Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The vast majority of the Pro racing shooters that I know shoot full frame cameras. Just saying... I thought about a 5D4 and 7D2 instead of my 1Dx2 as the cost was pretty much the same at the time nice I added battery grips and extra batteries. If I was to add a newer second body I would think about a 5D4 or 7D3, maybe even a R mirrorless. But I’m in no hurry...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

That's because the majority of FF cameras (especially the Pro ones like the 1Dx2 and D5) - are able to knock down upwards of 12fps - some are as high as 16!!! … But, newer technologies - such as those incorporated into the EM1X - enable that body to fire off 80fps!!! … And, my Sony a77 II does 12fps - and it cost a third of a 5D4 - never mind the 1Dx2!!!! ….

Listen - the 1Dx2 was what - around $5-6G? … Add a $350 Battery Grip to a 5D4 - you're still under $4G!!!!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I didn’t say they are all shooting 1D or 5D bodies, but they pretty much prefer full frame. Lots of FPS is nice to have but not something you use all the time. Sometimes you just take a shorter burst maybe 5-6 shots. But you can get those in less than a half second. Focus tracking, buffer size, and clearing are other factors. If you just shoot massive number of frames you can end up with a lot of throw aways. Jeff Cable who shoots the olympics said one olympics he shot about 80k images but culled his keepers down to
about 47k. Anticipating action is still important and helpful. I find if I do one thing wrong in shooting Drag Racing it is stopping shooting a sequence too soon. Right after I release my shutter finger is when the best shot occurs...

Haydon

People don't understand the 1D series unless they've used them Todd. As much as I love the 5D series and I own both a 5D and 1D series body, comparing a 5DIV to a 1DxII is like comparing a Ferrari to a Mercedes. You can get both around the track but the "1" is the only real winner. They both serve different purposes and do well.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Yes sir, and every camera is a compromise... most people never get to experience a pro body unfortunately. I would rather have that one great body than a dozen average ones... But that’s just how I roll... Happy shooting...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Todd - "a dozen average ones" ? … you've written that before. Is that a knock against me?

You know - I didn't go out and buy "a dozen average ones" all at once. My first DSLR was the Rebel T3 - which I still use, from time to time. It was available at a price I could afford, at a time when I had chosen to go up one level from a Digital Bridge (my first was the Fuji Finepix HS-10.) My second DSLR was the D3200 - which allowed me double the Res I got from the T3 - another entry-level camera, which was affordable. [I've never bought on credit - I don't believe in that. Every one of my cameras - I've paid cash for.] The next up was the 60D - which was NOT an entry-level camera - but a semi-pro body. I followed that, the very next month - with the Rebel T4i - the first DSLR with a Touch-Screen. That camera still serves me well, today. The next one I bought was the Nikon D5300 - which had a GPS. A little while later, I picked up the D7000 - as a refurb - as it was all I could afford at the time, and I wanted to be able to use D lenses (three of which I'd already purchased, at the time) - after I was horrified to learn none of them would AF on either my D3200 or my D5300. Then, the announcement of the D5500 was made - which abandoned the GPS of the D5300 - in favor of a Touch-Screen. So, I put myself on the waiting list for one of them. Meanwhile, I discovered some of my shots were not as sharp as the ones I used to take with the T3 - and I realized I had developed the shakes, as I aged. So, I looked into IBIS-based cameras - first, getting the Pentax K-50, and then - the Sony SLTs. The first one I could manage (now 2014) was the a58. When I discovered it shot reds as orange - I sent it to the Sony Repair Facility in Texas, and then picked up an a77 - yet another semi-pro camera. The a58 came back - supposedly - with a good bill of health, so I checked it out, and found it still shot reds as orange, and returned it to them again - this time, with the 18-55 lens which came with it. (The first time, I'd kept the lens, so I'd have glass to use on my a77.) But, by the time I'd gotten it back, I'd bought the 16-105 for the a77. That's the combination I used for the longest time (it's now on the a77 II). I decided to buy the a77 II when it was released, later that year, but was disappointed to learn they'd abandoned the GPS in the newer model. So, I still tended to use the a77 - until I got my Sigma 105 Macro for it - which became THE lens for the a77 II. This camera - btw - was the most money I'd ever paid for a camera (just under $1300.) For me - that was the very most I could afford to pay, at one gallop. It still is. But, I doubt I'll ever do it, again. At some point in all this, I'd decided to order a used Pentax K-3, but had to send it back after my month trial, as it smelled terribly - a damp electric smell, which I found most disturbing. The vendor issued me a credit - which I'd planned to use towards a NEW K-3, but, when the six months was up - I looked into the price of the K-3 and at that time - it would've cost me more than the a77 II - so, I went with a D7100, instead. This is how I wound up with 3 Canons, 3 Sony SLTs, 5 Nikons, and a Pentax. Okay? … So, now, I've stopped. Doubt, really, whether I will buy another camera, anytime soon - if ever. Why? I have five semi-pro cameras - the 60D, the D7000, the D7100, the a77, and the a77 II. I have four intermediate cameras - the D5500, the D5300, the Rebel T4i, and the K-50. The other three are entry-level cameras - the T3, the D3200, and the a58. They are ALL magnificent - in their very own ways. I don't consider ANY of them - "average" - they may be to others, but they are certainly NOT - to me. And, I wouldn't trade ANY ONE of them - for a behemoth like the 1Dx2 - no matter how much better it is … so, there ya go!!!!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Chris, I think you are looking to be offended. I made a general statement that I don’t understand that philosophy about camera gear. It applies to many things. If you are happy with your gear collection so be it. It’s simply not the path I would choose. You don’t need to justify how you select gear or spend your money to me or anyone else.

