1 vs. 2?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to make the switch back to Canon from Nikon, mainly for one lens - the 135 f2. After selling off my Nikon Gear, I'll have about $10k with which to rebuild a kit for family portraits and some wedding/engagement work.

I know I'll be picking up a 24-70II and 70-200II, as well as the aforementioned 135. I'll also be adding a 600 ExRT or 2.

What I'm debating is whether I want a 1Dx or 2 5D3s. I like having a backup body and for any wedding it would be required. However, I think the files from the 1Dx are better and love the heavier, pro build quality as well as the higher ISO quality. I have ruled the 5D2 and 6D completely out.

Anyone have a suggestion on which route would be better?

Heya,

Showing up with $10k of material and one camera and something goes wrong would be pretty embarrassing and unprofessional.

If you feel so strongly about the 1DX, then get it, but be totally ok with having a 6D or 5D2 or something, heck, even an old 5D classic, or even an APS-C, who cares, with you. I can't imagine being an event or wedding photographer with one camera with everything riding on that thing working and nothing going wrong with it, nor its card, etc, losing either image opportunities or worse, straight up losing time to fooling with lens swaps and having to carry everything together just to have access.

Very best,

Yea, that's my concern.

I am not a wedding photographer, I am a wildlife nut, but my only concern with your suggestion of the 1DX is noise. There is no setting where this camera is quiet. I have never scared off any wildlife with my 1DX (though I did get a disparaging look from a vixen!) but I do find that humans are less tolerant.
I am also curious as to why you have ruled out the 6D? As far as wildlife is concerned I found the AF and fps too limiting for me but for other uses I found it very close, high ISO, or IQ to the 1 DX. Just curious - as I said I am not a wedding photographer.

For what it's worth all the weddings that I have been to in the last couple of years have been shot with 5D3 cameras and the albums have looked great to me.

On lenses, if you haven't tried one yet, the Canon 24-70 F2.8 V2 is a superb lens. I have had mine for a year and it still surprises me with the excellent images that it can produce - if I do my part..........

Happy deciding!

Its totally irresponsible to do weddings without a backup body.

I see you point but the only Canon Item that has ever (suddenly) failed me was a Speedlight - two of those as well perhaps?

johnf3f wrote in post #17913229
I see you point but the only Canon Item that has ever (suddenly) failed me was a Speedlight - two of those as well perhaps?

2 of every critical item. 2 bodies, 2 strobes, and whiles you don't need two of every lens you should have a setup that provides for redundancy if a key lens fails. I hope none of you ever have to face a bride amd tell her a portion of her happiest day is gone. Back in the film days a spring broke in a lens and I didnt realize the aperture failed to adjust until the film came back from the lab. With digital you catch the error when it happens, but without backup gear you are screwed. Do enough weddings some gear will fail

And I thought wildlife photography was hard on gear!

As you say - it's the big day! backup is essential.

johnf3f wrote in post #17913239
And I thought wildlife photography was hard on gear!

How many deer spill drinks on your gear?

And I thought L glass was Beersealed - not sure about Vodka though!

For me mud is the big problem - but then I live in South Wales - we don't spill or drinks - only the drinkers

As to the Deer - been chased a couple of times. I really don't like those large (Pere David Deer) grumpy ones that we have about 10 miles down the road. They Rut in July (?) but are unpredictable 24/7.

huntersdad wrote in post #17913084
... a kit for family portraits and some wedding/engagement work.

That right there says two 5D3's to me. Especially if you are being paid for any of this work.

Do you live close to a store that rents out cameras? If you do, you could purchase your one body and then just rent a second body for events. I know a couple of people who do that, and it works out well for them as they don't do a huge number of events and only need the rental body for a day or two.

If you haven't sold off your gear yet I would wait. Why? There is no rush, time is on your side.

Currently the Nikon Sensors are better. But, that is about to change with the 1DX II and it that will trickle down and put a lot of gear up for sale. If (big if), the 5D4 is a few months away, and the new 1DxII type sensor finds its way into the camera - there will be massive amounts of 5D2s and 5D3s for sale - massive amounts.

Personal opinion is that 1Dx is too loud for weddings.

You mentioned you would be buying 24-70 and 70-200 - you need two bodies for those for weddings - otherwise a 24-105 F4 IS is a better purchase if you are a one body zoom shooter.

You mentioned 24-70, 70-200 and a 135 - but you didn't mention a fast 'normal range' prime - kind of need one of those for a dark wedding (35 / 50 F1.8 or faster - pick your fav FL)

The 135 is a fabulous portrait lens, but it is a niche wedding lens unless you are a true prime shooter - which if you were you wouldn't be buying the either of the zooms you mentioned.

If I was spending 10k today to be a Canon wedding shooter:

- 2 x used 5D3s = $3800
- used 70-200 F2.8 IS = $1700
- 24-70 F4 IS (has macro) = $800
- 35L II = $1800
- 135L (used) = $700

= $8800 + flashes (I wouldn't pay for 600EX-rt - get the Yongnuo for 1/3rd the price)

wallstreetoneil wrote in post #17913296
If I was spending 10k today to be a Canon wedding shooter:

- 2 x used 5D3s = $3800
- used 70-200 F2.8 IS = $1700
- 24-70 F4 IS (has macro) = $800
- 35L II = $1800
- 135L (used) = $700

= $8800 + flashes (I would pay for 600EX-rt - get the Yongnuo for 1/3rd the price)

I didn't care for the 24-70 f4. I would also add a set of Sigma Primes, either the 24 or 35, 50 and 85 when they update it to an Art series. The 135 would be strickly for portrait work, which I agree is where it shines.