What is the cheapest backup I can buy?

I am about to teach my wife to be my 2nd shooter. Is buying a canon xs for her decent enough for her to backup shoot with? Thx in advance.

As long as you know the limitations of the camera, I think it could work.

It's 10.1 MP compared to the 21.1 of your 5D2, so less cropping options; amount of ISO noise limits use to ISO 800 [at best] or lower, so worse performance in low light situations; along with other differences.

If she's just shooting extra stuff and you have the main shots covered, you should be fine.

I use my 30D still. It's good enough for now.

An XS, an old 30/40/50D; anything that's at least 8mp and can meet your needs from a low-light perspective.

The XS doesn't have spot metering. I'd get at least a XSI or 30D/40D. Buy used, a new XS is like $500, you can get a better cam used for that much or cheaper.

I guess the real question here is 'would the XS be good enough as a back up for you?' There must be a reason why you went with the 5D2, right? What made you buy the 5D2? Spending money on a backup camera that you would not even use doesn't make any sense to me. You do want the backup to take pictures that you can use, right? Compared to the 5D2, the XS is going to fall short. If you are wanting to go with a Rebel size body, then just get a newer one, one that will perform well in low light.

Your website won't load for me so I can't see what you charge, but if you're "average" priced I'd feel a little hesitant to show up at a job with a Rebel, even as a back-up or second shooter camera. Your wife may be able to still rock it, but it does look a little unprofessional. Plus if you want your wife to someday move up into pro with you it would be better, to get an older model or refubed XXD camera. You can pick them up for pretty cheap. A Rebel line is OK to learn on and OK for a portrait session, but too limiting for a wedding, IMO.

A 40d can be had for $500 pretty easily. Give her that, 25-105L and a flash and you have yourself a good second shooter/learning setup good enough for a wedding.

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #11718344
A 40d can be had for $500 pretty easily. Give her that, 24-105L and a flash and you have yourself a good second shooter/learning setup good enough for a wedding.

this is what i would do.
edit: this is what i did do.. now she uses a 50D with 24-105L and a flash.
but the 40D did what we needed it to. works out great for both of us.

I have a 40D for sale for $500.

PeaceFire wrote in post #11718282
Your website won't load for me so I can't see what you charge, but if you're "average" priced I'd feel a little hesitant to show up at a job with a Rebel, even as a back-up or second shooter camera. Your wife may be able to still rock it, but it does look a little unprofessional. Plus if you want your wife to someday move up into pro with you it would be better, to get an older model or refubed XXD camera. You can pick them up for pretty cheap. A Rebel line is OK to learn on and OK for a portrait session, but too limiting for a wedding, IMO.

I strongly disagree with this statement. The lowlight performance (my biggest need for wedding photography) of today's rebels is better than the 40d..

The body doesn't make a professional.. If anything, it's the skill of the photographer and the lenses. Put L glass on an XSi, and a kit lens on the 40d, I'll tell you what's going to produce better pictures.

And your clients and guests don't know the difference. Just Uncle Bob. And he's shooting his 5dii in auto with the pop-up flash, so good for him..

I shot my first year with a Digital Rebel and a 20D...that year I upgraded the Rebel to an XT (when it first came out) to get the ETTLII. I have a 20x30 canvas gallery wrap that I shot with the XT in my client gallery. I sold it years ago, but bought another one this year to keep in the car as a 4th backup (and take on vacation...I love how small it is). I paid $200 for it with a lens earlier this year, and would happily use it at a wedding. I wouldn't want to use a 10D/Digital Rebel anymore because of the crappy flash metering, but anything from the 20D on I would gladly use....including that little XT, I LOVE that camera .

grab your backup from Canon's Loyalty Program:

Canon XS - $319.99
Canon XS with 18-55 Kit Lens - $399.99
Canon T1i - $415.99
Canon T1i with 18-55 Kit Lens - $479.99
Canon 40D - $559.20
Canon 40D with 28-135 Kit Lens - $719.20
Canon 50D - $719.20
Canon 50D with 28-135 Kit Lens - $839.20
Canon 7D - $1,089.00

One consideration that would be kinda important to me would be memory card type. I'd want to make sure all of my cameras used the same cards. The newer Rebels all use SD cards...

wdwpsu wrote in post #11722018
I strongly disagree with this statement. The lowlight performance (my biggest need for wedding photography) of today's rebels is better than the 40d..

The body doesn't make a professional.. If anything, it's the skill of the photographer and the lenses. Put L glass on an XSi, and a kit lens on the 40d, I'll tell you what's going to produce better pictures.

And your clients and guests don't know the difference. Just Uncle Bob. And he's shooting his 5dii in auto with the pop-up flash, so good for him..

Oh I completely agree with you and I didn't say the XS won't take professional grade pictures but that it doesn't LOOK professional. I'm just saying, if a couple is paying $2,000 and the photog, even the second, shows up with a Rebel line camera it really doesn't look professional. And appearance is everything in the beginning because the bride and groom can't see their pictures- just you. Some may actually notice.

Plus like Jamie said- what a pain it would be to have to buy a second set of cards just to use in the Rebel that will most likely be upgraded anyway if the wife really gets into it. I'd rather spend the money now rather than spend the money in a few more months when an upgrade is needed and then on top of that you have to re-invest in even more cards. So I guess if you must go Rebel, get an XTi.