The importance of having back-up equipment...

[Agetan]

Approx 20 seconds every 6 months. So every month or 2 need to time check. I shoot with 3 cams, flash, lens, 9 batteries, 6 sets of NiMH AA plus 2 sets of Alkalines (I don't bring charger). etc. It gives you a peace of mind for those 4 consecutive AD periods.
.

You should consider having one of those Seal Lead acid battery to replace all those battery. I have 2 DIY batt pack running to the 4.2A SLA batt and it just go and go... no flat battery anymore. I clip it on the Lowepro Lens case and put it on the belt. It works like a charm. DSLR batt... just have to bring one charge in the bag all the time... it is light anyway...

If you don't like the weight, just buy those 1A+ version and keep 2-3 of them. Charge them once and they are ready for a long time.

I use to work with lots of rechargable, due to its age, it is sometime unreliable.

I used to use a lot of flashes for interior work and SLA batt is the answer.

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Hart

 

[2100]

You should consider having one of those Seal Lead acid battery to replace all those battery. I have 2 DIY batt pack running to the 4.2A SLA batt and it just go and go... no flat battery anymore. I clip it on the Lowepro Lens case and put it on the belt. It works like a charm. DSLR batt... just have to bring one charge in the bag all the time... it is light anyway...

If you don't like the weight, just buy those 1A+ version and keep 2-3 of them. Charge them once and they are ready for a long time.

I use to work with lots of rechargable, due to its age, it is sometime unreliable.

I used to use a lot of flashes for interior work and SLA batt is the answer.

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Hart

I have worked with SLA before powering my SB-800. Not really feasible with 2 bodies, not to mention sometimes 3 under some conditions. The cable gets in the way.

Also burned my SB-800 out before 6 years ago. ;p
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6655659&postcount=9

I am now working with Sony 2700mAH which comes with a plastic box for easy management in my lowepro small bag, 1 set actually can last the whole day coz I distribute the number of pictures out between the cams/flashes. The 3 extra NiMH sets are for standby (need to remember to charge every month but I just rotate the sets ard), and 2 Alkalines are for ultra-long-term backup for the backups (never touched them before actually).

 

[Ian]

There's a lot more to it than just running duplicate gear folks.

It's more important to duplicate ONLY those lenses and kit you really can't live without, eg: 17-35, 70-210 etc. There is no point in duplicating specialist lenses and breaking your or your PA's back having to lug 20 lenses around needlessly.

Camera cables are of more concern, many of the connectors now are multipin and pretty small and thus fragile, especially when abused (ie used heavily). Carrying a duplicate off camera flash lead and spare power leads etc is cheap insurance. Don't over do it though.

Maintainance. This is the key to not having failures. Have your gear serviced annually. Yes it costs but it saves downtime and trust me on this, there are places in the world where you really don't want shutter failure or a lens diaphram to break as the replacement may take 2-6 months to arrive. Pass the cost on to your clients as a slight increase in costs. Suppose it costs 300 bucks for a camera CLA. You shoot 150 jobs a year so that's all of $2 per job per camera.

 

[2100]

Already said it many times in other threads, though it may sound like crap but backup alarm clocks are a must. If you used 2x iphones then you are screwed! Can you imagine charging nearly 300 bucks additional for early morning and yet you are late? Freelance PG late for 1.5hrs, his BIG problem liao (he charged as well actually).

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6843662#post6843662


1st Jan. Could not get any cab at 0450h till 0530h. Got 5 cabs which dropped off passengers but had to change shift and none going in my direction. Offered $20 additional but no go. Bookings were unanswered by cabs, $2.50 or $8 premier limo. Luckily got VG to act as backup, he came to pick me up in his cab (Advance booking, 8hrs in advance). In the end only 10 mins late for both.

** the issue is that I am living at Cantonment Rd. Too close to the party venues. I reckon there were at least 500-1000 different grps of people trying to get cabs then....

 

[surrephoto]

Already said it many times in other threads, though it may sound like crap but backup alarm clocks are a must. If you used 2x iphones then you are screwed! Can you imagine charging nearly 300 bucks additional for early morning and yet you are late? Freelance PG late for 1.5hrs, his BIG problem liao (he charged as well actually).

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6843662#post6843662


1st Jan. Could not get any cab at 0450h till 0530h. Got 5 cabs which dropped off passengers but had to change shift and none going in my direction. Offered $20 additional but no go. Bookings were unanswered by cabs, $2.50 or $8 premier limo. Luckily got VG to act as backup, he came to pick me up in his cab (Advance booking, 8hrs in advance). In the end only 10 mins late for both.

** the issue is that I am living at Cantonment Rd. Too close to the party venues. I reckon there were at least 500-1000 different grps of people trying to get cabs then....

Had the morning no taxi nightmare experience 1st Jan 2010 as well, couldn't get a cab as I'm currently living at Havelock Rd.

Then, my saviour, a chrysler cab drove by and no one else wanted to board. So end up i paid $43.60 for my ride to tampines.

Lesson learnt, so yesterday I called up in advance to do advance booking, $5.20 starting fee.

 

[2100]

Had the morning no taxi nightmare experience 1st Jan 2010 as well, couldn't get a cab as I'm currently living at Havelock Rd.

Then, my saviour, a chrysler cab drove by and no one else wanted to board. So end up i paid $43.60 for my ride to tampines.

Lesson learnt, so yesterday I called up in advance to do advance booking, $5.20 starting fee.

Don't know why they disabled/disengaged the Limo premier cab call line...perhaps non-operative before 0600h or something. We paid 62 dollars for the cab ride coz need to detour a bit.

Sometimes I really feel for the new freelancers, don't know how to charge + no angpow (very possible) and you know usually last minute the couple will "chut stunt", yet need to pay so much....coz at the end of the day sure shag out due to early monring so that's another cab trip. (and you know at 1-2pm that time raining) Not to mention the immense stress.

By the end of the day at 4pm the freelance PG was like all green faced, coz he did not respond much and "stun look took a whole to register" whenever I tried to strike a conversation with him. (perhaps he got countdown).