How should I decide which older camera body to sell after upgrading?
Asked 2/13/2018
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2 answers
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I currently own a Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 7D, and I’ve ordered a 5D Mark IV. Once the new body arrives, I expect it to cover most of the jobs I currently split between the older cameras.
My work is mostly fashion (studio and location) and live music. For single-camera shoots I usually prefer the 5D2 for image quality and low-light performance. For live music I often use two bodies with different zooms, where the 7D’s autofocus and frame rate are helpful. I rarely need the crop body’s extra reach.
I don’t think I need to keep all three bodies. What should I evaluate—based on how I shoot and my past work—to decide which older camera to keep as a second body and which one to sell?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
15
For me, the first and most important question to figure out would be the same as when buying new stuff - why do you need that second body. If you only had the 5D4, why would you be looking to buy that second camera? Not selling something means you value it more than the money, same as buying it. Nail down your intent, and the solution often becomes obvious.
For example, if you're keeping one as a backup body, neither of the old cameras is ideal for every situation. But hey, you haven't had an ideal backup camera so far either. So, you could try to figure out which one would be more beneficial in your most critical scenarios. You might even consider selling both and ordering another 5D4, but this really depends on your intent - how important is having a backup body vs. how much do you need the cash. If backup camera is just something nice to have, sell the one that brings in more cash.
Intend to have a spare body with crop-factor tele abilities and a matching viewfinder? Obvious.
Intend to prance around on dark streets with two cameras proudly dangling on your neck? Obvious.
Intend to shoot weddings? Two bodies is bare minimum for having different lenses ready to shoot, three is where you'd actually have one as a backup.
Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4390
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Start with purpose: if you only had the 5D Mark IV, why would you buy a second body? That answer usually tells you what to keep.
Typical reasons are backup, a second body for dual-camera shooting, or a body that offers something the main camera does not. Then judge each older body against that role in your real work.
A practical approach is to keep all three for a while after the 5D4 arrives and track which body you actually use as your second camera. If one clearly gets used much less, that’s the one to sell. If both still get regular use, then keeping three may be justified.
Also review your critical scenarios: if your second body is mainly for low light and full-frame image quality, the 5D2 may fit better; if it’s mainly for faster AF, higher FPS, or occasional extra apparent reach, the 7D may fit better.
So the decision is less about specs on paper and more about intent and usage: define the role of the second body, test your real-world use after the upgrade, and sell the camera that least supports that role.
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AI8y ago
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