If you are a pro, do you use two card slots for backup? Locked

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The truth is, the reason most cards fail is NOT that they fall apart...its because the media gets corrupted and often beyond repair.

What is so, so, so inhibiting for you to just slam an extra card in the 2nd slot?  Your reasoning is crazy.

Noogy wrote:

Holscen wrote:

What if ...your card failed, what if it was your camera, your lens? Could you get the job done? Would your client like it if you failed to get the shots, your name and business would be tarnished

I always do paid jobs with 2 bodies, which was just as well because failure happens.

First big assignment I did for an international music magazine had me going to New York from London to shoot a band. I shot it on 2 Nikon F100 film cameras. Guess what, my motordrive failed on frame 1. No worries as I had a backup F100 otherwise my career might have ended before it began.

I used to shoot transparency then too, you had to be spot on with exposure and have perfect development. You wouldn’t always put all your rolls in processing at the same time, in case of an issue, and you’d run a clip test if you were a perfectionist.

The bottom line is that things fail and accidents happen. I’ve had cards fail, shutters fail, aperture blades fail, lenses get smashed and stolen, but I’ve always had a way round because I had a backup.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid problems with one camera, card, lens or flash...well that’s good..but luck can run out.

I believe if a pro prepares for the worst “what if” scenarios, then they can just roll on through any problems without breaking a sweat and deliver the job successfully.

I use 2 cameras, both with dual cards, many lenses, 2 flashes. The only thing I don’t have room for in my bag is excuses or apologies.

Two cameras is also my preference, sometimes three. Only one needs to have dual cards. Most often two cameras with single cards is more than enough for me for paid gigs. Two cameras are less likely to fail. Therefore the argument that the only way to go is dual cards and to arrogantly insist such as the standard is flawed.

Properly backed up files demand redundancy. Having redundancy on 1 of multiple bodies only means that that one body is protected.

And your stance is exceedingly silly because, for the cost of a 2nd card for each body, you think it "arrogant" to spend that $$.

Thank God you do not work in IT...your thinking would never make it at Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, nor any even 3rd rate IT company.

My God, spend the $35 already!!

PAntunes wrote:

lawny13 wrote:

Holscen wrote:

What if ...your card failed, what if it was your camera, your lens? Could you get the job done? Would your client like it if you failed to get the shots, your name and business would be tarnished

I always do paid jobs with 2 bodies, which was just as well because failure happens.

First big assignment I did for an international music magazine had me going to New York from London to shoot a band. I shot it on 2 Nikon F100 film cameras. Guess what, my motordrive failed on frame 1. No worries as I had a backup F100 otherwise my career might have ended before it began.

I used to shoot transparency then too, you had to be spot on with exposure and have perfect development. You wouldn’t always put all your rolls in processing at the same time, in case of an issue, and you’d run a clip test if you were a perfectionist.

The bottom line is that things fail and accidents happen. I’ve had cards fail, shutters fail, aperture blades fail, lenses get smashed and stolen, but I’ve always had a way round because I had a backup.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid problems with one camera, card, lens or flash...well that’s good..but luck can run out.

I believe if a pro prepares for the worst “what if” scenarios, then they can just roll on through any problems without breaking a sweat and deliver the job successfully.

I use 2 cameras, both with dual cards, many lenses, 2 flashes. The only thing I don’t have room for in my bag is excuses or apologies.

Ok, get what you are saying.
But in your case since you have 2 bodies and multiple lenses, shooting through out an event with bodies that only have 1 card slot would work, as long as you change things up, but not only shooting 1 perspective on 1 body.
Just as you implied shooting an event with just one body just cause it has 2 card slots assuming that it is the only thing to worry about would be silly, cause the body, lenses, shutter, hot shoe etc etc can all fail, and most of those things don't have backups short of a second body.
For events of course I think 2 card slots are better than one, but I think it is far more important to have a backup body over a backup card slot. Generally since the card slots are actually electronically connected on the same circuit, if the unit fails in the body itself then 2 cards wouldn't save you either.
Anyway, things go wrong, and it is up to the professional to determine how to handle it.

But the second body doesn't save the picture you took on the first body. If you're running with a 35mm and a 85mm, you won't get the group photo you took at 35mm on the camera that had the 85mm. Card failures can happen when you're taking the photo, but most of the time is when you're trying to copy the images to the computer. And by then, you can't go back and take a photo with a second camera.

