7D is maybe too specialist for me

I wanted to help new folk by putting this one, and maybe answer a wee query too.

Anyone looking to upgrade to a 7D from a Rebel series. I'd have a really good think about why you want to do it. Do you shoot sports a lot? Do you strive to be National Geographic's next big thing? (Buy a 1Dx) No seriously unless you are needing to be one of the above, then a 7D will be wasted on ya.

I thought I needed it, I thought I had time to sit and wait on wildlife to do its thing, and I certainly don't do sports enough to warrant having a 7D. It's probably a bit too 'pro' for me.

My situation leads my to thinking that my 70-200 2.8L IS II would just so suit being on a FF camera. My future shoots include 3 weddings in the next year, events and parties. I feel the lens is being held back by the 7D's older sensor.

It's looking like I probably have the wrong body for the job, but FF is costly and I think if I tried hard I could manage to trade against a used 5D mkII.

I'm all about IQ, and low noise. It's more important to me than I thought. I like a lot of data to work on in LR/PS so do you reckon I'm going to miss a 7D?

Has anyone else felt they missed the 7D once it was gone?

Feel free to e-slap me or flame, It might do me good for making the wrong decision. However, I want to think about this logically now. Buying this L lens has really opened up my world, Just not enough FOV for my liking.

Cheers,

Paul

You probably need a 1dx.

Btw. I'm quite happy with a t3i and 60d and I've been shooting for te better part of 27 years.

Frodge I'd love a 1Dx lol

I had a T3i before the 7D right enough. 27 years is a great amount of time. Wish it was me. I'm only a year in. Still loving it though.

I dunno I just can't gel with this body. Feel the same about my smartphone. It can do so much but I really only do basic stuff with it.

Interesting points. I went from a Sony Alpha 200 years ago to a 7d. I absolutely loved the 7d, It was amazing for everything. I shoot a bit of everything as well. Not a pro just like to shoot. If you get the 5d mark 2 you will notice that the 70-200 you have will complement it well. Great lens on a great body. If you want low noise performance, the mark 2 will really help, less time in PS or LR. However, when I went from the 7d to the mark 2, the speed is different, what I mean by that is... 7d is a fast camera, shooting wise, writing to cards, startup time, feels solid in your hands. Mark ii: archaic autofocus system especially when compared to the 7d, heavier, a lot slower in all that I mentioned above.

I would love to buy a 1dx, but my 5d iii supports and maybe exceeds my needs right now. I really enjoy learning new things about my cameras. I find the 7d to be a worthy upgrade from a t3i. I would say pick one up used, if you dont like it, you can always sell, people are always buying/selling 7d's. To me it was the "gateway camera" to a full frame.

Hope i helped a bit!

milleniumking wrote in post #16274265
Interesting points. I went from a Sony Alpha 200 years ago to a 7d. I absolutely loved the 7d, It was amazing for everything. I shoot a bit of everything as well. Not a pro just like to shoot. If you get the 5d mark 2 you will notice that the 70-200 you have will complement it well. Great lens on a great body. If you want low noise performance, the mark 2 will really help, less time in PS or LR. However, when I went from the 7d to the mark 2, the speed is different, what I mean by that is... 7d is a fast camera, shooting wise, writing to cards, startup time, feels solid in your hands. Mark ii: archaic autofocus system especially when compared to the 7d, heavier, a lot slower in all that I mentioned above.

I would love to buy a 1dx, but my 5d iii supports and maybe exceeds my needs right now. I really enjoy learning new things about my cameras. I find the 7d to be a worthy upgrade from a t3i. I would say pick one up used, if you dont like it, you can always sell, people are always buying/selling 7d's. To me it was the "gateway camera" to a full frame.

Hope i helped a bit!

That helps a lot. It's cool to get real world experience down in written form : )

Must admit I do like the speed of the 7D like you say its rapid at everything. I'll maybe hire a 5DII to see how it feels. Best way to do it I think. Too costly otherwise.

