Used XSI's run in the 450-490 range and shutterlife is rated for 100,000. Pick up a couple 4 gb. SD cards and you're good to go. I would use this for a 3rd and even a 2nd camera with no problem. High ISO performance at 1600 is solid and the LCD beats a 20D easily.
I use a XSI at school where we took over 15,000 images for sports, graduation, classroom actiivites, etc. I think its a great value.
The key to all of this is 3rd backup. Not primary backup. So, the 20D for the low cost, minimal use, and reliability seems reasonable to me. How many circumstances will this lil backup be utilized to make it worth spending a couple hundred dollars more? Probably not many.
Again, many of us are spoiled and don't realize what we have in even the "older" technology such as the 20D.
dpun wrote:
I remember Ektar when it came out, I was in college at the time. It was much better than Kodak Gold that you found in WalMart/Target.
Ditto. I did some still lifes and some landscapes on Ektar 25 that blew me away. Amazingly fine grain and amazing color fidelity. And amazingly slow! I had a 55mm f/1.2 Rikinon, and needed every bit of that big aperture most of the time.
I shoot two 5D's with a 20D as backup as well. I wouldn't if I wasn't happy to shoot an entire wedding with that 20D should need be. It's a very capable camera and used to be my 2nd body before I got a cheap refurb 5D as 2nd camera.
One virtually every performance measurement done the 20D is the match of the 30D and according to DXO slightly better in all categories except low light where it is a match. Get the 20D and don't worry about it. The one we have let still delivers great images and is a real bargain for the price.
my 20D is still in service as a second body at weddings / events. my 1D is also still in service as a backup body at weddings and as a second body for sports. my main body is a 1D2.
Because this is would be your 3rd camera, a backup to a backup; chances are you will never use it at wedding. I would actually suggest getting a Rebel series instead of 20/30/40D. It's small enough for you when you need a PS camera if you need to go really light, and yet still does the job if both 5D fail.
Or... you might want to ask yourself the question... do I really need a THIRD body? The more crap you have to remember, the more crap you're going to forget, IMO.
I have a backup 5D for my 5D Mark II, but that's mainly because I upgraded and wouldn't have gotten my money back on the 5D anyways if I sold it. I couldn't imagine buying a far inferior camera right now as a second backup, though... it would be better than nothing in the worst case scenario, but I guess I'm not that paranoid (or perhaps I just haven't yet been exposed to the harsh reality of things yet).
TTLKurtis wrote:
Or... you might want to ask yourself the question... do I really need a THIRD body? The more crap you have to remember, the more crap you're going to forget, IMO.
I have a backup 5D for my 5D Mark II, but that's mainly because I upgraded and wouldn't have gotten my money back on the 5D anyways if I sold it. I couldn't imagine buying a far inferior camera right now as a second backup, though... it would be better than nothing in the worst case scenario, but I guess I'm not that paranoid (or perhaps I just haven't yet been exposed to the harsh reality of things yet)....Show more →
It's ridiculously cheap insurance is all it is.
Odds are overwhelmingly in favor of "You'll never need it" and yet if you believe that having a backup is essential then what would happen the day you go take a shot with your 5D2 and it locks up and refuses to fire? You would pick up your 5D knowing that you have ZERO backup.
Unfortunatelly once your 5D2 locks up 2 minutes into the ceremony the odds of your 5D's mirror falling out are no lower than the odds of anyone else's 5D's mirror falling out. Nor are the odds of you dropping your 5D any lower.
On top of that you gain a body you don't feel as protective about for the times when you want to go shoot and not worry too much about the equipment.
Speaking of the 5D Mark II locking up... it does like to do that now and again... rather annoying, though it has only happened a few times. Turning it off, yanking the batteries, putting them back in, and turning camera back on seems to fix it.
And I think it may be my Sandisk 8GB CF cards to blame...
As for having a camera to shoot with that I 'don't care about' - well I would never take anything but my best camera for any shoot anyways. Except for when I take my G10 point-n-shoot...
Now, I'm just throwing this out there as an idea... but if worst case scenario happened, you could probably borrow uncle Bob's or aunt Catherine's DSLR if both of yours die. Surely somebody there will have one compatible with your gear. :P
TTLKurtis wrote:
...Now, I'm just throwing this out there as an idea... but if worst case scenario happened, you could probably borrow uncle Bob's or aunt Catherine's DSLR if both of yours die. Surely somebody there will have one compatible with your gear. :P
I definitely would rather carry my own backup than take the risk, however slight, of having to say to the bride, "Excuse me while I see if any of your guests has a camera I can borrow." Talk about unprofessional!
I agree with Lisy78; spending $250 - $500 for a tertiary body is cheap insurance, even though it'll probably never be needed.
