Next camera - 7D or 5D classic

I'm an enthusiastic amateur but have started doing some paid jobs in the last year or so (children's parties, portrait sessions, pet photography). I currently have a 40D and a decent set of lenses, and am now set to buy a second body. I almost bought a 5D classic a few weeks ago but the deal fell through, and I'm now second-guessing myself. I could afford a used 5D, or a used 7D, but nothing more expensive (i.e. not the 5D2). I'm sort of tempted by the 7D because of the AF - I photograph a lot of dogs and dog sports, so the advanced AF system would be very useful. On the other hand, I love portrait photography as well, and am currently taking studio lighting classes, so the 5D would seem to be a better choice for that.

It's taken me two years to scrape together enough money for this lineup change, and it will be at least that before I can make another major purchase, so whatever I buy will have to keep me going until then. I know some of my lenses won't work on the 5D, but the main ones (Tamron, 70-200 and 85) will, and if I buy the 5D I'll be keeping the 40D as well.

Any suggestions as to which I should go for? The 5D is tempting for my budding portrait business, but the 7D is a much more recent camera with greatly updated technology ...

I recently upgraded from 40D myself, but i was trapped between a 7D or a 1DIII. As you might have figured from my signature I ended up with a 1DIII, and havent had any regrets so far.

5Dc and 7D are very different cameras, for different purposes. I think the 7D is way more versatile than the 5Dc, so if you are looking for a camera that can adapt to your needs, 7D it is. On the other hand, if you buy a 7D, you probably wouldnt bother using your 40D at all, because the 7D pretty much kills the 40D on all points.

Here is my suggestion; get a 7D, sell the 40D and buy a 5Dc. Then you'll be fit for all your needs! Sell your 55-250, 60 macro and 12-24 and if you can afford it, get a 17-40L for your wide-angle needs. Or just not sell the 12-24 and use the 7D for wide-angle, your pick.

Anyway, good luck on choosing! Picking a body these days is pretty damn hard, i had a real struggle figuring out which to put my money on!

With lenses you have plus Canon flashes and dogs as main target get 7D first.
Let 40D and 55-250 go after it, you'll be able to find 5Dc around 800CAD by then.

ceegee wrote in post #14080356
I'm an enthusiastic amateur but have started doing some paid jobs in the last year or so (children's parties, portrait sessions, pet photography). I currently have a 40D and a decent set of lenses, and am now set to buy a second body. I almost bought a 5D classic a few weeks ago but the deal fell through, and I'm now second-guessing myself. I could afford a used 5D, or a used 7D, but nothing more expensive (i.e. not the 5D2). I'm sort of tempted by the 7D because of the AF - I photograph a lot of dogs and dog sports, so the advanced AF system would be very useful. On the other hand, I love portrait photography as well, and am currently taking studio lighting classes, so the 5D would seem to be a better choice for that.

It's taken me two years to scrape together enough money for this lineup change, and it will be at least that before I can make another major purchase, so whatever I buy will have to keep me going until then. I know some of my lenses won't work on the 5D, but the main ones (Tamron, 70-200 and 85) will, and if I buy the 5D I'll be keeping the 40D as well.

Any suggestions as to which I should go for? The 5D is tempting for my budding portrait business, but the 7D is a much more recent camera with greatly updated technology ...

If you are doing portraits, you may want to go with the 5D, but it's really old (although I hear it is still a great camera). I would go with the 7D myself, it is much newer and has some nice features. The other option is wait for a little bit and get a 5d II. You can get one used for $1,700- $1,800 and will likely go down more once the 5D III is out.

I just sold my 7D, it wasn't bad but wasn't great either.

7D man 7D

I bought a 7D recently. Then I found a 5D for half the price of a 7D. I bought the 5D and sold the 7D. For nearly half the price of a 7D, it was a no brainer for me.

After you try them both hands on...then you'll answer your own question. If you don't want to try them out before buying...then flip a coin, or go with what the majority is in this thread.

I had the 5D twice. I sold my first one, and then came back to it, and then sold that one.

The 5Dc feels SOOOOOOO old. Even my 1D2N feels much newer. The 7D (when you learn how to use it) will be a much better camera for you. It will be ready for more shots, although it wont do portraits as well.

remember that besides its ancientness the Canon EOS 5D MK I has the ability to shoot wides, and has very high image quality! Here's a poor example shot out my moving car window promptly while passing a very dark part of my city. Image number #1 image #2 is a tester photo just for fun.
Metering Mode Evaluative
Focus Range Not Known
Canon Exposure Mode Aperture-priority AE
Lens Type Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Short Focal 85 mm
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 85 mm
ISO Speed 250
Exposure Bias -1 EV

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Just get both, it would be an awesome combo.

I agree, the image quality of the 5D is great but I feel like you have to really compromise for that IQ. It depends on what you want I guess...

You could just save a little while and get the 5D2

I have both:

7D - better LCD by far, better AF...camera is very responsive in operation. If you shoot sports, fast moving kids (or pets)...this is the camera for you. At wedding receptions it's a beast...the 5D gets put away. 7D runs circles around the 5D, but it's image quality as ISO climbs isn't as good as 5D despite it's newer technology.

5Dc - better "look"...film like grain at high ISO, very good tones. Shooting portraits and "regular" moving things...this is your cam. Obviously better for wider shots, and a cheaper option.

The 7D matches or is better than the 5Dc at ISO 3200 and then gets better higher up. Take the same shot with both at the same exposures, resize the 7D down and see what you get. The 5Dc wins at ISO 1600 and below.

Catlover wrote in post #14081825
I have both:

7D - better LCD by far, better AF...camera is very responsive in operation. If you shoot sports, fast moving kids (or pets)...this is the camera for you. At wedding receptions it's a beast...the 5D gets put away. 7D runs circles around the 5D, but it's image quality as ISO climbs isn't as good as 5D despite it's newer technology.

5Dc - better "look"...film like grain at high ISO, very good tones. Shooting portraits and "regular" moving things...this is your cam. Obviously better for wider shots, and a cheaper option.

I have both too and I reach for my 5dc when im shooting portraits and the 7d if im in super low light and need super fast AF.

I love the pics that come out of the 5dc.

Both are capable bodies for sure. If you are going to track the kids in motion most of the time, I would suggest to go with 7D for the metering and updated focus system.
However, I'm not saying the 5D wouldn't do the job. There are rental places you can get both and try them both before your final decision.
All the best.