I'm thinking I need a 2nd/backup body soon - doing a wedding in the fall, and things keep falling in my lap. I have a Nikon D3000 -- I'm thinking of getting a D90 and keeping the D3000 as a backup. Anyone have suggestions about a 2nd body - re: keep it the same vs. upgrading the body and keeping the old as a spare????
I don't have the same camera by any means but recently my one I depend on - the flash started doing it's own thing - and I felt really stranded. It fixed itself within a day or two (needed to clean the distance sensor - oops) but I also bought a backup in the interim.
Bugs me to have that feeling of "even if I buy on eBay I still have to wait xx days for it to get here, grrr" if it's affordable, go for it.
(and yes I know we haven't gotten along before, I hope you don't mind the honest non-assy response)
@Sheral I need to get a point and shoot so I can have something less bulky to keep with me at all times. I just don't want to get to a wedding shoot or something and have a wonky Nikon mid-way through it and not be able to finish!! I've got 8 months to save up, so upgrading is possible if I start planning now :))
Two thoughts... if they are both the same you don't need to think as much... either body will be the same... ie if the ISO buttons or EL buttons are different it could make you think a little...
But I use two totally different bodies... often my Pentax KX and a 35mm Pentax MZ-S. I also often have at least one more 35mm body with me PZ-1 or something like that... many times I also have something 'fun' like a Ricoh Twinlens or old Weekender 6x7.
It all fits nicely in my back pack... the lens all swap... often I like my 12-24 f/4 50-135/2.8 50/1.4 20/2 and a 18-250 (just in case something nutty happens and I need one lens and one body or a reach on a lens)
I am waiting for the X100 to come out and I will either have that as my second wide body/lens or if I don't like it I am picking up a K5....
so long a short... I think you need back-up bodies, lens and flashes... I over prepare, but it is all compact and light...
Oh and I bring 4 sets of batteries and two rechargers... I have never needed to recharge on site... but I could if something odd happened...
If I had the money I would definitely get a second body (upgrade) so that I wouldn't have to change lenses so often! I would never get rid of my first camera though!
@icywarm I definitely want something that can share lenses with what I have now...I will have 4 or 5 different ones by then (really struggling on getting a 50mm because it doesn't auto focus, but that's okay if you have a patient subject).
I guess if I can save up and get a spare timely enough to learn it and make it my primary, I would be ok to upgrade... thanks for the input!
@sdpace Mine is an OLD pretty much point-and-shoot. My flash quit and I bought a replacement of the same kind cause I know how to use it. (manual settings on it I can't find on later models) The photography class offered at the comm. college where I live is a total waste of time & money cause the teacher walks in and says "I was experimenting last night and want to see if we can replicate it today" so I have absolutely no clue about what to get as far as better than point-and-shoot. Long way of saying I have a fantastic point & shoot I can recommend! LMAO ($40 for a new replacement on ebay, can't go wrong there) http://365project.org/Sheral/365/2011-01-17 not bad for p&s
I am not a 'huge' fan of auto focus... in low light... like at a wedding... I trust my own eye more... just practice... if your 50mm has distance markings on it... you can pre-focus as it comes to your eye and fine tune in camera and fire of a shot...
A modern lens has about 1/4 - 1/2 a lens turn in the auto focus... the one far side is near and the other is infinity.... stand facing a wall and practice a quick turn to one far side and bring it back to your estimate distance.... fine tune and repeat... walking forward and back... I don't know it is a dying art, but I think it is key... you'll be able to track people on the dance floor at the wedding with the strobe light going that auto focus would have a tough time with...
@sdpace I'm starting to look at the same situation as you - only upgrading my D60 to something a little more... robust. Coworker has the D90, and that was my first thought. But looking at the spec's on Nikon's site, the D7000 looks to be a nicer camera, for not much more $$ (in the grand scheme of things). Something to consider -- I know that's the way I'm looking now.
@icywarm I'm in school for photography now, and I've made sure I will have a few classes that will help me before this wedding gig (It's a friend's wedding). thank you for the advice, I think I am going to get the 50mm lens first and then start saving for a spare.
Awesome thing is, the bride is giving me a polaroid and film that she wants me to shoot at the wedding. How cool is that!!?
