How many of you had really needed a backup camera?

"Backup camera" is a convenient way for me to think about the several older cameras I can't bear to part with.

I have a X-T100 and two X-E1 "backup" bodies. Never had a bit of trouble with any of them. Just lucky I guess.

markusw said:

Just curious... nether had any issues with my cameras in the last 20 years, and especially with the Fuji‘s... so my question - had any of you real troubles in the field with defect Fuji‘s?

Click to expand...

Do I have a backup? Yes, my old X-T2. Do I "need" a backup? Well, I thought it made sense at the time, but to be honest, I use my X-H1 almost exclusively and the X-T2 mostly sits and collects dust. The one time when having the second body pays off (for me) is in situations such as a safari or other wildlife trip in a remote location where having a second body not only facilitates fast focal length changes but also provides the safety of having another body in case of equipment failure. TBH, this is a rare enough case that I'm seriously considering selling off the X-T2 and simply renting a body for those very rare times when a second body is really needed.

To be clear, everyone's situation is different and I can imagine that there are many situations for some photographers where having that second body not only makes sense, but might be nearly mandatory. Just not me.

--
Jerry-Astro
Fujifilm X Forum Co-Mod

The one time I needed a backup camera, I didn’t bring one. If you don’t bring an umbrella, it will rain .

If I’m on a photo oriented trip, I always bring backup, even if it isn’t used. If it’s a family trip, the phone will usually do as backup.

If I’m out shooting Astro landscapes, I always take two so I can shoot with a second while the first is doing long sequences.

If I’m shooting primarily IR, I often have a second body, just in case.

Doug

Haven't needed a back up to my Fujis yet but I've had previous experience that's dictated that it's a really good idea. As in, I lost use of a fully sealed tank of a camera to a grain of sand for 24 hours on a trip of a lifetime and was looking at not having it for an event of a lifetime. I had traveled half way around the world and was in one of the more expensive places to buy camera gear. I had my back up but fortunately the main camera finally started working right before the event started. (I guess the sand shifted.) Which meant I now had one camera to shoot with and one for video!

As of 2011, I switched from having two similar bodies to having one "larger" and one "smaller" that will take the same lenses even if maybe an adapter is needed. This works really well with Fuji since I can have an XTx body and an XTxx body. Both have great sensors, use the same glass. One is just a little more robust and the other is great for when I want to travel really light and small. I don't have to have both with me at all times but it's extremely nice knowing I can do that and still have a bag that fits under an airplane seat and doesn't weigh a ton like it did when I would travel with two full frame Nikons and lenses.

Morris0 said:

Besides backup, having a second body is the fastest way to change lenses.

Click to expand...

^ This. If I'm in busy public places, I despise finding a place to swap lenses where I'm not concerned with dropping something, either in haste or somebody bumping into me. Plus, swapping lenses dozens of times a day gets old quickly. I'd rather just reach for the other camera/lens combo and carry on shooting.

The cameras I have fit the requirements of what Intend to shoot and the lenses I plan to use for distance... and still maintain enough Rez to print large.

I walk around these days with an XT-30 on the back floor my car, and a GRiii in my jacket pocket. The GFX 50S on a tripod is safely stored in my trunk.

I prefer multiple bodies to avoid frequent lens changes. When I shot film in combat zone and harsh, third world locations, I always toted four Nikon F bodies, one with a motor drive, half with Tri X, half with Ektachrome or Kodachrome. Also helped reduce film loads with 36 exposure limits. Used gaffer tape for improvised weather seal but despite laterite dust, monsoon rains and punishing banging when diving for cover, never had a camera or lens failure.

No longer a working photojournalist, I keep two Fuji bodies, maybe three, avoiding lens swaps. I’ll get an X-H1 that I’ll use for video and my collection of adaptable lenses. Not much worried about failure, but if there is an issue, I have backup.

I had an X100T and an old Canon point and shoot fail. Other than that, I haven’t had a camera fail. If it were something that matters, I’d rather have the comfort of having a backup. As others have mentioned, another reason for two bodies is to quickly have two different lenses ready to go at any time. I generally shoot a with a super telephoto and a 24-70 equivalent.

markusw said:

Just curious... nether had any issues with my cameras in the last 20 years, and especially with the Fuji‘s... so my question - had any of you real troubles in the field with defect Fuji‘s?

Click to expand...

No.

But I still need 2 cameras, because of the way I shoot.

Yes, I use and need a backup camera:

1. When I'm part of a group and don't have time to change lenses, two bodies makes it easier. (I typically keep a general purpose zoom on one and either UWA or telephoto on the other.)
2. I like my X-T100, and it's become my primary body, but it's not weather resistant. You can't beat Pentax for reasonably priced WR bodies and lenses. When the weather is bad the Pentax saves the day.

Never felt the need for a backup (both cash and space/weight reasons), but next month I'm going to Iceland for two weeks and I figured I would be more than sorry if my XT-2 broke down in the middle of it, since photography is the reason I'm there. Never had a camera break down, but I figured if it would happen it would happen then and there.

