Canon 5D backup camera - 10d or 20D?

[willhkirby]

I have been looking for a backup camera for my 5D and am finding a fair number of 10D and 20D bodies for sale on craigslist.

Any opinions between the two considering that a 20D is about 50% more than a 10D?

Thanks

[Steve Weldon]

I have been looking for a backup camera for my 5D and am finding a fair number of 10D and 20D bodies for sale on craigslist.

Any opinions between the two considering that a 20D is about 50% more than a 10D?

Thanks

What are your requirements for a backup camera?  I see such great differences between the models in question I don't see the value at any price.

When I want a "backup camera" of course I want a full functional (and like functional) camera that can replace my primary in the even of a failure.. but I also want to be able to use it side by side, hand it off to an assistant as a second camewra in some cases, and I want all the modes, focal lengths, and accepted accessories to translate.

A 5d would make a decent back up to a 5dII.. both are full frame, both have like controls, focal lengths with like lenses are the same, and both are capable of pulling off high quality images despite the improvements of the 5d2.  A 20d.. no.. too many differences.. not even the great 7d.. a great camera, but not a "back up" in my mind to a 5d.

5d's are cheap enough these days where picking up a second one isn't that much of a cost burden.. and that it would accept 100% of your accessories might negate any differences in price.

I'm not a fan of using a 5d series to back up a 1 series either.. too many functional differences.  I do use both at events,  but not in the role of a backup.

I don't think I was very helpful..

[DarkPenguin]

I have been looking for a backup camera for my 5D and am finding a fair number of 10D and 20D bodies for sale on craigslist.

Any opinions between the two considering that a 20D is about 50% more than a 10D?

Thanks

The 20D has better AF (Should be the same as the 5d) and sensor.  A modern digital rebel would probably be a better bet.

Dunno how you wanna deal with the format difference but if you have that worked out I'd get the 20d over the 10d.

[k bennett]

The 20D was a MAJOR improvement over the 10D. Also, the 20D and the original 5D are siblings, and share many controls and menu layouts, etc. Finally, the two cameras make a decent set for shooting, with a wide lens on the 5D and a long lens on the 20D to take advantage of their respective sensor sizes.

That said, if you want your backup to provide similar image quality to the 5D, the 40D is much closer.

[Pelao]

Ideally, I would suggest another 5D. If it's truly a backup, then it will operate exactly like your 'main' camera.

The 20D could operate as a backup, but also a compliment to the 5D. I operated with these two for a while. The controls of the 5D / 20D are nearly the same, and they use the same batteries. A feature the 20D will offer you is a faster frame rate: this may or may not prove useful, depending on your style and needs.

The 10D will hit you with much slower operation.

I sold my 20D, a camera which was a delight to use, to help fund a M4/3 setup.

I still have my 5D. Wonderful camera.

[willhkirby]

Thank you all for your thoughts, I appreciate them. I want a backup body in the event of a mishap with my 5D so that I can continue to shoot whether I'm on a workshop or at a remote location.

I looked at a 10D this weekend and found that it indeed lacks many of the features that I want; as might the 20D. I find that I really do want spot metering and may settle on a 30D. I agree that a 5D would be optimal and if I could afford it - I would buy a new 5D II and use my current camera as a backup; but I'd rather spend the money on trips to photo locations, another lens or ND grad and other accessories.

[chex]

Wouldn't something newer like a 500d or 550d be better than either?

[ashley]

As others have suggested ideally you should go for another 5D, which is really a major step forward in quality compared to either of the other two cameras mentioned. I still have a 20D sat in a spare camera bag which has hardly been touched since I bought the 1DsII, but despite my dislike of cropped sensor cameras it was a fairly capable performer on the whole. My first digital camera was a 10D and I'd avoid that one if I were you. The focus was hit and miss but more often the latter and I remember how easily the highlights would blow on that camera. It was also generally slow in operation but remember it's really a rather old camera at this point and only 6MP.

[Nill Toulme]

A second (or third) body can serve many uses besides merely "backup."  Two that are important to me are (a) having a different crop factor than my main body(ies) so as to multiply the utility and versatility of my lens collection, and (b) being smaller and more portable for the occasions when those attributes are of great value.  The Rebel T2i/550D serves both purposes admirably behind my 1D bodies.  (But, having sold my 1Ds2, I would dearly love to have a full frame Rebel body instead of the 1.6x crop.)

Nill

p.s.  As "backup" to the videoless 5D, the new Rebel also adds its video capabilities to the mix.

p.p.s.  But when you're shooting multiple bodies at the same time, there's a LOT to be said in favor of having all of them exactly the same.

[ashley]

I have just pulled my 20D out from a camera bag that was stored away in a corner and blown the dust off just to see if it is still working. This camera has hardly been touched in four years but much to my surprise both batteries are still holding a full charge. The body seems to be perfect. Obviously it's not a substitute for a 1Ds with high quality work but a few test shots quickly reminded me how much fun the 20D is.

[Nacnud]

I have just pulled my 20D out from a camera bag that was stored away in a corner and blown the dust off just to see if it is still working. This camera has hardly been touched in four years but much to my surprise both batteries are still holding a full charge. The body seems to be perfect. Obviously it's not a substitute for a 1Ds with high quality work but a few test shots quickly reminded me how much fun the 20D is.

Ditto - except my newer camera is a 5dII
I needed a second body to hang around my neck to save swapping lenses at a recent music festival.
It got heavy usage during the weekend and both batteries were as good as I remember them ever having been.

The handling is similar enough to the 5DII that with wildly different lenses strapped on the front it was easy to ignore the weight and multiplication factor differences between the 20D and the 5DII.
I never found myself in a 'If only ...' or a 'How do I ...' moment.
One of my spare 8Gb cards holds a stupidly huge number of 20D images.

Looking full-frame on my 1900x1200 monitor I was unable to tell which body had been used without checking.
The 20D was always able to make good use of top quality glass - and still is...

Mind you - I always put the 20D away before I needed to up the ISO....
And I think I may need reading glasses in a few years to cope with the tiny menu text .....
But the 20D is still a surprisingly good camera.

[kpmedia]

I'd opt for a 50D as a crop body backup to the 5D.
Then again, how much for a used 5D these days? Maybe that's a better option?

[Bob Smith]

In terms of a camera that is functions very similar to a 5d, a 30D is a better option.  The control choices and layout are almost identical to a 5d.  Using the two cameras together is much easier than most dissimilar models.  They handle almost identically.  Of course another used 5D would be even better in this regard. 

I switched to Canon with the 5D.  My first outfit consisted of a 5D with a 30D backup.  I rarely really needed the second body but when I did it was very simple to work with both at once.  I've moved on to more current models and the 30D is now my IR camera.

Bob Smith