Do You Bring More Than One Camera?

[seashoreCM]

I'm trying to solicit opinions to help me decide whether to bring along a "backup" camera.

I know some folks do.

I know that if several family members each bring theirs, the cameras may or may not be of equal capability.

Some folks may bring a second camera that has different features, for example bring one camera to take prints and another to take slides, or one camera with a more powerful flash and another with more zoom.

Right now I am trying to decide whether to buy a new second camera that has most of the features my current camera has (cost around $400.), versus bring along an "old" camera of lesser capability (2 megapixel) that I hope I won't have to rely on.l

 

[Jeanne B]

On vacations I always bring both my dSLR and our p&s Canon (which we also use for snorkeling with an u/w housing). It's not always convenient to carry around the more bulky dSLR but it's definitely what gets used the most. I always like to have a second camera as a backup regardless because I'd hate the thought of something going wrong with my camera (which happened with the p&s on our last cruise) and not being able to take photos.

 

[pyrxtc]

I bring my DSLR and my P&S sicne my P&S can go underwater with no housing and can be dropped and many other things that I would not want to happen to my DSLR. Plus my DD brings a camera dn my kids use my P&S too.

 

[boBQuincy]

I bring a 2nd dSLR body. It doesn't take up any more room than a P&S and I can still use all the same lenses, batteries, and CF cards.

 

[Gdad]

I usually bring a spare dslr body and my waterproof P&S.

 

[My2Girls66]

I carry my D50 mostly but bring along a small p&s for times I don't feel like or can't carry the D50- like when hiking in steep terrain, at beach, in kayak or just out and about and not wanting to carry the dslr. Last year I had a Coolpix L6- now its a Canon A560. before digital I only carried 1 camera. I never worried about it breaking down.

 

[Queenie]

I being my Canon 300D and a pocket sized Olympus Digital 800. I mainly use the 300D but sometimes I just cannot be bothered to carry it around with me. On those occasions I slip the Olympus in my pocket so I can take pictures with it in case something unusual happens.

It's also useful for taking into rides that don't allow bags so I can take pictures in the queue line (Men in Black at Universal is a great example) - couldn't take the 300D in there but the little one fits in my pocket and is allowed in.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

I picked other as it's not really me who brings another camera. We each have one 4 camera's on our trips. You get different views of the trip. Sometimes it works out as I don't always want to carry my DSLR so I end up using my wifes or kids cameras if needed. Wife and kids cameras are P&S. We also bring disposable underwater cameras to.

 

[atpatt]

I carry my xti and waterproof Olympus point and shoot regularly. An extended trip or WDW means the old S2 IS will find its way into the bag as well.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

At WDW, I just bring my camera. On other outings, my son brings his p&s and my wife brings our old DSLR. If my camera failed on a WDW trip, it would be disappointing, but not the end of the world (I'd just pirate other people's pictures and Photoshop the kids into them ). If it was a "once in a lifetime" trip, I'd probably be more inclined to bring a spare.

 

[Groucho]

I guess I'm an "other" - on my last WDW trip, I brought both my DSLR (Pentax *ist DL) and my film SLR (Pentax K1000), and shared lenses between them and used both (though primarily the DSLR.) The film SLR wasn't really a backup, more of an alternative - a chance to use up some film, and to get the full fish-eye effect with my Zenitar 16mm lens. My wife also brought her Canon SD600 and used it a bit.

On our last California trip, I brought my Pentax K100D and we brought along my DL, with the idea that my wife would use it occasionally. I think she took less than 10 pics with it. Still, it was good peace of mind. We also had my wife's Fuji F40.

My wife took the K100D on a recent cruise and found herself really enjoying the DSLR feel, so the plan for our April trip to WDW is for me to use a Pentax K20D (which should hopefully arrive by then, it sounds like it should easily and Beach Camera has my preorder!) and she'll use the K100D, and we'll also have her Fuji for video ability. I did buy a small camcorder recently but I doubt we'll bring it. If the K20D doesn't arrive in time, I'll use the K100D and the wife'll use the DL.

So, that would be "other" then, I think.

If it was just me going, I'm not sure what I'd do. At this point, I'd probably be inclined to bring along two DSLR bodies with the intention of not using one - though I do see the value of having two cameras ready to go with different lenses. This came in handy sometimes when I had both my DSLR and film SLR slung around my neck at the same time during our last WDW trip.

 

[sneezy1956]

I always take my dslr and then my point and shoot.....just in case. You never know when a camera is going to go on the fritz!

 

[bopper]

I bring my DSLR and my P&S...sometimes you are doing something where you don't feel like bringing the "big" camera and you want one that can fit in your pocket. Sometimes I let my DD11 take her own pictures with the P&S. Plus it is good to have a back up like say the time I was in Hawaii and my camera died.