COSTLY SECOND BODY MISTAKE

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Liam.
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I recently changed from Canon to Nikon, i use to own 2 7D's one was used with a 24-105 and 2 primes while the other only ever had a 70-200 attached.

I moved to Nikon as i wanted a D700 and the full frame experience, i brought used and unfortunately it developed a fault and has had to be sent off for a repair at the sellers expense.

In the meantime i brought a second body and went for an as new D300s because it gave me the option of video and using a crop with a tele lens for the extra reach.
However having used it over the weekend i realise it was a mistake and i should have waited a little longer and brought a second D700 as i find nothing now compares to the pics i was getting from the D700.

I can’t wait for my D700 to come back now and wondered if others who have 2 bodies have 2 the same or 2 different types?
 
I bought two D2X bodies because I wanted exactly the same handling, button config, image quality, reliability and weatherproofing for my work shooting. Plus, they're cheap for what they are and give me more long range than a FF body can. I can get two used D2x for the price of one new, ungripped D700 so sticking with the 1.5x crop was a no-brainer - IQ is stunning from the D2X and there's nothing other than a D3 variant that will tempt me to change because of the superb handling
 
2 years ago I got a D3 and used a variety of primes and cheap lenses on it until this summer I bought a 24-70 f.28 af-s G.
Lovely setup but now that I feel the need for a second body with a tele lens I'm skint.
I'd love another D3 or even a D3x but that's never going to happen and to be realistic, neither is a D700.
I started looking at the 5d mk1, my girlfriend has one and I'v borrowed it on occasion and really liked it and Canon glass seems to be a bit cheaper than the Nikon equivalents.
Then at the weekend my girlfriend got the offer of a 1D mk2 for a very good price so picked that up for us to share.
It turned out it was actually a mk1 but even then, the price was still very good so it's all good. Anyway, she has decided 4mp isn't enough for her - I thought I was the pixel peeking one?! - so I'v been playing with it to see if it's enough for me and I think it might be. Only problem will be if the file sizes don't meet min requirements for libraries and agencies.
I think it might be good to have one body from each brand, the number of times I'v been looking at lenses and seen real bargains for the wrong brand, this way I'l have the best of both worlds.
 
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both! your used to a d3, most people would love one, even canon users so think you may find the IQ of the canon 1d a bit 'lacking', as i said, i think concentrating on one system is the best idea in the long run.
 
onefunkypenguin said:
both! your used to a d3, most people would love one, even canon users so think you may find the IQ of the canon 1d a bit 'lacking', as i said, i think concentrating on one system is the best idea in the long run.
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I dunno man, took some pictures with it today and I'm very impressed.
Never know, might end up punting the D3 for a 1DS some day...
 
onefunkypenguin said:
both! your used to a d3, most people would love one, even canon users so think you may find the IQ of the canon 1d a bit 'lacking', as i said, i think concentrating on one system is the best idea in the long run.
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Or not, as the IQ of the original 1D is actually quite well praised.

I'd love to get my hands on one, and it can permanently wear my 85mm. Even the 11MP of my 1Ds is a pain in the arse sometimes, I want less MP, not more...
 
trencheel303 said:
Or not, as the IQ of the original 1D is actually quite well praised.

I'd love to get my hands on one, and it can permanently wear my 85mm. Even the 11MP of my 1Ds is a pain in the arse sometimes, I want less MP, not more...
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How much would you be willing to pay???
Edit:Interested in a swap?

I totally expected to upload the images tonight and be like "Pffft, 4mp is $&*@"
I was very nicely surprised.
 
Second body ?
I also use a D700. I'm a heavy user so when I decided I'd like a back up it took me about a second to decide on another D700. I only have two lenses. Job done. Use one for my equine photography, 70-200. Keep the older body for personal stuff fitted with the 28-70.
So to answer your question...for me it makes sense to have identical bodies. Both set up exactly the same.
 
specialman said:
I bought two D2X bodies because I wanted exactly the same handling, button config, image quality, reliability and weatherproofing for my work shooting. Plus, they're cheap for what they are and give me more long range than a FF body can. I can get two used D2x for the price of one new, ungripped D700 so sticking with the 1.5x crop was a no-brainer - IQ is stunning from the D2X and there's nothing other than a D3 variant that will tempt me to change because of the superb handling
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Having had D3 and D3x for over a year now it was a bit of a struggle having to go back to using D2x bodies for work (even though I'm on 'resettlement' I'm still being called in for occasional jobs and having to use the office 'spare' D2x bodies); so much so that I've taken to using my own D3 bodies instead unless the weather's foul or there's a liklihood of damage...

