Upgrading camera - canon
I have been doing portraits for a few years now with a canon xti. I have loved this camera, but I have started to do weddings also so I need to upgrade my equipment. I have about $1000.00 to spend. I don't mind buying used. I have been looking at the Canon 50d, but have seen some bad reviews. I have L quality lenses and all the top canon gear. Just need a new body. Any recommendations?
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A 50 D isn't the end of the world. A 7d would work. A 5D2 is ideal. You need a minimum of two cameras and preferable to have 3 for wedding work. What if one fails? I've had two cameras be ready and both cameras fail at the same time during a ceremony. My 3rd camera was ready until I could see what happened to the other two. You need low light capability.
Look up Scott Quier's thread - he talks about wedding gear in his thread signature link.
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A step up from there, in terms of IQ, is the 5D (classic). Some say this camera has some AF issues. Don't know, I just know the IQ is killer - if you can keep the sensor clean.
And the 5DII? Um, acquiring that camera was a life-altering event. The difference between the 50D and the 5DII is much like the difference between night and day. I've used this camera to shoot in environments nearly as dark as the proverbial cave with few focus issues.
For me, one advantage the 50D and 5DII have over early cameras is the ability to tweak the AF. This alone, for me, is with the price of entry and more than compensates for any short-comings these cameras might have. Using the AF Microadjustment feature, I have been able to turn great glass (17-44 f/2.8 IS USM, 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, etc) with minor focusing issues into great glass without these minor focusing issues.
I can't talk to the 7D as I've never even held on in my hand. You might be able to attract Nikolai or Ziggy53 into the discussion. Nikolai has experience with the 7D and, of course, Ziggy is the expert
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While I put lighting as the highest priority, in terms of capability and control, decent lenses are also required for paying work. If you don't yet have some fast primes and fast, constant aperture zooms, you might consider those as well.
Before heading out on your own, see if you can sell your services as a second shooter. This is a very good way to earn money and gain experience.
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Since you are fairly well vested in equipment otherwise I agree that it's probably time for a better body. While the 50D and 40D are both fine for this, and lots of both professional and semi-professional people shoot weddings with them, I would be remiss not to mention that even an older 1D MKII would be appropriate.
The advantages of the 1D MKII are a much improved AF capability, (AF speed, AF accuracy and AF sensitivity in low light are all improved over any Canon xxD model), the extra safety of dual memory card shooting, the large battery reserve and integrated vertical grip all make this a true professional's camera.
Since you can often now find the 1D MKII at your price point, KEH has 4 copies right now ranging from EX+ to EX that are right around $1000USD, you might look at them as contenders.
I use them for both wedding and event work and they are amazingly durable cameras and extremely responsive even by today's standards. In conjunction with a modern RAW converter software they actually are improved over the reviews of the camera when it was new. Coupled with good lighting technique and good processing technique, I can produce very high quality product.
The 5D MKII is something you should look at for future purchase just for the formals. Out of your price range for now, it just shines for group formals especially.
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