@Sheral you have a lot of amazing photos, I can't believe what can be captured with a P&S! I got my Nikon for under $500 (at Target of all places) on sale....keep your eye out if you want to upgrade!
I use it to rent bigger lenses such as the 300mm f/2.8 and 200-400mm f/4. They are thousands of dollars each and I'm a long way from affording them, so I rent them.
This company also rents out Nikon camera bodies. If you only need a backup for a single wedding, it could be better to just rent. Check them out.
@sdpace The thing I'm thinking of getting the most is a Rebel. I follow a lot of Rebel users, and my cousin has one. I might have to pay her a visit and watch it in use to see what all it does. I also posted a lil "sorry" of sorts, since it disappeared before you got to go back and see it, the wwyd#1 entry of mine:
I have had my trusted D80 for a while now but am also thinking of getting a back up. Then I would use my older camera for more extreme weather conditions (like that drenching snowshoe trek I went on) so as to not wreck my newer one. Got my eye on the D7000 and am saving up. Maybe there will be something new by the time I do.
@Sheral :) yeah, I'm sorry too. That was a crappy first impression, wasn't it? My 365 and real life friend @atalitude has a Rebel, and the one time I played with it, it was amazing. But, she said the same thing about my Nikon. Amazing how different cameras can be.
I would, generally speaking, stick to the same brand. Not necessarily the same model. It keeps them similar enough that you don't turn things the wrong way. If you get a Canon as your second, and keep shooting your Nikon, you are going to get really confused! Everything is opposite, even the way you turn the lens to mount it or unmount it! Also, if you have the same brand, you can use your current accessories and, more importantly, lenses. If you buy a new system you have to buy the whole thing. Sure, you could set one up for closeups and one for group shots, but what do you do when one camera breaks? If they are the same brand, at least you can go back to swapping lenses.
I use one camera, presently, for weddings. I have backups - my old (but solid) 20D, two 50D's, my wife's 400D (even that would get me through a wedding if needed), but I just carry one camera (5D Mark II). I will be getting another one soon though - either another 5D Mark II, or a 1D Mark IV - and changing to a two-camera-wedding shooter. I also (always) have a second shooter, so if something goes wrong there is another whole photographer and their kit. ;) Also, we shoot the same brand, so we can swap gear when necessary (if necessary) and we often swap cameras to get different shots really quickly (rather than climb down from on top of a truck and swap places, for example). I always have backup flashes and a stupid number of spare batteries, also. And lenses. Always multiple lenses. I don't think you can afford not to, for weddings - you only get one shot at it to get it right, and your clients will not accept "My camera/lens/flash just broke!" as an excuse. They don't care. They just want their photos.
I'd love to have a back up camera like that! I think Jinx is right about not switching brands (Canon to Nikon) too confusing and cutting away your the usability of lenses
It would be easier for you to switch lenses (I.e. have one with a zoom lens and the other with a fast prime or some other configuration) instead of having to tediously sit there and refit lenses.
That would mean lugging two bodies around; but switching out could mean the difference between getting a shot and missing out.
I'm not a professional, but when I got married my photographer had 2 cameras at all times. I spoke to him about it and he was telling me he ALWAYS has one camera (his older one) with a 50mm 1.4 for all the low light stuff in the church and reception. He said it's tough going in and out of places all day and that you NEED to be ready for low light without wasting time to switch lenses constantly. I forget what he had on his other one most of the time. I think it was a 24-105 2.8. I could be mistaken, it was 2 years ago. He had good advice though. I also had a similar situation when I had family portraits taken when my son was born. That photographer also used her older camera as a second body with a 50mm 1.4 on it and her newer camera with a different lens and flash. She said she used the 50mm for natural light shots and her other one for flash shots.
Remember, time is money. The more time you have, the more pictures you can take, and the more money you can make. If you waste time, you lose precious shots.
@mattyb 50mm 1.4 is a MUST at any wedding b/c of the low lighting. I'm sure your wedding photos came out great because your photog sounds like they know their stuff.
@sdpace As a professional wedding photog, I suggest you stick to the same brand and if are thinking about getting the D90, which is a fantastic camera, the D7000 just hit the market and it's the replacement of the D90 is a sense. The reason it is great for wedding in particular, is because of the ISO capabilities it has. It goes up to 6400, which is a huge plus in shooting low light. Pair that with a 50mm 1.4 and you have a great and trusty combination.
