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Considering Second Camera Body
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Nov 14, 2018 08:42:54   #
robertcbyrd Loc: 28754
 
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite a lot of photos (around 1,500 to 2,000 per month). I am the de facto photographer for several music events in my area. (Note: I am frugal in not taking a lot of shots of the same thing.)

My current dilemma is this.

I am completely reliant on my Canon 80D, for which I have several nice lenses and I have been jonesing for a second 80D body and I found a great deal for a used one. The struggle is whether to pull the trigger on my retirement budget. (I can come up with the cash.)

It would mostly be a backup but would also occasionally be used for quick lens changes at various venues.

So, while I can come up with the cash, I am unsure whether I should.

I am sure that some of you here have found yourselves in a similar situation and my question to you is; how important is it to have a backup camera body in a situation such as I have described?

And, yes, I know, ultimately I have to make this decision. I am purely looking for advice from the experienced peeps here.

All the best and I love UHH.

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Nov 14, 2018 08:51:50   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
robertcbyrd wrote:
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite a lot of photos (around 1,500 to 2,000 per month). I am the de facto photographer for several music events in my area. (Note: I am frugal in not taking a lot of shots of the same thing.)

My current dilemma is this.

I am completely reliant on my Canon 80D, for which I have several nice lenses and I have been jonesing for a second 80D body and I found a great deal for a used one. The struggle is whether to pull the trigger on my retirement budget. (I can come up with the cash.)

It would mostly be a backup but would also occasionally be used for quick lens changes at various venues.

So, while I can come up with the cash, I am unsure whether I should.

I am sure that some of you here have found yourselves in a similar situation and my question to you is; how important is it to have a backup camera body in a situation such as I have described?

And, yes, I know, ultimately I have to make this decision. I am purely looking for advice from the experienced peeps here.

All the best and I love UHH.
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite ... (show quote)


Get it.

Reply
Nov 14, 2018 09:11:02   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Shooting music events would certainly be a valid reason IMO, and would lessen feeling stressed about the "what if's." I bet you've already made up your mind, though - especially with the "great deal" you've found

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Nov 14, 2018 09:11:07   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
robertcbyrd wrote:
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite a lot of photos (around 1,500 to 2,000 per month). I am the de facto photographer for several music events in my area. (Note: I am frugal in not taking a lot of shots of the same thing.)

My current dilemma is this.

I am completely reliant on my Canon 80D, for which I have several nice lenses and I have been jonesing for a second 80D body and I found a great deal for a used one. The struggle is whether to pull the trigger on my retirement budget. (I can come up with the cash.)

It would mostly be a backup but would also occasionally be used for quick lens changes at various venues.

So, while I can come up with the cash, I am unsure whether I should.

I am sure that some of you here have found yourselves in a similar situation and my question to you is; how important is it to have a backup camera body in a situation such as I have described?

And, yes, I know, ultimately I have to make this decision. I am purely looking for advice from the experienced peeps here.

All the best and I love UHH.
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite ... (show quote)


I am not familiar with Canon, but for me I have a full frame Nikon D750 with a DX Nikon D500. I would not call either a "back up" camera, as they both have their own strengths. If your Canon 80D is a full frame camera, I would suggest a DX as a backup. Any FX lens will work great on a DX camera and the DX format will give you added reach when you need it. If your Canon 80D is a DX camera it will make your decision a little more difficult, as you lose quite a bit trying to use DX lenses on a full frame camera and would have the added expense of adding lenses to your arsenal. Good luck with whatever you choose.

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Nov 14, 2018 09:16:26   #
Eddy Vortex
 
I have been shooting plays for the last 4 years. I started with a Nikon D3300 & the kit lenses (very good glass) but I found that I really missed the rotating screen of my older Oly 620 so I got a Nikon D5300. Sold my complete Olympus 4/3 kit but I kept the D3300 as a backup. I've never had to call on it but I KNOW that as soon as I sell it...I'll need it. I also found it better in the dark theater to have 2 bodies in use instead of (seemingly)
changing lenses every 5 minutes in the dark. And ya look way more professional (cheap way to get respect).

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Nov 14, 2018 09:17:08   #
Zooman 1
 
Get it, since you seem to be shooting one of a kind music events, a back up should be a must! Having a second body which uses the same lenses and batteries is a plus!

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Nov 14, 2018 09:20:41   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Re Orrie's suggestion about two different camera models: consider how easily you are able to adjust both your brain and muscle memory from one to the other in the dark - that may not be an issue for you, but surely would be for me.

I ended up with two different mirrorless cameras (long story) and am always confused - even in daylight

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Nov 14, 2018 09:22:24   #
jcboy3
 
robertcbyrd wrote:
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite a lot of photos (around 1,500 to 2,000 per month). I am the de facto photographer for several music events in my area. (Note: I am frugal in not taking a lot of shots of the same thing.)

My current dilemma is this.

I am completely reliant on my Canon 80D, for which I have several nice lenses and I have been jonesing for a second 80D body and I found a great deal for a used one. The struggle is whether to pull the trigger on my retirement budget. (I can come up with the cash.)

It would mostly be a backup but would also occasionally be used for quick lens changes at various venues.

So, while I can come up with the cash, I am unsure whether I should.

I am sure that some of you here have found yourselves in a similar situation and my question to you is; how important is it to have a backup camera body in a situation such as I have described?

