Help choosing the right camera for me...

I know there is tons of discussions about the different camera choices, but, I need help finding the right choice for me.

I mainly shoot youth sports (mostly football and baseball), not much portrait work. I do want to change that, I want to work hard and eventually do portraits too. Right now I shoot with the 40D.

I bought the 7D tonight, and its still in it's box, taunting me. I want to make sure I made the right decision. It was between that and the 60D. Is the 7D going to be ok to shoot sports?
Thanks for the help.

Ps. I did get the complete package with the 28-135mm lens, should I keep the lens or sell?

Open it up, read the manual thoroughly and put it to use.

The 7D is considered(by most) to be one of the best for sports use. The 28-135mm is not going to be the ideal lens though. You might want to sell it and get something longer, say 70-200mm, 300mm, 400mm or more for sports shooting. You may also find that 28mm is not wide enough for group shots or landscapes(if you decide to take up landscape shooting). You need 17mm on the short end maximum and you might even enjoy something wider 10-22mm for example.

Enjoy your new camera!

rrblint wrote in post #15391291
Open it up, read the manual thoroughly and put it to use.

The 7D is considered(by most) to be one of the best for sports use. The 28-135mm is not going to be the ideal lens though. You might want to sell it and get something longer, say 70-200mm, 300mm, 400mm or more for sports shooting. You may also find that 28mm is not wide enough for group shots or landscapes(if you decide to take up landscape shooting). You need 17mm on the short end maximum and you might even enjoy something wider 10-22mm for example.

Enjoy your new camera!

Thanks so much, battery is charging. I'm excited. I have the 70-200mm F/2.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and 50mm 1.8 so yea, I think I am going to sell the lens. I was also thinking maybe I need a wider lens in my bag (and I would love to add a 300mm. It's just that at this moment I am not 'making money' with my equipment so I don't know if I want to put that money out.

caroleigh wrote in post #15391259
I know there is tons of discussions about the different camera choices, but, I need help finding the right choice for me.

I mainly shoot youth sports (mostly football and baseball), not much portrait work. I do want to change that, I want to work hard and eventually do portraits too. Right now I shoot with the 40D.

I bought the 7D tonight, and its still in it's box, taunting me. I want to make sure I made the right decision. It was between that and the 60D. Is the 7D going to be ok to shoot sports? I have never used a full frame, to be honest I am not sure what exactly the difference is. I just know people say crop body is best for sports.

Thanks for the help.

Ps. I did get the complete package with the 28-135mm lens, should I keep the lens or sell?

The 7D isn't a full frame camera. While it's a little older in terms of body age, it's still regarded as one of the best, if not the best body for shooting sports because of the FPS. As long as you keep the ISO within certain limits you should be fine, it's just that it doesn't deal too well with higher ISO's but that's a given considering the age.

caroleigh wrote in post #15391308
Thanks so much, battery is charging. I'm excited. I have the 70-200mm F/2.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and 50mm 1.8 so yea, I think I am going to sell the lens. I was also thinking maybe I need a wider lens in my bag (and I would love to add a 300mm. It's just that at this moment I am not 'making money' with my equipment so I don't know if I want to put that money out.

LOL, I could have read the lenses in your signature, couldn't I?:o.

Something like a 100-400mm(although you may need fast primes,very expensive, depending on what kind of lighting you have to shoot in) and 17-50mm or 17-55mm and you should be set.

caroleigh wrote in post #15391259
I know there is tons of discussions about the different camera choices, but, I need help finding the right choice for me.

I mainly shoot youth sports (mostly football and baseball), not much portrait work. I do want to change that, I want to work hard and eventually do portraits too. Right now I shoot with the 40D.

I bought the 7D tonight, and its still in it's box, taunting me. I want to make sure I made the right decision. It was between that and the 60D. Is the 7D going to be ok to shoot sports? I have never used a full frame, to be honest I am not sure what exactly the difference is. I just know people say crop body is best for sports.

Thanks for the help.

Ps. I did get the complete package with the 28-135mm lens, should I keep the lens or sell?

The 7D is the better choice of the 2 for sports. It has a much more advanced AF system than the 60D.

People tend to say that FF is better for portraiture (probably because it is easier to blur the background more with the thinner depth of field) but you can still take great portraits with a crop camera. It's more about the person behind the camera than anything else. On the 7D, you might want to use either a 50mm or 85mm lens for portrait work. Your knowledge of light will probably be the most important thing though.

Use and enjoy the 7D. ITs a better camera for sports and still capable of a fine portrait

I've used the 7D for sports and portraits so it is a fine all around dslr. My Smugmug is full of portraits I've taken with the 7D and they all look fine.

This pic was taken during Christmas a year or so back. 7D/50 f/1.8 and flash bounced off of ceiling.

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7D and then later when you figure out what you aren't getting from a crop (for portraits), pick up a used 5d2.

keep both unless you can get a 5d3.

Thorrulz wrote in post #15391544
I've used the 7D for sports and portraits so it is a fine all around dslr. My Smugmug is full of portraits I've taken with the 7D and they all look fine.

This pic was taken during Christmas a year or so back. 7D/50 f/1.8 and flash bounced off of ceiling.

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Nice shot, but man I hate the 50 1.8's pentagon bokeh...

TMaG82 wrote in post #15391318
The 7D isn't a full frame camera. While it's a little older in terms of body age, it's still regarded as one of the best, if not the best body for shooting sports because of the FPS. As long as you keep the ISO within certain limits you should be fine, it's just that it doesn't deal too well with higher ISO's but that's a given considering the age.

Goes to show I didn't do my homework (and really I didn't), I thought it was FF. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it. I have decided to keep it.

7D + 70-200 2.8 OS/IS for closer up sports. The FPS on a crop and the extra reach is nice with sports.

The 5D Mark III would be better if you try a 7D and the AF can't keep up.

The 7D Mark II should be out this coming summer I"m guessing and might be awesome, but if you have sports to shoot from now to then, the 7D is good from what I hear. (I had the 50D/40D etc in that line)

Good luck.

You bought the right camera. Now commit to learning how to use it best. You will have to do a little more work to get the best from the 7D vs your old body.

the camera will do what you want it to do. It will take photos of any sport you point at it.

the lens is ok master that and any other lens will be easer. However you might find that at the long end isn't long enough.

look at getting a 70-300 lens. master that before spending loads on bigger lens.