Used SLR for sports/wildlife

I picked up a Sigma 300/2.8 a few months ago which I love, but I'm currently using it on my only body, a 5Dc. I'm starting to feel the limitation of the full frame in terms of reach, continuous drive, AF ability and that completely unwarranted niggling feeling that I might benefit from MFA.

I want to be a bit more comfortable with the body for sports, birds and other wildlife and have decided I probably need a decent 1.6 crop camera.

I like buying used, will be buying in the UK, and am currently considering a 50D. Can anybody think of anything more appropriate? I don't like the idea of a 1D, too much weight and attention.

7D if you can afford the additional price over the 50D.

Scott M wrote in post #16387381
7D if you can afford the additional price over the 50D.

I was initially considering a 40D actually, which I notice you have in your old gear list. how does it compare to your 7D?

50D would be an excellent choice. AF system is the same in both 40D & 50D, and much better for sports/action than your 5DC's AF. 15MP (vs 10MP in the 40D). It has Microadjust (40D doesn't). 50D has usable ISO 1600, and with some work 3200 (IMO, same as 40D, but at much higher resolution). 40D's highest avail. ISO is 3200... 50D's is two stops higher: 12800. 50D also has improved Live View compared to 40D, as well as a brighter/clearer LCD screen to use with it. 50D supports UDMA memory cards (CF), while 40D doesn't.

Both 40D and 50D use the same BG-E2 or E2N vertical/battery grips and BP-511/511A type batteries & chargers. They also share focus screens and WFT-E3/E3A modules.

50D wasn't a huge upgrade over the 40D and both are quite capable of doing sports/action photography. But particularly at today's used camera prices, I'd be more inclined to go with 50D for some of the modest upgrades it offers.

7D is a more pro-oriented camera with substantially more sophisticated 19-point AF system (with it's own discrete chip, 1D-series style.... In fact I suspect the 7D's AF system is a scaled down version of the 45-point system used in EOS-3 and most 1-series cameras), 100% viewfinder, active/transmissive LCD focus screen (simliar 5DIII and 1DX), dual Digic 4 processors to support 8 fps shooting speed (compared to single Digic 4 in 50D or single Digic III in 40D, supporting just over 6 fps shooting in both models), 63 zone iFCL metering system (a modest upgrade from the 35 zone system on 40D & 50D), and more. Resolution increase from 50D is modest (18MP vs 15MP), but IMO 7D is good for about one stop higher ISO thanks to slightly better noise handling. 50D images appear sharper out of camera than 7D's. This is due to stronger anti-alias filter on 7D and is easily offset with increased sharpening in post processing. 40D's images appear even sharper still because it can use an even weaker AA filter, thanks to the larger photo sites and less crowded sensor. But images from 50D are much more enlargeable or croppable. 40D and 50D both have 100,000 click shutter rating, while 7D has 150,000 click rating. 7D is noticeably heavier than 50D or 40D... probably due to it's 100% viewfinder, plus beefier construction. In fact, it's heavier than 5DC or 5DII (5DIII is only a few grams heavier).

All of your needs are met with the 7D.... And if you like "reach", the 7D has a dense 18mp sensor that gives you a lot of freedom to crop to get even more "reach" while still giving you very good images.

Keyan wrote in post #16387698
All of your needs are met with the 7D.... And if you like "reach", the 7D has a dense 18mp sensor that gives you a lot of freedom to crop to get even more "reach" while still giving you very good images.

+1 to the 7D recommendations for your needs.

Regarding the niggle to MFA, suggest setting up a tripod shot in good, outdoor light (not indoor light and definitely not under fluorescents) and compare LiveView focused shots to phase detection focused shots. This will give you an idea if better sharpness/focus can be achieved with the lens/body you are using.

7D would probably fit your needs the best, but the 50D is a great body as well.

