If you have doubts about owning a second body...

I hear ya, just never know when a camera will give out, usually at the worst time

Ya know, I keep telling Canon to get on the move and get the replacement to the 5D in stores so I can move the 20D to backup status!

Actualy, I had the 16x9 Panasonic lumix as a backup, this is what happened to it:
http://www.hometheater​forum.com/htf/showthre​ad.php?t=232582

Yep - always have 2 bodies, and the A620 fall-back when I'm out shooting. Even when I'm not, I carry the A620 and a camera phone backup. If conditions permit, I'll even have a 3rd body to fall back on.

I must have misunderstood. I also have my cell phone camera in a pinch, but it's quite worthless.

SuzyView wrote in post #3650082
I must have misunderstood. I also have my cell phone camera in a pinch, but it's quite worthless.

Lord_Malone wrote in post #3647423
...I'm here to make the case as to why you should try to have one on you, even if it's not an SLR. Point and shoots will get the job done exceptionally well in a crunch.

I was in Rochester, NY this past weekend when I spotted some guys throwing up some murals on a wall in an alleyway. The entire scene was ripe for great captures of urban life, and of course I didn't want to pass up this opportunity for good old fashion street photojournalism. I asked the guys if they won't mind if I took a few shots of them performing their art, and they were very open to it. So I go back to the truck, pull out the trusty 1D2N and the 16-35 and start shooting. Unfortunately, I got an Err 01 message right off the bat, which translates to a miscommunication between the lens and the body at the contact points. I spent about 10 minutes going over several procedures to remedy the issue to no avail. I was stuck. No back up body, and my wife had the Point and Shoot (she was somewhere else and my camera phone was with her as well). Needless to say I was pretty ticked off. I've never been so upset to miss a great photo op as I was then. I've always preached about having a second body handy in the event something like this happens, and here I was stuck without one. Looks like the body will be taking a trip to the service center.

Lesson learned. Don't make the same mistake.

Better a poor shot than none at all . . .

I've been thinking about a 2nd body as well (for my lenses as well as myself) but I was thinking of it only for less lens switches, but this now gives me another reason!

My wife (and friends) often question me when I have two SLR's (and a P&S) with me, but although I've only had a body fail on me once (and I managed to recover that one - in a moving helicopter no less), I've always carried a backup body. As Jon said, better a poor quality photo than nothing at all.

Mark

I've got a 5D, 20D, and SD800 IS. I hate to be without camera! Fortunately, I've not ever had anything fail on me (one err99 on a blistering cold day with a 20D and 70-200L IS is all). However, I'm not taking chances.

Yeah, I've never had an error message (now I am jinxing myself) before and I would probably break down and cry. That's why this next wedding I have 2 dslr's and my EOS 3. Better be prepared.

. . . and a second shooter?

When I go out, I would have the 5D and the 30D as my backup. I also have a little Canon p&S and it does the job. Since, I sold my 30D, I don't have a backup body for the time being. When I get my new MARK III, than II'll be backed for any situtation. Too bad that had to happend to you Malone.

I got an Err99 on my 1D Mark II while shooting a wedding the other day; fortunately it went away when I took the battery out and put it back in.
For the record, I did have a 20D with me as backup.

When I took the trip to Ethiopia I made sure I had two 1D bodies with me, plus I had the Sony DSC-F88 point-n-shooter and a DCR-DVD92 Handycam on tap as well. I definately wasn't going to be caught short on such an important adventure. But I ended up selling the 1D Mark I (big mistake) and didn't buy anything to replace it with, thinking that the Sony P&S would do the job if I needed it. I'm such a damn fool for not keeping that sucker in my pocket at least. Woe is me.

I gotta quit feeling sorry for myself and get back up on that horse. Hee-Yah!!! Giddy-Yap!

I won't sell my d30 until I get upgrade my 10D...
and won't ever travel on long trips with ANY digicam without a my Oly film PnS backup.

Well whenever the 40d ever comes out, that will be my second body. For now, learn learn from my XTI. Oh and lens changes! I need a second body!