Two full frame bodies or full frame and crop sensor?

[nc0b]

For weddings, or any once in a lifetime event, you obviously need a second body. Two 5D Mk IIIs would make total since because any different model will have some controls in different places. In a more generic setting, I mostly shoot FF, but it is handy having a crop for the extra reach. Even if one takes the position that cropping a FF is better than the image quality of a crop body, I don't think that is the entire picture. If I am shooting at a long distance, I can see my subject better with the crop.

I just got back from a once in a lifetime trip to Easter Island and Machu Picchu. There was no way I was going to travel that far away with one body and one lens! I am not a pro, so I don't own a 5D3 or a 1DX. I took my 6D with 24-105mm and a 60D with 70-200mm f/4 IS. This combination covered all my needs. I could have taken my 5Dc but then I would have had two kinds of batteries and two kinds of memory cards.

Aside from what I consider a special case - weddings - you need to look at the whole picture. I couldn't carry everything I own to Easter Island, but I do take four bodies on vacations in the car. I keep at least three bodies with a wide range of lenses ready to go at a moment's notice. An elk or an eagle isn't going to wait around all day for you to get your gear setup! In the 70s and 80s I always had two bodies, one loaded with Plus X and one with some kind of color film. One body didn't cut it back then, nor does it today.

 

[Alefoto]

If you plan to continue doing weddings a second 5D III would be your better option. Even if I have never done a wedding, I have a couple of friends doing them and they always state they need to go with 2 cameras and backup of almost every piece of gear, if something breaks down. Otherwise they would have to deal with a very pissed off bride after having ruined her day... A second 5D III would be better than a 6D to simplify your handling and not having to dig around menus.

For nature and wildlife instead a 5D III plus a crop body it's way better. You can skip on teleconverters and have reach with better quality at the same time.

Maybe you need 3 cameras

 

[tayassu]

The 5DIII is the better wedding camera and I would hate to shoot simultaneously with two bodies that have a different AF system (e.g. at a wedding). If you have long enough lenses, go for the 5DIII.

 

[Ryan85]

If you plan to continue doing weddings a second 5D III would be your better option. Even if I have never done a wedding, I have a couple of friends doing them and they always state they need to go with 2 cameras and backup of almost every piece of gear, if something breaks down. Otherwise they would have to deal with a very pissed off bride after having ruined her day... A second 5D III would be better than a 6D to simplify your handling and not having to dig around menus.

For nature and wildlife instead a 5D III plus a crop body it's way better. You can skip on teleconverters and have reach with better quality at the same time.

Maybe you need 3 cameras

Lol maybe!

 

[Phil Lowe]

I own the 5D3. When I wanted a second body as a backup or for wildlife, I went with the 7D, and just recently bought the 7D2.

If you're planning on shooting wildlife, a crop-sensor camera is going to give you more reach (more pixels on your subject) than your 5D3. I use the 5D3 for portraits and landscapes. I use my 7D for wildlife.

Having noted that, the shutter on the new 7D2 is so quiet, I wouldn't hesitate using it for weddings in a heartbeat. It would perform very well as a portrait/wedding/event camera, too.

 

[adhocphotographer]

I have a 5DIII, which i love... eventually i would love a second camera (I use my wifes 100D as a back-up/second body when she lets me). Initially I thought i would wait for the 5DIV, but the 7DII is appealing as it would add length to my wildlife shooting... 5D for low-light situations and the 7DII for nice lighting and length! hmmmm... Tough call!

It's a tough call to make. If i where you, i would just take a minute to revel in the fact that our problems revolve around which DSLR should we get as a 2nd body! :

FYI... this pic might be out of context, but it low-light capabilities are important... this was shot after sun-set at iso 12800 5DMKIII + 500mmLII... this is where having FF shines... some slight noise-reduction but not too much! I would never ditch my 5D, but the addition of a 7DII could be beneficial!

