2nd body options (for telephoto use)

[Matt.]

I am a landscape photographer and use a canon 5dmk2. This year I'm looking at going back to the U.S. for 3-4 weeks. I'll probably be going to Alaska, or a number of national parks in the north west.

I find it far easier to do these trips with two cameras. My 5d with wide lens, and another camera with something long (eg. 100-400). I treat my kit like tools, so it needs to be up to that task.

I'm looking at used bodies with a budget from £300-£400.

There are two obvious options here, one that's more suited to me than the other (I think). But I'd be interested to here what opinions others have on what I should try to get.


Thanks

 

[dinners]

Not sure what a used 1D3 is these days but it'll certainly be up to the task.

Is it purely landscapes you'll be doing ?

I tend to have my wider lenses on a full frame body for landscapes and the 100-400 as a longer walkabout combo on a 1d4 and a 1D3 before that. It has a little more reach being 1.3 crop, fine for landscapes (esp in harsh conditions with the right lens) but that AF and frame rate is always there should the opportunity arise for wildlife.

 

[Matt.]

The 2nd body will be mostly for wildlife that I happen to spot.

 

[dinners]

The 2nd body will be mostly for wildlife that I happen to spot.

AF comes very much into then so I'd definitely see what you can get a 1D3 for.

7D is the other obvious contender If you think you're going to be cropping your images heavily as it has the resolution but once you get to about ISO 1600 the 1D3 leaves it behind imho.

Even if you're out with just that body the extra bit of width over a 1.6 crop gives you reasonable width with your wider EF lenses for landscapes plus you can hammer in your tent pegs with it should you loose your mallet

 

[Nod]

Not a Canon user so not familiar with their range but for use with telephoto lenses, I would go for a crop sensor for the extra apparent reach. The best compromise between pixel count and high ISO capability.