Need a 2nd body for weddings. How best to complement my 5D2?

LowriderS10 wrote in post #11695147
I'd go with a 7D. Excellent low-light performer, great focus system, does video (if you ever feel the need to) and is a 1.6 crop, giving you twice as many uses for each lens.

See, in my testing, I didn't find the 7D to be that great of a low light performer. When compared to my 5D it was just 'OK'. Just because Canon says it is so doesn't make it so . And just because it can shoot at ISO 6400, doesn't mean it's something I want to use as a full page spread in a wedding album.

IMHO, Canon has yet to make a cropper that produces a file that is even close to one of their FF bodies. Not that the file is everything. People have been creating amazing work with cropped bodies since the D30. But if you are used to the amazing files that the 5D2 produces, you may be a tiny bit let down by the 7D. Even as you are wowed by all of the great features that Canon finally decided to pack in (features that were in the D80 I purchased during my brief dalliance with Nikon 5 years ago...if the files from that camera didn't suck, I would be a Nikon shooter now...and now that Nikon's files have caught up, it doesn't make financial sense for me to switch. Grrrrrrrr).

In fact (and I know this is sacrilege), my 5D2 isn't all that much better at high ISO's than my 5D. Canon did a little trickery when they came out with the 5D2 and fudged the light gathering performance of the ISOs. So for the exact same scene, I can put in the same settings on my 5dc and my 5d2 and the 5D2 will give me about 2/3 stop brighter a file. So ISO3200 on my 5Dc is almost ISO6400 on my 5D2. And the noise at ISO 6400 on the 5D2 looks about the same as the noise at ISO 3200 on my 5Dc. Impressive that they were able to do that while increasing the pixel count, but it's not the revolutionary step up that they claim.

The latest *believable* rumors are that 5D3 will be the 4th quarter of this year, 28 MP, ISO expandable to 102,000, 7D AF system. And that sounds very realistic to me.

There are tons of great choices for a backup. I'd say it all depends on what you want to spend, and I'd totally go used.
40D - $550 50D - $700 5DC - $1000 7D - $1200

Any of those cameras would make a great addition, and I'm obviously guessing on the prices. Good luck,

jamiewexler wrote in post #11696854
In fact (and I know this is sacrilege), my 5D2 isn't all that much better at high ISO's than my 5D. Canon did a little trickery when they came out with the 5D2 and fudged the light gathering performance of the ISOs. So for the exact same scene, I can put in the same settings on my 5dc and my 5d2 and the 5D2 will give me about 2/3 stop brighter a file. So ISO3200 on my 5Dc is almost ISO6400 on my 5D2. And the noise at ISO 6400 on the 5D2 looks about the same as the noise at ISO 3200 on my 5Dc. Impressive that they were able to do that while increasing the pixel count, but it's not the revolutionary step up that they claim.

Wow, is that only in your experience, or have you heard others say similar. That's very interesting.

snakeman55 wrote in post #11697081
Wow, is that only in your experience, or have you heard others say similar. That's very interesting.

Well, I haven't compared them side by side since I first bought the 5D2. So I just did a quick compare, and it looks like it's only about 1/3 of a stop, and that might be attributable to better AWB on the 5D2. I think the 5D2 controls the red channel a little better. So ignore my previous post.

jamiewexler wrote in post #11699541
Well, I haven't compared them side by side since I first bought the 5D2. So I just did a quick compare, and it looks like it's only about 1/3 of a stop, and that might be attributable to better AWB on the 5D2. I think the 5D2 controls the red channel a little better. So ignore my previous post.

Thanks for clarifying. I'm adding a 5DC or 5D2 to my lineup this year, and I've been struggling with it. I think in the end, the better LCD, battery life and high ISO make the 2 worth it.

I'm thinking it's going to be the 7D for me. Not a true backup in that it doesn't duplicate the 5D2, but adds some versatility, would still be a more than adequate bailout body if my 5D2 explodes, and will give me some more shooting versatility since I'm not just shooting weddings for a living. Were I paying the bills with wedding photography I think it would be another 5D2.

snakeman55 wrote in post #11700022
Thanks for clarifying. I'm adding a 5DC or 5D2 to my lineup this year, and I've been struggling with it. I think in the end, the better LCD, battery life and high ISO make the 2 worth it.

I used to run with a 5DC and 5D MK II but soon found I was favouring the MKII when I got the chance. One big factor for me was the pixel count. I find being able to quite heavily crop into an image whilst still maintaining a decent image size is very useful sometimes.

Thinking of getting a 5D C as my 2nd body after the Italy trip in July. Till the 5D3 is announced then I'll decide to go that route or 1d MK4 (and may also look in to 1ds III once the 4 is announced as that price will drop)

Dr.Pete wrote in post #11700380
I'm thinking it's going to be the 7D for me. Not a true backup in that it doesn't duplicate the 5D2, but adds some versatility, would still be a more than adequate bailout body if my 5D2 explodes, and will give me some more shooting versatility since I'm not just shooting weddings for a living. Were I paying the bills with wedding photography I think it would be another 5D2.

Oh jeez... I take this back. I rifled through ebay again, and there are some really excellent deals to be had on used 5DC's, so it's back to hand-wringing for me. There are a few 5Dc's coming with grips and lenses for around $1K-$1200. Might have to look at these a bit closer...

I do suppose the 7D would give me a good way to get used to the AF of my new 5D3...

Considering the use and the equipment you already have, the 7D is pretty much a no-brainer. You will add some additional versatility and still have a plenty capable backup...just incase.

I ended up with a 100% full-frame kit because I found it frustrating to juggle crop into the mix (I had a couple of 1.3 crop bodies at one point ... 1D2, 1D3; now I'm shooting with a 5D2, 1Ds2, 5Dc in order of preference). I'd find the 1.6 crop of the 7D even more frustrating to mix with full-frame, personally. But I shoot all primes, so YMMV.

I'll back up the comment that a 5D2 and 5Dc pair together well for wedding photography. I'd also consider a 1Ds2 ... similar low-light ability to the 5Dc, with substantially better AF, dual cards, etc.

ofdphoto wrote in post #11705988
I'd also consider a 1Ds2 ... similar low-light ability to the 5Dc, with substantially better AF, dual cards, etc.

I was looking at those... Pricey, but I wouldn't need to buy a battery grip etc. Do you really think low light performance is on par with the 5Dc? I shied away when I saw the native ISO limit of 1600.

Dr.Pete wrote in post #11706059
I was looking at those... Pricey, but I wouldn't need to buy a battery grip etc. Do you really think low light performance is on par with the 5Dc? I shied away when I saw the native ISO limit of 1600.

The 1600 max native ISO is the same as the 5Dc, right? And yes, I think they're similar in low light. 5Dc is a little better.

Gah. Now I've gotten a recommendation to get a 1D3. I'm afraid that if I get my hands on a 1-series body I might never settle for anything less, and I can't afford that.