Ever HAD to use your back-up Camera?

I was wondering how many photographers out there have had to use their backup DSLR. Not because you had a second shooter, but due to a real malfunction other than running out of batteries or filling camera cards up.

Do you feel confident with just one extra camera body?

I've been shooting with DSLR for about 6 years moderately. Never had a camera go bad yet, nor any cards. Used Canon T2i, 60D, two 5D mk ii's, 5D mk iii and 5DS

almost. At my first solo wedding. Got an error code and lockup on my 5dIII and almost had to go to backup but then I tried pulling the battery out and reinstalling it. That did it.

Tempting consideration for me as I don't like those convoluted sling systems. I'd be happy enough with one gripped camera body in my hands all day long and change lenses as necessary.But when someone en trusts me with one of the most important days of their life I can't fathom the idea of having less than 2 or 3 cameras present that I'm familiar with.

About a month ago, I was photographing a wedding while my partner was doing video. Through the preparation stage everything was fine. Then as the bride started walking down the aisle, my 5D3+70-200mm stopped working. I quickly turned off/on but the LCD showed no power. I think I also removed and reattached the lens but still nothing. No dice. So I switched to my other camera, 5D3+24-70mm, and got shots of the processional. Phew!

I think I ended up reinserting the battery and the camera started working again. Canon brand batteries in case you were wondering.

Dropped a camera down a flight of stone stairs in a church, it popped off the capture clip it was hooked onto, I bring three cameras to weddings.

I've been doing this longer than many people here I think - although not recently due to injury.

Actual failures
- I cleaned the lens contacts of two cameras with eclipse / alcohol. Both failed during a wedding ceremony. I figured out why, rubbed the contacts a bit, and one came around. I didn't miss anything critical.
- One camera failed as the bride walked up the aisle. Other camera was out of arms reach.

Other close calls:
- Flash is connected to battery pack in pocket. Put camera down, walk away, everything falls to the floor (maybe twice)
- Put camera at feet, it rolled down a hill. Fortunately it was a Nikon D700 and it was unscathed.
- Put a camera on root of car, it fell off. Again, no damage.
- Dropped camera and lens onto thick carpet. Ruined the lens 24-70 F2.8 lens, cost $2K to have the entire internals replaced
- Put brand new 7D camera on tripod incorrectly, fell off, scratched the heck of out of it and it didn't work right


My insurance premiums started going up.

For weddings I tend to take three or four cameras, four flashes, studio flashes, multiple stands and cables, more triggers than I need, etc. I don't trust any equipment because everything fails sooner or later.

Just once. One of my two cameras that I always have with me failed while shooting "getting ready" shots. I sent my assistant to my car to get my backup camera. The couple never knew.

Only one time.....in haste I tried to mount an ef-s lens on my 5d classic and managed to knock the mirror loose! After I got the shots with my backup I managed to snap it back in place. Stupid things we do in haste....

Yes, sort of. My back up camera wouldn't take video at a conference I was filming and photography at. Swapped them round, and my main body took video. The back up would take stills, but freeze whenever the camera went into standby mode. Wouldn't work unless I pulled battery out and put back in, then did the same thing. Turning LCD off meant it stayed on as long as I was shooting through VF. Problem cleared itself after a month and still okay, almost a year later. I've still no idea why.

Yes, did a wedding last month and the trigger would NOT work on my Fuji (later figured it out). Luckily I brought my 6D. Whew!

I've never had to use my back-up camera.

Over the last five years, I've used my 5DM3 as my primary, and have taken about 85,000 photos with it. It has never missed a beat. My backup on those rare occasions when the shoot is important is my 60D. I will also bring back-up lenses, along with spare batteries and memory cards. I've been fortunate to have never needed to use backup equipment, but on the important shoots the "second string" is all ready to go.

Likewise on the back-up side, I always back-up my computer, generally on a daily basis. When I load photos to the computer, I back them up before ever looking at them through Lightroom. I'm ritualistic about it. I have had to use computer back-ups, so the time tax to do the back-up is worth it.

Twice for me

Both times camera drops

It happens- 450 + weddings. Your reputation is everything so dont risk it

always have a back up. Ya never know

I had my 7D on a tripod taking pictures of lightning when a big gust tipped the whole thing over. All I could see in the top LCD screen was an empty battery symbol. Nothing else worked. I got out my new at the time 7D II and continued. I had actually considered starting off with the newer 7D, but glad I did not.

I'm not even really comfortable with only two cameras. Three is the point I start to feel comfortable, though I include assistant cameras in that. Also min two flashes, ideally three.

My 1DX never failed me, so no.

Yes. I had a shutter lock up on me. Luckily it was back in the film days and I had 3 bodies available.