New camera time? 5Dc or 5Dmkii

Hmmm...So I have some choices I need to make. I currently shoot with a 7D and I would like to have a full frame camera. Iv been thinking about selling it for the 5D Mkii, But then I would loose my High frame rate for action. Another idea I had was to keep the 7D and buy a used 5Dclassic. I would mainly use the 5D for portraits, landscape, and low light purpose. I dont know to much about the 5D tho, How does it compare to the 7D and the 5D Mkii as far as Image quality and any other factors? Would it be worth having? And what should I look out for when buying a used one? Thanks guys.

Also, should I be concerned with it only being 12MP since im use to shooting with atleast 18 on the 7D?

I'd go for the 5DII. It is more expensive than the 5DC of course, but I think it is worth it.

Or you can wait for the 5D III that is just around the corner.. Canon will probably drop the bomb any day now.

O ya? I was wandering when they would come out with a new one. You think its soon? If so I might just wait.

Maybe they will drop the price on the 5Dmkii when the iii comes out?? That would be nice too

Why not consider a 1D mkIII? I went from using 5D's to the 1D3 series and noticed improved image quality. Speed, focusing, image quality, durability - everything. They should be going for good prices now and will do everything you ever need (except video of course). I don't see major differences between the 1D3 and 1DS3 until I get past 16x20. The attached is a couple years old from a noted portrait photographer that uses the 1D3.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=pU11c7uJdeI

cristphoto wrote in post #13412809
Why not consider a 1D mkIII? I went from using 5D's to the 1D3 series and noticed improved image quality. Speed, focusing, image quality, durability - everything. They should be going for good prices now and will do everything you ever need (except video of course). I don't see major differences between the 1D3 and 1DS3 until I get past 16x20. The attached is a couple years old from a noted portrait photographer that uses the 1D3.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=pU11c7uJdeI

Thanks, That could be a great option as well. I know its a great camera, Im just wandering if it would bother me being only 10mp...

gtrrocker02 wrote in post #13412652
O ya? I was wandering when they would come out with a new one. You think its soon? If so I might just wait.

Canon USA rep Chuck somethingorother said the 5D2 replacement is a "long ways off" and that Canon sees no need to replace it now. You could be in for a long wait.

cristphoto wrote in post #13412809
Why not consider a 1D mkIII? I went from using 5D's to the 1D3 series and noticed improved image quality. Speed, focusing, image quality, durability - everything. They should be going for good prices now and will do everything you ever need (except video of course). I don't see major differences between the 1D3 and 1DS3 until I get past 16x20. The attached is a couple years old from a noted portrait photographer that uses the 1D3.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=pU11c7uJdeI

Very intrigued by what you are saying. However, what about the usual FF vs. Crop IQ argument? Would a 1.3 crop sensor still gives the same flavour/quality of a FF?

The 5D2 is better than the 5D in virtually every respect. Some folks prefer the straight-out-of-camera JPEGs produced by the 5Dc. Shooting RAW, however, the 5D2 files look better to my eye.

That said, the 5D is a great camera, and the money you save vs. the 5D2 could be put to use for some nice glass.

My vote would be for the 5D2 if you have all the glass you need, 5Dc if you still need/want to add some better glass (e.g. what will replace your Sigma 10-20 when you use a FF camera?).

clearnet wrote in post #13412860
Very intrigued by what you are saying. However, what about the usual FF vs. Crop IQ argument? Would a 1.3 crop sensor still gives the same flavour/quality of a FF?

No; APS-H (1.3x) and FF have a very different 'feel'.

That said, you'll notice a huge difference coming from APS-C (1.6x) to APS-H.

FWIW, I'd take a 5D2 over a 1D3 for "portraits, landscape, and low light purpose".

I've owned the 1D3, 5D2, rented the 7D for a week, and now own the 5Dc.

First, in regards to the 1D3 - Awesome camera as long as you get one without any AF issues. Lots of options to set up, AF is great, low-light performance is pretty darn good. You're going to lose pixels-per-duck in relation to your 7D, so if you're doing a lot of cropping (and hence your worries over "only" 10MP, etc) then you might want to stay way. The metering/exposure of the camera can be finnicky at first, especially with flash. Basically, it'll require some practice but typically it's not too hard to rein in this camera.

