When to start using my backup body ?

[Chris Wolfgram]

Okay, so a year ago, I got my Canon R7, and I was absolutely loving it Never owned a better camera for my purposes. Not long after that, I sold a bunch of gear, and bought a couple more lenses, and another R7 as a backup. Initially, I used it just enough to make sure it didn't have any problems. Then basically kept it put away, to keep it "like new", figuring that in a few years, when the R7 replacement comes out, I'd be able to sell it for max $, but in the mean time, I'd have a great back up, if I ever needed one. (and of course to take on big cross country trips, so as not to put all my eggs in one basket).

Anyway, a little more than a year later, I'm still shooting with my original R7 a LOT ! I estimate I'm at about 130K photos taken with it. Mostly electronic shutter though... probably only about 5000 actuations of the mechanical shutter.

So, recently I took out my back up R7 body, to look at my settings in the C modes, and when I did, I was pretty shocked how snappy and tight all of my dials and buttons felt ! In other words, it had not been obvious to me, how much wear and tear my original R7 has gone through.

Then yesterday, I had the first ever "lockup" with my R7, and a message telling me to turn off and on, or remove batteries and reinstall. So I did, and of course everything was fine.

But this got me to thinking..... My original R7 is not going to last forever. Of course even with the wear and tear it already has on it, it would be fine for a backup.

I guess what I'm asking is, would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now, knowing that I won't get as much of a return on it, if I put a bunch of wear on it too...

 

[leorimkus]

Never thought of any of my cameras as a backup only. Always used them all more or less simultaneously - mounted with different lenses or for different purpose. Some of them were treated as main and got more usage, but others also were with me and had their moment. Having a backup in the cupboard just doesn't make sense - I can just buy a new one if main one breaks, it won't take much longer. And if I take camera with me - I use it.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Never thought of any of my cameras as a backup only. Always used them all more or less simultaneously - mounted with different lenses or for different purpose. Some of them were treated as main and got more usage, but others also were with me and had their moment. Having a backup in the cupboard just doesn't make sense - I can just buy a new one if main one breaks, it won't take much longer. And if I take camera with me - I use it.

Sure. I can see yours being the more typical usage. For myself though, if I had 9 bodies, and 13 lenses... but one of the bodies was the R7, and one of the lenses was the RF 800 F11, Id use that combo for 95+% of my shooting. I've heard a lot of folks say that my combo is very limited, to which I say, yes it is. Its limited to exactly what I do the vast majority of the time

 

[ampimagedotcom]

.. would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now...

I'd start using the 'back-up' camera - and look into replacing the 'original R7' with either another one or something better.

 

[Gato Amarillo]

.. would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now...

I'd start using the 'back-up' camera - and look into replacing the 'original R7' with either another one or something better.

Exactly my advice. Once a body begins to show problems it is hard to trust it -- not as main or as backup.

Gato

 

[Mike B USA]

I'm not familiar with the Canon product line, but it looks like the R8 is available.

Sell the rarely used R7 for good money and buy an R8 for your primary camera. Keep your well used R7 as a backup. When the R9 becomes available, sell the R7 for whatever you can get, buy the R9 and move the R8 to the backup role.

In other words, if you really want a backup camera, keep the previous model for that occasional need. Don't buy two of the current model.

 

[TacticDesigns]

Are there any shots you want to get that might put your camera at risk?

There were a couple of times I was shooting some portraits . . . and to get a shot I wanted I had to wade into some water.

If I stumbled / tripped I'd fall into the water and soak my camera.

To get the shots I pulled out one of my back-up cameras instead of using my main camera.

But to answer your question . . . use both of them.

Have a different lens on each. It could be quicker to shoot that way.

Also . . . is it worth while to send in your old camera to have it checked out? Since you have another camera, you wouldn't be cameraless while your old camera gets checked out.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

 

[richj20]

I've had two Sony A7R2 cameras for 8 years. I use one more than the other, but don't think of the other as a backup. Just my second camera.

Sometimes I take both cameras, as I will for our upcoming Dia de Muertos celebration in a park. Having two cameras keeps me from changing lenses often.

- Richard

--
http://www.rsjphoto.net/

 

[lehill]

I guess what I'm asking is, would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now, knowing that I won't get as much of a return on it, if I put a bunch of wear on it too...

My wife once had the idea if she just left her car parked in the garage forever, the car would last forever. Of course, that's just not true. The same goes for our electro-mechanical cameras. Oxygen, humidity, and who knows what else are slowly, but constantly, causing deterioration.

