Recommendations for a Backup Camera

As some of you know, I made the move from Olympus to Canon this spring with little regret. Now I'm about to take my first extended trip with the Canon gear, and I'm looking for a recommendation for a backup camera to my Canon 1D X.

Lens compatibility is key; other considerations are price, reliability, full-frame (like the 1D X) and low light performance.

Your suggestions?

Budget? The other 2 current full frame bodies are the 5D Mark III and the 6D. The 5D is very much like the 1DX. AF is nearly identical, 6 fps. Excellent low lighter performance. I know less of the 6D. Would be worth reading up on though.

I loved the 5D Mark III for the short time I had it. I had to trade it in in order to land the 1DX, otherwise it would've been great as my third body (I also have a Mark IV). If you're looking for something primarily for landscapes, the 6D may be a viable option, but if you're shooting any wildlife, I think the 5DIII makes the most sense. If you're thinking about older/refurbed bodies, the 5DII fits some of your criteria, but I'd hesitate to recommend it due to the older AF, lower FPS and poor weather sealing.

Max

5DIII would be my choice too and if you hunt around enough between now and New Years you can probably land one for $2700. It's the only Canon FF under $3K (with the right deal) that's going to deliver the 61-point AF system like you're used to on the 1Dx, plus it takes CF cards and runs in UDMA 7. With Lexar 1000X cards I hit 29 frames before the buffer kicks in. Note that the 5D3 does NOT support the UHS-1 speeds for SDHC cards so if you need serious FPS, SDHC cards are not good on 5D3s. Stick with the CF cards you enjoy on the Dx.
The 5D3 also has 100% viewfinder like your Dx, but it takes a different battery, uses the LP-E6. Good news there is that they are only 59 bucks.

Hope that helps!

Jim: Another vote for the 5Diii. Check out the Canon Refurb site-I got mine through them for about 1/3 off new price. Not sure why the full frame requirement? A refurbed or used 1Div might make a cool backup (it has a 1.3 crop factor and does pretty well at high iso), though it may cost more than the 5Diii-I haven't priced one recently.

Cheers!

And yet another vote for the 5DMIII although the 1DMIV is quite the camera as well. My main camera is a 5DMIII and my back up is a 1DMIV have to say that the low noise of the 5DMIII blows away that of the 1DMIV so if that is a consideration I'd say definitely go 5DMIII.

Here you go! 5D Mark III for $2599 at Abe's of Maine! Lowest price I've ever seen! I bought my 50mm/1.2 at Abe's, they're legit.

All the photojournalist I work with in D.C. using Canon carry a 5D as a back up. Im a nikon guy but it seems to be a solid unit.

I am giving another thumbs up to the 5DMIII it's a workhorse and built solid and full frame.