Sports: 1d2, 1d3, 7d?

So I currently have a 6D, 28-300L, and 70-200L 2.8 II - all of which I love for portraits, family events, landscapes, and travel. They are all a treat to work with. One thing, though, the 6D doesn't do so well for me is sports (not surprising as it's not its forté). As I've been doing some daylight outdoor sports and surfing (day and sunset), I've been wanting:

1) Slightly improved AF, especially with non-center points.
2) Better FPS
3) Smoother hands! (hah!)

Since I'm not a pro and this is just a fun side hobby, the 1Dx and 1d4 are just silly money for a second sports body (for me). For $1k more than the 6D, the 5D3 doesn't give me much more for sports save for better AF and +1.5FPS.

So, I'm left with three options within my goal budget (~1k)

1) 1D2 at around $500 is a cheap bargain way to get into 1D system plus high FPS

2) 1D3 at around $1,000 is tempting, though my big question is what does the extra 500 really get me? Better high ISO performance, better AF? I've read mixed results.

3) 7D at around $800 is also not bad. Extra reach is tempting, good AF and more modern tech.

So, knowing that:

1) This body will be for sports, mostly daytime (occasionally sunset, perhaps indoor in a few years).

2) AF and FPS are the goals to improve over the 6D.

What's a man to do?

I don't have a 1DIII, but from what I've read if you can live with less reach and 10MP (i.e. are not going to have to crop much) it is the way to go. Also a bigger 1D body - may be a plus or not.

One thing I found with the 7D vs 5DII is that it is not just the FPS but 'responsiveness' that matters with sports/action.

1DIII has more FPS than 7D and is probably even more 'responsive', but the 7D is 'quick', so probably/possibly not a big deal. Both might be quite different than the 6D.

I like the 7D enough that I still use it, even with having the 5DIII, but a 1DIII might be even better.

Personally the choice for me would be 7D because of 2 main things:

1. I don't like the size of the 1D bodies
2. If I can put Magic Lantern on a camera it adds a lot of value to me.

But these are obviously quite personal.

If you go for a 1D III, make sure it doesn't have the AF issue. Ask the seller, check the serial number etc. I wouldn't recommend a 1D II on the basis that the LCD is next to useless. Go for the 1D II N at least. The 7D's files don't look any good to me (they look too digital for my tastes). Sure, you can spend lots of time PP'ing to help cure this, but for sports I really wouldn't want to be doing that. The handling of the 7D is nowhere near as good as that of a 1 series body and I would hate to use it as a sports body. It doesn't feel great in the hands (nor does my 6D compared to the 1D, but I don't do sports with the 6D) and will not balance well with big lenses (with the grip it is okay, but not great).

Get the 1D III over the 1D II N if:

You need the better ISO performance
Plan to shoot indoor sports
Think the extra 2fps would be beneficial

The 1.6x crop factor using the 7D can also make a bif difference. Most people do not have long enough lenses. Depends on the sport, of course. My vote = 7D.

iD4 used or 1DX. 7D has decent frame rate not not an AF to compare with 1 series.

Of the three choices you listed, I would go with a new 7D.
Why buy older technology?
AutoFocus System is the predecessor to the 1Dx and 5D Mark III.
8 Frames per Second.
1.6 crop for extended reach
The Auto Focus System of the 6D compared to the 5D Mark III and 7D is night and day. The 5D Mark III (3) is hands down much better than the 5D Mark II (2) and the 6D AF System.
I know quite a few Sports Photographers that have the 1Dx or 1D Mark IV's as primary bodies and use the 7D for extra bodies and extended reach when needed while having comparable AF Systems.
When I do add the 1Dx to my collection, the 7D will still be ready at a moments notice.

Fun side hobby = 7D. You've only got 200mm at your disposal, however it's a sharp 200mm so the high pixel density of the 7D should not present too many problems.

The pixels on the 18MP+ APS-C sensors are SMALL. If your optics + focus are not great then you'll get softness, you'll stuff around too much with sharpening which will make the noise look worse and then muck around with noise reduction and complain about the 7D and PP and.........you end up like all the others that complain about the 7D and having to do lots of PP.

If you're prepared to pay for longer glass or think 200mm on APS-H will be long enough then yeah the 1D bodies are worth looking at.

so since it is in your price range.. wouldnt the 70d be your #4 choice or taking the 7d spot ?
from what I have been researching (just like you I need a sports camera but very low light)

this is a cell pic but look at my post #299

10mp enough??? dunno....