Good luck on shooting the wedding. They are tons of fun.
@esostizzo He was phenomenal! Pricey....VERY PRICEY.....but they are now pieces of art hanging in my house. If you do weddings, take a look at the gallery. http://www.patkenphotographer.com/ He/They were based out of NY, and created amazing photos. Maybe you will get some ideas.
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Bugs me to have that feeling of "even if I buy on eBay I still have to wait xx days for it to get here, grrr" if it's affordable, go for it.
(and yes I know we haven't gotten along before, I hope you don't mind the honest non-assy response)
But I use two totally different bodies... often my Pentax KX and a 35mm Pentax MZ-S. I also often have at least one more 35mm body with me PZ-1 or something like that... many times I also have something 'fun' like a Ricoh Twinlens or old Weekender 6x7.
It all fits nicely in my back pack... the lens all swap... often I like my 12-24 f/4 50-135/2.8 50/1.4 20/2 and a 18-250 (just in case something nutty happens and I need one lens and one body or a reach on a lens)
I am waiting for the X100 to come out and I will either have that as my second wide body/lens or if I don't like it I am picking up a K5....
so long a short... I think you need back-up bodies, lens and flashes... I over prepare, but it is all compact and light...
Oh and I bring 4 sets of batteries and two rechargers... I have never needed to recharge on site... but I could if something odd happened...
I guess if I can save up and get a spare timely enough to learn it and make it my primary, I would be ok to upgrade... thanks for the input!
http://365project.org/Sheral/365/2011-01-17 not bad for p&s
A modern lens has about 1/4 - 1/2 a lens turn in the auto focus... the one far side is near and the other is infinity.... stand facing a wall and practice a quick turn to one far side and bring it back to your estimate distance.... fine tune and repeat... walking forward and back... I don't know it is a dying art, but I think it is key... you'll be able to track people on the dance floor at the wedding with the strobe light going that auto focus would have a tough time with...
Awesome thing is, the bride is giving me a polaroid and film that she wants me to shoot at the wedding. How cool is that!!?
@Sheral you have a lot of amazing photos, I can't believe what can be captured with a P&S! I got my Nikon for under $500 (at Target of all places) on sale....keep your eye out if you want to upgrade!
I use it to rent bigger lenses such as the 300mm f/2.8 and 200-400mm f/4. They are thousands of dollars each and I'm a long way from affording them, so I rent them.
This company also rents out Nikon camera bodies. If you only need a backup for a single wedding, it could be better to just rent. Check them out.
I use one camera, presently, for weddings. I have backups - my old (but solid) 20D, two 50D's, my wife's 400D (even that would get me through a wedding if needed), but I just carry one camera (5D Mark II). I will be getting another one soon though - either another 5D Mark II, or a 1D Mark IV - and changing to a two-camera-wedding shooter. I also (always) have a second shooter, so if something goes wrong there is another whole photographer and their kit. ;) Also, we shoot the same brand, so we can swap gear when necessary (if necessary) and we often swap cameras to get different shots really quickly (rather than climb down from on top of a truck and swap places, for example). I always have backup flashes and a stupid number of spare batteries, also. And lenses. Always multiple lenses. I don't think you can afford not to, for weddings - you only get one shot at it to get it right, and your clients will not accept "My camera/lens/flash just broke!" as an excuse. They don't care. They just want their photos.
It would be easier for you to switch lenses (I.e. have one with a zoom lens and the other with a fast prime or some other configuration) instead of having to tediously sit there and refit lenses.
That would mean lugging two bodies around; but switching out could mean the difference between getting a shot and missing out.
My 2c
@sdpace As a professional wedding photog, I suggest you stick to the same brand and if are thinking about getting the D90, which is a fantastic camera, the D7000 just hit the market and it's the replacement of the D90 is a sense. The reason it is great for wedding in particular, is because of the ISO capabilities it has. It goes up to 6400, which is a huge plus in shooting low light. Pair that with a 50mm 1.4 and you have a great and trusty combination.
Good luck on shooting the wedding. They are tons of fun.