I always transfer images using USB C since I learned that card failures are most generally due to taking the card in and out of the camera. Makes sense since most fo the time built in memory never fails... So I have a 64 GB card or larger in the camera and I might take it out once in a blue moon for a FW update or something like that.

lawny13 wrote:

PAntunes wrote:

lawny13 wrote:

Holscen wrote:

What if ...your card failed, what if it was your camera, your lens? Could you get the job done? Would your client like it if you failed to get the shots, your name and business would be tarnished

I always do paid jobs with 2 bodies, which was just as well because failure happens.

First big assignment I did for an international music magazine had me going to New York from London to shoot a band. I shot it on 2 Nikon F100 film cameras. Guess what, my motordrive failed on frame 1. No worries as I had a backup F100 otherwise my career might have ended before it began.

I used to shoot transparency then too, you had to be spot on with exposure and have perfect development. You wouldn’t always put all your rolls in processing at the same time, in case of an issue, and you’d run a clip test if you were a perfectionist.

The bottom line is that things fail and accidents happen. I’ve had cards fail, shutters fail, aperture blades fail, lenses get smashed and stolen, but I’ve always had a way round because I had a backup.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid problems with one camera, card, lens or flash...well that’s good..but luck can run out.

I believe if a pro prepares for the worst “what if” scenarios, then they can just roll on through any problems without breaking a sweat and deliver the job successfully.

I use 2 cameras, both with dual cards, many lenses, 2 flashes. The only thing I don’t have room for in my bag is excuses or apologies.

Ok, get what you are saying.
But in your case since you have 2 bodies and multiple lenses, shooting through out an event with bodies that only have 1 card slot would work, as long as you change things up, but not only shooting 1 perspective on 1 body.
Just as you implied shooting an event with just one body just cause it has 2 card slots assuming that it is the only thing to worry about would be silly, cause the body, lenses, shutter, hot shoe etc etc can all fail, and most of those things don't have backups short of a second body.
For events of course I think 2 card slots are better than one, but I think it is far more important to have a backup body over a backup card slot. Generally since the card slots are actually electronically connected on the same circuit, if the unit fails in the body itself then 2 cards wouldn't save you either.
Anyway, things go wrong, and it is up to the professional to determine how to handle it.

But the second body doesn't save the picture you took on the first body. If you're running with a 35mm and a 85mm, you won't get the group photo you took at 35mm on the camera that had the 85mm. Card failures can happen when you're taking the photo, but most of the time is when you're trying to copy the images to the computer. And by then, you can't go back and take a photo with a second camera.

I always transfer images using USB C since I learned that card failures are most generally due to taking the card in and out of the camera. Makes sense since most fo the time built in memory never fails... So I have a 64 GB card or larger in the camera and I might take it out once in a blue moon for a FW update or something like that.

At the same time, plugging and unplugging usb cables on a camera may break the usb connector... If you shoot in studio, that connector is kind of a big deal. On the new FF sony cameras they have two usb connectors that can be used.

PAntunes wrote:

lawny13 wrote:

PAntunes wrote:

lawny13 wrote:

Holscen wrote:

What if ...your card failed, what if it was your camera, your lens? Could you get the job done? Would your client like it if you failed to get the shots, your name and business would be tarnished

I always do paid jobs with 2 bodies, which was just as well because failure happens.

First big assignment I did for an international music magazine had me going to New York from London to shoot a band. I shot it on 2 Nikon F100 film cameras. Guess what, my motordrive failed on frame 1. No worries as I had a backup F100 otherwise my career might have ended before it began.

I used to shoot transparency then too, you had to be spot on with exposure and have perfect development. You wouldn’t always put all your rolls in processing at the same time, in case of an issue, and you’d run a clip test if you were a perfectionist.

The bottom line is that things fail and accidents happen. I’ve had cards fail, shutters fail, aperture blades fail, lenses get smashed and stolen, but I’ve always had a way round because I had a backup.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid problems with one camera, card, lens or flash...well that’s good..but luck can run out.

I believe if a pro prepares for the worst “what if” scenarios, then they can just roll on through any problems without breaking a sweat and deliver the job successfully.

I use 2 cameras, both with dual cards, many lenses, 2 flashes. The only thing I don’t have room for in my bag is excuses or apologies.

