2nd Body: 400D or 40D

sambonebs

sambonebs

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Sam Nesbitt
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Right guys! Some advice if you don't mind.

I've currently got a 400D, 50mm 1.4, 28-135 IS USM and 430EX.

Now, without going into it too much - I'm getting a lot more event photography work and I feel I need a backup body/2nd body to lessen lens changes.

I've got £1000 to spend (I can go couple of hundred quid higher, and I may sell my 28-135 depending on what I buy) and I've got a number of things in mind - I just need a little help!

Option 1: A 2nd 400D, along with something like a 24-70L and a second 430EX. The advantage is that I know the camera and I know it delivers good results. The only issue, and this is fairly major - is that I've lost around 50/60 shots at different times because my nose has knocked the ISO button and it's always ended up on 1600 which has always resulted in the shot being trashed. I've tried lots of different ways round this but it's still an issue, and being left eye dominant it just doesn't feel correct using my right eye on the viewfinder.

Option 2: A 40D, Grip and 430EX. The advantage I can see with this is that since they're both 10.1MP if I output an image from each camera at 300DPI they'll print the same physical size, which seems to make sense to me.

and last but not least, Option 3: A 5D. I am aware it'd show up the 28-135 and that I'd have to move on to L glass pretty quick, but I've heard tell that low light performance is fantastic and that the viewfinder is very large and bright which would be good as some events tend to be very low light.

So, thoughts please!
 
if you're serious you should be looking at gLass anyway
 
Very serious my good man!

But, I'm happy with the quality of the images from the 400D and my current lens combination so anything else goes up from there.

The L glass will come but funds are limited at the moment and in my mind the above items need to be had before any lenses on their own.
 
I have the exact same kit as you lol (except my 50mm is the f/1.8 not 1.4)

I'm going to be upgrading to a 40D before the new year...with a grip aswel.

And im going to try and get hold of that 24-70mm L f/2.8.

However, if you have the money, go for the 5D but you will need an L glass lens to get the results it deserves. I'd go for a 5D if I could afford it...

Oh and you said your nose is hitting the ISO button, that's strange, your probably holding your camera the wrong way (try holding it with your wrist at the top, firstly, your nose will only touch the LCD - and make it greasy if your nose is anything like mine. Secondly it's easier on the wrist, less streign and thirdly, your camera is more stable and less likely to get knocked by something/someone). Natrually you should hold your camera whichever way feels most comfortable to you, but I (and most others I belive) hold it with their wrist at the top (or on the grip).
 
I hear ya on the 5D/L Glass issue - it's a slippery slope!

The ISO button/nose thing only happens in Landscape, not portrait - I think it may just be that my nose is too big!

Edit: I should mention that I, like you, go wrist on top when using the camera that way.
 
I know a few pro togs that have 40D's as there second back up bodies, to 1dmk2's or 1dmk3. These are press guys that don't need huge file sizes. There are a few that have a 5D as a back up, but claim it is too slow for there needs.
 
natjag said:
I know a few pro togs that have 40D's as there second back up bodies, to 1dmk2's or 1dmk3. These are press guys that don't need huge file sizes. There are a few that have a 5D as a back up, but claim it is too slow for there needs.
Click to expand...

Too slow? Not heard that one, are we talking processing? burst?

I guess a 40D as a main would be a good compliment to my 400D.
 
Re 5d:-
Well, one guy said processing, and another bursts, but next to a d1mk11(n) or mk3 it would seem slow on bursts.
If your taking one shot at a time, or maybe a few bursts where there isn't much action it wouldn't be a problem, but the cost of the 5D is higher than the 40D.
 
No matter what your final choice of body, it might be worth investing in a couple of "Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender" to get your nose further away from the buttons?

Just thought, one of the main critisms of the EX15 is the fact it magnifies the image, but this can be easily resolved by taking the lens elements out of the extender.
 
I tried an EX15 actually and found it rather uncomfortable, I've used a couple of 3rd party solutions too with the same results.

I guess I'm thinking that the button arrangement of the higher cameras (40D/5D) would be more beneficial for my konk!
 
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