Backup camera recommendations

[Toogy]

I am starting to do more pro work lately and feel the need to have a backup camera.
I am torn between the following options.

1. Rebel XT 350D - good features
2. Rebel 300D - good price
3. Used 10D - not sure about this, since I won't be able to use my 10-22 :(
5. Another 20D - not sure either because of budget concerns.
6. Win the lottery and buy a IDs MII and relegate my 20D to the backup - yah right.

What would you guys do?

[ddelallata]

I'd go for the Rebel XT.

[tim]

Has your 20D ever not worked? I'd go for whatever's cheap, given how often it'll probably be used. Personally i'm gona get a 1DMk3 when they come out, and use the 20D as a backup.

[ScottE]

Two identical bodies will lead to fewer errors if you plan to switch from one camera to the other fairly often.

If you are looking for a camera to use only if your main camera fails, the 350D would be more economical.

Scott

[davidfig]

I agree with ScottE.

Two identical bodies are best, if you plan to switch. But there is one caveat. This style has been used for decades. Many wedding photog's worry that a camera may have a problem and would not find out about it until the film was developed. By using two cameras, you increase the odds greatly. But with digital cameras, it can be seen on the viewer.

Lots of photographers spend money on a good body and have the cheapest as a backup. I once saw a wedding done with a 1DsMarkII and a rebel as a backup. But understand that the backup camera had just a good a lens as the MarkII.

This may sound stupid at first, but what sets wedding photographers apart is the lace. When I did weddings. The brides would notice the details in the wedding dresses of the large 20x30 prints on my wall. This was back in the 120/220 days. Medium format out shined 35mm. This is why the above photographer had a MarkII.

Since not many of us have 8K for a body. I think you can do a good job starting out with the 300D and put your money into the lenses.

As an example, the last wedding I went to the photographer had a $1200 nikon d70 body and a $1500 28-70 2.8 lens. That's right, more money in the lens.

[bauerman]

You can pick up a lightly used Rebel for under $500 - hard to beat that price..............

[Pelao]

A 300D, used or new. Chances are you will never use it, so why spend more. But if you do need it, it handles all your lenses and I have rarely seen it's ability to capture great images criticized.

I am not sure, but do the 300D and 20D use the same battery? If they do, it's another small, but perhaps useful factor.

[MrThanh]

I am not sure, but do the 300D and 20D use the same battery? If they do, it's another small, but perhaps useful factor.

yes both the 20D and 300D use the BP511 battery pack. it is quite handy to carry around another body that uses the same battery pack. with a camera that uses different batteries, you would probably also have to carry spare batteries for that as well.

Also with batteries, if you're not going to use the backup camera often the batteries will eventually get damaged since you're not supposed to keep them completely charged for extended periods of time.

it does make a lot of sense to get the 300D if all you plan to use it for is backup. it will also take any lens from your 20D. but whatever you choose from that list, you definitely wont be dissapointed.

[Rob612]

I can tell you my experience with two bodies (the 20D being the last one to enter my bag). I do not really got the second body as a "backup" but more as a real second camera for those situation where you desperately need a different lens than what you have mounted, and need it FAST. A second body with a different lens attached helps a lot, its much more quick to change camera instead of change lens. So, having the 350, I went for a 20D because the budget was allowing.

Of course i do not regret a penny of the 20D but I do feel the problem in switching to a different camera, with different performances (not in term of quality, but other functions like ISO/AF/Metering changes etc). My advice, for what is worth, is try to get 2 equal bodies, especially if you do not need them only as a backup as I do.

Basically then, everything depends upon what is going to be your usage of the second body. If its only a backup, chose whatever fits your budget better (I will stick to a 350 anyway, the 300 - I had it - is definitely obsolete and I do not see any reason for buying something that is already old in concept).

But be warned, if you do shoot some fast action (my main interests are birds and macro) you eill end up using both bodies with different lenses. Depending on the situation, I have three different setups that I use more often than others:

1) 20D with 70-200 2.8 (and eventually 2x attached) plus 350 with 90 mm Macro
2) 20D with 35-350 plus 350 with 10-22
3) 20D with 70-200 or whatever I need and 350 with whatever my wife chooses to have (this is for when we both go out shooting).

I love have two bodies. If my wife gets more into photography, I think I'll pass permanently the 350 to hes (she loves it because of the size) and get myself another body (either a 20D or, if the budget allows, something in the 1 digit series, but in that case I am going to sell the 20d an get two single digit units... I doubt I can even think to afford that... :D).