Ok, get what you are saying.
But in your case since you have 2 bodies and multiple lenses, shooting through out an event with bodies that only have 1 card slot would work, as long as you change things up, but not only shooting 1 perspective on 1 body.
Just as you implied shooting an event with just one body just cause it has 2 card slots assuming that it is the only thing to worry about would be silly, cause the body, lenses, shutter, hot shoe etc etc can all fail, and most of those things don't have backups short of a second body.
For events of course I think 2 card slots are better than one, but I think it is far more important to have a backup body over a backup card slot. Generally since the card slots are actually electronically connected on the same circuit, if the unit fails in the body itself then 2 cards wouldn't save you either.
Anyway, things go wrong, and it is up to the professional to determine how to handle it.

But the second body doesn't save the picture you took on the first body. If you're running with a 35mm and a 85mm, you won't get the group photo you took at 35mm on the camera that had the 85mm. Card failures can happen when you're taking the photo, but most of the time is when you're trying to copy the images to the computer. And by then, you can't go back and take a photo with a second camera.

I always transfer images using USB C since I learned that card failures are most generally due to taking the card in and out of the camera. Makes sense since most fo the time built in memory never fails... So I have a 64 GB card or larger in the camera and I might take it out once in a blue moon for a FW update or something like that.

At the same time, plugging and unplugging usb cables on a camera may break the usb connector... If you shoot in studio, that connector is kind of a big deal. On the new FF sony cameras they have two usb connectors that can be used.

Now you are starting to pick at straws. I am quite satisfied with USB-C. The feel I have of it is more secure and robust than regular USB-A or any of the micro USB stuff. And on the R it access is not fidelity or anything like that, like it is on the A7III. So unless I purposefully yank it or do something funny I don't foresee any issues. 
I owned the A7III and the latches never fully get out of the way of the USB-C connector always making me feeling uneasy using it. And the USB-C never went in fully leaving a little wiggle possible. Not to mention the door latches are of poor design, eventually they will likely break off. The R is definitely better in this respect.

I photograph the wedding. So, dual card slot is a MUST.

Noogy wrote:

1. LensSodomist wrote:

Noogy wrote:

Holscen wrote:

What if ...your card failed, what if it was your camera, your lens? Could you get the job done? Would your client like it if you failed to get the shots, your name and business would be tarnished

I always do paid jobs with 2 bodies, which was just as well because failure happens.

First big assignment I did for an international music magazine had me going to New York from London to shoot a band. I shot it on 2 Nikon F100 film cameras. Guess what, my motordrive failed on frame 1. No worries as I had a backup F100 otherwise my career might have ended before it began.

I used to shoot transparency then too, you had to be spot on with exposure and have perfect development. You wouldn’t always put all your rolls in processing at the same time, in case of an issue, and you’d run a clip test if you were a perfectionist.

The bottom line is that things fail and accidents happen. I’ve had cards fail, shutters fail, aperture blades fail, lenses get smashed and stolen, but I’ve always had a way round because I had a backup.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid problems with one camera, card, lens or flash...well that’s good..but luck can run out.

I believe if a pro prepares for the worst “what if” scenarios, then they can just roll on through any problems without breaking a sweat and deliver the job successfully.

I use 2 cameras, both with dual cards, many lenses, 2 flashes. The only thing I don’t have room for in my bag is excuses or apologies.

Two cameras is also my preference, sometimes three. Only one needs to have dual cards. Most often two cameras with single cards is more than enough for me for paid gigs. Two cameras are less likely to fail. Therefore the argument that the only way to go is dual cards and to arrogantly insist such as the standard is flawed.

Properly backed up files demand redundancy. Having redundancy on 1 of multiple bodies only means that that one body is protected.

And your stance is exceedingly silly because, for the cost of a 2nd card for each body, you think it "arrogant" to spend that $$.

Thank God you do not work in IT...your thinking would never make it at Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, nor any even 3rd rate IT company.

My God, spend the $35 already!!

I never said I don't back up. There are multiple wireless options to do back ups, while shooting, during breaks in some gigs, etc. Where do you work? Is it a Fortune 100 company like where I work?

IT as experts in backing up, that's why teams are built to manage Sev1s? Never assume your field is superior to anyone's. My original stand is pro cameras don't automatically must have dual cards. I am never against the idea of having a back up like having two cameras. Removing an SD card after taking 80 to 100 shots so that it can be downloaded and using a fresh one thereafter is also a back up strategy.

The worst and costliest outages in the corporate world were triggered by the failure of IT to be proactive.

A second camera is NOT a backup, hello?  Spend the $35 already and get a 2nd card.

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