Using 2 different system cameras?

[AncientMariner]

At this point in time, my regular shoots are of portraiture (actually just shots of pretty girls), sports and wildlife (well, okay - mostly birds). I love what the 5D allows me to do right now. However, as the common saying amongst bird-shooters goes, I have finding myself short by a couple hundred mm in focal length. Now in need of the upgrade I was looking forward to, I am not a happy camper. Sony's silence about lenses above 300mm and my fear that if any do come, it will be too long in doing so and at exorbitant prices, has forced me to look at alternatives. As I already bring more than 1 camera out with me, I am planning on getting one of the big name brand cameras for my ultra telephoto needs and retaining (or perhaps getting the A100) for the rest.
On a recent model shoot, I saw a friend shooting with a Canon and a Fujifilem S3 pro. When asked, he told me he did not have a problem switching cameras in the midst of shooting but I am skeptical because even though I have little problem with the Dynax 5 and Dynax 5D combination, I often get it wrong and at least slower, between my 5D and FZ10.
Anyone here care to share their experience in switching cameras whilst shooting?

 

[smtan24]

I think the person to ask would be zenten. I heard he has several different systems.

 

[jsbn]

At this point in time, my regular shoots are of portraiture (actually just shots of pretty girls), sports and wildlife (well, okay - mostly birds). I love what the 5D allows me to do right now. However, as the common saying amongst bird-shooters goes, I have finding myself short by a couple hundred mm in focal length. Now in need of the upgrade I was looking forward to, I am not a happy camper. Sony's silence about lenses above 300mm and my fear that if any do come, it will be too long in doing so and at exorbitant prices, has forced me to look at alternatives. As I already bring more than 1 camera out with me, I am planning on getting one of the big name brand cameras for my ultra telephoto needs and retaining (or perhaps getting the A100) for the rest.
On a recent model shoot, I saw a friend shooting with a Canon and a Fujifilem S3 pro. When asked, he told me he did not have a problem switching cameras in the midst of shooting but I am skeptical because even though I have little problem with the Dynax 5 and Dynax 5D combination, I often get it wrong and at least slower, between my 5D and FZ10.
Anyone here care to share their experience in switching cameras whilst shooting?

Hmm... juz a matter of getting used to it I guess? :dunno:

Cameras are basically light-tight boxes and the difference between systems perhaps would be their different characteristics and the manufacturer's default 'preferences' where metering, colour and contrast are concerned.

When I got a new system, it took me 3 days to get the hang of the controls and metering and that would be it. Since u've got 2 systems on hand continuously, I guess it would be a matter of knowing characteristics of both systems?

Sigh.... Any idea if the actual reviews and photos of the A100 is out already?

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

Hmm... juz a matter of getting used to it I guess? :dunno:

Cameras are basically light-tight boxes and the difference between systems perhaps would be their different characteristics and the manufacturer's default 'preferences' where metering, colour and contrast are concerned.

When I got a new system, it took me 3 days to get the hang of the controls and metering and that would be it. Since u've got 2 systems on hand continuously, I guess it would be a matter of knowing characteristics of both systems?

Sigh.... Any idea if the actual reviews and photos of the A100 is out already?

going for dual camera systems? i.e. Sonikon? :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[Terence]

I often shoot with up to 3 different systems at the same time without any real problems. Really a matter of getting used to your equipment.

 

[zcf]

Sigh.... Any idea if the actual reviews and photos of the A100 is out already?

Why want to come back to sony :devil:

Should be out anytime after Alpha 100 is really launch in the market. Since Phil in DPReview have received a production unit for review quite early on.

 

[jsbn]

Maybe some time in the future? If I can see a marked improvement on my photos which S3Pro can't offer (like 0 noise on ISO3200), why not? ;p

 

[my_photography]

One of the difficulty to having more than 1 systems is, you need to carry more loads. Other than carrying 2 bodies and various lenses for the different systems, the one thing I hate most is to carry two flashes.

 

[AncientMariner]

going for dual camera systems? i.e. Sonikon? :bsmilie::bsmilie:

Still considering options but that seems to be the most attractive combination.
Don't think Sony or anyone else would be coming out with any camera giving a standard 1.5X plus 2X crop factor (with the "high speed cropping" of 8fps) this decade, which makes extending range so much faster than having to hook up a TC in the field.

 

[TME]

One of the difficulty to having more than 1 systems is, you need to carry more loads. Other than carrying 2 bodies and various lenses for the different systems, the one thing I hate most is to carry two flashes.

If he is doing birding, no need 2 flashes...

 

[Zenten]

I think the person to ask would be zenten. I heard he has several different systems.

Boy ....my reputation sure is bad ...... :embrass:

 

[smtan24]

Boy ....my reputation sure is bad ...... :embrass:

Not bad reputation. Camera expert since you use so many different brand.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Trigger Happy]

wouldn't having 2 or more systems likely double or triple your investment and storage? not to mention the confusion that comes with the dials when you swap cameras... if the issue here is simply with having alonger lens, have you tried those 500mm manual ones? unless you're trying to catch a bird in full flight you should be able to focus fast enough. such lenses are not expensive.. certainly cheaper than getting a new system...

 

[AncientMariner]

One of the difficulty to having more than 1 systems is, you need to carry more loads. Other than carrying 2 bodies and various lenses for the different systems, the one thing I hate most is to carry two flashes.

I already bring 3-4 lenses, 2 flash guns and either my FZ10 (for sports and nature) and my Minolta SLR (for others). With a different dSLR body, I might be still able to just bring the number of lenses and flash guns but have to plan more carefully what to bring e.g. whether to back up or cover range.

If he is doing birding, no need 2 flashes...

Yes, I only use a single flash with a flash extender for birds. However, for portraiture, I do often use up to 3 flash guns plus umbrellas, reflectors etc.

wouldn't having 2 or more systems likely double or triple your investment and storage? not to mention the confusion that comes with the dials when you swap cameras... if the issue here is simply with having alonger lens, have you tried those 500mm manual ones? unless you're trying to catch a bird in full flight you should be able to focus fast enough. such lenses are not expensive.. certainly cheaper than getting a new system...

Yes, the investment would increase and there will be some overlapping of equipment but I worry more about fumbling when switching equipment and losing the opportunity. I try to follow what most wildlife photographers do - having a camera with the longer telephoto mounted on a tripod and slinging another camera shorter lens on a shoulder for inflight shots to which one can switch quickly if a different target suddenly appears nearer or from a different direction. I already have a Tamron SP AF 200-500mm LD Di IF which currently am using for both static and action shots. The KM 5D's AS allows me to shoot handheld even at 500mm and,with more practice, I think I should be able to still get acceptable results. I intend to later use this slung over my shoulder in place of my FZ10 + LTZ10 combo which is too slow. Now I am looking for either a 600f4 or 800f5.6 for static shots. So the 500mm f8 would be too slow for my purpose and would not be in my shopping list.