 

[Thorix]

I don't run photography as a business, though I am using 2 bodies, 5D3 for FF, and just traded 7D against 7D2.
From the backup point of view (both FF) a 6D or another 5D3 would have been consequent. But as non-pro the additional features (video, GPS etc.) and reach of Crop and 7D2 were desirable. I didn't want to spend same money for a 6D which would only sit in my trolley waiting for the 5D3 to fail. That's why 7D2. Though, lens selection for parallel use of 2 bodies gets trickier. Due to the crop-factor, with the typical lens combos, you'll either have an overlap or a gap, when using FF and Crop bodies in parallel. But as regards handling, 5D3 and 7DII are perfect siblings!

 

[Cosmicbug]

I don't run photography as a business, though I am using 2 bodies, 5D3 for FF, and just traded 7D against 7D2.
From the backup point of view (both FF) a 6D or another 5D3 would have been consequent. But as non-pro the additional features (video, GPS etc.) and reach of Crop and 7D2 were desirable. I didn't want to spend same money for a 6D which would only sit in my trolley waiting for the 5D3 to fail. That's why 7D2. Though, lens selection for parallel use of 2 bodies gets trickier. Due to the crop-factor, with the typical lens combos, you'll either have an overlap or a gap, when using FF and Crop bodies in parallel. But as regards handling, 5D3 and 7DII are perfect siblings!

+1
A backup camera is just that, a backup and would rarely see the light of day. A 7Dmk2 crop sensor would give you more shooting versatility, with more reach and FPS.

 

[FEBS]

If wedding and events is your main area, then for sure take the 5D3. Once I started FF I did no longer use my 7D (which will be sold now). Afterwards I added a 1Dx, as action is my primary area. For sports that's great. Even the 5D3 is good for sport (better AF compared to 7D). Wildlife asks for longer lenses. I even mentioned that the 200-400 1.4x lens is several times to short. For that reason I recently bought a 7D2. But the last one will never being used for a wedding. There I would use only FF.

So as a backup camera in your case, I would go for a second 5D3.

 

[Etienne]

Since you have the money for a second 5D3, I'd say sell your existing 5D3 and buy a 1Dx.

 

[FTb-n]

Get the second 5D3. I did and am thrilled with it. One with a 24-70 f2.8 and second with a 70-200 f2.8 II is a killer combination.

If you get a crop for a second body, you will often be switching lenses between the bodies. There was a time when my 7D was my backup to the 5D3 and I spent a lot of time moving the 70-200 between the two based on whether I wanted the reach, versus the pop and sharp detail on the 5D3. Ultimately the pop and IQ on the 5D3 outweighed any reach advantage of the 7D.

 

[Ryan85]

I own the 5D3. When I wanted a second body as a backup or for wildlife, I went with the 7D, and just recently bought the 7D2.

If you're planning on shooting wildlife, a crop-sensor camera is going to give you more reach (more pixels on your subject) than your 5D3. I use the 5D3 for portraits and landscapes. I use my 7D for wildlife.

Having noted that, the shutter on the new 7D2 is so quiet, I wouldn't hesitate using it for weddings in a heartbeat. It would perform very well as a portrait/wedding/event camera, too.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Ryan85]

I have a 5DIII, which i love... eventually i would love a second camera (I use my wifes 100D as a back-up/second body when she lets me). Initially I thought i would wait for the 5DIV, but the 7DII is appealing as it would add length to my wildlife shooting... 5D for low-light situations and the 7DII for nice lighting and length! hmmmm... Tough call!

It's a tough call to make. If i where you, i would just take a minute to revel in the fact that our problems revolve around which DSLR should we get as a 2nd body! :

FYI... this pic might be out of context, but it low-light capabilities are important... this was shot after sun-set at iso 12800 5DMKIII + 500mmLII... this is where having FF shines... some slight noise-reduction but not too much! I would never ditch my 5D, but the addition of a 7DII could be beneficial!

Great shot. Amazing at that ISO. I've never shot with that lens but with the 400 5.6 I get similar results shooting wildlife while there not moving much in low light. It's amazing being able to use ISO that high with the results. And your right it's a good problem to have deciding which second body we need!