Toying with moving from a 7d to a 5D MK3

Currently have a 7d but am toying with getting a 5d MK3. Now, I mostly shoot moving objects & have had some great results from the 7d coupled with either a 70-200 f4L or the 100-400L. I also use a 10-22mm for static shots. I realise that the 10-22 couldn't be used on the 5d MK3. My walkaround lens is a 24-105L. I also have a 50mm f1.4.
I am finding low light shooting quite difficult & am having to use quite high ISO levels (1000 +) in some circumstances. This is producing quite a lot of noise but Lightroom seems to be doing a good job of minimising this in PP.
Have always fancied a 5D MK3 and am curious of FF. But, would it suit my style??
Have also toyed with swapping my 70-200f4L for a 70-200f2.8 MK2 for faster shooting in low light coupled with my 7D.
Here are a few pics of what I mainly shoot currently with the 7d. All advice is greatly received.

Many thanks & kind regards in advance, Kevin.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/28825728@N08/9​636420990/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/28825728@N08/9​386444716/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/28825728@N08/9​383664037/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/28825728@N08/9​711632776/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/28825728@N08/9​711720508/

Hi Kevin

I toyed with the same idea since the 5D Mk3 was released. Today I took the plunge and purchased. Im sorry I dont have any words of wisdom for you, but I know how hard it is to make the decision. Good luck with your choice!

Many thanks.

kathfern wrote in post #16292907
Hi Kevin

I toyed with the same idea since the 5D Mk3 was released. Today I took the plunge and purchased. Im sorry I dont have any words of wisdom for you, but I know how hard it is to make the decision. Good luck with your choice!

I was in the same boat as yourself and Kathy. It's a hard decision when you can produce great photos with the 7D. I researched for around 6 months and when they were on sale pulled the trigger.

I sold my 7D for $900 last month and got the 5DMIII. Boy what a difference...less noise at high ISO, tack sharp images and more vibrant colours...I haven't looked back...!!!!

I've certainly been happy since moving from the 7D to the 5DIII.

Before and after going from a 7D to the 1DX.

Hi Kevin,

Great shots!

I've just done what you're considering so I'll give you my initial thoughts:

Obviously everyone has different tolerances for noise levels, but the 5DIII produces much cleaner high ISO images, no doubt about it. I think ISO 6400 will be my new "normal" while shooting in low light as the NR required is quite minimal IMO. If I'm shooting strictly for the web, I'll have no problem shooting ISO 12K. Big advantage 5DIII....

The 5DIII has the better af system. Dealing with the 61 focus points can almost seem overwhelming at first but the flexibility of the system is incredible. The 5DIII locks faster and is more consistent, it's essentially the same af as the 1DX. I expect my keeper rate to go up, not way up since the 7D af is pretty darn good in it's own right and I was quite comfortable with that system. It was groundbreaking for a Canon APS-C body back in 2009, but technology has moved forward. Advantage 5DIII....

Going FF, you're also going to need a 16-35 or 17-40 to get as wide as your excellent 10-22, something to think about if you shoot really wide. Your long glass is also going to seem shorter, I won't say APS-C gives you more "reach" because that's a holy war around here..lol

The 5DIII shoots 6fps vs the 7D 8fps, I haven't tested this in any sports yet, but the difference is quite noticeable, this may or may not be a problem as I'm quite used to the performance of the 7D, I'll definitely need to improve my timing to compensate, the 7D also has a larger RAW buffer. Advantage 7D...

Adding the 70-200 2.8 will give you another stop for low light which might be all that you need to keep your ISO at acceptable levels. Having said that, I have no problem shooting at ISO 3200 with my 7D, especially for web output. Yes, it takes some work in PP, and everyone's tolerance for noise is different, I have more than a few prints at ISO 1600 that came out quite nice with the 7D, mostly 8x10 or smaller but if you're printing, noise will be less of an issue than you think. However with the 5DIII, I have no doubt I'll be printing much larger now and probably up to ISO 6400.

