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Merit of having a second body...

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Chris Oly

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I see sporadically on this forum a mention for a need of second body when being out for a shoot. I am very curious about how various individuals deal with this issue.

This matter is coming up for me as in less than 4 months Olympus is planning to release new version of E-M1 called mk II and I am possibly considering purchase of this model or E-M5 Mk ii or Pen F or other…

I find it cumbersome to change lenses on the fly and simply dangerous as one can drop it in the sand or on a rock and damage the lens. So benefit of having a backup body will always represent piece of mind.

There are a number of scenarios –

1. Prime body: E-M1 with most used lens i.e.(12-40 F2.8)

2. Identical second body E-M1 to mount i.e. (40-150 f2.8) or other frequently used lens

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary but similar body i.e. E-M5/Pen F

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary body but different i.e E-PL5

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary body but totally different make( Panasonic, Fuji, other)

Or…. There is infinite amount of combinations…

I am sure each member has a different set up and some have a need for a second body and some may not. It would be interesting to hear what issues are coming up if one has just one body and a number of lenses vs. someone with 2 or more bodies and how they deal with challenges of photographing subjects.

We all have different ideas and thoughts on the subject, let’s hear them…
 
Chris Oly said:
I find it cumbersome to change lenses on the fly and simply dangerous as one can drop it in the sand or on a rock and damage the lens. So benefit of having a backup body will always represent piece of mind.

We all have different ideas and thoughts on the subject, let’s hear them…
Click to expand...
OK!

My everyday outdoors camera is a Panasonic FZ1000, so I don't have a need to change lenses.

However, when in areas specifically to photograph wildlife with my Panasonic 100-400mm, that lens is to long to document the environment of the specific scene, if I wish, so I carry a second camera body with my Panasonic 12-35mm lens.

An example:



Great Egret, Ardea alba, perched on a small platform in the lake. 12-35mm
Great Egret, Ardea alba, perched on a small platform in the lake. 12-35mm





The bird himself. 100-400mm
The bird himself. 100-400mm

There is no way I'm going to change lenses in the field, one of them being a 2 lb. bazooka!

- Richard

--
 
Chris Oly said:
1. Prime body: E-M1 with most used lens i.e.(12-40 F2.8)
2. Identical second body E-M1 to mount i.e. (40-150 f2.8) or other frequently used lens
Click to expand...
This is my approach, with a long prime instead of the 12-40 for field sports, the zoom for events. Prior to getting the second E-M1 I had a long stretch of pairing whatever body was newest with second newest and the shape and control differences and the file differences created uncertainty and extra work, respectively.

With refurbs so cheap it's a good option. When the new cam comes out, I'll queue up with everybody else and be back to two different bodies again. So it goes.

Cheers,

Rick
 
Chris Oly said:
I see sporadically on this forum a mention for a need of second body when being out for a shoot. I am very curious about how various individuals deal with this issue.

This matter is coming up for me as in less than 4 months Olympus is planning to release new version of E-M1 called mk II and I am possibly considering purchase of this model or E-M5 Mk ii or Pen F or other…

I find it cumbersome to change lenses on the fly and simply dangerous as one can drop it in the sand or on a rock and damage the lens. So benefit of having a backup body will always represent piece of mind.

There are a number of scenarios –

1. Prime body: E-M1 with most used lens i.e.(12-40 F2.8)

2. Identical second body E-M1 to mount i.e. (40-150 f2.8) or other frequently used lens

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary but similar body i.e. E-M5/Pen F

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary body but different i.e E-PL5

Or

1. Prime body: E-M1 w/lens

2. Secondary body but totally different make( Panasonic, Fuji, other)

Or…. There is infinite amount of combinations…

I am sure each member has a different set up and some have a need for a second body and some may not. It would be interesting to hear what issues are coming up if one has just one body and a number of lenses vs. someone with 2 or more bodies and how they deal with challenges of photographing subjects.

We all have different ideas and thoughts on the subject, let’s hear them…
Click to expand...
I personally would take the option of EPL-5 or Panny if it is a small size body (but not ICL of other format, at least could share EM1's lenses to avoid the burden of carrying extra lenses for the backup). Small and light weight is always my aim on using M43. YMMV.

Accident happens, and it is why I must carry a backup body for my trips since my unfortunate event. It also taught me to bring a reliable/familiar backup but not ANYTHING.