So I got a used XT-10 (cheap, small and lightweight) to bring with me as backup. It's not a bad camera (in fact it has grown on me), but not as good as my XT-2. That said I might use it attached with a prime for some quick shots. Hopefully I never have to use it as primary camera.

Back in the film-only days, when I was a poor grad student, my Canon SLR died on the first day of a trip to the Colorado Rockies. It was my only camera, I had no money to replace it on my trip, and I missed countless high alpine shots. Ever since then I always travel with a backup body. My primary body is a X-E3, but I'll have my X-T1 and a WR lens with me as well when I go to (oft-rainy) Scotland this summer. As many know, the beauty of a Fuji system is two bodies and three lenses can pack very small and light.

I am not a participant on this forum because I use Lumix cameras but I am seriously thinking of buying an X-E3 so I am checking out this forum. This thread interested me because I almost always have a backup camera. The reason is that I hate to change lenses on the fly because 1. easy to introduce dust into the senser 2. miss picture opps while changing lenses 3. Get lost from my group while changing lenses. I always have a different lens that I might need on my other camera. I plan my photo trips so that I know what lenses I will need most and I put them on my cameras. I admit that sometimes I do need to change a lens but that is extremely rare.

Hal

I haven't had a problem with a camera but I have had 2 different flashes (2 different brands) go wacky on my at a wedding before. Having a backup definitely saved the day with one of them. With the other the display was malfunctioning but the flash worked correctly (in TTL).

If you shoot events having a backup is a must. I rarely shoot events but when I do I would never go without a backup.

markusw said:

Just curious... nether had any issues with my cameras in the last 20 years, and especially with the Fuji‘s... so my question - had any of you real troubles in the field with defect Fuji‘s?

Click to expand...

No. I've been shooting since the 1960's ... only one camera self-destructed, of its own initiative, during all those decades. My 5D lost its mirror box, a known problem and repaired, at not cost to me, by Canon. I shoot with multiple cameras, usually two, sometimes three (I'll toss a fisheye on the third body), while I don't have a backup, if sometime does happen I am able to continue shooting, albeit, at a reduced and less effective rate.

I usually take a backup camera on trips to remote locations where a problem with the main camera means no picture for the rest of the trip.

I usually don’t like to use two cameras simultaneously with 2 different lenses, as I find it too cumbersome.

At the moment, I have kept my X-T1 as a backup to the X-T3 I upgraded to recently.

I only once had a camera failure, when my then Canon 5D failed in the cold after 10 consecutive days at temperatures in the -20/-30° Celsius. I switched to the 40D I had taken as a backup. I found it amazing what temperature ranges these cameras can take vs. the specs sheets advertised by the manufacturers.

For what I do personally, I can't justify the cost of a spare body to just sit on the shelf and depreciate; but if I was taking paid work and time critical stuff, I probably would want another body around.

Fuji cameras are as reliable as any modern digital and I've never had a body fail, but electronics can and do go wrong. Just recently on the second day of a family holiday I had my 18-55 kit lens completely die on me without warning. I'm still waiting on an explanation from the repair shop, but mid shot it simply lost all power and became completely useless due to some kind of electronics failure. Thanks to focus-by-wire there was no way to focus or make the lens limp on manually.

In the planning for that trip I'd intended to travel very light and there was a point where I'd been intending to take only that lens, which as it turned out would have been a disaster (for me at least) and have left me without a camera effectively for most of the holiday. As it happened, at the last minute I'd also thrown my 18mm f2 in the bag, and was extremely grateful for that.

Hi, The first time someone says to you "You've got a proper camera, can you bring it when you come and take a few pictures" you know that you need a second body. What they are really saying is that loads of people will be taking pictures with phones which they might or might not put on facebook etc but we really want some photos which can be blown up to a reasonable size and stand the test of time or they want a record of an event which they are hosting and want a chronological set of pictures edited and present as a record.

This now seems to happen to me several times a year and quite simply events unfold often very quickly and sometimes things happen unexpectedly and you need to be armed and ready, a decent zoom lens on one camera and an excellent prime lens on the other gets most things covered and of course gives security if one body goes wrong or has a mishap. Saying all that a couple of weeks ago I made a flying visit down to London for a family event. I wanted to travel as light as possible and wasn't expecting the request - but of course on arrival "will you...…" I had only slipped my Leica C into my pocket but it got the job done better than I expected. Lesson learned don't go unarmed! Michael

A new answer about my couple T3 and H1

very complementary, the H1 ideal with IBIS to shoot ondoors architecture, silent shots, handheld macros, video footages due to better stability

The T3 is much snappier and better for fast action and wildlife, samller withgout grip for street photography with a small lens, better AF on difficult surfaces

All in all very glad with both, and adding 163g in plus in the backpack (Mannfrotto) is not a deal breaker..

Bob