Event Photography with Three Bodies?

Now that I have the 7D and 5dm3, I'm thinking about selling the t2i with the kit lens. But it got me thinking that maybe I should keep it and bring it along with me to events in case I needed a certain shot or FL not covered by the other two cameras.

Does anyone really bring three bodies to an event? The most I've ever seen is two at one time but maybe I just don't go to the types of events that require three bodies? Just wondering how conventional it is.

I'm leaning towards keeping the t2i just because it probably won't fetch much on the market. Gonna bring it with me with a lens attached in case I need certain photos.

What can the T2i do that the 7D cannot? Same FOV as the 7D. I'd consider carrying a 3rd body to be a real pain. You might like to consider keeping it as a backup though - I still have a 20D kicking about for emergencies.

Hi Ming,

The most I have ever seen anyone use it 2 (like you said) but if I were you I would just keep it.

Seems overkill, sell the t2i to buy more glass

Yes, but very rarely.

I nearly always use two cameras at a time, shooting eventss... mostly sports/action stuff, where really quick changes in focal length are essential and most possible by having 2 cameras set up and ready for use. Most of the time the two cameras are a matched pair (now 7Ds... previously I used 50Ds and before that, 30Ds). That makes switching fast and seamless as possible.

Sometimes I have a third camera set up, but only when one or two of them is going to be used on a tripod. I often carry and handhold two, but I'd never try to carry around three cameras with big lenses mounted. That's just too much to haul around and manage, would get in the way of the shooting, IMHO.

I actually take 6 cameras to most events, though 3 are backups and only get used if one of the primary users goes down for some reason. I don't see any reason you shouldn't keep the third camera as a backup, if you wish and don't need to cash out of it.

I prefer to use cameras that share batteries and memory cards. That's a relatively minor thing, but can be a help.

Well, with your lens line-up, you've already got 28mm-200mm covered. Your primes won't really add much to the equation. I'm assuming you'll have the 70-200 on the 5D3 and the 17-55 on the 7D. So that 3rd body won't help with regards to focal length and in your case, its overkill. You may want to tuck it in your bag or car as a back-up just in case one of your main cameras experiences a hiccup that you can't fix at the event.

I bring 4.

The only use I can think of is if you have a need for a remote camera. Like wedding shots from a balcony using a remote trigger, that sort of thing. Trying to juggle 3 bodies while working would be a bit much.

I always have three bodies ready to go (and I'm thinking of getting a 4th). My 7D and 40D are primary; the 20D is a backup and "point and shoot" body (usually with the 18-55mm kit lens).

The 20D gets a surprising amount of use. Unless there is an overriding reason to switch lenses on one of the "main" bodies, I'll often just grab the 20D and use it.

I have used 3 bodies during a wedding ceremony, and it worked quite well actually!. One around the neck, and one on each shoulder

If the event needs 3 camera bodies...it needs at least two photographers.

To me the logistics impact of the size and weight of a third body would be huge. I stick to 2 bodies (that use the same batteries) and as few lenses as possible.

I shot my last airshow with 3. 7D w/ the 100-400, 5D3 w/ the 70-200, and the 5Dc with the 50mm around my neck. The 7D/5D3 were on the Black Rapid double holster. Worked well.

I take 3 but one stays in the car, just in case.

jwcdds wrote in post #14544956
I shot my last airshow with 3. 7D w/ the 100-400, 5D3 w/ the 70-200, and the 5Dc with the 50mm around my neck. The 7D/5D3 were on the Black Rapid double holster. Worked well.

It makes more sense when you are using longer lenses. I remember watching a pro work the local LPGA event. He had a longer lens (300? 400?) on a monopod, a 70-200 and a wide lens on two additional bodies on straps.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14545112
It makes more sense when you are using longer lenses. I remember watching a pro work the local LPGA event. He had a longer lens (300? 400?) on a monopod, a 70-200 and a wide lens on two additional bodies on straps.

Yep. For the OP though, his lens line-up doesn't really benefit him to carry 2 crops and a FF. Now had he had 2 FF's and a crop, then I can see the 17-55 on the 7D, 70-200 on the 5D3, and then the 50/1.4 or the 85/1.8 on the other FF in case he wanted to go for the thinner DoF shots afforded by the wide aperture prime. But slapping the 50 or 85 on the crop camera, one's better off with just shooting with the 70-200.