Like almost everybody else, I'd have to recommend the 7D if you can afford it. But it is around twice the price of the 50D when bought second-hand, so it's not an easy decision if money is tight. Normal advice would be to buy the cheaper body and spend the money saved on good glass. But you've already got a pretty good lens, so I guess that doesn't really apply.

Keyan wrote in post #16387698
All of your needs are met with the 7D.... And if you like "reach", the 7D has a dense 18mp sensor that gives you a lot of freedom to crop to get even more "reach" while still giving you very good images.

Gobeatty wrote in post #16387712
+1 to the 7D recommendations for your needs.

Regarding the niggle to MFA, suggest setting up a tripod shot in good, outdoor light (not indoor light and definitely not under fluorescents) and compare LiveView focused shots to phase detection focused shots. This will give you an idea if better sharpness/focus can be achieved with the lens/body you are using.

waterrockets wrote in post #16387999
7D would probably fit your needs the best, but the 50D is a great body as well.

hollis_f wrote in post #16389480
Like almost everybody else, I'd have to recommend the 7D if you can afford it. But it is around twice the price of the 50D when bought second-hand, so it's not an easy decision if money is tight. Normal advice would be to buy the cheaper body and spend the money saved on good glass. But you've already got a pretty good lens, so I guess that doesn't really apply.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I see the 7D gets the popular vote - it's outside my budget at the moment but maybe the release of the 7D2 will up the market quantity and drive the price down.

My 5Dc has taught me a lot about what bells and whistles amateurs really need - I don't care for hi res screens, megapixels, video or glossy menus. With this in mind is the 7D really much more than a 50D with frills? I'm going to get a less crowded sensor with digic 4 sensor on the 50D, 6 instead of 8fps continuous, better (much?) AF and the cost difference...

UKmitch86 wrote in post #16387413
I was initially considering a 40D actually, which I notice you have in your old gear list. how does it compare to your 7D?

Alan and Keyan pretty much summed up the differences. The 40D was a fine camera for its time, but the 7D beats it in every way (which it should for the price difference). The AF system is more advanced, the 18MP vs. 10MP allows for more cropping in post processing (which comes in very handy for wildlife), the high ISO performance is better (allowing for more opportunities for wildlife at dawn/dusk), and it has a 100% viewfinder. The increase from 6fps to 8fps was not a big deal for me.

Even after buying a 5D3 1.5 years ago, I found the 7D still provided a use to me for wildlife. I did not feel the need to hang onto the 40D when I bought the 7D about 4 years ago, though.

UKmitch86 wrote in post #16389710
Thanks for the feedback guys, I see the 7D gets the popular vote - it's outside my budget at the moment but maybe the release of the 7D2 will up the market quantity and drive the price down.

I think it will take a long time until the 7D's price drops significantly. If you don't buy one now then, every time the AF on your camera misses focus, you'll be asking yourself 'I wonder if the 7D would have got that?"

One note is that the 50D is not likely to take any major price drops in the next couple of months, so you could pretty safely pick one up, then re-sell it if it just isn't cutting the mustard.

Here's an epic thread of a 50D used for sports: https://photography-on-the.net …hread.php?t=701​776&page=8

In reviews, it's stated that AI Servo is not reliable on the 50D, but I used one for a few swimming shots, and was satisfied.

At any rate, check out that thread. Good stuff in there:

wroclawianie wrote in post #15972319
Sparta Wroclaw vs Wlokniarz Czestochowa
50D + 300 2.8 IS L USM

#588

With how affordable the 7D is on the used, and even new, market these days it is really the only body I'd suggest here. Immense cropablility for sports, fast continuous shooting, superior build/sealing to 60, 70, 50 or 40D, better auto focusing.

The 7D is an absolute steal these days.

waterrockets wrote in post #16389898
In reviews, it's stated that AI Servo is not reliable on the 50D, but I used one for a few swimming shots, and was satisfied.

Yes, I was satisfied with AI Servo on the 50D. Until I got my 7D.

I can totally see that, but I'm not sure why we're still talking about the 7D. It is not an option for the OP.