Long story short, I went for a 12 days river cruise travelling Yangtze River and Hubei and Sichuan Province, China. I took G1 (my main camera at that time) and a Sony TX10 (a credit card like waterproof tough compact for severe weather/water sport /backup). During the journey I slipped when boarding onto a small boat having G1 dropped into the river. After recovering, it was like a water tank and been out of service for 3 days. TX10 which had been always with me, replaced my smart phone to take occasional shots was put into real use. OMG, slow zoom, slow focus, basically even simple EC took nearly a whole minute to set.... My wife took 10+ pictures when I could only manage to take one, I wished to trash it on the spot. During that 3 painful days I only manage to take >10% of shots that my wife took! I haven't a good reason to visit there again for the coming decade, what a big loser I was.

So, bring something you can surely counting on, even it is just a backup. As a backup might not really put in use (that is the only incident I really need a backup for decades of travelling), I trend to take the smallest, minimum weight.
 
I will carry two bodies when I'm out for birds or critters in the boonies.

#1 is my E-M1 with PL 100-400, cradled in my arms.

#2 is my E-M5 II with Oly 14-140 for everything below 100mm. This one is usually hung from my right shoulder.

I carry a small leather shoulder bag (actually a purse) with spare batteries, etc, cross body on my left hip.

Both cameras and lenses are weather sealed.
 
I went back to shooting mostly prime's when I moved from dSLR(one body) to m43(two bodies).

When I'm going to a place that I'm familiar with, my 25/1.8 sits on my EM10 while the 14/2.5 + WC on my GM1. The 45/1.8 is in my bag. Not more than a couple of lens changes.

When a place is unfamiliar urban-scape, 9-18mm on my EM10 and 25/1.8 on my GM1. The 7.5FE, 15/1.7 and 45/1.8 in the bag. Maybe a couple of lens changes(7.5 or 15)
 
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I have similar thoughts and have been thinking about a second body.

One for everyday walkaround/travel/landscape and one dedicated to wildlife/birding.

I have found that the smaller OMD's too small and fiddly (just a personal preference nothing against the cameras).

So I am waiting for the release of the EM-1mkii, which if as I hope will have improved AF, I can use as my dedicated wildlife/birding camera with grip and 300mm f4.

I will then use my existing EM-1 without grip as my everyday camera with 12-40mm and 40-150mm. Then i will be set for a longtime without GAS (hopefully). :-D

Dennis
 
Chris

I notice that the elephant in the room is ignored - the GM series of camera bodies.

Unfortunately if the luxury of grip, IBIS and perhaps a battery grip is needed then the GM series will not be enough.

I did exactly what you suggest with dslr bodies years ago (with battery grips) but merely continued to us my old bodies when I updated.

Of course the physical size becomes a problem. Best take the truck on an outing.

Many complain that if you make more than one camera (fixed body and lens) then there is not much saving in size because the lens takes up much of the space. But this is not true at all. As if you were going to take any specific lens then the lens size is always there. But as the GM1/5 is only the size of a pack of cards that is all you add per GM body/lens combination. Furthermore the present pricing of the GM bodies make this the more do-able.

Therefore I happily can go out with second, third or even fourth GM camera bodies and the whole lot travels in a space les than one dslr body with battery grip and lens attached.

Been there and done that and I know when I am well off.

With the larger M4/3 bodies approaching the size of a small dslr the prospect of a second body, whilst good, with these larger camera bodies is not nearly as attractive as using a set of GM camera bodies.
 
A second body is great especially for wildlife and larger birds. I have the 40-150 Pro on a OMD10 and the 300mm lens on the OMD-1. I walk with a walker so the camera bag goes in the front tray, so no heavy carrying.
 
I do most of my photography while traveling. By myself, I can take my time switching lenses, composing, etc. With a group, I especially benefit from two bodies. My E-M5 II with 14-150 II gives me range and weather-sealing; a second body (was an E-M10, now a GX85) with 9-18 or fisheye gives me extra width. In low-light, I put a prime on one or both cameras and carry at least two more primes in my bag.

On my most recent trip, I was able to carry the E-M5 II and pack everything else in a small bag - E-M10, 9-18, 7.5 fisheye, 40-150 R (didn't really need that one), 14, 20, and 60-macro.

I've considered other options - a Nikon DL 18-50 for low light, a Nikon 1 with 70-300 CX for long tele, an APS-C camera with a high-quality ultra-wide lens... all good ideas, but in the end I'd rather have just one system with two similar bodies to both share the work and sub for one another in case of failure.
 
