How many bodies are you shooting with?

John Clare · #1 03-17-2007, 09:25 AM

Hi all,

Just a general survey to satisfy my curiosity!

How many camera bodies do you usually shoot with and why? And what are the reasons/implications of your choice?

If more than one, is it to avoid having to change lenses for fast moving shoots? To avoid removing lenses thus minimising dust on the sensor? For backup purposes?

Those of you shooting one body only, do you feel hindered? Do you feel you miss shots due to not having the right lens on at the time? How do you carry gear so that you can change lenses quickly? Or do you only have one lens?

Anyone shooting more than two bodies at once?

Let's hear it!

John

ChrisPerry · #2 03-17-2007, 03:20 PM

for weddings last year i shot two bodies - different lenses on each, to not miss anything. I want a 20-120 2.8 (or faster) lens! Carrying two bodies is heavy work.

This year i have a second shooter/assistant. they'll be using the second body...so i have to switch lenses. Not a big deal, but I hate running around looking for lenses and have a fear of dropping or having one left behind.

I am considering a belt system. Not a clue on what one yet.

I spent the past week studying with Michele Celentano - she shoots a 1Dn Mk2 (and has one has backup) and uses a belt system and changes lenses frequently - very frequently. she leaves the caps off (both ends) of her lenses all day long and does not use hoods and while she admits to being hard on her equipment, she has not had any issues with dust, scratches, etc. She uses all L glass if that matters any, and shoot 3-4k images at a wedding.

I'd like to pay an assistant to just follow me around like a caddy at a golf course, handing me a camera/lens combo for the shot and then i'd neve miss a shot, never be tired or stressed, etc. If Yervant can do this, why not me?

Josh_Hawkins · #3 03-17-2007, 05:44 PM

John,

For portrait situations then I usually only take one body with me, otherwise I use two. One body for long glass, usually 80-200, and the other for wide work.

Mainly I do this for ease of use. Being able to rapidly switch between wide and long glass lets me experiment more quickly and get the shot I want. In fast moving situations it can be vital to allowing me to get the shot or providing me the ability to rapidly switch and get another different feeling shot for a jump page. The old be prepared philosophy.

It also helps with dust and back-up, but those are secondary reasons for me, though enough on there own to make me want two bodies.

David_Buzzard · #4 03-17-2007, 10:07 PM

I wouldn't go to the bathroom without at least two cameras.

I use two for all my jobs, generally one with the 17-35, and one with either the 28-70, or 70-200. Sometimes I'll switch out the 17-35 for a 10.5 fisheye. You can work a lot faster with an extra camera to mount different lenses on.

All you have to do is drop one camera, bang it against a doorframe, or whatever, and without a back up you're finished for the day. I also carry a back up camera, lenses, and a flash in a bag in my car, in case any of that stuff packs it in. Once I broke off my hot shoe without realizing it. I went to grab the camera, and flash was hanging down by the back of the camera by the wiring.

David Buzzard's Technical Blog

joedmiles · #5 03-17-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisPerry

I am considering a belt system. Not a clue on what one yet.

Going a little off topic...I'm thinking of getting a belt system also.
Have you seen this one? http://tinyurl.com/2nlaxw

I also shoot with 2 bodies (D2X's), one with a short zoom lens on and a 70-200mm on the other. It takes a bit of getting used to if you're shooting one body on available light and the other on flash and then keep going from one to the other...but you never miss a thing

David_Buzzard · #6 03-18-2007, 12:54 AM

I've been using the Domke belt and pouches for something like 15 years, and I'd swear by them. While the LowePro system is good, the big problem (as I see it) is that the pouches are heavily padded and stick out at right angles to your body. I'm already a big, wide guy, so any un-nessisary width is a no no. The Domke pouches tend conform to your body a lot more. The other thing I don't like about the Lowe (and a lot of other systems), is that you can't slide the pouches around on the belt. I tend to slide the pouches around to my back when I'm running around, and then slide them around to the front when I want to sit down, or grab something out of them.

Lastly, the Domke's are a lot lower key than any of the other systems. I can throw a sweater on, and it will cover the pouches completely.

David Buzzard's Technical Blog

michaelnotar · #7 03-18-2007, 01:30 AM

one camera for me with a 28-70 and a 700-200 and CF cards in my photog jacket. have had 2 cameras, but didnt like using both. if shooting sports, i like to keep it really simple. if soccer, i used a 300 and dont care if they run further or away from me, i just concentrate on the game. i figure the same if shooting other things, even dropping one camera for another, re-gripping it, focusing, exposure etc is a lot to switch over even if all on auto.

i like the comfort of 1 camera. backup body stays in the bag.