Messsucherkamera Posted November 16, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted November 16, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) After reading various comments about second camera bodies, back up bodies, etc. it seems that no professional photographer goes on a shoot without at least two camera bodies, particularly wedding photographers and anyone who photographs for hire when there are models involved. Many documentary photographers also would never think of going on a job or to some faraway location without a backup body (sometimes two) whether they work digitally or with film or with both. Â This made me wonder - even with the legendary reliability of Leica equipment - are the camera bodies the weak link in the equation? Â Is one backup body sufficient (with a lens for each body) or is a person better off with two backup bodies? While two backup bodies may seem like overkill as well as anathema to the "less cameras, more photos" worldview - is it still a good idea for working professionals or for someone who is going to the far reaches of the globe? Â After giving it some thought, it seems to me that two bodies (total) that are known to be in good working order should be enough for about any situation. Â What are your thoughts on this? Â Also - if you have experiences where a backup body saved the day or where you ended up regretting not having a backup, please pass along your experience to the rest of us. Â Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Hi Messsucherkamera, Take a look here Are camera bodies the weak link?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted November 16, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted November 16, 2011 In over forty years of using them, I have never had a Leica M film body fail. Over time, the shutter needed adjustment, however that is normal. Â Backups? One National Geographic photographer I knew (he has retired) shot only Leica M cameras and he kept two camera bags that duplicated his set - lenses and bodies (2 bodies in each bag). He was primarily an excursion photographer and would be far, far from civilization or out at-sea. He also kept duplicates at his home, ready to ship if he could send a telegram from a location. Â I don't think any of his Leicas (all M2 and M4) broke of its own accord. Some were damaged in catastrophic accidents. Â I cannot attest to the electronic Leicas. Â Aside: Many years ago Olympus gave him a few of their small SLRs to use. (I forget what model) They were trying to get an endorsement. He broke all of them within two months and reverted to the Leica M and never looked back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonheim Posted November 16, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted November 16, 2011 Many on this forum do not trust Leica at all! Â People have 2-6 bodies, 2-3 lenses of their favorite focal length, etc., etc. Â :) Â Cheers, Â Knut PS! Personally I trust both the body and lenses from Leica. Then again, my income does not depend on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted November 16, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted November 16, 2011 Over the last 20+ years of freelance photography I have always had a back-up body or system. To date I have never had to use one. A back-up is simply insurance and like insurance policies, one is enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted November 16, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted November 16, 2011 All of my camera bodies (Canon, Pentax, Leica) have been extremely reliable. However, for certain events, like weddings, the consequences for even an unlikely body failure are significant and nobody wants this to happen: Â "Divorced Man Suing Photographer to Redo Wedding": Â Divorced Man Suing Photographer To Redo Wedding Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 16, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted November 16, 2011 The idea of backup bodies can be taken too literally. Many photographers use two cameras, each with a different lens. In such cases if one fails the other can take over the entire job. This is how a journalist would work, not carrying around a 'spare' body but using it. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share #7  Posted November 16, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Many on this forum do not trust Leica at all! People have 2-6 bodies, 2-3 lenses of their favorite focal length, etc., etc.   Cheers,  Knut PS! Personally I trust both the body and lenses from Leica. Then again, my income does not depend on it. LOL, yes we Leica shooters seem to be an exceedingly distrustful lot...  In over forty years of using them, I have never had a Leica M film body fail. Over time, the shutter needed adjustment, however that is normal.   I don't think any of his Leicas (all M2 and M4) broke of its own accord. @pico: Apparently the key is to stick with M2 and M4 bodies (or older bodies, at least) as my 2003 MP had a minor breakdown in 2010. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 16, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted November 16, 2011 When I am out on a longer trip I back up both bodies and focal lengths. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 17, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted November 17, 2011 In the digital realm, I also back up my photos. Didn't worry about that with film. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted November 17, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted November 17, 2011 A backup girlfriend is also a good idea to minimize stress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 17, 2011 Share #11  Posted November 17, 2011 Many on this forum do not trust Leica at all! People have 2-6 bodies, 2-3 lenses of their favorite focal length, etc., etc.  There are reasons. I have nine (9) M bodies but only because I am a pack-rat. Never sell.  . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwinThomas Posted November 17, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted November 17, 2011 A backup girlfriend is also a good idea to minimize stress. Â Oh how wrong you are :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted November 17, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted November 17, 2011 I think the weak link lies with the photographer, not the camera per se. Too many people bang them (the bodies and lenses) around and then expect them to work just fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted November 17, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted November 17, 2011 Even though I take good care of my cameras I always travel with two bodies -- Imagine being on safari and having the only body fail. When we were in the Falklands my DMR began acting up, and it eventually died later in that same trip in the Atacama desert. The D2 got me through, though with a few less distant wildlife shots than ideal. It's a kind of insurance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted November 17, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted November 17, 2011 Any bigger job - I always have a backup camera. And I have had failures - a Nikon F3HP, with the R system (R8, film body) and Nikon DSLR's (D2H). In the case of the Nikon F3HP, I had no clue until I processed the film. Luckily, I had shot with a Hassy on that job as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted November 18, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted November 18, 2011 In the days of film I always carried 2 Hasselblad and 2 Canon bodies. Never needed to resort to a backup except for the time when I trashed a Blad by knocking a tripod over. (I stopped using tripods after that). Now I have an M8 and M9 and would like a film body also. Was thinking about losing the M8 to accommodate an M6... old habits die hard. Can't bring myself to carry only one main camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 18, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted November 18, 2011 I think the weak link lies with the photographer, not the camera per se. Too many people bang them (the bodies and lenses) around and then expect them to work just fine. Â That would be me. I let the cameras bang together for decades and never had a failure due to such knocks. Even my catastrophic accident with the M9 that smashed it very badly did not kill the camera - just the LCD and buttons. IOW, it still worked and if I were on assignment, I could have continued to use it as I had my film cameras. Maybe I was just lucky. Â These cameras were made for rough use. Â . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted November 19, 2011 Share #18  Posted November 19, 2011 I have done horrible things to my M-9: but she’s still trucking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted November 19, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted November 19, 2011 To think that a Summicron 50mm is a backup for my Noctilux is a bit silly, even though they are the same focal length. I have never had a lens fail... Â I have never had a camera fail, but I have cause to ponder the stupid things I have done. If I should damage one during an event, I have alternatives. Plus it gives me choices for a second lens, readily available. So I have two M9's, and two film M's as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted November 19, 2011 Share #20  Posted November 19, 2011 If you think you’re nuts I have 5 50mm’s including a $35 Jupiter which is great! Have fun, take photo’s and don’t worry why you got what you got. None of this stuff makes any sense anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.