The image-quality of the D2x is OK (but not a patch on the D3: especially the iso noise at anything higher than 200iso), but I find they're just a bit 'hmmm' after using the D3 for so long...

My choice for a second body is always the same as your first body. Saves hassle and confusion in the long run. Save the (third) budget-body for use as a spare in the even of loss or theft.
 
trevorbray said:
Second body ?
I also use a D700. I'm a heavy user so when I decided I'd like a back up it took me about a second to decide on another D700. I only have two lenses. Job done. Use one for my equine photography, 70-200. Keep the older body for personal stuff fitted with the 28-70.
So to answer your question...for me it makes sense to have identical bodies. Both set up exactly the same.
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Thanks Trevor,
I think you made the correct choice, i think i will have to save a few more £'s then sell my D300s and buy another D700, i guess once you sample the FF cake nothing else will really do.
 
I have a D300 and a D700. The 300 is excellent and you would be more than happy with it if you never had a D700. The 700 is pretty much a D3 as as IQ is concerned.

The D700 definately has the edge over a 300. It's not always apparent in a range of general photography, but often the subtleties are there and of course on low light and certain other situations the differences are more apparent. The two cameras are useable side by side, sharing batteries etc. but I find using a DX and an FX a bit awkward now especially as you may find yourself carrying DX lenses too.
 
I know exactly what you mean, I also have a D700 and a D300s and after using the D700 I just cant believe the difference, i'm not talkin high iso either. At every ISO the image is cleaner and sharper, couple that with the auto focus being much snappier and bang on everytime even at f1.8, its just amazing.

I love my D300s and it will be my back up body, but fact is, the D700 is better. Tbh I think considering the price of the D300s it should perform better in these areas, it should have cleaner files at low iso's and have the auto focus of the D700, of course it does have the advantage of the crop factor for wildlife and sports.

It's not till you try D700 that all this becomes clear!
 
I shoot portraits and sports. For portraits I want to max the detail and I use a 5DmkII, and for sports I've a 1DmkIII (and a mkII which is up for sale). If you shoot different subjects I'd have thought different tools would be suited to each. No problem with having different bodies, just make sure they are set up either completely differently or identically.

But if you use two simultaneously then I can see why similar yet different bodies might be confusing. My two are so different I know which one I am using and don't get too confused, plus I am usually only ever using one at a time.

I like having the different crop factors as it (kind-of) increases my lens choice. I find the 24-70 just too short at the long end on a full frame so can stick it on the 1D.
 
Exactly what Ian said above. I'm shooting everything at the moment, from sports, to studio.
I've a 50D, 400D and seriously thinking about a full frame camera as well.
 
In an ideal world, I would probably have another D700 as a 2nd body but in reality, I still use my first DSLR, a D70. The extra apparent each due to the crop factor is handy (and gives an extra MP or so over the D700's Dx mode) and I kept it rather than the D200 when I bought the D700 since I prefer the feel.
 
scottthehat said:
why was it a mastake, whats that much better about the d700, except iso noise.
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There have been plenty shots posted on this forum that show both the D300 and D700 produce superb results.
 
I only just got my hands on a D300s from a D2x, must say that i like the difference there however I thik the 1.5 crop factor for me just made it so that i had to get a D300 over a D700. I do alot of airshow photography and abit of nature and sports and the extra lenth is just invaluable (until i can get a 200-400 anyway)
 
My 1st body is a D300 which I mainly use for motorsport, I wanted a second but didn't have the funds for another D300. I wanted to do more portrait stuff so I looked at the D200/Fuji S5pro as the lay out is near identical to the D300. I had read so many reviews about the Fuji being the Wedding photographers choice......NO I DO NOT WANT TO DO WEDDINGS!!!!!! so when one popped up in the classifieds which was nearly new and supplied with the Nikon grip :clap: I jumped at the chance. The Fuji menu system is a little different :gag: but I have no problems switching between both bodies.
 
