Second Camera Body

squarerigger · 07-03-2008, 02:07 PM

What are your thoughts about having a second DSLR body? I am for some reason starting to think I need a backup camera body. I have a K10 and have never had any problems with it but the thought of being on a trip and the one camera body I have going belly up on me has me on the verge of purchasing a back up camera body.

Is anyone else here of the same mindset? Am I just being overly cautious?

Thanks for the input

Gary

brothereye · 07-03-2008, 02:15 PM

Well, you could always buy a K20D and keep the K10D as a backup.

That's sort of what I did when I upgraded to a K10D. I had a Samsung GX-1S and a K100D, so I sold the older of the two(GX-1S) and kept the K100D when I upgraded to the K10D.

squarerigger · 07-03-2008, 02:45 PM

I am really thinking of a K200. I don't use all the features of the K10 and I think the K20 is out of my reach both from a money and an ability to use it to it's fullest.

dantuyhoa · 07-03-2008, 02:46 PM

There are many members here have two bodies . It's always good to have a back up . But it's really is your call. You could have K20D , K10D or other 6MP Pentax bodies . Up to your budget . I have the DS and K10D . Work very well for me .

*palmor* · 07-03-2008, 07:49 PM

I had a DS when I bought my K10 and decided to keep the DS as my backup. When I recently upgraded to a K20 I sold the K10 and kept the DS.

The DS is a great backup camera, its small/light and the thing I love is it takes disposable batteries. If you end up going someplace and can't charge your K10 you will always have the ability to buy batteries (or take an extra set) and you'll be good for a long while. I get around 1000 shots on a set of the CVR-3s.

The other nice thing is that if you go someplace that you really need two lenses for, you can keep one on each body. When I went to Alaska last year I knew that I'd be taking a lot of wildlife AND landscape shots and having my 400mm prime lens on my K10 with SR while having my Sigma 17-70 on my DS worked out perfectly. I don't know how many shots I would have missed changing lenses all the time.

Anyway I guess I really like having two bodies, even if the DS doesn't get used all that much

John

Lowell Goudge · 07-03-2008, 09:12 PM

Since it has been a while since this topic came up, I will repeat from memory as it is faster than looking for the other thread.

My own recommendation would be to go for a camera that can do something different, not only as a back up but a compliment.

My own back up for the K10D is accomplished by an *istD and a PZ-1. Why you ask?

Because that is the reverse order of my body purchases

,and because they all do something a little different but all work with the same add ons (lenses flashes etc)

Here goes the logic.

All 3 bodies are virtually identical controls and viewfinders, down to dual thumbwheels and program modes. The PZ-1 is new enough that it uses all my AF lenses, and except for my 10-20mm lens all my glass has turned out to be full frame. (something the FF wannabees keep harping on)
The *istD has some great advantages over the K10D that almost no other DSLR has,
- it can do TTL flash, which means you can use K mount lenses and have decent flash metering.
- it goes to ISO 3200 (OK the K20D can do 6400 so you might want to look at it also)
- the manual lens metering is superior to the K10D or K20D so if you want to use old manual lenses, this is really the body for you

controls and functions are similar to K10D (WB adjustment is not as good), and there are 2 drawbacks, which don't bother me, it is slow, once the buffer is full, and it uses CF cards.

If you don't use old lenses, a K20 would be the way to go, if you do, consider an *istD

PDL · 07-03-2008, 09:22 PM

Having two bodies is nice. It is really nice if they are similar in body function too. In the old days I carried three SLR's with three types of film (Kodachrome 25 - 55mm f1.8, Kodachrome 64 - 28mm and 43-75mm zoom - with either Ektachrome 160 or Ektachrome IR and my 135mm or 30mm telephoto). It is easier to change cameras than it is to change lenses - although with digital that advantage is really not such a consideration, in terms of ISO/film changing. However, in order to "capture" the moment - having gone digital for the most part has simplified the situation.

Now day’s one body will almost do it all. A second body can be handed to the "other" person for their use or carried in case your batteries go dead; the primary camera dies for some reason. On my last long trip - I took two digital cameras, my *ist Ds (now my backup) and a Toshiba P&S - during the last half of the trip the P&S broke - leaving my son without a camera. From that point on - I gave him the 2GB card and we just swapped SD cards and shared. Since then when we go out and about, I give him the *ist Ds and I carry the K10D. Very nice to have two bodies - having more than one is an advantage in the long run.

Now if I ever get a camera beyond the K10D - I will most likely give the *ist Ds to the boy and keep the K10D as the second body. I still have all my 35mm SLR's - and no - 4 is not really enough.

The Elitist - formerly known as PDL

*hwblanks* · 07-03-2008, 09:40 PM

I've debated getting a second body vs. getting a really good P&S that has RAW capability. At this point, I'm leaning towards getting the P&S (something like a Canon G9 or Panasonic Lumix LX2), as it can be carried in my purse for those times where I do want a camera with me, but I don't want my whole DSLR setup.

The one reason I would get another body over a P&S is that I could carry both at the same time mounted with different lenses, so I won't have to change lenses.

I'm waiting to make up my mind for sure until I get all of my lenses for the K10D bought and until we all see what Pentax has up their sleeve at Photokina--a smaller body like the Oly E420 would be very tempting.

Heather

*LaRee* · 07-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by hwblanks

I've debated getting a second body vs. getting a really good P&S that has RAW capability. At this point, I'm leaning towards getting the P&S (something like a Canon G9 or Panasonic Lumix LX2), as it can be carried in my purse for those times where I do want a camera with me, but I don't want my whole DSLR setup.

The one reason I would get another body over a P&S is that I could carry both at the same time mounted with different lenses, so I won't have to change lenses.

I'm waiting to make up my mind for sure until I get all of my lenses for the K10D bought and until we all see what Pentax has up their sleeve at Photokina--a smaller body like the Oly E420 would be very tempting.

Heather

LOL Heather, do you really think you will EVER be DONE with your lens purchases?

Like my sister says, "Your such a comedian."

NicholasN · 07-03-2008, 10:14 PM

I just purchased a 2nd K20D body so I can shoot one K20D with a super-zoom lens and the other with a prime lens.

Although it depends on how much you wanna spend as well!

Lowell Goudge · 07-04-2008, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by hwblanks

I'm waiting to make up my mind for sure until I get all of my lenses for the K10D bought and until we all see what Pentax has up their sleeve at Photokina--a smaller body like the Oly E420 would be very tempting.

Heather

In my suggestion of an *istD or DS, I forgot to mention they are much smaller

and as others have said, youo will never stop getting lenses, so go ahead and get the second body before you spend all your money

Mechan1k · 07-10-2008, 09:26 AM

I had been looking for a while ... and decided to get myself another K10D (due the good prices at the moment).

I was looking at a K100D .. but in the end decided on a body that was indentical to my main one .. in doing so I wouldn't have to keep adjusting from different camera bodies ... makes life a lot easier I guess.

*maxwell1295* · 07-10-2008, 11:20 AM

If you do event photography, you definitely want to have a backup available. For vacationing you could always rent a 2nd body for a couple of weeks, but we all know you just really want to have a 2nd body.

I would think you'd want 2 bodies with similar controls. In my case, I have the K200D with the K100D as a backup/2nd body. I had the K100D originally and upgraded to the K200D. The big thing for me was the fact that both bodies have nearly identical controls and both use AA batteries. I have a total of 6 sets of Eneloops for both bodies and for my flashes. This makes life a lot easier for me.