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Archive 2011 · What is your back up system?

DennisC
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p.1 #1 · What is your back up system?

Say you have a T&I assignment. Is your backup body the same as your primary?

Let's say your main T&I lens is something like a 28-70/2.8. Do you have (or rent) another of the same or is your backup lens something else? I mean, if your backup lens is an f3.5-4.5, or whatever, if it's good enough for backup, why not just have 2 copies and use it for primary, also?

Shooting spec thus far, I've not really had to worry about this. If my equipment had failed, I'd just go home, get it fixed, and come back to the next game. However, I now have a couple sports portrait sessions coming up and need to think this through.

Thanks for reading.

May 17, 2011 at 12:54 AM

Scott Sewell
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p.1 #2 · What is your back up system?

Back-up body is basically the same (I'm shooting a 1d Mk2n and Mk2). Lenses are a different story, IMO. I"m not sure I can say I know anyone who has double of everything just to have a back-up of each lens. Doesn't seem as practical as having a back-up body(ies), but I'm sure there are people out there who double up everything.

So, let's say for some reason my 70-200 quit working, I'd just move to my 24-70 (or vice versa). If, by some strange chance that lens also crapped out I'd move to a 50. All three happen to croak at the same time (we're talking some extreme stuff here!

), I'd probably go with the 120-300. I'm guessing you see where I'm going with this.

Of course, if never hurts to know some fellow shooters in your area you can always call to borrow a lens in a pinch. I've been okay loaning out gear to fellow shooters I know if they need something.

May 17, 2011 at 01:18 AM

ishootsports3
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p.1 #3 · What is your back up system?

I have my two bodies that I feel confident in, yes one is dx and one is fx but they both can produce excellent images, I am with Scott in terms of lens backup...

May 17, 2011 at 01:56 AM

DennisC
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p.1 #4 · What is your back up system?

Scott Sewell wrote:
...I'd move to a 50...

Duh, why didn't I think of that? A couple primes should be in everyone's bag, right? For low light use and a back up, in a pinch.

Thanks, Scott. Problem solved

May 17, 2011 at 02:06 AM

P Alesse
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p.1 #5 · What is your back up system?

Scott Sewell wrote:
All three happen to croak at the same time (we're talking some extreme stuff here!

)

Not if your name is Luke Trottier. If your name is Luke, that's all pretty normal.

May 17, 2011 at 02:30 AM

Ralph Thompson
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p.1 #6 · What is your back up system?

First off, you've gotta be comfortable with your back-ups. That being said, I try to keep my bodies with the same basic menus & settings (i.e. 1d3, 1ds3/ 50D/ 40D). If you have a camera failure the last thing you want to do is be "figuring something out" when you've got people in line and you're late.

I preset all my settings on my back-ups before the job. That way if someone's (or mine) gear takes a dump, all I have to do is put a card in and go. Usually, your gear takes a dump when you're a team of T-ballers behind and you don't have the time to sort things out.

As for glass, believe it or not, I've tried 24-70, 24-105, 28-135 but myfavorite is a 50mm 1.8 mkI........ Light, quick, sharp (I shoot my T&I @ 4.5-5.6) and cheap. I keep two 50mm 1.8 in my T&I kit....

Don't forget to back up your speedlights too....

May 17, 2011 at 04:32 AM

P Alesse
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p.1 #7 · What is your back up system?

Action I'm not too worried about if shooting on spec, but for T&I, I can't afford to have anything go down without a backup. If you can afford to do it, mirror everything before a shoot and as Ralph says, mirror all settings too. I have two exact sets of everything and in some cases, a third body. So, both my D3 cameras have a 70-200 and 80-200 respectively. A second set of alien bees and stands ready to go. And I have about 30 total pocket wizards, but that's another story.

May 17, 2011 at 10:24 AM

DennisC
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p.1 #8 · What is your back up system?

Good thoughts, all. Thanks for the input.

I like the idea of a couple 50/1.8s...inexpensive and sharp. That's the ticket.

30 PWs, Paul? Ok, we won't go there today

May 17, 2011 at 10:53 AM

Dave Hahn
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p.1 #9 · What is your back up system?

P Alesse wrote:
And I have about 30 total pocket wizards, but that's another story.

And I thought I was bad with 9 PW's.

Main camera is a 1DMk3 and second is a 1DMk2n with another 2n as a backup.
As far as lenses go my main lenses are 300mm, 70/200mm & 24/70mm. I also carry 3 primes 85/1.8, 50/1.4 & 28/1.8 so if one of them goes I can usually get by.

May 17, 2011 at 12:29 PM

Frank Lauri
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p.1 #10 · What is your back up system?

Great info here. My primary is 1dMKIV and backup is 1dMK2n. Lights are AB800's and backup are Calumet 750's...flash 580 EXII and backup 550 EX and a bunch of lenses. If all fails....switch to the iPhone.

On a serious note I was doing girls softball a few weeks ago and when I was setting up my lights when a gust of wind came and blew my light over causing the plug connection to snap away making it impossible to make a connection. I was set up to proceed with back up stuff but the winds just kept getting stronger and we had to stop because the girls hair was all over the place. But these things happen and you have to be prepared without undo delay.

