OK, let's try and calm down the situation and start making some new propositions here.
First, why is getting a used XT just for having as a back up camera a bad idea? You'll only use it if things go wrong with your current camera. The possibilities of you current camera to go bad are minimal, so the backup body is just for your peace of mind.
To me, it just seems like spending a good $300-400 on JUST "peace of mind" isn't worth it. I come from the mindset that it's better to blow your budget on something you can grow into. Buying a 40D gives me peace of mind AND a kick ass upgrade. It just seems like it's more worth the actual money in the long run to buy something that will last longer and has the ability to fit my changing needs in the future as my skills grow rather than buying something cheap on impulse to make myself feel better.
However, I just remember I do have the option of borrowing my sister's Rebel XTi. The problem with that option is that I won't really know for sure until close to around when I have to leave, and if I do have to end up buying another body, I'd like to have a bit of experience with it before having to use it for a wedding. I may have to talk with her and see what my chances are at this point.
quote]Then, I know getting a pro body is a very tentative option. I would love to have with me a D300, but after some thinking, I knew that better glass would make me take better photos. The D40x I have now can take as good photos as the D300, but my 18-55 kit lens would never take photos like the pro lenses from Nikon. I think (again, with my limited knowledge of your situation), that you would have better result from having good lenses than from a good body.[/quote]
I don't disagree. I think however though that my motivations aren't purely on getting better images with a better body (though that does play a role). It's that, combined with the necessity of a backup. I figure, if I'm gonna get something for a backup, I might as well do it right and get something that's worth the money spent.
I know that a friend of your can lend you very good lenses, but still, if you are a professional photographer, or intend to become one, having good lenses always with you is a must. Imagine that your friend tells you a couple of days before the wedding that he won't be able to lend you the lens. What would you do?
That would certainly suck. I'm beginning to lean towards the 40D, and in that case I will likely have left over money for one good-great lens since I'm not getting a laptop anymore.
I'll ask you again a question I asked a couple of post before: what other type of photography you make?
At the moment, it's mostly portraits. Bands, children, couples, families, weddings, etc. I also do some of my own art photography, and I'd like to get more into that in the future. But I think portraits will always be something I do, at least on the side to make some extra money since art photography is REALLY tough to make a living in.
I'm telling all this with my best wishes to help you end taking a good decision.
Thank you. I really do appreciate it
I guess I'll chime back in a bit. Going from an XT to a 5D is like going from a Cessna to a Learjet. Sure, it's a monster body, but what can you get from that that you can't from a 40D (or for that matter, the XT?). Do you really need that much more body (and blowing the budget) when a lesser body will give you just as much bang for a whole lot less buck? Are your needs and skills going to be able to take advantage of the extra meat of the 5D before it becomes obsolete? In point of fact, the only justification for a 5D (or 1Ds) is if you absolutely require full-frame. Also, don't forget that with those two, you can toss the EF-S lenses--they aren't compatible.
All very good points. I actually knew very little of the 5D other than it being full frame and it being a kick ass body when my friend suggested it. I did just a little research on it a little while ago and realized that it's actually pretty old and missing a lot of the newer features that Canon has been introducing in all their newer models. This coupled with the fact that they just announced that $300 rebate, to me it seems they may be gearing up for a new model. Not that the 5D is no good without those spiffy tech options, but I'd just hate to buy a 5D for $1900 and then 3 months later Canon announces a newer model and the 5D drops in price. Add that to the stuff you said and the fact that I may now be able to get a good lens to go with the 40D, I'm beginning to think the 5D is less of an option.
The perceived need for a second body goes back to pre-digital days, and had more significance then. Today, there's still a lot of rationalization for it, most of that based in misconceptions (or a need to look more "pro"). Swapping lenses? Takes no more time then grabbing the second body, powering up, and composing/shooting. Assuming the second body already had the right lens. Catastrophic failure protection? Unlikely, really. Besides, it's just more crap to find a spot for in the bag, along with lenses, flashes, & on & on. Multiple bodies are more for a serious, committed, this-is-my-life's-work photographer, not for someone starting out. I'd be willing to bet you haven't gotten close to pushing the limits of the XT yet.
I'd be inclined to agree... if I didn't know the following story. I knew a woman who was shooting a wedding with her DSLR, when all the sudden in the middle of it, it just craps out on her, and she had no backup. She ended up having to grab someone's P&S. Can you imagine traveling 1000's of miles to another country on someone else's money, show up to the wedding, and end up having to use a P&S? Unlikely, maybe. But isn't that something that separates pros from consumers? Being prepared no matter what unlikely situation occurs?
Renting glass is only a good value proposition in two cases: You want to try a lens for a few hundred shots before committing to it permanently, or you only need that lens for a single assignment. Renting the same lens more than a couple of times is beginning to throw money away, honestly. But, as you said, you can borrow glass from your friend for nothing, so the renting issue is moot (except for glass he doesn't already have).
That's a good point, and I'll try and take that into consideration. My friend can actually only let me borrow these lenses for this one wedding. So it's not quite moot.
I actually didn't even pay for my XT, but every dime goes into glass (or accessories), since I'll have that regardless of the body I have. Sure, I'm seriously jonesing for a 40D, but simply can't justify the expense when the XT is performing flawlessly and producing wonderful results in all types of imaging.
Bottom line, you have to choose for yourself, based on your needs, shooting style, and budget. We all have different priorities in those, so any advice or observations are based on our own perceptions, but also leavened with a healthy dose of hard-earned experience. The biggest issue here is that we don't want to see a post in a month about how disappointed you are with a bad purchase choice, we want to see you insanely happy with whatever you got (along with some shots, of course!).
Thanks. I'll say it to you as well, I really do appreciate all the help. You've made some good points I'll have to keep in mind when making my final decision.
"Big-body Syndrome" is very closely related to "White Lens Syndrome." Both are fun, stupidly expensive, and almost always purely emotional in basis. Learn to resist!
What's the syndrome called when you want to completely blow off Canon and any existing Canon gear you have and make the completely unreasonable but incredibly tempting leap to a Nikon D300?
Must..... resist..... D300.....
