Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

boxofrocks · 05:31 PM

Last night I was shooting posed portraits (backdrop, monolights--the works) at a big corporate holiday party at The Hilton Anatole. Halfway through them, my D2x died on me with absolutely no warning whatsoever. The aperture actuation lever failed, and the lens closed down to the smallest aperture, leaving the shutter inoperative with a lens attached (as far as I know, the best way to shoot portraits is with a lens).

Luckily, I had my D200 in the bag, and it only interrupted things for about 2 minutes. With close to 200 couples still waiting, I would have been persona non grata around there had I not had redundancy for my camera body.

Just a note to those that choose to wing it on paid jobs with one body--one day, sooner or later, this might happen to you, too. Considering this has been my best corporate customer over the last 3 years, that would have been suicide for me.

Unfortunately for me, this probably can be fixed "relatively" inexpensively, so I doubt it will warrant moving up my purchase of the D3. That's a good thing, I suppose, since I don't have $5k laying around looking for a place to be spent just yet.

Word to the wise--even if you have to rent or borrow a second body as a backup, it's always a good idea to have one on hand at live events.

adirty1 · 12-02-2007, 05:09 PM

I back up my two digital cameras with a film camera. I have had a couple friends that had both digital bodies go down and lucky for them they alway brought enough film and a their old camera just in case.

two bodies going down at the same time is not unheard of.

boxofrocks · 12-02-2007, 05:12 PM

Funny you should say that--I had a Canon G9 with me, and I was afraid it was going on the tripod next. That would have worked, as it has a hot shoe with for the PW to control the lights, and can shoot in manual, but it would have looked pretty tacky!

Collins · 12-02-2007, 05:14 PM

+1 from me.

I've had one of my cameras die during a wedding and I was thanking the Lord I had another one to pull out of the bag.

Even if it's a cheaper used body from 2 years ago (10D, 20D) get a 2nd body!

PictureCow · 12-02-2007, 05:15 PM

Yep... you just never know!! I've heard lots of horror stories! Can you imagine that happening at a wedding!!!!

Collins · 12-02-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PictureCow

Yep... you just never know!! I've heard lots of horror stories! Can you imagine that happening at a wedding!!!!

Yes! (look up a post! LOL)

AndrewCCM · 12-02-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Collins

Yes! (look up a post! LOL)

Ditto. It does and HAS happened.

CaptainTom · 12-02-2007, 08:20 PM

I try to have duplicates of EVERYTHING possible. Last failure was a pair of pants... didn't have a backup at the wedding. Won't happen again.

rwwright · 12-02-2007, 09:05 PM

went to utah for a several day shoot. my camera died 1st day, had no backup. had to drive back to denver and fly home. now I always always always have a backup. now it is just a d70, but it will deliver photos.

crazeazn · 12-02-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I try to have duplicates of EVERYTHING possible. Last failure was a pair of pants... didn't have a backup at the wedding. Won't happen again.

i uh,

LoungeLizard · 12-02-2007, 09:49 PM

Guys...don't laugh. Extra change of clothes in my truck when I go to weddings. If it's hot, make that TWO extra changes. Not only have I heard of photographers splitting pants, you can spill stuff, get them dirty...even heard of a photographer who fell into a pool.

The only thing I don't have a backup for is my lenses - though I have enough of them to get me coverage no matter what. Three bodies, three flashes, three power packs, six lenses, about 30GB of CF cards. When I download to a computer at an event, I copy them to a USB HDD on the drive home (it's automated so I don't really do it while driving!)

CaptainTom · 12-02-2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazeazn

i uh,

I uh,, split them out really badly.. embarrassing.

crazeazn · 12-02-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

Guys...don't laugh. Extra change of clothes in my truck when I go to weddings. If it's hot, make that TWO extra changes. Not only have I heard of photographers splitting pants, you can spill stuff, get them dirty...even heard of a photographer who fell into a pool.

The only thing I don't have a backup for is my lenses - though I have enough of them to get me coverage no matter what. Three bodies, three flashes, three power packs, six lenses, about 30GB of CF cards. When I download to a computer at an event, I copy them to a USB HDD on the drive home (it's automated so I don't really do it while driving!)

i fell into a pool while shooting one of my friends' weddings. I was just shooting for fun, but it was still very embarassing.

HOUSCOUS · 12-03-2007, 12:39 AM

Yes. Always bring a backup of everything.

Dobick · 12-03-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I try to have duplicates of EVERYTHING possible. Last failure was a pair of pants... didn't have a backup at the wedding. Won't happen again.

I had the same thing happen to me at the only wedding I have ever shot.

Luckily it wasn't a bad split, and no-one noticed, but it did teach me a valuable lesson.

Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Why you should always have a backup