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Another lens or a 2nd camera body?
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May 17, 2020 17:39:03   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
Here's what I'm using: Nikon D7100 with a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VRII and a Sigma 17-50mm f2.8. Yes, I know that the Nikon is a "FX" lens and the Sigma is a "DX" lens.

I am a photographer for my local county fire department. For helicopters and aerial tankers, nothing beats the 70-300. It gets the job done. For most everything else, the Sigma is great when I need to "go wide". Now, here's my question:

I'm tired of missing shots because of having to change lenses. I also don't want to have to change lenses when there is a lot of dust and burning things flying around in the air around me. Do I just add a second camera body and put a lens on each or do I keep both lenses in the bag and put on something like a Tamron 18-400? For this type of photography, I've never found that I need the extra 100mm that the Tamron would give, which makes my question a simple one of (1) second body or (2) super-zoom?

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May 17, 2020 17:44:30   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
I would go with a second body. Great back up for the kind of photography you do with the fire department. That is my 2 cents

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May 17, 2020 17:59:42   #
Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak
 
The Nikon 18-300 DX lens is a good one. It’ll cover all your needed focal lengths. The Tamron 18-400 is also a great choice. A second camera body means you will have to lug around twice the equipment. A different lens leaves you with just one and you don’t have to choose. Just zoom. JMHO.

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May 17, 2020 18:02:41   #
RightOnPhotography Loc: Quebec,QC
 
Second body, no doubts. Backup body is a must for a working photographer.

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May 17, 2020 18:10:11   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
I've shot two bodies since film days. One body will always work, and under nasty conditions you don't have to open the camera to the elements. Carry two and use both interchangeably. You will nearly always get the shot. I have a shoulder bag, ThinkTank, that holds two bodies with lenses mounted - opens away from the body. That speeds things up.

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May 17, 2020 18:15:01   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
PixelStan77 wrote:
I would go with a second body. Great back up for the kind of photography you do with the fire department. That is my 2 cents


That's my gut feeling. A lot of these guys go out with two or even three bodies. You do NOT want to be changing lenses in that kind of environment. That, and I've got two really sharp lenses and to replace them with one that covers the entire range would be comprising that sharpness. Having said that, I do know one former newspaper photographer who gets AMAZING shots with his 18-400, and he's shooting with an ancient D80!

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May 17, 2020 18:15:58   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
Wingpilot wrote:
The Nikon 18-300 DX lens is a good one. It’ll cover all your needed focal lengths. The Tamron 18-400 is also a great choice. A second camera body means you will have to lug around twice the equipment. A different lens leaves you with just one and you don’t have to choose. Just zoom. JMHO.


That's also true. A dilemma!

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May 17, 2020 18:23:24   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
I may be wrong, but I've bought several that mostly sit around, I have yet to find a single deep range zoom that does an adequate job of replacing two lenses. The best I have is the AF Nikkor 24-120 F4. 28-300 and 80 - 400 (old model) Just aren't sharp enough through their range.

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May 17, 2020 18:38:05   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
quixdraw wrote:
I may be wrong, but I've bought several that mostly sit around, I have yet to find a single deep range zoom that does an adequate job of replacing two lenses. The best I have is the AF Nikkor 24-120 F4. 28-300 and 80 - 400 (old model) Just aren't sharp enough through their range.


Appreciate your opinion, thanks!

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May 17, 2020 18:57:21   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
I have been shooting 2-3 bodies for several years now. I do events, and I don't want to change lenses because of the time involved. When things are fast paced, multiple bodies is the only way to go.

When I started, I had some trouble in post. Downloading image files from different cameras gave me a mixture of file names and it wasn't always easy to arrange them in chronological order. Of course in Lightroom or something similar you can sort by metadata. However I like to make it possible for others to do the sorting, so I change the file name at download. The new file name includes the subject, the date and time. I used to use an index number but that doesn't work well with multiple bodies. The date and time, written as YYYYMMDD HHmmSSss works pretty well. (SS is seconds and ss is hundredths of seconds which keeps bursts sorted).

I use Downloader Pro, which enables me to set up a template that automates downloads. I give the program a text string describing the subject. The program then takes the date and time from the EXIF data. At startup it will show me thumbnails of all the images on the card, and I can select individual images, or all from a given date, or spot images here and there. You can change file names in Lightroom but I think this program is more efficient and more flexible. I got it more than a decade ago so there are probably similar programs out there.

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May 17, 2020 20:56:37   #
Silverrails
 
kb6kgx wrote:
Here's what I'm using: Nikon D7100 with a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VRII and a Sigma 17-50mm f2.8. Yes, I know that the Nikon is a "FX" lens and the Sigma is a "DX" lens.

I am a photographer for my local county fire department. For helicopters and aerial tankers, nothing beats the 70-300. It gets the job done. For most everything else, the Sigma is great when I need to "go wide". Now, here's my question:

I'm tired of missing shots because of having to change lenses. I also don't want to have to change lenses when there is a lot of dust and burning things flying around in the air around me. Do I just add a second camera body and put a lens on each or do I keep both lenses in the bag and put on something like a Tamron 18-400? For this type of photograpver found that I need the extra 100mm that the Tamron would give, which makes my question a simple one of (1) second body or (2) super-zoom?
Here's what I'm using: Nikon D7100 with a Nikon 70... (show quote)


I think I would consider a 2nd Body, with each lens available to use almost immediately, eliminating some of the danger of dirt, smoke, etc. affecting your cameras. maybe a used FX camera if affordable

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May 17, 2020 21:31:32   #
Hip Coyote
 
two bodies for sure. As a retired cop, I usually joke with FD friends that they eat until they are sleepy and sleep until they are hungry! But all joking aside, they are in a fast paced, dangerous business. I admire them. If I were tho photograph them, Id want two bodies. You have the lenses.

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May 17, 2020 22:08:04   #
ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or
 
My first thought is a second body. But as an additional thought you might consider a Bridge camera as your backup that would cover your needs. Why a Bridge camera? They are sealed, no lenses to change. Almost as good of quality. I have used a Canon SX50, Sony RX100, and others. They have all served me well and do not add the bulk and weight of another body-lens outfit. Just something to consider.

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May 18, 2020 01:44:53   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
RWebb76 wrote:
two bodies for sure… I'd want two bodies. You have the lenses.


Right, that's like the way I'll go.

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May 18, 2020 01:47:37   #
kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA
 
Silverrails wrote:
I think I would consider a 2nd Body, with each lens available to use almost immediately, eliminating some of the danger of dirt, smoke, etc. affecting your cameras. maybe a used FX camera if affordable


That'd be nice, if I can swing it. I was thinking of just adding a D7200, which is essentially he same as what I have (D7100), but has a much better buffer if doing continuous firing. I don't really NEED more camera than that, but if I can get into full frame, that'd be awesome, since the 70-300 is a full-frame lens.

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