And I have about 30 total pocket wizards, but that's another story. I was wondering why B&H was always sold out of these...

Frank Lauri

May 17, 2011 at 01:30 PM

luketrot
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p.1 #11 · What is your back up system?

Regarding Camera's: This is fresh for me.... I have 5 body's and had 4 fail in the past two weeks. Just bad timing unfortunately. Thankfully I was around other Canon shooters (Thanks Jeff!) who let me borrow a camera when I lost my 1DIV and IDIII. (432,000 actuation's and the camera just dies?) The following week my D3s CF door jammed up during a dance competition and my D700 backup died a few hours later. A knife was needed to remove the CF door of the D3s. I actually haven't sent the camera in as it still works despite the gimpy CF door. I also have a feeling they will insist on charging me for a new shutter as that camera is now at 426,000 actuation's as well.

Regarding lenses: Primarly we shoot 70-200 so I keep a 200/2 with me on the Nikon side and a 135/2 and 200/2 on the Canon side. I've had about 4-5 failures of my 70-200's in the past. Either focusing issues or internal screws coming lose to the point the lens became unusable. If I'm shooting portraits I make sure to have a 24mm and 50mm in my bag.

Regarding portraits: We have backup strobes but not always backup PW. If a PW fails then we just unplug it, as long as one strobe is working it will fire off the rest. You can also fire the strobes with a hot shoe flash.

Regarding Data: We have two levels of backup onsite. The first backup is done during the initial import. The second backup is done on the server using a Robocopy script to a portable sata drive. The server also has mirrored HD's.

Bottom line, make sure you have backups and don't buy any used camera gear from me on the buy/sell board.

May 17, 2011 at 03:03 PM

Ralph Thompson
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p.1 #12 · What is your back up system?

P Alesse wrote:
I have about 30 total pocket wizards, but that's another story.

Damn Paul, how many stations are you shooting??!!!!

May 17, 2011 at 03:13 PM

butchM
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p.1 #13 · What is your back up system?

If you are doing this photography gig for a living ... you need at least two of everything ... they don't have to be exact duplicates, though if you can afford it it wouldn't hurt if they were exact duplicates ... but the backup equipment should be able to closely duplicate the primary setup as much as possible ... in the end this is what separates an advanced hobbyist from an experienced working pro ... the latter is always dragging around double the gear (or more) going to great effort to ensure that it is all ready to go at any instant it needs to be used ...

May 17, 2011 at 03:25 PM

actionshooter
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p.1 #14 · What is your back up system?

Main Body: D3s, Backup: D700 (emergency backup of backup: D7000)
Main Lens: 24-70 for team, 70-200 for individuals: Backup: 50 1/8 or 16-35/4 for team and 105/2.8 VR for individuals (or 24-70)
Main Triggers: PW Mini/Flex: Backup: Cybersyncs
Main Flash: 2, SB-900s: Backup: 1 SB-800 and 1 SB-600 (this is probably my weak area in terms of backups)
Main Strobes: 2, AB1600s: Backup: 2 AB800s

Lightstands, umbrellas, batteries...everything is backed up. Heck I even take backup diffusers and gray cards. There is nothing worse than something going down in the middle of a T&I session with no backups.

May 17, 2011 at 04:07 PM

James Broome
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p.1 #15 · What is your back up system?

luketrot wrote:
Bottom line, make sure you have backups and don't buy any used camera gear from me on the buy/sell board.

Duly noted.

May 17, 2011 at 04:46 PM

James Broome
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p.1 #16 · What is your back up system?

Back on topic, I carry my 5DMkII, 1DMkIV, and my 1DMkIIn with me on all shoots. I also bring my 70-200, 24-70, & 50 with me.

For lights, I usually bring enough Alien Bees that I can replace one if needed. I also have replacement flash tubes for the Alien Bees.

When having to rely on my own power, I have both the Vagabond II and the new Mini Lithium power packs. Actually, I bring those even when tapping AC power at the location. You know, just in case.

For triggers, I have 5 Paul Buff wireless receivers and two triggers along with extra batteries for the triggers. I recently purchased two Pocket Wizard FlexTT5 transceivers, but haven't started messing with them yet.

May 17, 2011 at 04:52 PM

actionshooter
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p.1 #17 · What is your back up system?

Actually James brings up a vital point and that is battery backups for the triggers (Cybersyncs and SU800 for instance) that don't use standard batteries. Those types of batteries aren't easy to find at your local gas station if you need one in a hurry.

May 17, 2011 at 05:51 PM

BlueReptile
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p.1 #18 · What is your back up system?

In addition to what's been said, I also shoot to both CF slots for T&I and important assignments. Usually 4 or 8GB in slot 1 and 32GB in slot 2.

May 18, 2011 at 01:24 AM

indyjones
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p.1 #19 · What is your back up system?

Sony P200, everything on Auto.

May 18, 2011 at 01:28 AM

stuarty
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p.1 #20 · What is your back up system?

indyjones wrote:
Sony P200, everything on Auto.

May 18, 2011 at 09:10 PM

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