I have had people ask me how I have such nice woodworking tools, camera gear and train collection. It’s simple, I choose how to spend my money. In part I can do it because I don’t spend money on new cars. I am satisfied to drive a 2003 Suburban with over 240,000 miles on it. I have always purchased cars I like and I drive them into the dirt. Others may want a new car every couple years. That’s fine and their choice. I choose otherwise. You know the funny thing is if you spend $6,000 for a camera body or $30,000 for a Woodworking machine many people might call you crazy. But spend $50,000 on a new car and most people don’t bat an eye. And that camera or woodworking machine will probably hold its value better too.

So don’t worry about what others think or do, you can only try to satisfy yourself.

Bill_de Loc: US

A neighbor once made a comment on the cost of the camera and lens I was using. I looked across the street at his $200,000 motor home and asked how many weeks a year do you use that. We both laughed and he said, point well taken.

I doubt Chris was offended. You gave him an opening to once again list all his cameras and how he acquired them. He is proud of them, so all should be good.

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Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

A trip to a large regional or national drag race makes on realize that there is a lot of money out there. One weekend race for many people who race would cover all the camera gear costs of my ultimate kit...

Bill P

$200,000 for a camper? how many nights in nice hotels would that buy? Without the need for cooking. cleaning, etc. Probably more nights than spent on the road.

About a year ago, a guy that I barely knew turned up with a $150,000.00 pickup truck. A grand and a half for a damn pickup!! I was astounded. And that was on a substantial drug habit. His job was paintless dent removal,, a business that I find shady, so I shouldn't have been too surprised late last year when he went to jail. He drove it like he stole it, 'cause he did.

Bill_de Loc: US

You can get them on sale.

https://www.rvdirect.com/stockmodels.php?stocknum=DM5650

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Bill P

[quote=Bill_de]You can get them on sale.

Same holds true for hotel rooms.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

RVs are largely about convenience and privacy. I know people that have million dollar RVs and $250,000 racing trailers. If you ever tried to race and stay at a hotel you would understand. If you have not you probably will not. In 2016 I took a photo of 4 ProMod race cars sitting in the staging line. When I was reviewing my photos from that day it dawned on me that there was roughly $1.2 million in race cars sitting there. For some people making money is not hard. But most of these people I know work very hard, have their own business and love what they do for fun.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

It's NOT just YOU, Todd - but, there seems to be a general grumbling about my decision to purchase a dozen DSLRs - as though I went out, in ONE DAY, and picked up a dozen cameras - all at once. They were bought over a 5-year period of time - between 2010 and 2015. Until I got the a77 II - none of them cost me more than a few hundred. Once I'd bought that one, though - it didn't bother me too much to spend almost the same amount on the D7100 - the last one (and that was, in part - using my credit from the returned K-3.) It's also been written, by others - that they're all Entry-Level cameras - and here, I'm pointing out - that only three of them are - the T3 was my entry into the Canon system, the D3200 was my entry into the Nikon system, and the a58 was my entry into the Sony SLT system. It's pointless to spend a whole lotta money on a Pro Camera (or Semi-Pro) if you don't even know if you will like the button lay-out, the VF, the menu system, etc. So, it's important (to me, at least) to start small, until you get the lay of the land, so-to-speak. But once you become acclimatized - then, and only then - does it make sense to go up to the next level - which is exactly what I did in all three cases. The K-50 - which is NOT an entry-level camera (although, it could be viewed that way, now, as all the other Pentax beginner cameras - are now ancient history) - it was seen as an intermediate, in its day - but, its successor - the K-70 - is definitely a beginner camera, now the K-S series has gone, but, it's somewhat smaller than the K-50. I'd planned on going up to the next level, with the K-3 purchase, but that one got screwed up, and once I'd replaced it, essentially, with the D7100 - I decided a dozen was enough. I can't see me going to a Baker's Dozen currently. 13 is unlucky, anyway. So, if I do get another, I will probably snap up another one, immediately thereafter - just so I don't get stuck on 13. But, that's not going to happen for quite a while, yet. To tell you the God's Honest - I haven't seen anything, lately - I feel I can't live, without ….

BTW … $50K for a CAR???? … I would NEVER EVER spend more for a car, than I did, for my house!!!!

$150, 000 - for a PICKUP TRUCK??? … That's INSANE!!!

Bill P

$150, 000 - for a PICKUP TRUCK??? … That's INSANE!!![/quote]

Not if you're high as a kite most all the time. But in jail, I suspect he gets points from other prisoners for what he stole.