5D Wedding Failure

[Bob Charnier]

I had my first 5D failure during a wedding Saturday afternoon. After thousands of shots and no failures I missed the B&G coming down that aisle. It just turned off and would not come back on. I was able to grab my back-up for the rice-throwing and recieving line. It was fine afterwards for the formals. Everything was turned on and it had worked well throughout the ceremony but just decided to take a break. The groom said he saw the look of horror on my face as I stood in the aisle looking at the camera. My back-up was only a few yards away, but no time to grab it.

[StaticThought]

Ah man that sux :shock:

As in my other thread, currently have one body and a wedding in July. Now you have really got me worried :cry:

[mercersmoments]

I feel for you, your tummy must have turned. I know you would have told yourself this a milion times after it hapened....but...... hang your back up camera on your shoulder....

[Bob Charnier]

Unfortunately, I was caught a little off guard. This was the shortest ceremony I have ever seen! As I was moving into position for additional shots up front the minister pronounced them man and wife as I was rushing back to the back for the aisle shots. Didn't have time to grab the back-up and it had my 70-200 lens on it. This camera has never failed me as the 20D has in the past.

[takeyourpic]

I don't ever shoot anything without a camera on my shoulder. I would suggest just putting your 20D on your side so that if you are in this situation again that it won't put you out of the loop for the shots.

[Bob Charnier]

Normally I do....... but I had the long lens on it and I was moving into a tight situation with the 5D and my 24-70 that would have made it cumberson. I was afraid I would bang the long lens on something and make a noise. I was concentrating more on the shot than on what the minister was saying and by the time I realized where I was and what was about to happen, all I could do was hurry to the back of the aisle. Stupid mistake that will not happen again. I guess that's why a second shooter can be invaluable!! I have just not had any problems the 5D to this point and was more in shock than anything else.

This was an ideal setting for a photograhper. The wedding coordinator was an older lady that went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed. She asked me how I wanted the church lights set during the ceremony for my photography, she helped with the formal shots and the posing. The minister was extremely cooperative and said the only rule he had for me was to not break anything. Other than that I could do whatever I wanted to get good shots. Flash....no flash...... he didn't care. He even performs the ceremony with his back to the church so the wedding party is facing the guests and they can see and hear everthing. All of my shots were great with this one exception, so I really can't complain.

[mmahoney]

I know that feeling (not at a wedding, my first is not until Jul 28th) and it's gut wrenching to say the least.

A good rule at weddings is three bodies, two on you at all times with the third in the bag.
Mike

[sapearl]

Gee Bob, that's terrible - I'm really sorry to hear about. Being a 5D user myself that gives me the shivvers too. I also have the same setup, with the 70-200 on the second body, so I would have been in the same jam.

Easy enough to armchair quarterback after the fact, but I wonder if perhaps taking out and putting the battery back in might have helped. Well, hopefully this is the first and last time. - Stu

[LeesaB]

Yikes...

I have seen other posts like this and it just makes your heart stop. I could imagine the look on your face. I know I would try my best to fake it, but what could you do? Most likely everyone else was watching the bride....and not you...

Let us know how the pics go and if they even notice that segment missing....

[jcpoulin]

Camera failure can make your heart stop.....read Tim's recent acct and CPR would be needed!!! His account was fascinating and handled like the pro he is...calm heads prevail.

[Rumjungle]

Sorry about hear about your troubles. Tell me, what did you have to do to get it going again? R&R the batteries?

[cosworth]

one body and a wedding

You are a pilgrim in an unholy land.

[Livinthalife]

Great example WHY to have backup...now I know!

[DocFrankenstein]

5D, elans and 20D are all in the same category.

Too bad it happened.

[tim]

Sorry to hear of your trouble, similar to my own. I've only missed one thing during a wedding, I recreated it after the ceremony and put it in the right sequence, hopefully the couple will forget it ever happened.

[Topalov Djura]

I have similar situations with 20D. AF work fine but shooter don't click. Another time it was battery blinking like it is empty..... Taking battery out and back in resolve problem in first cases and on second I unmount battery grip and mount him again.

Everything start to happens wenn I buy battery grip, before that body has 15000 clicks and never fail. Trying different grip didn't help :(

[Bob Charnier]

Not sure what fixed the problem after the initial shock. Since it had happened before with the 20D (similar to Tim) I quickly pulled the batteries out and put them back and then detached the lens and re-attached it and it came back on......but the moment had passed. The B&G couldn't have cared less. I will post some shots when processed. I have never had a B&G have so much fun at their own wedding. During the ceremony they were talking to each other constantly. Neither seemed to be nervous at all and were just having fun with each other and enjoying the day. They had just closed on their first house the day before. Talk about stress!!!!! I felt so blessed to be a part of it. I LOVE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY!

[Rumjungle]

Great news! I know how you feel. Isn't it just awesome when the b&g have a great time at their own wedding? I come away feeling much more energetic at the end of the night.:)

[turbo212003]

Exact reason i'm buying a backup, and bringing a third camera.

[Jac]

Sorry to hear about that...i have encounter a same problem few months back which my 2nd body is far away from me but lucky my F31fd is always with me :) else i will miss the moment cutting cake..

[bestfromnw]

sorry to hear that.... i'll be sure to have my nikon in case of failture :)