Keep a spare body or spend it on glass

I know this will largely be a personal thing, but it's interesting to hear peoples input. I bought a Rebel XS to get myself moved over to Canon from Sony. I then got a 40D. I originally thought the XS would be nice to have as a smaller and light weight alternative to the 40D for travel, but I then realized I would probably just bring the 40D with me. So at this point it is a second body for backup, and two body shooting. I haven't yet used it as a second body (with another lens) but I think it could be very useful in some settings (like when I'm helping out at a wedding this summer.) So far, for the month or so I've had the 40D, the Rebel has sat in a cabinet.

But I'm starting to think that at this point, the $350 or so I could probably sell the body for might be worth it to spend on glass. My wife and I have a new baby and not a lot of spending money. I'd probably try to sell the XS plus kit lens for the Tamron 17-50, or just the body for a Canon 85/1.8.

Any feelings on this?

I sold my 2nd 40D and bought glass. I am not a professional, so having 2 bodies didn't really make sense to me.

Why did you have 2 bodies in the first place?

blackmatch456 wrote in post #7807808
Why did you have 2 bodies in the first place?

I decided to switch to Canon from Sony, and I bought a Rebel XS because it was cheap, and I hadn't yet sold my Sony camera. A month later I sold my Sony and used the money from that to buy the 40D. I thought it might be useful and worthwhile to have two bodies.

I'm going to guess from the tone of your response you don't think two bodies is a good idea over spending on glass.

blackmatch456 wrote in post #7807808
Why did you have 2 bodies in the first place?

If you meant me, I picked up the second 40D in a package deal when I bought the 17-55. The deal was too good to pass up. Got the 40D basically for free.

It doesn't sound like this fits your situation, but somebody who goes on photo expeditions to far-off sites often want two bodies, because if the main body dies, they're dead in the water. They can't realistically get their camera body repaired and get it back in the middle of a trip or get it fixed out in the wilderness they spent a lot of money to get to, right? They want two bodies, and will keep their older one as a backup. Also, camera bodies are more likely to suffer an accident or failure when traveling. But again, this isn't what you're asking about, so I doubt it's a big concern for you.

For shooting around home, in the unlikely event the camera body dies, you ship it out to Canon to get it fixed, and in most cases the downtime is not a critical dealbreaker. In that situation, selling the body now for new glass makes more sense. The value of digital SLRs pretty much goes in only one direction over time, and that's down, so as soon as you can, sell it while you can get as much money as you can for it.

Buy glass.

[QUOTE=laydros;7807645​]I know this will largely be a personal thing, but it's interesting to hear peoples input. I bought a Rebel XS to get myself moved over to Canon from Sony. I then got a 40D. I originally thought the XS would be nice to have as a smaller and light weight alternative to the 40D for travel, but I then realized I would probably just bring the 40D with me. So at this point it is a second body for backup, and two body shooting. I haven't yet used it as a second body (with another lens) but I think it could be very useful in some settings (like when I'm helping out at a wedding this summer.) So far, for the month or so I've had the 40D, the Rebel has sat in a cabinet.

But I'm starting to think that at this point, the $350 or so I could probably sell the body for might be worth it to spend on glass. My wife and I have a new baby and not a lot of spending money. I'd probably try to sell the XS plus kit lens for the Tamron 17-50, or just the body for a Canon 85/1.8.

Any feelings on this?[/quote]

your plan sounds good to me. having two cameras with 1.6 crop sensors isn't doing much for you if you don't need a back-up.

ed rader

rdalrt wrote in post #7807727
I am not a professional, so having 2 bodies didn't really make sense to me.

Somone explain to me why having 2 bodies is only for professionals? How many people in here own more than one computer, but doesn't have an IT related job? How many people own two vehicles, but are not a professional delivery person, driver, etc? How many people own more than 1 fishing pole, but aren't professional fishermen?

Why is owning multiple lenses (even if they are all professional grade L lenses) not considered being a professional, but owning two pro-sumer bodies is? I just don't understand what the reasoning is behind this. If I look at rdalrt, he says he's not a professional and thus doesn't need 2 bodies, but yet has a professional class lens (70-200) (arguably two with the 17-55)? So for him, keeping an extra $600 40D body made him a professional, while having 2 $1000+ lenses does not? I'm just not following the logic on this.

laydros wrote in post #7807645
I know this will largely be a personal thing, but it's interesting to hear peoples input. I bought a Rebel XS to get myself moved over to Canon from Sony. I then got a 40D. I originally thought the XS would be nice to have as a smaller and light weight alternative to the 40D for travel, but I then realized I would probably just bring the 40D with me. So at this point it is a second body for backup, and two body shooting. I haven't yet used it as a second body (with another lens) but I think it could be very useful in some settings (like when I'm helping out at a wedding this summer.) So far, for the month or so I've had the 40D, the Rebel has sat in a cabinet.

But I'm starting to think that at this point, the $350 or so I could probably sell the body for might be worth it to spend on glass. My wife and I have a new baby and not a lot of spending money. I'd probably try to sell the XS plus kit lens for the Tamron 17-50, or just the body for a Canon 85/1.8.

Any feelings on this?

Laydros, in response to your question, I think your kit is clearly in need of upgrading the glass. Right now, your lens selection is composed of entry grade lenses. I think you will find that selling the XS and using the money to upgrade some of your lenses will make the biggest difference, than keeping both the 40D and XS.

BigBlueDodge wrote in post #7808836
So for him, keeping an extra $600 40D body made him a professional, while having 2 $1000+ lenses does not? I'm just not following the logic on this.

My reasoning is that since I don't make a living or any money from my photography, if the single body that I have breaks and needs service or to be replaced, no big deal. I can go without it for a few weeks and no income lost.

But since I am fortunate enough to be able to afford decent quality glass I maybe I am a professional and didn't even know it. LOL

I'll go counter to the flow for a minute -- Last night, my main body went 999 on me during a concert shoot; it got corrected quickly, but I was relaxed because my backup was in the car.

I had a body fail in Yellowstone. One of three; early shutter failure.

Again, no worries.

For some strange reason, when a body fails, it goes at the worst possible time. Not when you're just messing around.......

Finagle's Law

Yeah, seems to be a good reason to keep an extra around. Also would be nice to have one for a wide angle and one for telephoto when doing event photography. However I'm currently leaning towards selling it. The same Rebel XS will probably cost me a couple hundred less in a year or two than I can buy it for now, if I end up shooting in a more serious manner.

Since you have two crop bodies, I would buy better glass.

40D: Keep
1000D: Sell $375
18-55IS: Sell $75
50/1.8: Sell $70 ish
70-210 USM: Sell $Don't have a clue

Buy: 17-50/2.8 Tamron & 100/2.8 Macro

Macro shots of babies is a unique perspective. And it works well as a portraiture lens.