7D + 5Dc or 5DII

For what you shoot, I would move to the 5d system. Now you need to determine whether to purchase a 5dc for $900 or a 5d2 for $2000. From my viewpoint, here are the advantages of the 5d2 over the 5d.

- resolution...but only if you want to print larger than say 16x20 or crop heavily.
- liveview. I find i use liveview on almost 100% of my landscape shots.
- sensor cleaning. With my 5d, I always came back from a landscape shoot to find dust bunnies in my images. Not so much with the 5d2.

Other than that, for landscape and portraits I don't see any advantage of the 5d2. You could purchase a 5dc and a nice wide angle like the 17-40 for less than the 5d2.

I have a 7D and a 550D at the moment, but am thinking of giving the wife the 550D and getting a 5D2 to compliment the 7D. I take a lot of macro and aircraft so the 7D does perfectly but I really fancy getting a FF andseeing what it can do.

I have a 7D and added a 5D classic a couple of months back. Problem is I found the menu and display a big step backwards on the 5D classic so have decided to sell it and go with a new 5D MII.

winnipegk5 wrote in post #13328229
I have a 7D and added a 5D classic a couple of months back. Problem is I found the menu and display a big step backwards on the 5D classic so have decided to sell it and go with a new 5D MII.

the camera IS a good bit older than your 7D. way i see it, who cares what the menus look like as long as the images are great. you don't look at one of Ansel Adam's photos and think, "It is good... but the menu system on his camera was terrible." haha

JimmyDude911 wrote in post #13328700
the camera IS a good bit older than your 7D. way i see it, who cares what the menus look like as long as the images are great. you don't look at one of Ansel Adam's photos and think, "It is good... but the menu system on his camera was terrible." haha

That was my exact same thought. Once setup, I rarely look at the menus when I am out shooting. It would be near last on my list of things that matter when looking for a camera.

JimmyDude911 wrote in post #13328700
the camera IS a good bit older than your 7D. way i see it, who cares what the menus look like as long as the images are great. you don't look at one of Ansel Adam's photos and think, "It is good... but the menu system on his camera was terrible." haha

The menu is so short and simple in the 5D, who cares. Let's be honest, how often does one access the menu. In my case, never, unless it is to check battery level or format a card. Way too much is made of the menu system differences, imo.

If funds are tight or you want more glass - the 5dc is still a very capable camera. I'd try it, if you find you don't like it you won't lose anything and you can then move on to the 5d2.

Hogloff wrote in post #13327750
For what you shoot, I would move to the 5d system. Now you need to determine whether to purchase a 5dc for $900 or a 5d2 for $2000. From my viewpoint, here are the advantages of the 5d2 over the 5d.

- resolution...but only if you want to print larger than say 16x20 or crop heavily.
- liveview. I find i use liveview on almost 100% of my landscape shots.
- sensor cleaning. With my 5d, I always came back from a landscape shoot to find dust bunnies in my images. Not so much with the 5d2.

Other than that, for landscape and portraits I don't see any advantage of the 5d2. You could purchase a 5dc and a nice wide angle like the 17-40 for less than the 5d2.

I would go with the two bodies if you need to shoot any kind of moving object. The Autofocus on the 5d2 is really a toy compared to the 7d, my wife rates it as worse than her 40D.

And you have a backup body, or a body to have a second lens on.

I can tell you that the 17-40L will be of great value to you with that body combo, because it is a great walkaround lens on the crop, and a decent landscaper on the 5D.

And I have a slight suspicion that the 5Dc, if you downsize to 1280xwebsomething, actually renders some things better. Among the disadvantages you forgot the older batteries, although that generation of batteries holds up reasonably well.

people really exaggerate how bad the AF is on the 5D series. it isn't perfect but it's never done me wrong...

JimmyDude911 wrote in post #13329039
people really exaggerate how bad the AF is on the 5D series. it isn't perfect but it's never done me wrong...

If you stick to the center point, it is great. If you use any other focus points...especially in lower light, it is frustrating with a random hit or miss.

Hogloff wrote in post #13329287
If you stick to the center point, it is great. If you use any other focus points...especially in lower light, it is frustrating with a random hit or miss.

very true. i am a center point man myself haha so i guess that explains a lot

Just use the nice gear you already have. No need to go buying more and more stuff.

Hogloff wrote in post #13329287
If you stick to the center point, it is great. If you use any other focus points...especially in lower light, it is frustrating with a random hit or miss.

Only the center point is high accuracy cross-type.

In the 7d everything is as long as you have a large enough max aperture lens.

JimmyDude911 wrote in post #13328700
the camera IS a good bit older than your 7D. way i see it, who cares what the menus look like as long as the images are great. you don't look at one of Ansel Adam's photos and think, "It is good... but the menu system on his camera was terrible." haha

But not all of us has Ansel Adam's god given talent


I think the biggest issue for the 5DC (especially the earlier batch) is the LCD. If you like shooting a thin dof in portraits, then its very hard to see which is focus and which isn't with the 5DC.


The anti dust sensor also does wonders for people who frequently changes lens, lastly the MFA feature. The ability to calibrate your lens is such a very nice feature. Those three add ons IMO are worth the upgrade to a 5DMII.

It is actually very hard to choose, I think I will stick with my 7D and grab a 5Dc once I see a nice deal in the used market to try a full frame sensor.