New Gear.. Need advice!

I am an amateur photographer and started with the XSi, which I've had for about 4 years so far. I feel that I am being limited in image quality as well as ISO availability. So far, I've shot one wedding and a 50th anniversary celebration with it. Also, I've got two, possibly three weddings booked for this summer. I will likely continue to book weddings and because most of my friends are in college and looking to get married I also enjoy shooting sports, airshows, and portraits, as well as landscapes and nature, and abstract. Anyways, with my coming tax return, I have a little over $1,000 to spend on gear. As of now, I am leaning toward a 7D so that I can keep it as my primary camera for 5+ years to come and have my XSi as my backup body for weddings and other paid shoots. I am also somewhat interested in trying out the video capabilities of the 7D

The reason for this is that I don't have a backup body right now, so if my XSi goes out in the middle of a shoot, I'm out of luck. I have a 70-210 f3.5-4.5, 18-55 is kit lens, and a 50 f1.8. I also have access to a Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6. I would like to upgrade my glass, but I feel that I really need a second body first.

What do you think?

If you are doing paid shoots - especially weddings - I believe a second body is a must. I can't imagine having to tell the bride and groom afterward that your camera crapped out mid-ceremony.

I notice your lenses are a bit on the slow side. How do you find them for indoor shooting? Ever run into an issue where you couldn't use flash?

bigland wrote in post #11814913
If you are doing paid shoots - especially weddings - I believe a second body is a must. I can't imagine having to tell the bride and groom afterward that your camera crapped out mid-ceremony.

I notice your lenses are a bit on the slow side. How do you find them for indoor shooting? Ever run into an issue where you couldn't use flash?

So far, the first wedding I did was at a beach house, so no need for flash until after dark (it was a small wedding, so it was okay with them) and I also rented a 17-40 f4L for that one. The anniversary celebration was in a ballroom with many windows but I did have to use my flash after dusk because the room was only dimly lit. For this one, I was having trouble getting adequate lighting because of the slow lenses and low ISO.

I would be very happy if I could come up with another $1000 and go for a used 17-55 f2.8 and 70-200 f4L or something of the like, but I guess this is the other option rather than a body.

I would have to say that the 2nd body is a must. Anyway you could rent or borrow one? If so, you could then invest your money into glass.

I think you are on the right track, you really need glass is you are really going to get paid for shooting, the 18-55 is a good lens, but not wedding paid type stuff, the 70-210 is a horrible lens(not trying to be a AS%).......I would save a few more pennies, a 7D is going to cost you around $1500....and rent glass till you can but some. Saving the XSi for backup is an excellent idea. Have the Xsi with the 18-55 as back up, and the 7D with a canon 17-55, or the 15-85 for a little more reach, not as good as the 17-55, a little less expensive also.......
good luck

mark2009 wrote in post #11815073
I think you are on the right track, you really need glass is you are really going to get paid for shooting, the 18-55 is a good lens, but not wedding paid type stuff, the 70-210 is a horrible lens(not trying to be a AS%).......I would save a few more pennies, a 7D is going to cost you around $1500....and rent glass till you can but some. Saving the XSi for backup is an excellent idea. Have the Xsi with the 18-55 as back up, and the 7D with a canon 17-55, or the 15-85 for a little more reach, not as good as the 17-55, a little less expensive also.......
good luck

I beg to differ on the 70-210.. It is definitely sharper than the 18-55, and stopped down and properly exposed, close to the 50 in some cases. You may be thinking of the older push-pull 70-210, but I have the newer 3.5-4.5 USM. It's not the widest or sharpest lens by any means, but i've gotten high ISO concert pictures that were very sharp. I'll find one and attach it here.. Also, I'll likely go through the CLP for the camera, and they quoted $1088 for the body as of now, plus tax, so that's a little cheaper there. I'm not decided on what i'll be doing yet, I'll most likely just go ahead and rent lenses for my paid stuff as it is all in the same month, so I can probably do a long rental and keep it between.
This is one from the concert, no flash, ISO 1600 and on the long end of the lens, wide open

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Sounds like you've done a great job with the XSi - which was my first dslr. The image quality is great but ISO - yes, you would certainly benefit from a ISO upgrade. The t2i or t3i are great ISO but you will get an AF upgrade if you get a 60D (great prices now, and also a rebate on the way Feb 20th) and of course the 7D with its advanced AF system. Pop into a store and see what feels good. Lenses - maybe consider the 17-55 f/2.8 for indoors or a 70-200 f4 IS may work, given today's high ISO performing bodies... if you can afford higher - the 70-200 f2.8 IS I or II is a standard wedding workhorse.