upgrade to 7d from 550d? is it an upgrade

i semi-hijacked another thread with this question but didnt get any answer so id like to ask it here...


i looked at the sticky (at the beginning of this sub-forum?) and i didnt really see very much difference in the 7D and my 550D other than this:
8fps vs. 3.7fps
two more levels of still resolution (intermediary not at either extreme)
300,000 fewer sensor photo receptors
dual digic 4 processor (which i THINK gives it the high fps rate)
19 AF points vs. 9 AF points (but i only use the center point)
120,440 fewer screen dots (lcd screen?)
pentaprism vs pentamirror viewfinder (meaning WHAT exactly?)
better viewfinder percentage (is it really that important?)
better viewfinder magnefication (is THIS really that important?)
1/8000 shutter speed vs 1/4000 shutter speed (i never used 1/2000 on my F1N so is THIS that important?)
exposure bracketing is a full stop more
NO eye-fi for the 7D like on the 550D because of the CF vs. SD card
better sealing (might be nice)
and it has GPS (not important to me)...

does it sound like its worth the extra $500-$800 to move up?

i DO like the bigger body dimensions because the 550D feels a bit diminutive (think Pentax ME body) to me...

i dont see much of an 'upgrade' from the 550 to the 7, am i missing something?

here is the link to the page i was referring to...

http://www.dpreview.co​m/products/com...tDir=​ascending

here is my current GEAR LIST since people like to see them...

550d (T2i), 50 f1.4 USM, 18-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM, 70-200L f2.8 IS USM, access to: 10-22 f3.5-5.6 IS USM, 55-250 f3.5-5.6 ISM...

im not opposed to going with EF lenses (thinking of a 28-70L f2.8 if i were to go with an FF body) but like primes even though i only own the one!

The fact that it is moving from XXXD to XD tells you there are differences in body materials, sealing, AF....etc. 7D continues to be the top of the Canon line in 1.6x crop bodies.

Only you can decide if the differences are worth it to you for what you shoot with your budget limitations.

It is an upgrade for everything except image quality, I upgraded and found the 550d to be a little better with high ISO noise but I needed all the features of the 7D.

The 7D feel better, shoots better and is much more customizable. Its a huge step up IMHO.

JersFocus wrote in post #14283214
The 7D feel better, shoots better and is much more customizable. Its a huge step up IMHO.

+1

Stats dont tell the whole story.

Yes the IQ is the same, but you will take more keepers with the 7D.

RobDickinson wrote in post #14283359
Stats dont tell the whole story.

+1 to that.

You really need to go into a store and handle one. I just traded up from a T3i to a 7D and although it's only been two days I can tell you that the extra $$ was money well spent. The feel of the camera is really in a different league - weight, build, buttons - just about everything - even the shutter click.

Just remember that the spending doesn't stop there - within hours I'd bought a 24-105L. Then there's the new bag, the grip, spare battery, better strap.......

I went from a 450D to the 7D...probably the best spent money outside of upgrading from the 18-55 to the 17-55 lens.

I don't see myself entertaining any possibility of upgrading my camera body for at least several more years.

with 7D you will feel that you are holding a real camera
and with the 550D , you will not feel heavy weight with big lenses because that body is small
its up to you
test the 2 with some heavy lenses first

Aside from better build ,weather sealing , much improved controls ....
The improved AF (more accurate , faster , centre expansion etc ) , and the view finder would be worth it too me .
The viewfinder is much brighter , covers all of the image and is a good bit larger .
Shooting DSLR is based around the viewfinder , don't understand how anyone can oversee the importance of an improvement in this !

7D is definitely a step up from 550D. I don't think it has a build-in gps. 7D takes CF cards not SD, so that would be an additional cost. have you considered a 60D or T3i? I went from a Rebel XSi to 60D. main differences are:

- wireless e-ttl commander
- faster, more accurate AF performance
- faster fps
- flip out screen

the viewfinder is bigger and brighter, honestly I don't find that much of a difference. the body is larger and heavier, I actually prefer the smaller Rebel since it fits better in my hand. IMO, the best new feature is the optical Wireless E-TTL. it opens up a whole new world of photography for me.