Camera failure at a wedding

[DDP]

Doing some group shots a couple of weeks ago when all of a sudden my 5d decides it doesn't want to play.

Hmm, that's odd. Can't change the AF point or focus or take a shot.
Switch off and on again.
Same.
Pop batteries out and switch on again.
Same.
"Hold it there folks, just need to grab my other camera". I'm sweating. This is my better camera body (my only FF one) and I don't like the idea of it being out of action for the rest of the day, I'm quietly panicking a bit, what if the 2nd body fails too?!
I finish the group shots with my 2nd body.

Half an hour later I whisk the B&G away for some shots and decide I'll try the 5d one more time. Switch on, and it works perfectly. So I go to spin the camera round for a portrait shot and lo and behold there is the problem. The on/off switch on the grip has been knocked to the off position hence none of the buttons on the grip were working :bang::bonk:. I have NEVER used that switch before in my life, hence I overlooked it.

So from a I went to and a big sigh of relief!

 

[Badger UK]

That sort of thing is easily done. I managed to turn the auto focus off on a lens while I was shooting at a golf tournament. Took me what felt like a long time to work out what had happened. On another occasion, I inadvertantly moved the exposure compensation dial to +2 stops. Again, took me too long to work out what I'd done, and then what seemed like an age to correct it.

All good lessons for us though I think. As they say, if it doesn't kill you in makes you stronger.

You will see threads on here from togs who tape their controls up to stop this sort of thing happening. Could be a plan for you next time. Although I have found that once its happened, you don't fall for the same problem again.

 

[DDP]

That sort of thing is easily done. I managed to turn the auto focus off on a lens while I was shooting at a golf tournament. Took me what felt like a long time to work out what had happened. On another occasion, I inadvertantly moved the exposure compensation dial to +2 stops. Again, took me too long to work out what I'd done, and then what seemed like an age to correct it.

All good lessons for us though I think. As they say, if it doesn't kill you in makes you stronger.

You will see threads on here from togs who tape their controls up to stop this sort of thing happening. Could be a plan for you next time. Although I have found that once its happened, you don't fall for the same problem again.

The AF button on my 70-200 is taped up, I may do the same on the grip switch but like you say I'll be more aware of it in future if I see similar symptoms.

 

[Badger UK]

The AF button on my 70-200 is taped up, I may do the same on the grip switch but like you say I'll be more aware of it in future if I see similar symptoms.

It was a 70-200 that I managed to turn off. No tape, but careful about it now.

 

[Voyager]

The on/off switch on the grip has been knocked to the off position hence none of the buttons on the grip were working :bang::bonk:. I have NEVER used that switch before in my life, hence I overlooked it.

Not really a 'camera failure' then was it?

I think using a camera in a 'professional' situation should be an almost unconscious act a bit like gear-changing in a car or stripping and reassembling a rifle - you need to 'know' what everything does and how it feels and works without thinking.

(I'd rather have a backup body that was identical too)

 

[OutLore]

We should keep this thread in mind the next time someone says they are doing a "pro" wedding with a single body, and link to it...

Even though the actual kit didn't fail - imagine if you'd only had 1 body!! There goes your reputation...

Sounds like you dealt with the situation admirably though

 

[foodpoison]

Not really a 'camera failure' then was it?

I think using a camera in a 'professional' situation should be an almost unconscious act a bit like gear-changing in a car or stripping and reassembling a rifle - you need to 'know' what everything does and how it feels and works without thinking.

(I'd rather have a backup body that was identical too)

I totally agree, and I know my 40d inside out, but due to the complexity of a high end digital SLR mistakes such as the ones mentioned are easy to make.

 

[DDP]

Not really a 'camera failure' then was it?

No, but for 30 mins that was the impression I was under and had to consider how that would impact on the rest of the day. That's the closest I've come to camera failure and it was certainly a wake-up a call!

Agreed that two identical bodies would be nice, and it rolls off the tongue easily enough but one has to consider the costs. There doesn't seem much point in me getting another 5d Mk 1. I'd probably rather a 5d MkII and use my current 5d as a backup.

There's just the small matter of two thousand pounds...

 

[DDP]

I totally agree, and I know my 40d inside out, but due to the complexity of a high end digital SLR mistakes such as the ones mentioned are easy to make.

I agree too - I do know my cameras inside out (or so I thought) but when you're part way through setting up group shots with everyone looking at you waiting for instruction and you check the obvious things, you only have limited time in which to make checks and then make the decision to cut your losses and grab the other camera.

I can laugh about it all anyway, all good fun, it's just typical that it was caused by the switch that I've never used, and therefore it wasn't front of mind as something to check.

 

[foodpoison]

I agree too - I do know my cameras inside out (or so I thought) but when you're part way through setting up group shots with everyone looking at you waiting for instruction and you check the obvious things, you only have limited time in which to make checks and then make the decision to cut your losses and grab the other camera.

I can laugh about it all anyway, all good fun, it's just typical that it was caused by the switch that I've never used, and therefore it wasn't front of mind as something to check.

Sorry I wasn't implying you didn't know your camera!

I did a shoot the other month for someone who wanted film.

I shot the whole thing at ISO400 instead of ISO100. I thought I was getting some quick shutter speeds

Thankfully the leniency of colour negatives saved me that day. Not a mistake I will ever make again, it was just unfortunate that it was a paying client!

 

[Voyager]

I totally agree, and I know my 40d inside out, but due to the complexity of a high end digital SLR mistakes such as the ones mentioned are easy to make.

Agreed that two identical bodies would be nice, and it rolls off the tongue easily enough but one has to consider the costs. There doesn't seem much point in me getting another 5d Mk 1. I'd probably rather a 5d MkII and use my current 5d as a backup.

There's just the small matter of two thousand pounds...

These two (unrelated) posts have the same answer....

Don't spend £2k on complex camera bodies!