body or lens

i looked all through the Gear forum but couldnt find what i thought was appropriate. Mods please move if i overlooked one...

i dont have lots of 'fat stacks' floating around but ive got a few shekels in my pocket (kind of burning a hole lol)...

when i shot film, i carried 2 bodies. AE-1 and an F1-n. with primes it made it much MUCH more convenient to shoot when situations demanded different focal lengths...

now i shoot digital and have just 1 body. 5D3. ive got the 24-70 f2.8L and the 70-200 f2.8L so having 2 bodies isnt an absolute necessity...

id really like to get a 300 f2.8L. or another 5D3. i can get either of them used (members here are FABULOUS people to deal with when buying used gear. ive made several purchases and been completely satisfied) for about what ive got stashed...

if i go with the 300, a 2nd body is more important (short zoom on one and 300 on the other) but i do have a need for the 300 at times...

what would YOU spend your money on if these were your choices?

We need to know what you're shooting to help answer this question.

NickWell24 wrote in post #17832222
We need to know what you're shooting to help answer this question.

i actually shoot a little bit of everything...

marching bands
football
volleyball
baseball/softball
human nature (journalism)
concerts
dance
architecture
ships


no weddings. i did that a couple of times and really REALLY didnt like it. too many wedding/senior picture photographers in town anyway...

I'd say since you're asking our opinion on what to buy, chances are you don't really need either one. If you are wanting to expand you gear collection though I'd suggest a second body but get a 70D to benefit from the crop sensor.

If you're set on another full frame then get a 6D as your backup/second body.

NickWell24 wrote in post #17832257
I'd say since you're asking our opinion on what to buy, chances are you don't really need either one. If you are wanting to expand you gear collection though I'd suggest a second body but get a 70D to benefit from the crop sensor.

If you're set on another full frame then get a 6D as your backup/second body.

youre right. i really DONT need either. i dont need the gear i have now but i LIKE shooting pics and im in a spot financially where i can afford to own the gear so...

i think if i was going to get a crop-sensor, id go with the 7DII but really not liking that option (sensor)...

Well, if you think you'll want 2 bodies if you get the 300, then spring for the 7D2 to use with your 70-200; you'll get almost the same reach and have your 2 bodies. You'll also get about the same MP as the 5D3, albeit with smaller sensor sites.

Why the 7DII over the 70D? I personally have the 6D and 70D and having one camera with an articulating screen is extremely beneficial, especially if the thread starter gets into macro shots.

NickWell24 wrote in post #17832665
Why the 7DII over the 70D? I personally have the 6D and 70D and having one camera with an articulating screen is extremely beneficial, especially if the thread starter gets into macro shots.

More AF points (65 vs. 19), higher frame rate (10 vs. 7 fps), and dual card slots (like the 5D3), for starters. The 5D3 takes both CF and SD cards, as does the 7D2; the 70D only takes SD (as does the 6D).

Ltdave wrote in post #17832218
i l ..... have just 1 body. 5D3. ive got the 24-70 f2.8L and the 70-200 f2.8L so having 2 bodies isnt an absolute necessity...

id really like to get a 300 f2.8L. or another 5D3.

i do have a need for the 300 at times...

Ltdave wrote in post #17832218
what would YOU spend your money on if these were your choices?

I would most definitely spend MY money on the 300 f2.8......
........and a pair of tele extenders - the Canon 1.4x and 2.0x

.

Heya,

For what you're shooting, the 300 F2.8 would be my pick. Good glass any day over worrying about multiple bodies. You can get a 2nd body for a 24-70 or something much cheaper and still have excellent quality images.

Shooting sports and events, the 300 F2.8 makes tons of sense.

As for going 7D2 instead of 300 F2.8 or 2nd 5D3, I can agree with that. However, I would still want the 300 F2.8 over the rest of that stuff for what you've described as being the goal (sports and events with range). That 300 F2.8 becomes a really good platform for TC's and gets longer and stays pretty fast. The cameras will come and go with change, these super teles are literally forever (as long as the mount is supported). There's a reason people have gone through 4~5 bodies over the years, but 10 years later, still have the same 300 F2.8, etc.

As for the 7D2 over 70D, one simple reason: buffer. If shooting sports, you want FPS, and with FPS you need a large buffer. The 70D is decently fast, but it's buffer is shallow, you'll choke after a few bursts if you have back to back action and miss the shot waiting for the buffer to clear.

Very best,