Good cheap second to my g85

s_grins wrote:

alcelc wrote:

Not only a backup cam, should also be a reliable one and we are familiar with it.

A few years ago a trip overseas, my main camera dropped into a river. Out of service for 3 whole days, around 1/3 of that trip.

Fortunately I had a backup. Unfortunately the backup was a low end tough camera originally prepared for poolside/beach shooting or compact setup for light using only. When used it as my main camera, slow zoom, slow AF, limited zoom range, difficult to operate, few seconds to save an image... My wife asked me better to throw it away... 😔😪

Lesson learnt, now my backup must be a trusty model that I am happy to use as my main camera.

So, as far as I can see you travel with 2 camera bodies minimum. And of course you keep your travel bag light.

I'm probably older, and I do not travel in wilderness. If something happened to camera, I'll buy "backup" as soon as I get a camera shop - next day is the longest.

Sheers

S.

The point is if I travel locally, I could return home and get another camera, visit there again another day. I of course know where to buy locally, but prepare for not the best price. But in case I travel overseas, it will be another story.

Firstly, I might not revisit a lot of my destinations in near future... e.g. I revisited Holy Land last year after my first visit there 2.5 decades ago. I might probably not go there again in the remaining time of my life. Syria is another good example. I visited Damascus as part of my Holy Land journey 1/4 century ago, I don't think it is safe to travel now or in next 10+ years. By that time, I would likely unable to travel even if I am still alive.

Unlike the old days of disposal box film camera that we bought a new camera for a new roll of film, it is never the best option to just buy any new camera in a country I am not familiar with, even providing that there will be camera shop around. As a matter of fact during most of my travelling I rarely meet a proper camera shop on the route of my journey. My check in luggage was delayed on a trip to India, no clothing to change for 5 days. I had to buy cheap t-shirts from souvenir shops since my itinerary did not permit me to leave my tour group for half day took a taxi to nearby town many miles away for unknown shops.

I also never want to pay any price for any camera.

I rather prefer to carry a backup camera. A <500 gram body won't weight me down particularly it will be left in Hotel room most of the time.