So my philosophy is to get the most use out of each particular device while it still works. I try to alternate between my cameras. I just enjoy them all while they're still working.

BTW, at KEH the difference between a "LN-" (virtually no wear) and "EX" (noticeably used) condition Sony A6500 is only about $60. There's no big money in keeping a pristine camera.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

.. would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now...

I'd start using the 'back-up' camera - and look into replacing the 'original R7' with either another one or something better.

Well for the first part of that, yes. I think I have decided to start using my "like new" R7 as my primary camera... before the other one actually fails.

But as for replacing it with something better, unfortunately, for the time being, I don't believe such a camera exists. BTW, I actually owned a $3900 Canon R5 for a year. It was a fantastic camera for a lot of things, but it was a FF. When I rented the R7 just to try it, it blew my R5 out of the water. There is no other camera on the market, from any brand, that puts as many MP's on a tiny subject (bird) as does the R7.

Of course I'm totally aware of the R7's weaknesses. Hoping the R7 Mk II fixes these issues. But that camera is likely 2-3 years out.

Pretty nice of Canon to help me save my money like that, isn't it ?

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Are there any shots you want to get that might put your camera at risk?

There were a couple of times I was shooting some portraits . . . and to get a shot I wanted I had to wade into some water.

If I stumbled / tripped I'd fall into the water and soak my camera.

To get the shots I pulled out one of my back-up cameras instead of using my main camera.

But to answer your question . . . use both of them.

Have a different lens on each. It could be quicker to shoot that way.

Also . . . is it worth while to send in your old camera to have it checked out? Since you have another camera, you wouldn't be cameraless while your old camera gets checked out.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

As I was reading your post, I was thinking, "Yea, that's true. Wouldn't have to worry so much about a heavily used, worn camera"..... But then it dawned on me > I have all my camera gear insured for full replacement cost, zero deductible anyway. I have $10K worth of covered for about $9 a month State Farm.

So I could drop a brand new camera and lens in the ocean, and week, have another brand new combo just like it

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

I guess what I'm asking is, would you keep using it until it dies, and then go to the backup ? OR, should I go ahead and switch now, knowing that I won't get as much of a return on it, if I put a bunch of wear on it too...

My wife once had the idea if she just left her car parked in the garage forever, the car would last forever. Of course, that's just not true. The same goes for our electro-mechanical cameras. Oxygen, humidity, and who knows what else are slowly, but constantly, causing deterioration.

So my philosophy is to get the most use out of each particular device while it still works. I try to alternate between my cameras. I just enjoy them all while they're still working.

BTW, at KEH the difference between a "LN-" (virtually no wear) and "EX" (noticeably used) condition Sony A6500 is only about $60. There's no big money in keeping a pristine camera.

I've sold used stuff on KEH and B&H, and it seems like the difference would be a little more.....

But whether it was a $60 difference, or a $150 difference, in the overall picture, I see your point.

And so as I had replied to an earlier response, I think I am going to turn my "like new" R7, into my primary camera body, and put the well worn body in the backup bag.... until an R7 Mk III comes out, then sell it.

--
Every day in the field is a blessing. Nice photos, of beautiful birds and wildlife are just a bonus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/161603079@N02/page1
No time or attention given for negativity or trolls.

 

[Guy Parsons]

I seem to buy camera bodies in pairs, usually some time after release when the price has dropped, so going back before 10 years ago I was getting two bodies for the price of one.

From then on I would share the wear, either by sometimes taking two bodies with different lenses, or more likely simply swapping bodies on a maybe 6 monthly basis so they wear out evenly and also at a slower rate.

These Olympus E-P5 have been my go-to camera duo since late 2014 and early 2015 when they were bought new for bargain prices.



Wear on both around equal, still look like new if I were to remove the inevitable dust - also more use of a quality 1" compact takes even more wear off the pair.

 

[HRC2016]

I don't understand why one would take advice like this from strangers who have no stake in the outcome.

My primary is my EM1.2. Due to reliability issues my OM-1 is my backup after my GX85.

Once thr EM1.2 dies I will replace with a different format/brand altogether and probably give the others away.

 

[A74Me]

my backup camera is an a6300 to my main a74. different cameras for different shooting circumstances. they both can use the same lens and both can replace each other when on a pro shoot with acceptable results if an emergency arises.