use a telephoto on one and the middle zoom or a wide. Remember, it takes time to change lens, and moments in a wedding aren't going to be replayed.

Obviously this is ideal and you might not be able to do this at first, but that's where you want to end up at eventually.

[SuzyView]

I started using the REBEL G years ago and got used to full-frame, and that's why I bought my EOS 3 when I started doing weddings. Having a full-frame with the lenses I have is definitely a plus because sometimes, you just can't get the shot in a tight situation with the digital SLR, unless you have a choice of wide angle lenses. If you don't mind having a used SLR as your backup, there are tons of them on the net. My niece in UT uses the ELAN 7 and she loves it as her second camera. What lenses do you currently have in your bag to use? Having the two or three cameras at a shoot gives you freedom to snap away and not have to hunt for the right lens to take off and on. I actually put both camera around my neck sometimes and it is hard to negotiate them. People usually watch me and can't believe I can take pictures with one hand and then switch in about 2 seconds to the other camera. It's fun. And I agree with Grego - I tend to use my 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 at weddings because they are great lenses. I only put on the zoom when my feet are tired.

SuzyView

[joekr]

I just picked up a backup body on ebay for 440. A like new D30, w/BG-ED3, new canon battery and battery charger. Plus the BG-ED3 fits in my 10d and normally goes for 150-180 on ebay by itself.

Granted, it's only 3 megapixel, but for that price, I don't think it can be beat. Maybe I'll get a 20d sometime in 06, but for now I'm really happy with the bodies I have...

[SuzyView]

Great site, Joekr! The pictures are wonderful. I have never considered getting used equipment because I can get an upgrade every 3-4 years without feeling terrible or go hungry, but know a lot of people who love finding used equipment that work great. Congrats on the find. Also, I have a 10D, and I love it. My spouse asked me what I really wanted for Christmas this year and I told him the truth, MORE TOYS. He was thinking of jewelry, which goes around my neck, but doesn't snap pictures ;) He thinks I'm crazy, but I got my 20D. Lucky me.

SuzyView

[joekr]

Suzy, thanks for the the comp on the site! I'm changing the site name sometime real soon to try and make it sound more professional. (I'm going w/ www.josefstuartphotograhy.com instead of jsk...)

It's funny, I'm a tech worker but never made an ebay purchase until the D30! Usually I buy new as well, but I have a shoot coming up in the middle of January and I wanted a second body "just in case".. I love my 10d but you never know...

The D30 was my Xmass present. My wife just told me to go buy what I wanted/needed...Gotta love an understanding spouse!! ;)

[spencer87]

when i bought my 300d, I couldnt really afford to buy two (and I know I'm not alone on that one!) I did buy a few months later a canon powershot s60 to use when I dont feel like lugging around a dslr and lenses. More often though, I tuck into one of the small pockets of my camera bag to take along as a backup. it works well as a backup for my 300d - 5mp, and decent manual controls. In a pinch, I always have it on hand.

I plan on upgrading to a 20d (or whatever comes out to replace it) in the next few months, and I will probably hang onto my 300d as my backup camera.

[snapshot9670]

SuzyView

I have both of those lenses you mentioned. Do you think the 50mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8 are good enough for weddings?

I was actually looking at picking up a wide angle telephoto lense combo..as an all in one sort of solution...24-105 or 24-70 range.

Thoughts?

[snapshot9670]

Spencer

Wow! A compact digital camera as a backup! Does that work? Do you do weddings? Hey, if that's a viable backup solution, then I'm down with that ;)

Actually, for the cost of a new PS S60, you could probably pick up a used body. It's more the portability benefit I was looking at.

Snap

[grego]

SuzyView

I have both of those lenses you mentioned. Do you think the 50mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8 are good enough for weddings?

I was actually looking at picking up a wide angle telephoto lense combo..as an all in one sort of solution...24-105 or 24-70 range.

Thoughts?

Those primes are fine, but you will want at least one zoom. Not everything you can frame with your feet, during a wedding. Takes much less time to zoom out on a lens. Obviously you can never catch every situation from that ideal angle, so compromises have to be made, but don't want to be left depending on all feet zoom either.

One of those zooms and the primes would do very well.

[snapshot9670]

Thanks Grego!

Being that I'm just getting into it, I'm like in lense info overload right now..hahaha.

Your advice earlier makes sense - have one of the primes on one cam and the mid range zoom on the other.

Ok, I'm sticking with that plan....buy another backup of everything (body for now) and the formentioned lens setup.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

24-70L is definitely a cracking lens for weddings. I just wouldn't do without mine. If I could do a wedding with only primes, which is absolutely possible, I would, but I wouldn't want to be tied down to two focal lengths. Might miss that shot!

[spencer87]

Spencer

Wow! A compact digital camera as a backup! Does that work? Do you do weddings? Hey, if that's a viable backup solution, then I'm down with that ;)

Actually, for the cost of a new PS S60, you could probably pick up a used body. It's more the portability benefit I was looking at.

Snap

Actually I do mostly outdoor photography. The s60 goes to pieces in low-light, so probably not the best option for a wedding. Besides, the bride and groom might look at you kind of funny if they think they're paying you to use a p+s. ;) I have used the s60 to get some incredible outdoor shots though, I was really suprised by the image quality when I bought it. Like I said, I originally bought it just as a snapshot camera to take to parties and stuff, but since I've gotten some nice shots from it, I keep it on hand as a backup. I also got a great deal on it used, so it only cost me about $250. But hey, if you can afford a second XT, go for it!

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I might add that what I used to always do is my father who I pay to shoot with me uses a 20D, and he uses only his 70-200 f/2.8L on it, and he has an XT which he puts a 20mm f/1.8 Sigma on. Then, I have my primary 20D with my 24-70L, and my other 20D with my ex 50 f/1.4 on. Seems to have about everything covered, and at pretty great speeds. However, I don't have the 50 anymore ,but I'm hoping to replace that void with a 35 1.4L soon.

[SuzyView]

Now you've heard that one definitely is not enough. I also have 2 bodies, getting the 20D for my new primary and I have a small Canon 510A, which only has 3 mp, but is a good little camera in a pinch - fits in my purse. My next purchase is the 24-70L just because I think it is the next realistic purchase, but I have a 19-35 Tamron and that is what I keep on my 10D. Yes, foot zoom is inconvenient and sometimes impossible with a small space, but I have to say, if you are doing mainly portraits and outdoors, the 85 1.8 is the best lens in its class. I wish I could post a few new pictures I took, but the party didn't want to have their shots on the net. :( I think your conclusions are good. Then report. I'd like to see what happens. Good luck!

SuzyView

[tim]

I use two bodies and sometimes wish for a third - there's often no time to change lenses. I've had one of my 20Ds fail during a wedding, i'd never shoot a wedding without two good bodies now - ie don't get a cheap crappy camera as your 2nd.

btw my 20D's locked up once, and had a power issue once, both were easily fixable when I had a spare 2 minutes to "reboot" them.

[Zepher]

I was videotaping a wedding a couple of years ago and the photographer had a 10D I believe and his mirror came off and he didn't have a backup.
all of my photographer friends have 2-3 cameras when they go on events.
that is how I got my D60, one of my friends bought the new 5D to go a long with the 20D and the 10D became the backup, so they sold me the D60 which used to be thier backup.