FAIL/SAFE PICTURES

 

Play it safe. Always carry two camera bodies on travel assignments, just in case one fails.

Can't afford a second camera? Check out the prices at a reliable second-hand camera store. Amazingly, they often have a good supply of little-used, up-to-date equipment, traded in by cameraphiliacs who, like computer hackers, can't resist the latest thing. Buying used camera equipment is not the gamble it may seem. Camera owners usually respect their equipment and treat it gently.

A reputable dealer will usually give you a 30-day warranty, and time enough to field-test the camera by shooting several rolls of film.