5D3 or 6D with 7D question...

Okaaaaay...I've done the 'search' and read a lot of great posts but thought it best to still seek specific advice...

I'm a hobbyist, not a Pro, so budget means a lot when I have other hobbies too...

I have currently a 7D with a host of decent lenses as per my signature below and some more not listed...

My preferred shooting is Wildlife and Nature - I like and use the extra reach that I get from the APS-C sensor as well as the FPS.

However, I also like to shoot at night and indoors and feel a Full Frame would be of great benefit for these reasons. I also like to visit new cities here in Europe and think that a Full Frame might be a better option for the improved image quality.

I decided to treat myself to a new camera body for my birthday next week but find the price tag of my first choice, the 5D Mark III a little steep and so imagined that I might find it a decent replacement for my 7D and just have the one body so as to justify the purchase (I'd then sell the 7D).

But I then got to thinking that I'll miss the 7D for my Wildlife shots and when a 7D replacement comes out, I'll want that too!

My question is then...is the 6D a great Full Frame compromise as a second body to sit alongside my 7D? I don't use the video features at all, I should add, only stills.

The concern I have with the 6D is that the magazine reviewers tend to see it as a 3 or 4 star camera whereas the 5D 3 is a 5 star buy. I don't want to find I end up with a camera I'll regret purchasing.

Just to add...I live in the UK with no camera outlet near me to allow me to try before I buy.

All advice much appreciated

I know what you mean about the 7D. I was also thinking about selling it and getting a 5d mark III, but the 7D is such a useful camera, I just couldn't part with it.

My main goal was to dabble with a full frame and ended up getting a 5Dc. I couldn't be happier, and really enjoy shooting with this camera.

I really feel these two cameras give the best of both worlds. I would imagine that sometime down the road I will pick up a mark III (or IV :>.

Ron

I will follow this post as I have the same questions (but my birthday is not that close ^_^)

I'd suggest to put one or two other hobbies on the backburner and get the 5DIII and keep the 7D. You'll be happy and during the time you can't do an other hobby, go and shoot, that's practically free once you have the camera.

That's what I am doing, saving up for the 5DIII right now, also need a new lens since my 17-55 won't work on it (probably get the new Tamron 28-70 or what it is). And I'll keep my 40 D until it dies. The money I could get for it is less than the use I can get out of it.

LOL This is exactly what I just did! I got my 6D in the mail yesterday, and I'm extremely happy with it. I think these two bodies (6D & 7D) are a great pairing.

The ISO performance of the 6D looks pretty impressive, if your keeping the 7D and you don't shoot a lot of sports etc on the wider end I would probably go with the 6D and put the money toward lenses.

I asked a similar question so this may be helpful
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1284025

I think you don't regrest the choice of the Canon 6d since you are more interest toward Wildlife and for the full-frame you like shooting still.

Even if the best all around remain the Canon 5d Mark III and if you sell your lens:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM
the difference between the Canon 6d, reduce a little, so you could wait less time for save up sufficient money for buy it the 5d mark iii ...

So , I am coming to a 5D mkIII from a 1D mkIII (in fact, a line of 1D bodies going back to the "Classic" )

I'm a wildlife shooter primarily, and thus have always wanted/needed the fast 1D AF, and enjoyed the 1.3x crop for putting pixels on target.
I had been able to afford the 1D, but never could justify the FF more MP 1Ds line.

I was told that when I get a 5D MkIII I would stop shooting the 1DIII (which I doubted)

Well, so far, this has been the case.
I consider the 7D to be the 1DIII's little brother.

What I'm saying is, if the 5DIII is enough to pull me off my decade long 1D addiction, I think you will stop shooting a 7D in a very short amount of time (optics of course play a factor)
In my Case however, the 5D III 22mp cropped gives me about the same pixels on target as the 1DIII @ 10mp 1.3x.

Good luck with your decision.

I shoot sports,wildlife, portraits. I have both the 5DIII and 7D. I kept the 7D thinking sports and wildlife would be it's primary role. Once I shot wildlife with the 5DIII, the 7D came along only as backup. Once I shot soccer with the 5DIII, the 7D stopped coming along at all. Yes, the "reach" is desirable on the 7D, but I have found that I am still getting much better/sharper images with the 5DIII even with more cropping, and the 1.4 extender really shines with this camera which helps as well. If it is to be one camera, definitely make it the 5DIII.

Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated.

When I do post a query on a Forum I have generally done all my research and worked out the best choice for me practically and this time was no different. However, I do like to see what other's would do in a similar situation right before I commit to buy.

So...I really like my 7D and while I am convinced the 5D Mk3 would surely beat it in most respects and do all I probably need, I do think I'd still prefer the extra reach and FPS. Indeed, it is not so much the 7D that made my decision but the prospect of a 7D Mk2 which will surely make it even more desirable for Wildlife and I'm going to want the FPS for action shots.

My choice for a Full Frame therefore is the 6D and I ordered it last night...expected delivery, 27th March. Just in time for my 5 day trip to Belgium on Thursday.

1stKnight wrote in post #15748893
My choice for a Full Frame therefore is the 6D and I ordered it last night...expected delivery, 27th March. Just in time for my 5 day trip to Belgium on Thursday.

You won't be sorry. I have a 7D that I use for auto racing. I bought the 6D because I wanted something for trips and to shoot landscapes and architecture.

gfspencer wrote in post #15749150
You won't be sorry. I have a 7D that I use for auto racing. I bought the 6D because I wanted something for trips and to shoot landscapes and architecture.

Very similar to me then: I like to take photo's of animals, especially action shots and the 7D is great for that.

The 6D is for walking around shooting architecture, portraits and landscapes with the high ISO being a major draw card for me.

I'm sure the 5D mk3 is significantly better with its great AF etc but as a hobbyist I can't justify the pricetag to myself if I want to keep the 7D.

I was in the same boat, but instead of nature, it was for sports. I was either going to end up with 1 body (5dm3) or 2 (6d and 7d). I ultimately decided that the 7d was better for sports because of the crop and the fps, neither of which the 5dm3 could provide. I also think there will be situations where 2 bodies could come in handy, so those pros outweighed the cons. I've only had the 6d for a couple of weeks, but so far, it's been great for portraits, landscape, etc. The low-light capabilities are amazing for sure!

Same here too. Wanted a new full frame to replace my 5Dc - which I only had for a few weeks to get the taste of full frame.
I am predominantly a bird shooter and have used the 7D for 3-4 years. I also shoot events, portraits occasionally. I knew I was going to keep the 7D for reach and fps, so I decided to get the 6D and haven't regretted it. IQ is really awesome, high ISO is even a tad better than 5D3 (although that minute difference is not going to make or break a shot).

I own both a 5D3 and 7D, and really like the combination. I bought the 5D3 before the 6D was announced, so there was no decision to be made in my case. However, I still would make the same choice if I was buying the camera today.

The ergonomics of the two bodies are very similar, making it easy to switch between bodies. I like having the advanced AF system of the 5D3 along with the full frame capabilities for those times I only want to take along a single body, so I do not have to compromise. Also, the 6D does not have the joystick, which I use a lot. The 5D3 uses compact flash, as well, so I only need to have one type of memory card for both bodies.

My serious shooting subjects are landscapes and wildlife, but I also will shoot some sports and family events, too. I plan on keeping this camera for several years, so the cost difference between the 5D3 and 6D is not as imposing when you spread the cost over those years.