I hate not having a second camera body

krbimaging · Apr 4, 2014

I got my 5D Mk3 back in November 2013. At the time I knew I was going to get a second one in a few months... So then all the rumors started flying about a Canon camera that is going to be in between the 1D and 5D and higher MP... well..... I would love to get that or even go to a 1D but I am afraid to invest that kind of money and not really need that.

I really am hoping for a larger MP camera and the rumors are that the next one will be. I know the 1D isn't as high a MP camera so I just don't want to drop dime on it onless I can really benifit from it. I'm not a sports photographer.

What would you do? Just get the second 5D M3 and be done with it
Or
Wait for the rumors to come true (supposedly in the fall)
or
Get a 1D and call it a day.

Ugh... the agony of waiting.. LOL

Scatterbrained · Apr 4, 2014

Sony A7r.

Derrel · Apr 4, 2014

It's difficult to advise a guy or gal on a second camera body without a LOT of background info and details. A LOT of info. I mean, can you "afford" a second 5D Mark III? Can you afford NOT TO have a second identical camera? Cash flow issues, length of commitment to the camera body, workflow, FF vs DX, personal lens sets, your personal circumstances, bought new or used? Expected time of depreciation vs just "eating it" for hobby photographers, and on and on.

When you buy new you own a "new body" bought at full price, with warranty. WHen you buy used, you own a used camera, usually no warranty from private sellers, but somebody else has taken the major depreciation hit. Refurbished units split the difference, but many Canon dealers offer 1-year body warranties and moderately reduced price compared against new. Soooooo.

Waiting on an UN-announced camera of the future does not do you or me or anybody any good, but it keeps money in the bank or in our pockets as we hold off on buying ANYthing...sooooo...

You can make a decision either way. My personal feeling is that working pros benefit the most from two identical cameras; many people like a FF and an APS-C combo, which changes the way lenses work.

sm4him · Apr 4, 2014

Really all depends on what you're doing and what YOU want and can afford.

If you're doing any "professional" shooting (portraits, weddings, real estate, etc), my personal opinion is you really NEED a second body, and I would think it would be ideal for it to be the same as your main body. Not necessary, but ideal.
So, yeah, if you've got the budget to do that and WANT to spend the money on a second 5DM3, go for it.

But if buying a second Mark 3 isn't all that financially feasible, but you still really feel the need for the back-up body:
I'd get the 1D.
Then, if the rumors prove true, and a new camera comes out that fits your needs, wellsell the 1D and buy it. Let's say you buy the 1D and it's only 3 months until a new camera comes out that you want. Then let's say you end selling the 1D for $150 less than what you paid for it. In essence, you just "rented" a camera for $50 a month. And of course, it's possible that you decide the 1D is all you need in a backup anyway.

EDIT: Derrel's answer is far better, more accurate and certainly more knowledgeable than mine. Listen to him.

Gavjenks · Apr 4, 2014

I think you should stop taking any photos for the next few years, because then you will be able to buy this other camera and will never want anything every again that you don't have.

Serious answer: Why do you want a second body? It all depends on that.

For high pressure gigs like weddings to have a backup and faster lens switching? If so, get your second 5DIII for sure. Having the two bodies be the same means you don't have to mentally switch what buttons do what, and would be the superior choiceeven if that other camera was already on the market.

Just so that you can have a spare camera for casual usage / to keep at your girlfriend/boyfriend's place / to do random stuff like week long time lapses without getting in the way of other shoots? If so, then I'd just say save your money and get some cheapish crop frame for those types of purposes.

Or do you not really NEED one at all, and are just thinking about upgrading, in a leapfrog fashion? If so, if you're not really going to use both at once often, then sure wait.

krbimaging · Apr 4, 2014

Gavjenks, Sometimes I really wonder about your responces to questions LOL....

My reasons for wanting a second body are simple to have it for fast lens changes and back up. Can I wait till Fall.... at this point I am not sure. I am getting some good opertuinites to expand my craft if my 5DM3 dies I would be left with nothing while it gets fixed. Honestly if that where to happen I would be buying my second body at that moment. But I am torn between getting a 1D, 1D-C or the next better than 5DM3 in the fall. Do I need a 1D or 1D-C... Probably not, do I want another 5D3... Yes , but not if a better platform with more MP is comming. Having two identical cameras really isn't necessary for me as I want to gain capability or image size. The only reason I didn't get the 1D is the MP count and just didn't need that speed. If it the MP was the same as the 5D I would have bought it instead.

table1349 · Apr 4, 2014

Used Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only) 2764B003

For a second body at a decent price for a body that you are already familiar with. In a few months if a new 5D comes out you can still sell it and get a good price for it.

If you really want to go crazy get a 1Dx. Love mine.

nzmacro · Apr 4, 2014

I'm in the same boat. I need another body so I can run two lenses without thinking about it. I will use the same system camera, maybe a different model, but its important that everything is roughly in the same place. Not sure what you should do. I would be happier with exactly the same camera so that I don't need to learn where everything is and especially if they are in different paces on the body. I don't like the idea of worrying about what body I'm using compared to the other.