Glad you agree, for me coming from the 7d to the mark ii was a step, I dont want to say a step down, but, getting used to the slower pace of the mark ii made me think that i made a bad choice. However, after looking at the picture quality, especially low light stuff!? I then realized that I made the right choice. I think it totally depends on what you like to shoot. Honestly I use my 5d mark iii for mostly family functions and low light shots. I loved the mark ii and sometimes still wonder why I made the jump. But then when I am chasing around kids and little pets, The mark iii is amazing at tracking and focusing where the mark ii was not so great. When I had my 7d, I had no issues with tracking and focus aquiring speed as well. I would say, keep your 7d, its great. If you can somehow get a 7d and a mark ii? Do it!

I had my 7D for 4 years and sold it and my 15-85 towards a 5DMIII. I didn't use all the features so why did I upgrade?

I was frustrated with the level of noise in low light and wanted to move to a FF which would have similar ergonomics, buttons etc and also provide improved AF, ISO and overall image quality.

I have been shooting pro since 1985, switched to digital from medium format in 02 it looked like that was the direction things were going, for portrait work I use my 1Ds Mk II i love the color, for birds in flight, and wildlife of all kinds I use my 7D, and back that up with a little o'l T3i, I use them for what they were built for, and I love my 7D, but I can't really speak to low light noise, I hardly ever use higher iso then 400, when I shoot families I ALWAYS use a tripod, and a light that I balance with the ambiant light, then use a slower shutter speed if nessisary, by the time the light gets to low for wild life to need a higher iso, the light sucks so I don't take those shots unless I just want to look at them at home, I don't know if this helps or not, but I love my 7D, and barring having the money to afford an 800 mm lens I don't think I will go ff for wildlife!

You should match your equipment to what you do. It sounds as though a switch to FF is where you should head. The 6D sounds like it might be a good fit for you.

Paulstw wrote in post #16274173
My situation leads my to thinking that my 70-200 2.8L IS II would just so suit being on a FF camera. My future shoots include 3 weddings in the next year, events and parties. I feel the lens is being held back by the 7D's older sensor.

Yea not sure why you went with 7D in the first place, as 7D has the same sensor as most Rebel as we know it.

It screams ff with what you shoot

Try harder and go with a 5D3. Stop cutting corners and regret again.

Capable lens requires capable body to maximise its benefits. Pairing L lens with a crop camera is like putting a huge turbo in a Toyota Yaris.

Totally agree with Kin2son. I would say if you can do it, get a 5d iii or if its out of your price range get the 6d for the weight and size, or a 5d mark ii for features. When I got my mark iii i thought i would regret it because of the money spent, but, whenever i use it now, that thought always goes away!

Not sure I see your problem. I had a 7D for a year, and used it mainly in M, did a lot of studio portraits and outside portraits.
It basically lived in M mode, 160 ISO, 1/250 ss, single point or spot AF and F11 for most of my studio stuff or some headshots at F 2.8.
The 70-200 L II was awesome.
My only negative was I would have liked say a 35 mm on the crop body sometimes, and was disapointed in the 24-70L reviews, for that price didnt want to invest.

The 70-200 on a FF is for me perfect.

My concern is you think the 7D is too complicated well the 5D3 is a whole lot more complex! iMO
But just work out what you shoot and learn that.

Initially I thought the 7D was too complex especially the AF, coming from a Sony SLT A77 that just did all these things perfectly automatically. Infinitely better sensor in my opinion.

But once you get the hang of the 7D and learn how to drive it its great.
I think of a 7D like my first Porsche 911. It seemed like my dream car - well what 28 year old wouldn't love it.
Then romance was abruptly curtailed on the first rainy day into a roundabout at 70 mph, and exited ( not in the desired turning ) backwards - it spun around again. Scared the sh... Out of me.
It was all about the dreadful weight distribution over the rear axle.
So I went on a course - learnt the tricks to drive it! And loved it for 3 years.
Point being it was a great car - BUT with some serious drawbacks that can be overcome.

The wife hated it! Refused to drive it, and plagued my every week to change and get a Mercedes SL.

Its horses for courses!
Oh yeah the wife won! And no regrets on my side.

Ill take the Air cooled Porsche!

I see everyone's points to be honest. I have a great camera and maybe I'm not using it right. Feels like I have been but willing to give it more of a go. If I don't I know I'll just go buy a 5diii and be done with the hassle.

We'll see how it goes at the wedding in 4 weeks. I'll decide then.