What do you do with old bodies?

[friedmud]

Had my XSi fail on me (shutter stuck) while on a recent photography trip to Oregon (and only 2 days in on a 5 day trip!). After using my iPhone 4S to shoot with for the rest of the trip I vowed I would never again go without a backup camera!

I sent the XSi in to get it fixed, bought a 7D in the meantime and have now received my XSi back.

I'm currently on a trip and brought both bodies with me. Haven't taken the XSi out yet... and don't really plan to. But I know it's there if I need it!

Also, I have done weddings for friends in the past... and one time was able to borrow another XSi so I had two... and _wow_ did that help! I put a long lens on one and my 17-55 f/2.8 with a flash on the other... it was great to be able to quickly switch back and forth during the ceremony. The 7D will be even better in that regard...

 

[justsomedude]

Dump them near the graveyard propably.

+1

Unfortunately, bodies are disposable. They are simply a tool in an artist's arsenal. As they get updated by newer bodies with better features, they move towards obselesence and their value decreases.

The real investment in photography is high quality glass, as great lenses can last you decades. Your bodies, on the other hand, will come and go with greater frequency.

 

[AprilForever]

Hide them so the cops don't find out.... :-X :-* :'(

 

[Kernuak]

When I got my 40D, I passed the 400D that I was replacing onto my Dad. Then during the period I was first considering replacing the 40D, I was in a situation where I could have done with a second body and missed the shot because of it (I was looking at the 5D MkII by that time, but didn't fit in with my wildlife interests). I decided then, that I needed a second backup body. Eventually when the 7D arrived, I kept the 40D as a backup, until I decided to get the 5D MkII for landscape work. The 40D was originally a Canon refurb, which I was lucky and got for a good price, as a result, I only lost £42 on the resale, less than 10% of the original price. The 1D-X is appealing (although the cost isn't ), but I'm not sure which body it would replace. The logical one would be the 7D in some ways, but I'd probably miss the extra reach, plus I'd probably lose less on the 5D MkII and it would give me more towards the 1D-X. It would be nice to get the 1D-X, but it wouldn't be for some time after its release, unless I win the lottery.

 

[kennykodak]

a fellow i know has a huge aquarium in his studio. every piece of broken, obsolete or otherwise useless photographic equipment he has become part of a reef.

 

[dr croubie]

I made a jacket out of the skin, and buried the unusable bits out in the woods.

 

[iaind]

Donate them to medical science

 

[J. McCabe]

Give it proper burial in a pet cemetary.

 

[m3tek44]

Try to sell it on ebay or craigslist. If not just give it to my kids.

 

[Edwin Herdman]

My T1i isn't all that old, and has probably at least half the shutter life left. When I determine if it gives "sharper" images than my 7D, I'll know whether to keep it for product type photography or whether to ponder something else for it. It would be nice to have a backup body, but if Canon releases a new and amazing camera in early 2012 (which seems quite probable) it would be foolish to keep the T1i and not get some money back in reserve for an upgrade to a camera sharper than even the 7D.

 

[Dylan777]

So, you bought a new shiny body.

What do you do with the old one?
- Sell it (even though its value has gone down a lot)
- Keep it as a spare body
- Still use it, together with the current main body
- Give it away to a "promising" relative/friend

How many bodies do you own, and why do you own them still?

For me...I will sell it and use the money to fund newer camera.

I would rather own one newer camera (better IQ) and use it daily - more than having mutiple old cameras sitting in the bag and waiting to be used.

 

[razorite]

I Started with a rebel xs(1000d) and i now have a 5dii , right now i have 3 bodies a 40d, a 7d, and a 5dii. i sold the rebel xs to a friend for an extra low price to fund the 7d. Id probably sell bodies to acquire new ones but thats if i already have a backup if i dont ill keep it as a backup.