All the best and not easy huh

Danny.

Scatterbrained · Apr 4, 2014

I wouldn't count on Canon coming out with anything. Only they know what's coming and when. There are legion 7d owners who've been waiting for the mythical 7DII for quite a while.

If you need a second body for work related purposes I'd get another 5DIII or a 6D.

bratkinson · Apr 5, 2014

I'm sure I'll not win any new fans for this...but WHAT do you -expect- the extra MPs are going to do for you other than lighten your wallet even more? Unfortunately, I suspect you are a victim of MP 'hype' that more is better. Better than what? Yes, I'd rather have 10 million dollars than only 1 million (or even 10 thousand, in my case), but in terms of megapixels, I don't think going much beyond the 22mp of the 5D3 is going to gain much for you.

OK...I'll be the first to admit that every digital camera that I upgraded to was largely driven by a quest for more pixels. Coming from film, I started with a 3mp Canon G3, which, once I found I was sometimes doing some heavy handed cropping in post, came up woefully short on pixels. So, my next stop was a G5 with 5mp, then a 30D with 8MP, to a 60D with 18MP, and finally to a 5D3 for the move to full frame, and 22MP. But more MP and FF was not my primary reason for the 5D3. It was its incredible high ISO/low noise and drop dead autofocusing that caused me to make the move. Oh, and I still do some heavy duty cropping every now and then, even converting pictures from landscape to portrait if I feel the sides of the picture were too cluttered. Having 22MP to start with and ending up with perhaps 8-10MP still gives good IQ.

Considering all that, I'd likely go for a 2nd 5D3. Why? In my estimation, having identical bodies/buttons/firmware outweighs whatever gains a 1Dx might offer. Although the 1Dx has better <whatever> than the 5D3, is it worth the extra $$$ for what you would be using it for? For what it's worth, in my film days, I had a pair of Canon EF bodies. Why not F1's? The F1 didn't offer me anything I wanted that the EF didn't already have, and a motor drive would only make Kodak happy, not me. Motor drives were not an option for the EF. Why don't I have a pair of 5D3s today? I don't have a 'shoot at all costs' situation as I am strictly an unpaid amateur that shoots mostly church events. And, for what it's worth, I've added a canon G15 to my arsenal as an 'bang around' camera to use instead of carrying the 'big stuff', and it also serves as an emergency backup now that I have it.

Derrel · Apr 5, 2014

How would a brand new 6D stack up? Would that be close enough? I kind of think if I had my choice between a 5D Mark II and a new 6D, I would pick the 6D.

Canon has realllllly made it tough on its users; they've left the 7D and all the other bodies quite stagnated, and are fiercely protecting their 5D-III, 1Dx, and 1D-C territory...they have created a very unusual Canon landscape for the serious users who really sink the dinero into higher-priced cameras...it makes it really tough on a certain class of shooter.

Nikon's done the same thing in a way too, killing off their D700 and moving right to a $3000 D800, then an economy-type D610 (the Canon EOS 6D's direct competitor), then going right to the D4 and D4s...and Nikon has the same stagnant D300s to sit there on the shelf against the stagnant Canon 7D...

kathyt · Apr 5, 2014

Why more MP's?? Just get a second Mark 3 and call it a day. A bajillion megapixels is overrated! What does one need with so many?

Gavjenks · Apr 5, 2014

My reasons for wanting a second body are simple to have it for fast lens changes and back up.

Get a second 5DMkIII then. Again, if you are rapidly switching back and forth, it's better anyway to have the same set of buttons in the same places. Two different layouts and you're liable to make mistakes from one second to the next due to not adjusting your brain to match the new body you're holding. Even if they had a new model out RIGHT NOW, I would still tell you to get a second 5d MkIII for this reason, if you're using it for fast lens changing. (Also all the same accessories are guaranteed to work equally well for both as a bonus)

The other part of the post was a joke... apparently not obvious enough, oh well.

Overread · Apr 5, 2014

It sounds like if you want a body for fast switching on the go shooting, then a second 5DMIII would suit you best. Sure you can "wait" for another mythical body, but honestly I'd be shocked if it makes a night and day improvement over your photography. If you stick with the same body you've got the same controls - same button lay out - same interface - same weight and size to work with. you can swap between them as you want without having to remind yourself of the changes between bodies. That makes for a faster, easier workflow for yourself when out shooting a high pressure event.

Scatterbrained said:
There are legion 7d owners who've been waiting for the mythical 7DII for quite a while. .

The sad part is that most body to body model upgrades are not always that big a jump. Most 40D owners didn't feel all that excited about the 50D and rebels are even worse. There's every chance the 7D owners won't want the 7DMII. Chances are they might after months and a big price drop - but they'll all really want the 7DMIII