Arkady said:
Amongst those who can't afford a D700/D3s maybe...
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Or amongst those that prefer Fuji's handling of skintones?

I was really really considering an S3 so went to play with the uni's one, was going to borrow it for a couple days and see how I got on with it but ended up handing it back after about 10 minutes, just could not get on with how slow it was.
 
I did exactly the same thing. Had a D700 and wanted a second body. Thought that the crop and video would come in handy. Bought a brand new D300s.

Big mistake.

Video seemed too hard to use, the crop annoyed me because the range then didn't complement each other like a 24-70 and 70-200 lens on two D700s would AND the image quality was nothing like as good.

Sold it quick. Now have two D700s.
 
I wish i could have a 2nd 5DII, funds are not allowing at the moment. I do get annoyed with the focal length crop and either having a gap on focal length or having almost equal focal lengths: i.e 24-70 on 5DII and 17-40 on 50D.

I stick to primes now on the crop.
 
I myself like to have two bodies and had two 50D's got a 7D but did not like using it with the 50D at same time, so now I got TWO 7d's [one 50D for sale]
Was going to get a 5D MKII but was told I not like working with the two and as the 7D is so GOOD I agree.
 
I am running 1DsII and 50D / 40D (selling on). I expect to keep 1DsII as it is bullet proof and delivers excellent results minus the constant need to clean the sensor. 1Ds3 may be an obvious upgrade in a very distant future.

I am not so happy with having crop backup any more, and I think I have wasted time trying to upgrade to 50D. I am not a wildlife shooter, I don't have even 300mm f/4L IS nor patience sitting in the swamp. Portraits and landscapes benefit from full frame sensor. I want to add 5D mkII in an ideal case, but probably it may have to be mk1, till mk3 is out.
 
Arkady said:
Having had D3 and D3x for over a year now it was a bit of a struggle having to go back to using D2x bodies for work (even though I'm on 'resettlement' I'm still being called in for occasional jobs and having to use the office 'spare' D2x bodies); so much so that I've taken to using my own D3 bodies instead unless the weather's foul or there's a liklihood of damage...

The image-quality of the D2x is OK (but not a patch on the D3: especially the iso noise at anything higher than 200iso), but I find they're just a bit 'hmmm' after using the D3 for so long...

My choice for a second body is always the same as your first body. Saves hassle and confusion in the long run. Save the (third) budget-body for use as a spare in the even of loss or theft.
Click to expand...

Rob, I'm currently having to hold myself back from looking at the used dealers for fear of seeing a bargain D3 somewhere that I know, without doubt, will trump the D2x. I'm sure the handling will be roughly the same, what with the body remaining pretty much the same from the D2 series.

Hey, for what I want (at the moment) the IQ of the D2x is fine; money is one big issue for me why I never moved upwards. Work will never buy into the idea of upgrading me to a new pair of bodies - we've only just got rid of our last blueberry iMac FFS!!! - and finances at home being tight means new gear is a long way off. Although the missus loves me as a photographer, she'll never understand what upgrading bodies means....
 
specialman said:
Rob, I'm currently having to hold myself back from looking at the used dealers for fear of seeing a bargain D3 somewhere that I know, without doubt, will trump the D2x. I'm sure the handling will be roughly the same, what with the body remaining pretty much the same from the D2 series.

Hey, for what I want (at the moment) the IQ of the D2x is fine; money is one big issue for me why I never moved upwards. Work will never buy into the idea of upgrading me to a new pair of bodies - we've only just got rid of our last blueberry iMac FFS!!! - and finances at home being tight means new gear is a long way off. Although the missus loves me as a photographer, she'll never understand what upgrading bodies means....
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I know exactly how you feel...
I had a long hard think about this time last year when I was deciding what equipment I needed to continue in this line of work after I leave the Army (and all the lovely free kit they provide).
I've practically beggared myself outfitting the camera bag to the level I think I need, thought it has been and will continue to be a struggle for another year or so unless I get very lucky with clients...
I've taken the view that 'spare' kit can always be sold to pay for food if it all goes horribly wrong (the D3x is on notice as being the first thing to go if it does go that way).
Having to move house due to the unplanned and immenent arrival of our first-born will place additional strain on the finances, but hey-ho... at least I don't live in a house made of dried donkey-poo in Afghanistan...
 
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