The only time I consider carrying a second body is when I am getting paid. Otherwise careful handling and a secure bag is all you need to successfully swap lens. The sonic sensor cleaner of the current bodies is awesome, in fact living in the desert as I do I rarely think about dust or dirt. My need for a second body comes down to paid moments where missing a capture is inherently costly. Even then I notice the missed shot more than the paying customer if ever.
 
Chris Oly said:
We all have different ideas and thoughts on the subject, let’s hear them…
Click to expand...
Ummm, that spare body would be nice to replace my old worn out body.

Oh, you're talking about cameras.................

I buy behind the wave most times, so the bodies are cheaper, or buy some deal where a lens I want plus a body works out to be a bargain for both.

Along the way I have had 2 x E-PL1, then went eventually to 2 x E-PL5, and now when the price fell dramatically a while back 2 x E-P5.

Benefits are .....
  • Same type body with same setups lessens the user confusion.
  • Swap around occasionally means the load is shared and the life of both is longer.
  • Less lens swaps in the field if I take both with me.
  • When one gets sick and goes for repair, then I can shoot on with the other.
  • Peace of mind having a backup available.
Usually I go out the door with one body, but if it is an important occasion or a "big" holiday then both bodies go along just in case, but again may not always carry both with me every day.

Regards....... Guy
 
Eliminate all lens swapping the easy way.......

920f01ea694d46ff8653e7e3430bfe47.jpg

Now, which one had the fisheye on it?

Regards....... Guy
 
C'Mon Guy, seriously?

Small and light eh?
 
I actually have 3 bodies. I picked up another two spare EM5’s hardly used for €300. So it is not as extravagant as it seems.

When I am out and about it is quicker and easier to have the lens I need already attached to a camera as well as avoiding potential dust problems to have my 3 2.8 zooms already attached to a body.

I picked up this multi body habit I when I did professional theatrical photography with film cameras where there was no time to change lenses in the middle of a fast moving scene as well as being a bit difficult in a dark theatre.

If I just want to travel light I take the brilliant LX100 or an EM5 with a 14-140 zoom.
 
You want us to convince you of the need for a second body?

You already listed some good reasons to do it.

I'm now in slow paced photo work and I don't really need more than one body, but I own 3 bodies. Two Oly and one Nikon. Until recently, I had two Nikon bodies, but I just sold one.

In the days before zoom lenses, two bodies was really helpful so you could have two different prime lenses mounted and switch back and forth as needed. Like at a wedding for example. It also meant you had twice the film loaded, and could have 100 ISO film in on camera and 400 ISO film in the other camera. It also meant not having to change lenses in a dirty environment where dust or sand might enter camera.

However, in modern times there is not much need to carry two bodies because we don't use film anymore, and zoom lenses are pretty good, and (outdoors) a zoom lens can competently do the job of three primes.

So the need for two bodies is no longer compelling for most people. Even a lot of pros (on less critical shoots) carry only one body with them, though they probably have a spare body in the car, or at home.

I no longer carry a second body. I don't need to and I don't want the weight. But I do like owning a spare body just in case. In fact, I own two spare bodies, but I don't carry them with me for most shoots. If a shoot was really of utmost importance, then I'd bring a spare body, but I'd leave it in the car. I'm not going to carry it around all the time, but it's in the car if I need it.

On the other hand, carrying a spare battery on all shoots is a must with OMD cameras, but not necessary with Nikon D5500, or any prosumer or pro DSLR. Mirrorless cameras, and especially OMD mirrorless, do require carrying a spare battery at all times.
 
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Denjw said:
C'Mon Guy, seriously?
Click to expand...
No, just for fun to annoy someone else one day.
Denjw said:
Small and light eh?
Click to expand...
Yup, not a bad weight for 6 bodies. I could actually carry that if I was mad enough.

All with wrist straps so no way to have them all dangling around my neck.

Regards....... Guy
 
While a second body reduces the need to change lenses, it also means having two dangly things around your neck. Both situations I find irritating, not conducive to good photo shooting and creativity.

For me, one camera, and one lens is usually the way to go. If I want to go all "Boy Scout", and "Be Prepared", I'll stuff a second lens in a pocket somewhere.
 
Both mine are the same. The E-M5 is plenty good enough for me and I find it easier to have two the same, rather than have two that handle differently, or have different capabilities.

Normally I take only one at a time - perhaps with the second in the car boot as back up.

I sometimes have both if shooting bands, as it's faster to change cameras than to change a lens.

In my film days I had an OM1 and an OM4. The 1 got far less use than the 4. I'd occasionally take both, if shooting mono and colour. That now seems such a strange idea.
 
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