50D Questions – new/used, etc.

I have a 50D and am thinking of getting another. I have several questions:

1. If buying used, I realize that number of shutter actuations (or lack of said) affect the price, but is there any “magic number” where problems usually start to happen? Of the ones posted for sale here they run from a low of 1K to a high of 20K.

2. New prices of the 50D have started to drop with B&H listing them at $929.29. Used 50Ds that have sold are: 2K ($775), 4K ($775), 5K ($700), 6K ($710) or 7K ($670). With the lower new price would a person be further ahead to get the warranty of a new camera?

3. Not related to the above, but does the 50D have a low-level card format option or are all of the formats low-level? I have read the manual and can’t find anything about a low-level option like I have on my XSi and point and shoot models.

Thanks,

Jerry

There is no magic number when it comes to shutter actuations. I would conciser anything below 10k as really low actuations. When you start getting to 50k 75k and above, the body better be dirt cheap. As to the low level format, what do you mean exactly? There is a format command and the card can be formatted in a PC as well using either the full or quick option.

When accessing the menu in my XSi and point and shoot there is a format option which is more of a quick wipe and another (which takes a little longer) that is listed as a low-level format. While I am not sure, my assumption is that it is similar to a computer where you either move items to the trash which allows files write over the empty space or you use a utility program that wipes and Xs out the available space.

Interesting, I didn't know the XSi had that option. I've never seen it in my 50D or 30D.

To do a LL format you need to use a card reader.

-js