Downgrade?

I'm currently in a tight situation and am considering a downgrade...

The downgrade I'm thinking of is selling off my 5D2 and 24-70mm for the 7D and 17-55mm.

I mainly shoot portrait/candid and and occasionally shoot sports. The FF is better for portrait and the 7D is better for sports. The one thing that I like about the 7D is the newer focus system and 8fps.

Should I do the downgrade? How much of a quality downgrade will it be?

I'm not looking for someone to convince me but rather looking for pros and cons of each. Thanks in advance!

Downgrade? That depends really.

It's a UPGRADE in many respects:
Body build quality and sealing
Autofocus
more fps movie options
MANY more features on the 7D
built-in flash master
speed (in everything, from af, shutter lag, x-sync, blackout etc...)

It's a DOWNGRADE in:
DOF options
High ISO noise suppression
overall image quality
megapixels

Personally, I consider the 7D to be more of a professional's camera than the 5D2.

And I prefer the 17-55 over the 24-70L any day. The stabilizer is sweet! Lets me get slow shutter shots that just were not possible on the 24-70. The 17-55 also is much faster (and more accurate) in the AF department. Optically they are very similar. The 24-70L is built well, and that's it's big advantage.

So honestly, I don't know if I would call it a downgrade. More like a "reconfiguration".

The 7D may not have the raw IQ of the 5D but it can still get the job done.

Not sure I'd trade the 24-70 for the 17-55, though. For portrait work I think having a gap between 55mm and 70mm would drive me nuts.

What about meeting in the middle with a 1DmkIII, faster/better IQ then the 7D with pro AF? 1.3 crop for more reach.

DStanic wrote in post #10877189
What about meeting in the middle with a 1DmkIII, faster/better IQ then the 7D with pro AF? 1.3 crop for more reach.

this, no need to go down too many rungs on the ladder.

DStanic wrote in post #10877189
What about meeting in the middle with a 1DmkIII, faster/better IQ then the 7D with pro AF? 1.3 crop for more reach.

That's fine if you have a bag full of $$$ .

sxk1120 wrote in post #10878087
rich man

You guys are making some unfounded assumptions about pricing. KEH.com has a 1DmkIII in "like new" condition for $2099 and the OP can get more than that from selling his 5D mk II.

"I'm currently in a tight situation and am considering a downgrade..."

This is a very vauge statement so I can only make assumptions. Selling your equipment and buying new equipment does not seem to be finacially sound. Selling your equipment and putting that money towards your "tight situation" would make more sense (to me anyway). If you OWN your equipment, why not hang on to it? You're obviously not that stressed for money if you are considering turning around and purchasing new equipment.

Would you be buying a new 7D and 17-55? Realistically flipping the 5D2 and 24-70 for the new kit might only save you a couple hundred bucks. Not to mention the time and effort spent on selling the 5D2 kit, plus without a camera in between. Of course, only you know your needs best.

Well, assuming 24-70 is only worth marginally more than the 17-55 if anything. The 7D is worth about $600-$800 less, which is substantial.

I think Lloyd summarized the two bodies' qualities best.

Selling the 5D mark II + 24-70L would conservatively net about $3200.
Buying a used 7D + 17-55mm would be about $2200.

Leaving you with about a grand in your pocket. (Plus you'd get a better lens in that deal)

Is the DOF control, ISO latitude and dynamic range worth $1000 to you?

Me too, agree with Lloyd.
The 7D/17-55 is amazing, better than the 5DmkII? Depends on what your needs are. The 17-55 gives you a 27-88mm (equiv) FOV which is perfect for me. I happen to like the IS too....Example, just last night I was driving home and noticed the sunset was producing some brilliant red skies over the city.
I wanted to stop down the lens as much as I could because I wanted to capture all the detail in the buildings....I ended up at f6.3 and 1/4 sec shutterspeed and 100 ISO....I'd have had to have been up around 1000-1600 ISO had I been shooting with the 5Dmk2 24-70.
Don't get me wrong, the 5Dmk2/Brick combo is excellent......I loved it....But not more than my 7D/17-55.
Good luck

The great thing about the 7D is the ability to shoot everything at a professional level. I don't think you would be disappointed at all and enjoy the versatility of they 7D.

Few considerations:

• On a 5D, 24-70 is wider on wide end but shorter on the long end
  
• 17-55 has IS and lighter.
  
• 7D superior AF
  
• 7D built-in flash
  
• 5D still has a bigger viewfinder (and i love it)
  
• 5D superior in IQ mostly in lowlight

krb wrote in post #10878147
You guys are making some unfounded assumptions about pricing. KEH.com has a 1DmkIII in "like new" condition for $2099 and the OP can get more than that from selling his 5D mk II.

Perhaps I should have said "used" in my post, because that is exactly what I was thinking when I suggested the 1DmkIII. Notice I did not say 1DmkIV.