Working with multiple cameras and audio recorders

While a single camera is often all you need, shooting with multiple cameras brings many benefits and can be especially useful during live events when you simply can't ask your subjects to give you another take. A second camera also works as a backup should your main camera have an issue, such as a failed battery, being out of focus, or if someone's standing in front of it:

Figure 2.24: Two angles with a similar focal length, but from different perspectives

The second angle isn't just a backup; you want the two (or more) angles to provide different perspectives because there's not a lot of benefit in two cameras capturing similar content. Angles that are too similar don't work well in the edit either. Two sequential shots that show almost the same thing are called a jump cut, and while their use has become more common, it's something that is best avoided if you have the option...