Camera Labs

I have a canon 60D which I use with my Tamron 17-50 lens and I just got a Tamron 70-200 and I do not want to worry about changing lenses so I want to get another camera body...got my eye on a Canon 1D Mark II with a low shutter count or a Canon 50D...both have pros and cons...which is the better choice? Or if neither of these which would you suggest for a fast camera to handle this lens? I worry about the Error 99 with resolution issues with the 50D.
Thanks!

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Canon 60D, Canon 7D, Canon 70-300 IS 4-5.6 580 EX II, Canon 50mm 1.4, Tamron 17-50 IS 2.8, Tamron 70-200 2.8

We can't really give a useful answer if you don't specify what you'll be shooting.

As you said, both have pros and cons so the cons of one body could put it at a distinct disadvantage against the other. Perhaps if you relate the pros and cons to your subject matter, you'll be able to decide which would be more suitable?

If you're planning on using the 17-50mm as well with another body, I don't think it'll work with the 1D II as the latter only supports EF mount lenses.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

If I had to choose, I'd go for the 60D
The images of the 60D are better than those of the other cameras. With the 1D2 you could get a little bit more speed and background blur with the 70-200mm but looking at the noise levels and the resolution your 60D is probably the best of those.

The Tamron 17-50mm is built for APS-C sensors but it has an EF mount, so it can be used on the 1D2 - but the vignetting (especially on the wide end) is probably "not so nice".

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

Out of the 1D2 and 50D, I'd pick the 50D almost certainly. But it does depend on what you want to do. The 1D2 might have a small advantage if you like to shoot portrait orientation a lot (otherwise get grip for 50D/60D) or if you want a bit more shallow depth of field capability. Personally I don't like the increased bulk of the 1D series. The 50D sensor is a much newer generation, plus the lenses would behave pretty much as you already know it from the 60D.

I used to have a 50D a long time ago, but didn't encounter Error 99 much. Very rarely, although thinking back, it was only with the Tamron 18-270 lens. In those cases, it always cleared by turning the camera off and on again.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

When I had a communication problem between my flash and camera, I used an eraser to clear the contacts. After that, those issues were resolved and it is working normally now.

I would imagine doing the same might help with an Error 99 message. Though I would not recommend doing it preemptively or habitually.

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Canon 5DIII, Rebel XTi/400D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 for OM System

The most of the SLR idea and reaison d’etre is the possibility to change lenses. If that bothers you, why not a top notch super zoom ? I think that you have quite nice equipment now and it may serve you well. I don’t know much about the other one, but the 50D, apart from a full magnesium body and micro focus adjustment, won’t give you anything that you don’t have with the 60d, and I think that the 60D has a better sensor and more features than the 50D. So I don’t quite understand why you want this change.

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Radu
Canon PowerShot S100
Canon 50D , SIGMA 10-20 f3.5 ,Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 macro Canon EF 50/1.4 ,Canon EF 85 f1.8,Canon EF-S17-85 4-5.6 Old Tamron 28-300 inherited from my Canon Rebel G film camera
Canon580EXII
http://www.errre.net

Not sure if people read the original post the same way I did. I understood the original poster was looking to get a 2nd body to use in addition to the existing 60D. Thus two bodies + two lenses = no need to change lens in the field. Something I do frequently myself.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Oh, my bad, sorry.
Then the 50D is not such a bad choice as a second body.

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Radu
Canon PowerShot S100
Canon 50D , SIGMA 10-20 f3.5 ,Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 macro Canon EF 50/1.4 ,Canon EF 85 f1.8,Canon EF-S17-85 4-5.6 Old Tamron 28-300 inherited from my Canon Rebel G film camera
Canon580EXII
http://www.errre.net

Indeed. The 50D is very similar to the 60D in terms of image quality. It's a very nice additional camera. The only reason for the 1D2 is the ability to get a shallower depth of field with the 70-200mm for very nice portraits. Still I think the 50D offers the better (although smaller) sensor and a much better screen.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

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Canon 60D, Canon 7D, Canon 70-300 IS 4-5.6 580 EX II, Canon 50mm 1.4, Tamron 17-50 IS 2.8, Tamron 70-200 2.8