Your Backup Cameras - January 2020

Please indicate which group of those shown above your backup camera/cameras fit into (a backup camera being one you shoot with regularly, but which is not your primary/main camera).

Note that available space on the line for options limits the descriptions that can be put down: because of this I have used ranges of model numbers where a complete list would not fit and where I say NEX3 or NEX5, I am including all the lettered variants.

Sometimes the dividing lines between categories can be a bit indistinct – as with last time, I have made the division on type (DSLR, SLT/ICLA or ILCE), size of sensor, whether the camera is ‘Premium’ or not (no criticism intended of non-premium cameras - some of our best photographers use them) and for the a7 variants, what generation they belong in. I think I have most models covered in the descriptions, but if I have missed your camera out, please add it to the category that seems most appropriate and let us know the details in a posting. So:

if you get one of the (just announced) a7Riv cameras or an (unannounced at time of writing) a7iv to use as your backup camera, it should go in the "4th gen full frame ILCE" category. Any new a7S, should probably go in the same category, regardless of what number is on the front..
or
if you really want to put that RD-175 down as your primary camera, it would probably fit best with the 5D/a100-a580 category as it was a sub-frame SLR based on a mid-range analogue body
while
the RD-3000 should probably go in as a Non-Alpha DSLR
(but where you actually put any of these is up to you).

Note that you can vote more than once in this poll, so fill your boots!
-but please just include cameras you use on a regular basis, rather than every camera you own

This is part of a survey we run every once in a while to check on what the membership's cameras of choice are.

Another poll is open to let you specify your primary camera (you only get to vote once in that one).


Edited by Bob J - 05 January 2020 at 10:01

I have several backup cameras, but I voted only for those I actually use as backup - a7Rii and a99.
I also have (and occasionally use) a7R, a900 and NEX 7 (and several film cameras), but I rarely use them and only for nostalgic reasons. I don't think they qualify as actual backups.

My primary camera is the a99ii.
My back-up cameras are the a99 and a77ii.

pegelli wrote: I have and use (and voted for) A6000, NEX6, A700, 5D and 505si as secundary cameras My primary cameras are A7ii and A7Rii I also still have a NEX5 that I don't use anymore, so that didn't get a vote. The A850 and A7 I used to own are now both sold

you certainly have a number of cameras

think if you sold them all you could easily afford one A7RIV, surely you are tempted?

Thinking about this today I realized my backup camera is the Apple iPhone 8 Plus. I often use it to take and share a photo immediately while using the Sony A7II. I appreciate that it has a normal angle-of-view lens in addition to the wide angle. The super low base ISO allows it to act bigger. Both lenses are still very tiny.

Edited by QuietOC - 06 January 2020 at 20:21

Put the a900 down as my main camera , but since I got a Sony SAM 18-135mm lens the a77ii is getting more use than it did , so these two cameras are getting about equal use really .
The NEX 7 would be considered a back up to these two .
So if one isn't the back up to the other , I'm just as likely to be carrying a film body as an extra body .
35mm , 120 or 5x4 sheet film .

After 4 years or so using the A58 I thought I'd always have an A-mount camera as my main camera, but since getting the Nex-6 last year I've hardly used it. I think my most-used backup camera is actually my phone, which has a camera and lens somewhat better than the first few generations of digital cameras I owned and is always with me.

I did flirt briefly with an A900 but didn't keep it. I intended to keep the A58 for 'serious' photography but after acquiring MF lenses in 12 and 35mm, and a some cheap small zooms for it, about the only thing I use the A58 for now is travel zoom and telephoto ... except that the last time I went travelling I took the Nex ...

Still have too many film cameras and get to use them too seldom, but that may change.

Edited by Miranda F - 07 January 2020 at 16:04