What's the best value for a backup camera?

When I purchased my 5D my 40D sat unused for a month and I decided I should sell it and invest in new glass. While I'm confident that was the best choice at the time, I'm now taking on some more regular paid gigs and feel like I'm playing with fire shooting with no backup body.

Most likely I'll start saving over the next several months until I end up with another 5D, 1D MkIIN, or maybe even a 7D, but for now I'm primarily looking at used xxD bodies. Not interested in Rebels. Also, while the 50Ds spec list is pretty awesome, I'm not used to live view, a good LCD screen, MFA, or any other modern bells and whistles, so they aren't really necessary to me.

With that said, in your opinion what is the best value for a backup body right now, the 20, 30, 40, or 50?

professoryeti wrote in post #10505627
With that said, in your opinion what is the best value for a backup body right now, the 20, 30, 40, or 50?

I just bought a 50D, but I think the 40D is currently the best value for the money. This gives you a good combination of IQ, usability, and up to date technology for a very reasonable price.

If you don't plan on really using the camera except in a dire emergency, then the 20D can just sit in your bag and deliver great pictures at rock bottom prices when you need it.

40D

Plain value wise it would have to be the 20D as it is the lease expensive and the quality between the 4 cameras especially IQ is marginal except at the extremes. However, of the 4 I would rather have a 50D as a backup as it's got the best feature set, but it wouldnt be the best value.

I'm keeping my 20D as a second body. It still takes great pictures.

I read the OP trying to figure out why someone would use a DSLR as the video camera in a car for backing up. It made more sense after I read it. Perhaps I should only read one forum at a time?

itzcryptic wrote in post #10506205
I read the OP trying to figure out why someone would use a DSLR as the video camera in a car for backing up. It made more sense after I read it. Perhaps I should only read one forum at a time?

I require the finest resolution when operating a Honda hatchback

I would do 50D at minimum, myself.

Geejay wrote in post #10506168
I'm keeping my 20D as a second body. It still takes great pictures.

Same here, makes an ideal back-up in case the 50D goes t*ts-up - It's worth next to nothing these days so I now also take it to work with me everyday. If it gets damaged it's insured!

I purchased a Used 20D to back up my 7D .

30D or 40D

After pouring over all the details between the 20D and 30D it seems like the only differences between the two are that the 30D has spot metering, 1/3 stop ISO increments, picture styles, and a 2.5" LCD vs. 1.8" LCD.

I don't have to have spot metering I suppose, I only shoot whole ISO stops, shoot neutral picture style, and am used to having a $#!tty LCD screen, so it looks like the 30D is out.

My main fear with getting a 50D is that eventually I'll want all of the technical improvements (3" LCD, MFA, higher ISO, more MP) along with my 5D IQ and then I'll be trying to get a 5D Mk2

I'm loading up my eBay watch list with 20Ds. There was a guy on here selling one for $225 shipped last week. Really should have jumped on that.

professoryeti wrote in post #10507451
I'm loading up my eBay watch list with 20Ds.

No need for that. Buy from POTN or FM. No auctions, no last minute bidding to drive the price up, and you know the people selling it are the ones who actually owned and used the camera.

Kept my 40D, it's got my 24 f1.4 on it.

I'd say buy a 40D again. It's a great all-around camera.