mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
There are many and various reasons I have "go everywhere" or "beater" or "2nd body" cameras.
In general, though, I have lots of different cameras because I like using different cameras. Sometimes just to see what they're good for, sometimes for some different but particular purpose, sometimes just to see what they're like to use and sometimes because it's been cheap for me to acquire some of the great cameras I couldn't afford when I first wanted to take photographs. (I wanted an OM-2, or an FE-2, or an AE1-P, or, or, or - what I could afford ended up being an OM-20.)
Much more recently, I had (well, still have but no longer use) a Canon IXUS 40 as a "go everywhere in my pocket" digital camera. It had a hard life, surviving a substantial dent on the base I can't even recall giving it, a trip in the swimming pool and many lesser injuries. But it did it's job: I always had some form of camera with me - even if the most frequent use was photographing whiteboards, equipment assemblies and the like. But it's functions started failing me (nowdays it will zoom to longer focal lengths, but has to be power-cycled to return to the shorter ones) so it was retired. It's job has been taken over by an IXUS 80 IS, the only caveat being that the new one doesn't have a stainless-steel shell and so goes in a pouch on my belt. I doubt it would stand the abuse it's predecessor survived.
I have an Olympus Stylus Epic that's a "briefcase" camera - not quite as small as the digital but still small and easily able to stand the limited rattling around it's asked to live with. That's there for when I want a "mostly with me" film camera. More for taking "proper" photos than the whiteboards and suchlike that digital is much more suited for.
With SLRs, for my main user systems I usually have two bodies. That has generally come about because I've upgraded to a newer/better model and kept it's predecessor as a 2nd/backup body. Those often get used - one with a long telephoto and one with a wide zoom, for example. So I can switch between widely different focal lengths without having to change lenses (on those occasions I can be bothered carrying that much gear). The backup function has been used as well: on a trip/course photographing in a rainforest, for example, Dad managed to rip the hot shoe from his EOS 300D - he used my "backup" as his primary camera for the rest of the trip.
Sometimes two cameras in the same system can be used in different circumstances - I like the meter display of my FM3a better than my FM-2n in daylight, while the LEDs of the latter are much easier to see in low light.
Or, with some cameras, I just might not want to be without one. Given the lack of repair possibilities, I figure the best way to make sure I'm not without a Hexar RF is to have two of them and use them on alternate outings. That way they both get use but I figure only one is likely to be damaged or fail at any one time.
I have a camera I keep in my car - but it gets hot here in Oz in summer, so I don't want expensive optics or delicate electronics for that purpose. A Zorki 6 does the job there.
And so on. There are lots of reasons...
...Mike
In general, though, I have lots of different cameras because I like using different cameras. Sometimes just to see what they're good for, sometimes for some different but particular purpose, sometimes just to see what they're like to use and sometimes because it's been cheap for me to acquire some of the great cameras I couldn't afford when I first wanted to take photographs. (I wanted an OM-2, or an FE-2, or an AE1-P, or, or, or - what I could afford ended up being an OM-20.)
Much more recently, I had (well, still have but no longer use) a Canon IXUS 40 as a "go everywhere in my pocket" digital camera. It had a hard life, surviving a substantial dent on the base I can't even recall giving it, a trip in the swimming pool and many lesser injuries. But it did it's job: I always had some form of camera with me - even if the most frequent use was photographing whiteboards, equipment assemblies and the like. But it's functions started failing me (nowdays it will zoom to longer focal lengths, but has to be power-cycled to return to the shorter ones) so it was retired. It's job has been taken over by an IXUS 80 IS, the only caveat being that the new one doesn't have a stainless-steel shell and so goes in a pouch on my belt. I doubt it would stand the abuse it's predecessor survived.
I have an Olympus Stylus Epic that's a "briefcase" camera - not quite as small as the digital but still small and easily able to stand the limited rattling around it's asked to live with. That's there for when I want a "mostly with me" film camera. More for taking "proper" photos than the whiteboards and suchlike that digital is much more suited for.
With SLRs, for my main user systems I usually have two bodies. That has generally come about because I've upgraded to a newer/better model and kept it's predecessor as a 2nd/backup body. Those often get used - one with a long telephoto and one with a wide zoom, for example. So I can switch between widely different focal lengths without having to change lenses (on those occasions I can be bothered carrying that much gear). The backup function has been used as well: on a trip/course photographing in a rainforest, for example, Dad managed to rip the hot shoe from his EOS 300D - he used my "backup" as his primary camera for the rest of the trip.
Sometimes two cameras in the same system can be used in different circumstances - I like the meter display of my FM3a better than my FM-2n in daylight, while the LEDs of the latter are much easier to see in low light.
Or, with some cameras, I just might not want to be without one. Given the lack of repair possibilities, I figure the best way to make sure I'm not without a Hexar RF is to have two of them and use them on alternate outings. That way they both get use but I figure only one is likely to be damaged or fail at any one time.
I have a camera I keep in my car - but it gets hot here in Oz in summer, so I don't want expensive optics or delicate electronics for that purpose. A Zorki 6 does the job there.
And so on. There are lots of reasons...
...Mike