The 5D2 - Great but sorta "pokey" camera in that if you're used to the 7D responsiveness, you have to slow down a bit with the 5D2 - it CAN do sports, etc, but it's certainly not meant for it: low frame rate, slow mirror blackout, etc. Great landscape and slow-subject, portrait camera, etc. I really enjoyed mine, though I found the highlight rolloff on specular highlights a bit too harsh for me (maybe it was a processing quirk I had in my workflow at the time, unsure)

5Dc - Another great buy IMO, but we're talking bare-bones compared to newer cameras. Rear LCD completely sucks and I only use it to check histograms. No auto-dust cleaning (no big deal to me), no live view (helpful in really careful landscape or macro shooting), etc. But, the image quality is great, so for lots of people that's all they need. I grew pretty used to the "old" configuration, etc. so it's no big deal to me (and actually, the biggest thing that bothers me is the fact you can't change the timer from 10sec!)


In regards to your desire for your full-frame - This thread will probably implode with people claiming they can get great low-light performance with the 7D with some processing, and it seems to be true for the most part (I only rented it for a week so I couldn't fully evaluate it or comment on the 7D's noise performance), so you might want to maybe try some good noise removal software, etc, before commiting to full-frame, though I must say your lens lineup should be okay on a full frame camera (except the 10-20).


As for being concerned with your megapixel count - do you print huge or do a LOT of cropping? If you're cropping a lot, it may be a lens problem. If you're printing very large, you might consider the 5D2 - I have lots of prints from 12MP cameras on 13x19" papers, though, very easy, so I personally don't worry too much with megapixel counts.

I eventually returned to Canon but went 5Dc to focus more money on glass - it's still a great camera.

cputeq007 wrote in post #13412906
I've owned the 1D3, 5D2, rented the 7D for a week, and now own the 5Dc.

First, in regards to the 1D3 - Awesome camera as long as you get one without any AF issues. Lots of options to set up, AF is great, low-light performance is pretty darn good. You're going to lose pixels-per-duck in relation to your 7D, so if you're doing a lot of cropping (and hence your worries over "only" 10MP, etc) then you might want to stay way. The metering/exposure of the camera can be finnicky at first, especially with flash. Basically, it'll require some practice but typically it's not too hard to rein in this camera.

The 5D2 - Great but sorta "pokey" camera in that if you're used to the 7D responsiveness, you have to slow down a bit with the 5D2 - it CAN do sports, etc, but it's certainly not meant for it: low frame rate, slow mirror blackout, etc. Great landscape and slow-subject, portrait camera, etc. I really enjoyed mine, though I found the highlight rolloff on specular highlights a bit too harsh for me (maybe it was a processing quirk I had in my workflow at the time, unsure)

5Dc - Another great buy IMO, but we're talking bare-bones compared to newer cameras. Rear LCD completely sucks and I only use it to check histograms. No auto-dust cleaning (no big deal to me), no live view (helpful in really careful landscape or macro shooting), etc. But, the image quality is great, so for lots of people that's all they need. I grew pretty used to the "old" configuration, etc. so it's no big deal to me (and actually, the biggest thing that bothers me is the fact you can't change the timer from 10sec!)


In regards to your desire for your full-frame - This thread will probably implode with people claiming they can get great low-light performance with the 7D with some processing, and it seems to be true for the most part (I only rented it for a week so I couldn't fully evaluate it or comment on the 7D's noise performance), so you might want to maybe try some good noise removal software, etc, before commiting to full-frame, though I must say your lens lineup should be okay on a full frame camera (except the 10-20)

Great info!! Thats exactly what I was looking for. I do crop quite a few photos thats why I would like to keep the Higher Pixels. I feel like my 7D is pretty noisy, that is my main reason for wanting FF. I do have Noise reduction software but Im not the biggest fan when I have to crank it way up. Anything over ISO1600 just takes to much noise reduction.

I would like to keep the 7D for action, I was just looking for a good Portrait and low light body as well.

gtrrocker02 wrote in post #13412949
I would like to keep the 7D for action, I was just looking for a good Portrait and low light body as well.

You're describing the 5D2.

edge100 wrote in post #13412971
You're describing the 5D2.

I know. Problem is I can either sell the 7D to afford the 5D mkii or keep the 7D and get a 5Dc as well and hope Im satisfied with it.

gtrrocker02 wrote in post #13412976
I know. Problem is I can either sell the 7D to afford the 5D mkii or keep the 7D and get a 5Dc as well and hope Im satisfied with it.

Like I said, the 5Dc is a great camera, and will give you the benefits (and drawbacks) of a FF camera. But it's not going to be any better than your 7D at high ISO.