Coupon wrote in post #16643051
So I currently have a 6D, 28-300L, and 70-200L 2.8 II - all of which I love for portraits, family events, landscapes, and travel. They are all a treat to work with. One thing, though, the 6D doesn't do so well for me is sports (not surprising as it's not its forté). As I've been doing some daylight outdoor sports and surfing (day and sunset), I've been wanting:

1) Slightly improved AF, especially with non-center points.
2) Better FPS
3) Smoother hands! (hah!)

Since I'm not a pro and this is just a fun side hobby, the 1Dx and 1d4 are just silly money for a second sports body (for me). For $1k more than the 6D, the 5D3 doesn't give me much more for sports save for better AF and +1.5FPS.

So, I'm left with three options within my goal budget (~1k)

1) 1D2 at around $500 is a cheap bargain way to get into 1D system plus high FPS

2) 1D3 at around $1,000 is tempting, though my big question is what does the extra 500 really get me? Better high ISO performance, better AF? I've read mixed results.

3) 7D at around $800 is also not bad. Extra reach is tempting, good AF and more modern tech.

So, knowing that:

1) This body will be for sports, mostly daytime (occasionally sunset, perhaps indoor in a few years).

2) AF and FPS are the goals to improve over the 6D.

What's a man to do?

Heya,

7D. The reach, autofocus, built in MFA, fast FPS. The only missing super element would be high ISO performance. It's not the best ISO performer. But sports and fast action means two things: fast shutter speed and high ISO (to support a fast shutter speed).

I would definitely go for high FPS. You're going to want to be able to go snap, snap, snap and capture the moment in sports because there's no time to wait for focus, metering, and setting up a "good" shot, and instead, it will be snap, snap, snap through the action moment. This is where the robust autofocus and fast FPS can come in handy.

The extra reach from the crop sensor, with your 200 F2.8 will result in a great thing for sports.

Very best,

Go for a refurbed body and save hundreds. Trade in an old Canon body (yes even old film bodies) and get hundreds more off (you have to call in to arrange the trade in discount). We have purchased refurbed bodies and L lenses and they came looking and functioning like new. They have one year warranty.

http://shop.usa.canon.​com …d-eos-digital-slr-cameras
http://shop.usa.canon.​com …lashes/refurbis​hed-lenses

phreeky wrote in post #16643854
Fun side hobby = 7D. You've only got 200mm at your disposal, however it's a sharp 200mm so the high pixel density of the 7D should not present too many problems.

The pixels on the 18MP+ APS-C sensors are SMALL. If your optics + focus are not great then you'll get softness, you'll stuff around too much with sharpening which will make the noise look worse and then muck around with noise reduction and complain about the 7D and PP and.........you end up like all the others that complain about the 7D and having to do lots of PP.

If you're prepared to pay for longer glass or think 200mm on APS-H will be long enough then yeah the 1D bodies are worth looking at.

The only reason you'll get softness is if you view at 100%, which looks at pixel level quality without accounting for the fact there are 18 million of the things - there is such a thing as too many pixels - if you're not printing big and your glass isn't the best, you won't benefit from 18MP. Even the 50D's 15MP are excessive.

I wouldn't bother with the 1d II anymore. What does the extra $500 for the 1D III get you? Much better batteries. Better LCD with live view. Autofocus microadjust. Better, easier to navigate menu system. Improved high ISO. Sweet files to work with. Remind me very much of the files from the 5Dc. Only drawback to 1D III at this point I feel is the lack of mp for cropping.

At one point, I sold my last 1D III to try a 7D. Shot a couple sporting events with it and sold it. I just did not like the files it produced. While they could be processed to look decent, they were just to "brittle" to me to work with. If that makes any sense.

I sold it and immediately went back to a 1D III for the stuff I was planning to use the 7D for.

So my recommendation is for the 1D III.

1DIII without question, unless you don't have the appropriate glass, and need to crop heavily.

Nick5 wrote in post #16643812
Of the three choices you listed, I would go with a new 7D.
Why buy older technology?
AutoFocus System is the predecessor to the 1Dx and 5D Mark III.
8 Frames per Second.
1.6 crop for extended reach

This is good advice.

I've had all three cameras at one time or another and I doubt anyone would be able to spot differences in the images I shot with the 1D3 or the 7D once they were processed. If you have a desire to strengthen your arm muscles, make your back/neck more sore or need an extremely robust camera, then the 1D3 is certainly for you. Otherwise, 7D would be the perfect compliment to your 6D.

Lots of great advice in here with (of course) differing opinions. Seems like there are happy customers with the 7D and the 1D3. My only comment to add is about reach. With my sharpest lens, 200mm on the 1D3 is 260mm and 320 on the 7D. Is that extra 1.23x a big enough jump to be a deciding factor? Perhaps plus the extra MP it does?

Looking at FPS, that favors the 1D3.

So then we come down to AF responsiveness, focus points, and low light. Who wins there?