Second Camera Body

[Andy H]

OK gents a little advice I currently have:

canon eos500n body
canon 28-80mm f3.5-f5.6 lens
canon 75-300mm f4-f5.6 lens

I use the stuff for a variety of things mostly either motorsport or travel photography including wildlfe.

I have decided to buy a second camera body, mainly so I can use one as a back-up on trips to less developed countries in case something happens to my exisiting body and I'm not able to easily repair or replace it.

Having a second body would also remove the pain in the ass swapping from one lens to another all the time.

Any suggestions on the best Canon model for the second body - budget is not a constraint but I'd rather not pay a fortune for a body if it doesn't give me much extra, if I wanted to spend a fortune I'll do that on a lens!

Andy

[G_Ilott]

I have myself come to the conclusion that a second body would be a reasonable investment to avoid the pain of missing shots by having the wrong lens fitted, plus a backup. I'm sorry but I'm not really familiar with the 500 having started my EOS life with a 600 but I will assume they have basically the same features.

Earlier this year I decided to upgrade my trusty EOS600 to something with mirror lock-up and an adjustable dioptre. After much research of new and used bodies, I found that an EOS 1N was perfect for my needs, and, as this was once the 'pro-spec' model, it is built like a tank and lovely to use. It is also very affordable at around £500 for a MINT- example, not pristine but everything working and little signs of use.

I intend purchasing another over the winter to attach to my big lens and sling it over my shoulder when wandering around fields.

I find batteries last much longer in the 1N than the 600, even though I shoot more now than I ever have.

Other than the 1N, you might want to consider a used D30 body as these are very affordable now and a good entry into digital shennanigans. And it could also give you instant feedback metering tricky once-in-a-lifetime subjects in some far-flung place.

[gi_gav]

I would have said the EOS 30 or 33, but if you can stretch to a 1N it'd almost certainly be worth it (especially in terms of build quality)

Check out Jessops second hand stuff, cos i know there's a few D30's listed - www.jessops.com/used

[Andy H]

Thanks for the advice gents - I'm currently working in Toronto for the forseeable future does anyone know any trustworthy places for used equipment.....

[paul-collins]

Henry's is the main one (www.henrys.ca), they have multiple Toronto area shops, but the big used inventory is at their downtown (Queen and Jarvis IIRC) location.

I'm afraid I don't know much else about camera shops - my favourite was Alt Camera, and they went out of business about a year and a half ago.

[G_Ilott]

EOS 5 is another to consider, about half the price of the 1N secondhand and still quite well-built - but no dioptre adjustment