How important is a good body?

[bildo]

I've decided to start putting some money aside to save for my next few bits of equipment.

Now, I want a 70-200mm f2.8 lens, I spend most of my time shooting motorsport and that's what I enjoy the most, the 70-200 seems to be the best out there for it.

I see all over the forums people saying the body isn't important, the glass is what makes it.

Would it be more sensible for me to get the 70-200mm f2.8 and then save for a better body than my D5100, or upgrade from the D5100 before I get the 70-200mm?

 

[realspeed]

You will know when to get a better camera when you feel your existing one can't do everything you want to do. Usually this means it lacks certain features that would help in your photographic skills.Maybe something like you want a faster frames per second camera or one that does 1/8000sec for example.

Bit of a loose answer I know but that is how I knew I had out grown past cameras I owned

Realspeed

 

[ukaskew]

Even for motorsport I would put the lens well above the body. I've gone from D50 to D90 to 5D to a77, very little difference between the end results for me personally despite the general opinion that the 5D is poor for action stuff etc etc. Sure AF speed and FPS differ, but AFS speed between bodies hasn't changed that much in my opinion, and in 10 years I've never felt the need to explore the limits of my cameras fps.

You don't say what glass you currently use, but the 70-200 will in theory help you improve your images more than any body could.

 

[Gr8Shot]

I used to have a good body.
Now im just fat

 

[Nawty]

The D5100 is a perfectly capable camera with a good sensor in it so definitely glass first.

As said above, you'll know when you need a new body.

 

[bildo]

You will know when to get a better camera when you feel your existing one can't do everything you want to do. Usually this means it lacks certain features that would help in your photographic skills.Maybe something like you want a faster frames per second camera or one that does 1/8000sec for example.

Bit of a loose answer I know but that is how I knew I had out grown past cameras I owned

Realspeed

Useful answer, thanks. My main gripe with my D5100 is the small viewfinder and the lack of focus points. Other than that I do quite like it, it's basic yet it has the features (once you use the screen to find them.) I would like to have the buttons on the outside so I don't have to use the screen every time in all fairness.

Even for motorsport I would put the lens well above the body. I've gone from D50 to D90 to 5D to a77, very little difference between the end results for me personally despite the general opinion that the 5D is poor for action stuff etc etc. Sure AF speed and FPS differ, but AFS speed between bodies hasn't changed that much in my opinion, and in 10 years I've never felt the need to explore the limits of my cameras fps.

You don't say what glass you currently use, but the 70-200 will in theory help you improve your images more than any body could.

Another useful response, thanks buddy.

I'm currently using a Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.

I used to have a good body.
Now im just fat

There's always one isn't there!

The D5100 is a perfectly capable camera with a good sensor in it so definitely glass first.

As said above, you'll know when you need a new body.

Very useful input, thank you.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Hi, "GLASS FIRST", Body Second. ,!!!

 

[pingu666]

i went a55 to a77, partly for more buttons and knobs, does make picture taking more enjoyable if you use manual alot