Back up camera options???

<p>I'm wondering which body I should invest in as a back up. I've spent a couple of years as a 2nd shooter to local photographers and doing small weddings for friends and family. I'm now setting out to get my own bookings, but I'm lacking a back up body. My primary is a D700 and all my lenses are FX. I thought about a D90, D200 or 300 but don't really want a DX body given my only DX lens is an old 18-70mm f/3.5-4. If I ever have to use it I'd like stick with an FX system - SO - my question is: is it crazy to grab a used film camera like an F5 to keep in reserve?</p>

<p>If you cannot afford another D700, I would get a D7000 or D90. If you use an F5, you need to get sufficient film to use on your backup and film will expire. Worse yet, while you can get decent results at ISO 1600 and 3200 from the D700, ISO 800 film is very grainy. That will really limit you at weddings.</p>

<p>I agree with Shun that F5 is not the best option at this time but if you have D700 I'd rather suggest to look for a used D300(s) because the two cameras share the same controls and menus. I have this combo and it is very helpful to have all the controls and menus in the same place.</p>

<p>Regarding the lack of DX glass this is not a big deal. I'm not shooting weddings but recently my niece got married so I took some gear at her wedding. After negotiating in my mind different scenarios I mounted 24/1.4 on D700 and 24-70/2.8 and SB700 bracketed on D300 and this setup worked as a charm. I had in my bag 85/1.4, 35/2 and Sigma 150/2.8 but they've got very little action, less than 5% from total. So you can use your FX glass on a DX body very well.</p>

<p>If it's just for backup, i.e. you don't use two bodies simultaneously, than a film body is a good choice IMHO; I'd get an F100 or F80 however, since F5 is heavy (for a backup) and needs lots of batteries. Also, learn to use film, it's specifics, pick up the right films for the job etc., and have a lot of rolls. Actually, it'd be also wise to have two backup film bodies, to not lose pictures while rewinding and changing films. So, one more F75 in there. Who knows, maybe you'll switch purely to film eventually. It happened.</p>

<p>Still it's a good idea to get another D700 as soon as possible. Having two bodies makes work much easier, but I wouldn't want to mix FX and DX either (I know lots of pros do, but it's just my opinion).</p>

<p>There's no way I'd use an F5. I had one and it was like carrying a concrete block around. If people are relying on you to get the shots, my thinking is you should buy a used D700. The controls are the same, the CF cards are the same, the batteries are the same.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>I agree with Shun and Mihai. I currently use a D300s as my main camera and a D90 as a backup, but I know plenty of other photographers that have an FX as the main camera and a DX as a backup. What makes DX an attractive backup option (aside from the lower price) is the crop factor IMO. Chances are you may need extended reach (or photo purposes other than weddings) and the DX camera gives you that easily. Also, a D90 or a D7000 will give you a smaller option if you want to travel light, and the 18-70 you currently have is enough...you won't need to invest in any other DX lenses. Many photographers I know shoot weddings with a 24-70 on a D700 or D3, and a 70-200 on a D300 or D300s. A film camera would be good to have, but not as a backup to a digital camera for paid gigs IMO. Kent's option of a second D700 off the used market is also good.</p>

A quick look at completed sales shows that the price differential between D700 & F5 is around $2k, a big step up. The

total difference in workflow, inability to check if something is not going right and less accessible PP would, for me,

make sticking with digital a no-brainer. I don't shoot weddings but the risk of things going wrong during an

unrepeatable event (without enormous cost and humiliation on your part) would persuade me to at least hire a second

D700 until I earnt enough to buy one. How much does one make from a wedding shoot anyway?

 

I use a D700 and a D300 together and love the range of FL I can get with mixed formats and the same lens set.

Something not to be ignored in my opinion. The two bodies yield very similar results with very similar handling

experiences. It's running at around $900 used against $350 for the F5, nowhere near enough of a difference not to get

the D300.

 

Again, I don't shoot weddings but that is my gut feeling on the subject.

<p>Agree, I also think a DX camera is a more practical choice (and I`m a regular film user).</p>

<p>As a secondary camera (for fun), the F5 is fine. If needed, your D700 will tell you the way.</p>

<p>But if you`re really looking for a "serious", "practical" backup, it seems to me a risky choice. If your main camera fails, with a F5 you`ll not be able to check the images, nor the hystogram, and your shooting capacity will be limited to 36 frame sets, instead of 300 (8Gb card) or 600(16Gb card).</p>

<p>I'm actually in the same place you are, need a backup body to a D7000 and 6 FX lenses. I'm also just starting to shoot my own weddings. I spent all my money on glass, so for now, I think I'll go with a used D70, strictly as a backup, in case my D7000 fails I can still keep shooting, but as I get a few jobs rolling in, I plan on upgrading to either another D7000, or a D300. I've been in several dusty\wet environments with the D7000 and I was very disappointing at the camera's weather sealing, so that' made me want to go D300 (at least one body would be good to have it on), or maybe if I start making enough, D700. Although honestly, its expected that within the next year Nikon will announce another Pro body, so most likely I will wait for that, either to pick up a deal on an older body or save for the new one.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I've been in several dusty\wet environments with the D7000 and I was very disappointing at the camera's weather sealing, so that' made me want to go D300</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I have both and don't think the D300 will do any better, or for that matter the D700 or D3's weather sealing will be any better than the D7000's.</p>

<p>If I were in your position, these are the cameras (in descending order of priority) I would “invest in” as a back up to a D700 for shooting weddings:</p>

<ol>

<li>D700 -- I prefer identical controls and handling from an identical camera</li>

<li>D3x – very expensive but is an FX with great dynamic range</li>

<li>D3 or D3s – expensive but meets the FX criteria</li>

<li>Fuji S5 – DX with great dynamic range</li>

<li>D90 – DX with good dynamic range</li>

<li>D300</li>

<li>D200</li>

<li>Compact digital camera</li>

<li>Medium format film camera</li>

<li>35mm film camera</li>

</ol>