The 5DIII raw files are IMO more "durable" they require less work to get good results and can handle a bit more aggressive PP when you need it. Your PP skills might be better so it may or may not be an advantage for the 5DIII.

You might also want to check out POTN member Team Speed's threads on the 7D, he's able to work magic on the 7D from a noise perspective:
Mini-Review: Trying To Get the Most out of the 7D High ISO Images

Sorry for the novel

I'd say Stone 13 summed it up pretty well. I have both the 7D and the 5DIII and although they're both great cameras, the 5DIII always gives results that require far less post processing. It's easily the best camera I've ever owned. I'd say go for it. I don't see how you could ever be disappointed.

Thank you Ken for such a detailed reply. Truly appreciated.

Quick question on the 70-200 f2.8. Mk1 or mk2 & why?

I went from the 60D to the 5D3. SOOOOOOOOO glad that I did. I now use the 5D 90% of the time and use the 60D as a backup/second body. The 5D is awesome for sports, I find that cropping it to be close to the 7D/60D just about matches the image quality.

Frosticles wrote in post #16294429
Thank you Ken for such a detailed reply. Truly appreciated.

Quick question on the 70-200 f2.8. Mk1 or mk2 & why?

Very welcome

I've never owned mk1 but I understand it's still a great lens. From what I've read the mk2 is sharper, has better IS and slightly faster af speed. Some say it has better color/contrast as well.

Looking at the Digital Picture comparison between mk1 & mk2, the newer version is significantly sharper wide open:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=0

Frosticles wrote in post #16294429
Thank you Ken for such a detailed reply. Truly appreciated.

Quick question on the 70-200 f2.8. Mk1 or mk2 & why?

No regrets moving to 5DIII - richer images, better AF by miles.
Your pictures are great so you obviously mastered the 7D, so you won't appreciate how much easier it is to get keepers.

Much Better support for the new radio triggered Speedlites! such as the 600EX RT plus in camera setting and no loss of 1 f stop! in radio mode. Massive improvement to me with the STE3 master trigger.
Much better low light performance.
Ability to crop without so much loss.

Negatives you may miss the reach, an L series glass with reach is expensive [well for me it is - and it is essential except the 40mm pancake stunning for the money! great walkabout lens on the 5D3].

I was going to sell my 70-300 L IS USM F4-5.6 but kept it as a backup lens and not much saving selling it and getting the 1.4 converter.

Re the Glass
I ASSUME YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE IS VERSIONS! THATS ESSENTIAL IMO.

WHEN I LOOKED THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRICE DIFFERENCE AND THE MKII HAS BETTER TECH SPECS. SO ITS A NO BRAINER!
NB better future service options/resale values.
both are class A lenses see page 80 in the latest manual. the class of lens really affects which lens to get IMO as it determines what AF points are available and if they are Cross, Horizontal or hypersensitive! That's a biggy in my book.

sold my 7D
i bought the 5D3 and i sold it after a 700 shots like new because i want the money
i bought the 6D
now im waiting for the new 7D II
by the way very great photos from your 7D with the 100-400
your 100-400 on the FF will be like the 55-250 on a crop
say bye bye to the reach

keep your 7D
and buy a clean used 5D II
They will be great together
the 5D II still a strong body

Went from the 7D to the 5Dmk3 right when it was released. Never looked back or missed the 7D.
The colors are much richer/truer. The resolution is off the charts, the AF system is the best out there (other than the 1Dx which only benefits from more hardware to make the software work better)
And the FPS decrease wasn't that noticeable to me and I shoot BIF and aircraft in flight. In fact I'd say the AF system makes up for the FPS and you end up with about the same number of keepers. The funny thing for me is the switch was really prompted by my business (mostly video production) because the 7D had terrible moire and aliasing issues. The 5D mk3 exhibits almost no moire or aliasing in video mode. Getting the 5D mk3 was the trigger that got me to take photography seriously.
Make the switch and never look back. 1.4 TC IiI work well to give you the reach back but I generally just crop. There's a lot more pixels available with the 5D mk3.