And, yes, I know, ultimately I have to make this decision. I am purely looking for advice from the experienced peeps here.

All the best and I love UHH.
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite ... (show quote)


I don't recommend getting a backup camera, but having a second camera with a different lens means you don't need to do as many lens changes. I shoot a lot of concerts and theater, and use two cameras so I don't need to switch lenses.

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Nov 14, 2018 09:25:23   #
Jbat Loc: Charleston, SC
 
I assume that since you are an amateur you do not get paid for shooting these events. That being the case, I would consider what is the worse thing that would happen if you ran into a problem one day and your camera died during a shoot? If the answer is that there may be a little disappointment that you did not complete the shoot but that's about it, then I dont know that I would worry about a back-up camera. I just dont see many cameras all of a sudden giving you trouble anyway. But if the answer is that an inability to complete a shoot is going to bring serious grief to you or some organization which depends on you, then I would go for the back-up.

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Nov 14, 2018 09:28:30   #
ruwohe
 
robertcbyrd wrote:
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite a lot of photos (around 1,500 to 2,000 per month). I am the de facto photographer for several music events in my area. (Note: I am frugal in not taking a lot of shots of the same thing.)

My current dilemma is this.

I am completely reliant on my Canon 80D, for which I have several nice lenses and I have been jonesing for a second 80D body and I found a great deal for a used one. The struggle is whether to pull the trigger on my retirement budget. (I can come up with the cash.)

It would mostly be a backup but would also occasionally be used for quick lens changes at various venues.

So, while I can come up with the cash, I am unsure whether I should.

I am sure that some of you here have found yourselves in a similar situation and my question to you is; how important is it to have a backup camera body in a situation such as I have described?

And, yes, I know, ultimately I have to make this decision. I am purely looking for advice from the experienced peeps here.

All the best and I love UHH.
I am a rank amateur photographer and I take quite ... (show quote)


I have a second D5500 with me at all times which I very seldom use, but it is great reassurance. Do it!

Reply
Nov 14, 2018 09:29:47   #
RolandDieter
 
In my opinion and experience, for what you want to shoot you should have two cameras. Neither would be a backup: the different lenses on the two will make each camera the primary depending on the shot. I always use two cameras, and my type of shooting would (very inconveniently) allow more lens changing than yours.

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Nov 14, 2018 09:30:23   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
orrie smith wrote:
I am not familiar with Canon, but for me I have a full frame Nikon D750 with a DX Nikon D500. I would not call either a "back up" camera, as they both have their own strengths. If your Canon 80D is a full frame camera, I would suggest a DX as a backup. Any FX lens will work great on a DX camera and the DX format will give you added reach when you need it. If your Canon 80D is a DX camera it will make your decision a little more difficult, as you lose quite a bit trying to use DX lenses on a full frame camera and would have the added expense of adding lenses to your arsenal. Good luck with whatever you choose.
I am not familiar with Canon, but for me I have a ... (show quote)


This is Canon.No DX or FX.
80D is APSC.

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Nov 14, 2018 09:39:29   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
In the past, when I've bought a new camera, I've often kept the old one as a second. If you want to buy one to use as a second, get one with similar controls. That will make switching back and forth much easier. Also, consider buying used or refurbished. You'll find it convenient to have a tele on one and a w/a on the other.

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Nov 14, 2018 10:48:49   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
jerryc41 wrote:
In the past, when I've bought a new camera, I've often kept the old one as a second. If you want to buy one to use as a second, get one with similar controls. That will make switching back and forth much easier. Also, consider buying used or refurbished. You'll find it convenient to have a tele on one and a w/a on the other.



Reply
Nov 14, 2018 11:25:56   #
IDguy Loc: Idaho
 
jerryc41 wrote:
In the past, when I've bought a new camera, I've often kept the old one as a second. If you want to buy one to use as a second, get one with similar controls. That will make switching back and forth much easier. Also, consider buying used or refurbished. You'll find it convenient to have a tele on one and a w/a on the other.


Good advice but I’d revise it slightly. Rather than similar controls I’d say similar programming.

I got into Nikons as my first DSLRs. I upgraded from a D5100 to a D7000 and hated it because of the unlighted button/ unreadable green screen approach of the D7xxxs (till D7500). So the D7000 became a D5300, which has the same programming approach as the D5100: you use the Info screen. An elegant approach that works well in the dark.

Then I got a D800, which operates like the D7xxxs. But since I kept the D5300 and menus are the same it was OK and I learned to put up with the clunky unlighted (randomly placed) buttons and unreadable green screen. It helps that on it you can overcome the unreadable green screen by adjusting the on control to turn on the LCD and use it for control.

Wanting something lighter I next bought a Sony NEX7. It is a mirrorless APS-C camera: predecessor to the 6xxxs. It took great images and had features better than Nikon. But going back and forth from its programming to Nikon drove me nuts. So it went down the road, to be replaced by a Lumix GM5. Interestingly, although its programming differs from Nikon, somehow it is easier to go back and forth with Nikon.

So now I have the D800 (full frame), D5600 ( APS C), and GM5 (M4/3). They are not backups. Instead they serve different purposes. D800 when I am after highest quality images. D5600 for when I do wildlife or want lighter weight for situations involving non-auto travel. GM5 for small size and light weight where usability outweighs other things; e.g. trips involving air travel and not primarily for photography.

Z6 coming and might replace D800.

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