One Lump or Two

Every time I come close to taking the plunge and ordering a K-5, something else comes along and "out-prioritises" my impending purchase. (Bloody kids, bloody house, bloody garden, bloody university, bloody car, oh, and of course, my precious motorbike and fly-fishing)

Anyway, I got to thinking that Santa might be good to me this year and leave a nice new K-5 & 18-135 in my stocking. To ease his passage (so to speak) I thought about trading-in my K-X & two kit lenses. Seems I wont get much for them. So...

Many of you out there have more than one camera body. Apart from the pros in our midst, what do you amateurs and hobbyists use your second ( or third, or fourth ....) body for? Is it simply to have a spare? Is it really such a pain to have to change lenses "in the field"? Should I hang on to the K-X?

Go on, persuade me!

B.

hi rab
i have a k20 and a k200 ive got the 150-500 on one body
da*300 or 100 macro on the other when i am out birdwatching
i am thinking about getting a k5
neil

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/swans-30946

Had the 60-250 on my K5 hoping for a close up sighting of an early morning kingfisher. Knowing that f4 on that lens would help with the poor light. So took the Kx and the Siggy 150-500 for anything further afield

I, foolishly as it turned out, gave my Ds to my husband, in the hope that if he got to enjoy photography he wouldn't quibble over the price of gear.
He killed the Ds , so I bought him a Km. He has a Sigma 28-300 on it (having broken the Tammy version :roll and occasionally takes it out, though usually the Optio goes with him.

If I'd known I would have hung onto the Ds, which I loved, and used it as a second camera.

Different cameras have different 'personalities'. Like Gwyn, I'm still a DS fan and that's what's going on holiday next week along with the 40mm LTD and nothing else!

Lucky you! I may have a look around for another Ds sometime.

I have plenty of film bodies but that's mostly for their different characteristics (and the fun of trying to get a complete set). If the K5 ever drops into my price range my K-m will probably be handed to my younger brother to replace his old bridge camera. I don't need more than one DSLR body as I tend to stuff my MX and 40mm pancake in the bag too if going away overnight.

Like Matt, I like to shoot film as well and therefore only take one digital body and one (or more) film bodies. When I went to Venice I took the K20D, my LX, MX and Lubitel 2. Last trip to Romania I had to travel light and so only took the K20D and my LX.

K.

Personally, I think for an amateur, a second digital body is a bit of a luxury, and look upon these people with multiple DSLRs with a sense of wonder. I mean, that's taking things really seriously! I'd rather cash them in and have a trip abroad or a new lens. If I was to have a second body it would be something with a different 'niche', such as a compact camera.

I might take a film body away with me as well if going on a trip, but I would only shoot with one camera at a time, the other remaining in my suitcase.

I have 2 DSLRs and a 35mm film camera.

If I'm shooting things that don't tend to move I carry one DSLR and the 35mm and change lenses as I need.

But if I'm in an environment where I need the versatility (such as the Goth Weekend) to be able to catch shots quickly then I put a wide zoom on one DSLR and a tele zoom on the other and keep the 35mm in my pack with a 50mm.

I don't see it as a 'back up' but a second working camera.

If I wasn't quite so in love with these two lenses or if money were an issue I would carry a superzoom.

There is an interesting point which I find. If you have two bodies people treat you with more respect when you ask if you can take their photo. It's not why I do it but it can help at times.

As Gareth has said, you don't always have time to change lenses so I carry two bodies, with different set ups, to things like the Goths or action events. It also means you spread the load on wear and tear, batteries and memory

I have three But I only carry two around with me

Theyre probably thinking "who's the biggest poser here, me or him?"

When I bought my K5 I kept my K10d mainly because old camera bodies are worth so little it's hardly worth the hassle of selling. I also reasoned it might come in handy in case the K5 ever went wrong (which it hasn't so far).

However I have found that having 2 bodies is handy at functions, when I put a zoom lens and flash on the K10d and a fast prime on the K5 for available light shots. Not essential of course but makes life a bit easier.

I use similar bodies as a working set if conditions for lens changes are likely to be awkward or I might miss a good moment - recent examples being a club portrait/flash workshop K5 & K7 with DA*50-135 & Sigma 70-200 or night shoot K5 & K7 with DA*60-250 & DA*16-50.

Otherwise I only carry a single body - not always what I expected if I grab a body without looking to closely


Steve

Because all three of my cameras look and behave very similarly it's amazing how often I manage to use one before I realise it wasn't the one I thought it was (and that includes shooting mono film when I thought I had a DSLR in my hand)!