new lens or body?

I am intending to put more energies onto the next few months at developing my business - mainly events, portraits, and any other corporate/commercial work, maybe some kid sport events too)
(be mindful that I don t intend to go FT. I am a teacher, and will continue to be so.)


I have a budget of around $1500-$2000 and I am tossing up whether to get a second body (6D), or another lens (100-400) to extend the reach I have with the 70-200 f4.

Which way should I go, or should I invest it elsewhere
(my signature tells you what I have at the moment)

which one do you need more?

do you find yourself needing to shoot at 400 often enough to be losing out to competitors who can do it? do your clients wish you were able to get those shots?

a 2x extender would be a much cheaper alternative, but do you need the image quality and focus speed that an extender won't have?

are you missing shots because the action is too fast for you to rapidly change lenses, and so a second body with a different lens would allow you to get those shots?

do you work where it's so dusty that you don't dare change lenses during a shoot, and so a second body would allow you to use two lenses?

are you worried that your main body will fail, and a second body would bring peace of mind as a backup?

maybe your lighting kit could use an upgrade instead? do you find yourself frustrated with its quality or reliability? or are you totally satisfied with it?

That extra reach doesn't sound very important for the uses you named. I'd say go for the body, since extra high ISO performance should come in very handy.
Take my advice with a grain of salt, as I'm just an amateur and haven't used the 5DC or 6D.

I would pick up a 6D and a x1.4 or x2 TC to mount on the 70-200 f/4.

I'd go body and extender. Yes the extender costs you a stop but I believe the 100-400 is 5.6 - 6.3 anyway. So technically with the extender making it 140 - 400 5.6 you are ahead of the game.

6D used and an 85mm1.8 used. Great event/portrait combo and would even serve you well for indoor sports.

My suggestion would be to sell the 70-200 f/4 and pick up the 70-200 2.8. Better lens quality and bokeh and gives you the ability to shoot using lower light and lower ISO = less noise with portraits.

With the 1.4 attached to the 2.8 your ability to have more usable photo's in lower light/ISO than the 70-200 f/4 with the extender is also a plus. Then you'll have $$ left over.

I forgot to add I have no idea why you need 100 - 400 to shoot events.

Thanks everyone

1000WordsPhotography wrote in post #16356794
I forgot to add I have no idea why you need 100 - 400 to shoot events.

The last couple of years I have taken outdoor events as well as sport games for work. The thought was that the extra reach would help.

But the fact that the 6D has 20.2.MP, compared to my 12 Mp 5D menas I can crop more anyway if necessary

One other thing. The Canon 100-400 if I remember correctly is a "pump action lens." When I looked into the complaint was it was hard to zoom and focus and it pumps lots of dust into your sensor. Almost universally thats what I heard. So I bought a Sigma 150-500 instead. It is capable of some insanely nice work but its heavy as all get out. I don't see anyway you work an entire event with that in your hands or around your neck.

Get the 6D and a 1.4 Extender. Everyone above speaks the truth.

If you are shooting profesionally then a back up body is essential, as are back up lenses.

Ideally you should have 2 of everything you own.

Because of that I'd go for the 6D + TC of have you possibly considered a 7D. The 7D turns youe 200mm into a 320mm because of the crop factor and you get a better focussing system for sports than the 6D offers.

Nightstalker wrote in post #16359868
If you are shooting profesionally then a back up body is essential, as are back up lenses.

Ideally you should have 2 of everything you own.

Because of that I'd go for the 6D + TC of have you possibly considered a 7D. The 7D turns youe 200mm into a 320mm because of the crop factor and you get a better focussing system for sports than the 6D offers.

I don't actually have 2 of everything. Two bodies, 2 85s, 2 50s, 2 70-200s. I only have one 100 macro. I have both a 24-70 and a 24-105 so i consider those as overlap. I also only have one 150-500 that I use for soccer, but I don't really do that professionally.

Two of everything isn't needed on the lens front. Enough cover to have overlapping ranges so you could see out a job if a lens or a couple failed, yes. Two of every lens you own, no.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16362237
Two of everything isn't needed on the lens front. Enough cover to have overlapping ranges so you could see out a job if a lens or a couple failed, yes. Two of every lens you own, no.

Yeah, this is more what I meant on the lens front - but a back up body should be considered essential.