Camera system shakeup - what would you do?

I have a dilemma some would envy. My current system of bodies is comprised of a 10D, a 20D, a 5D and a 1DMKIIN. Yeah, I know, poor, poor me.

In any case, the latter two cameras are used for business (and business only as my accountant and the IRS tell me). That's fine, but I have a granddaughter, and I also like to just shoot for myself without considering a prospective sale or publication. That's why I've kept the 20D and the 10D.

The 20D has been my personal camera for quite some time and the 10D I've kept around because I use it in risky situations (such as standing in streams or climbing on rocks). But, I've felt the need and desire to upgrade my personal system for a while. I just came into a little extra pocket money, so this morning I ordered the 40D. It will be here in about a week. In the meantime, I need to figure out what to do with the other two cameras. Here are my thoughts:

A. Convert one to a dedicated IR camera and sell the other. But the question is which to convert and which to sell:

1. The 20D will fetch more money if I sell it, but it's a much more capable camera than the 10D and while I can't use the business cameras for personal use, I can use the personal cameras for business use. So a converted 20D will make a very nice asset for both business and pleasure. However selling it will more than pay for the 10D conversion to IR and provide a bit of cash to put toward a 17-55 f/2.8 IS for the 40D.

2. Selling the 10D (and grip) should fetch enough money to convert the 20D to IR, but that's it. There will be very little left over as I don't see a very big market for this generation of the body, which means the 17-55 lens will have to paid for totally out of pocket. Converting this body to IR, however, would give the camera new life and new use.

B. Forget the IR conversion, sell both cameras and put all the money toward the 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

So, given the same circumstances, what would you do? Any comments on my plans? Other suggestions?

It's not up to us--it's up to you.

Which is more important, IR or a risky-situation camea, or both?

If "Risky" is more important:
Sell the 10D and keep the 20D for your "risky" compositions.

If IR is more important:
Convert the 10D and sell the 20D (you'll get more money for it).

If both are important:
Convert the 10D and use the 20D for risky situations. I would imagine you'd do more risky situations than IR, so us the "lesser" of the two bodys for IR.

.

Keep things as they are since you've got a pretty good system worked out. Send the 40d to me. Use software to simulate IR.

AperturePriority wrote in post #4196124
It's not up to us--it's up to you.

Well, of course it is. I don't often ask for guidance from the board - I'm more the giving kind of guy! But, since this is an interesting dilemma, I thought I'd throw it out there and see what people have to say.

Mark

Virtual_D wrote in post #4196147
Keep things as they are since you've got a pretty good system worked out. Send the 40d to me. Use software to simulate IR.

Yeah, I bet you'd like that.

I'd go with "B." However, if IR is very important to you, I would convert the 10D and sell the 20D for a tad bit more $$$. JMO. The 17-55 is a killer lens.

*Bill wrote in post #4196526
I'd go with "B." However, if IR is very important to you, I would convert the 10D and sell the 20D for a tad bit more $$$. JMO. The 17-55 is a killer lens.

I can't say IR is important to me, but I've really been wanting to try it for a while, and I'd rather do it in camera than in software or with a filter (and a tripod and very long shutter speeds).

Mark:
If you didn’t already have the 17-40L and the 28-70L I’d say sell both, sell your grandkid, get the 17-55IS. Ok, not the grandkid, but the 17-55 is an outstanding piece of glass and coupled with the 40D it’s a perfect pair. If your 17-40L and the 28-70L are work only lenses like my 85 f/1.2 then I’d sell both bodies and go for the glass.
If not, I would keep the 20D and convert to IR. The 10D is a fine machine but it’s getting old and as you point out, the 20D is just a more capable body.

I'm tring to put myself in your shoes, I'm not a professional. I'm really tired of the 1.6 format, it's just too damn small to be comfortable for me. I finally recently got a 1D series camera (finally) and my 20D is up for sale on eBay. My backup camera? Same as with my 20D-a G5. You seem comfortable with the 1.6 format and since you also have 1.3 and FF I'm sure you can make a proper evaluation. If I were comfortable with FF and were in your shoes, I think I would had sold both the 10D and 20D and added the proceeds to my 'windfall' money and get a 5D for personal use. BTW, are your lenses, flashes, et also divided in to 'personal' and 'business' camps?

jr_senator wrote in post #4196711
BTW, are your lenses, flashes, et also divided in to 'personal' and 'business' camps?

If the IRS ever comes looking on this board, then the answer is "Of course, they are." They are, at least, stored separately.

Mark

Hi Mark,

If I were in your shoes I would forego the IR and go with plan B.
If IR is of real importance (only you know this) then go with plan A2 and buy the lens.

I'm not looking at $$$, just objectively looking at the options.

I'd keep them all. It's not like they take up tons of room, cost tens of thousands of dollars, or you are going to get that much for a 10D or 20D.
You would be technically better off selling your personal self the 5D or the IIN, whichever is depreciated more and buying a better (newer) company camera and getting it on the road to depreciation as soon as possible.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #4196627
I can't say IR is important to me, but I've really been wanting to try it for a while, and I'd rather do it in camera than in software or with a filter (and a tripod and very long shutter speeds).

If you just want to try out IR then use the 10D for that. If you use the 20D and then decide IR is not for you, you then have/had 2 cameras that don't appeal to too many people anymore. So sell the 20D, convert the 10D.

Mark_Cohran,
Well if it were me I would probably go with your A option.
I am thinking of converting my 10D also but I am still holding off because its got over 50K clicks on already

I would convert the 20D to IR. The higher resolution would be of great benefit in the IR world, where things are not quite as sharp to begin with. Besides, a 20D makes one hell of an IR camera!

Keep the 10D as your risk camera. You won't get enough for it to make it worh selling.