Starting out, pets & triathlon, 7d? 6d?

Hi all! First post here, and sorry, it might be a long one.

So, I've always been interested in photography, but never got very far with it. I'm not really into trying artistic shots, but I like to take pictures of pets and people, and sometimes while the people are running or cycling. I hated the quality coming out of P&Ses, so I got a Nikon D40 because it was the cheapest decent SLR at that time (probably a decade ago...) but wound up always wishing for a 40d (and then a 50d) because the Canons always seemed to produce a better, sharper image to my eyes (I couldn't handle the small grips on the xxxD Canons, though) (yes I like parentheticals).

Years on I've gotten into triathlon, and would like to take shots of friends racing in races I'm not participating in. I never liked the D40 enough to use it much, as it wasn't good at high enough ISO to stop action, and I didn't want to invest in a better lens than the kit lens because I always thought I'd make the switch to Canon. After my last move, early this year, I sold the D40.

Then the 7d dropped, and I was infatuated. Particularly, there was a shot on this site (I was lurking) of someone taking a shot of his cat, and the photog was visible in reflection in the cat's eye. Loved it, but way too expensive. I also remember a test of the autofocus on someone running directly at the camera, and the AF mostly keeping up.

Fast forward to now, and one of my goals this winter is to take more pictures of my cat, who is getting up there in age. It turns out (I hadn't kept up) that the 7d is available used for like a grand less than it was new, at launch. In fact, a local store is offering their demo model with the 28-135 IS USM lens for $999. Great deal (I think), especially given I can drive over and acquire it tomorrow if I so choose. Only slightly less is the (I know, not Canon) Panasonic LX100, which has a nice fast lens built in (I'd supplement the 28-135 with some faster primes), but a smaller sensor, and as mentioned, is only a little cheaper.

In the interim, though, the 6d was released (I learned this week), and good lord it takes some pretty pictures. I'd really like it with the kit 24-105, even though it's more than the 7d, but I keep seeing back-and-forth reports on its AF vs the 7d's. I don't care so much about the FPS - one good shot of a rider going past is fine for me, but the AF needs to be able to actually lock. And yes, the 6d is more expensive, but FF is appealing, and the image quality is very nice if the AF can catch a cyclist. Can it?

So really, there are three options. LX100 (which I realize this forum might not have an unbiased opinion on, but would be a gateway to learn about photography, and looks damn decent), 6d (and cry a bit over the money, but be ok, and have great image quality if the AF can handle what I need), or the 7d (and always wonder if I should have gone FF). I'll be shooting my cat and friends cycling and running. With the 7d I'd probably get nicer lenses in the spring; with the 6d I'd probably be stuck with the 24-105 for a while. With the LX100 I'd of course be stuck with the nice one built-in, and might supplement with a Canon DSLR later on. I've driven myself crazy looking at 6d vs 7d AF performance over the last couple days.

What's everyone's opinion on these three options? I'm not looking to print the pictures (though I suppose it might happen) or video at all - I like to have pictures to look at on the computer itself.

Welcome to the forum.

\You will get lots of different answers now,so it might not make your decision any easier.

I had a 7d, great camera, good fast autofocus. fab buffer.
A friend of mine has a 6d, recently won an action shot competition with it. Its frames per sec and autofocus are slower (not even sure the af is, its simpler but works very well).

Ultimately image quality is better on the 6d, especially when light levels are low, but the 7d has the advantage that to get equivilant fields of view as the 6d will enable smaller less expensive lenses.

There is always a better camera than the one you get. In your case I'd look hard at the 70d, new tech, crop, almost as fast as 7d and better image quality, but the 7d is a good buy

Thanks! Reason I've largely ignored the 70d is that it's more expensive and seems that the AF improvements are mostly for movies and live view, which I don't really care about. Yet another option would be a 1dMkiii, to split the difference between APSc and FF, and is well-priced, but yikes that's a big body.

Get the 7D2.

6D will be perfect for your need, and the image quality in high and very high ISO will be beyond any actual Canon cameras (except may be the 1Dx-c)
Coupled with the 24-105, you will have an good walk-around system, able to catch bicycle, your cat, your family, what ever you want, it have an excellent center AF point which can focus in a quite "dark" condition, and follow very well a running subject

At some point you will want to use the outer focus points to shoot a subject coming towards you. The 6D has been shown on here to suffer in those situations. Unless you want to aim at the runners chest, then crop for composure and hope for sharp eyes, then the 7D, 7D2 and 70D are better options.

h14nha wrote in post #17220941
At some point you will want to use the outer focus points to shoot a subject coming towards you. The 6D has been shown on here to suffer in those situations. Unless you want to aim at the runners chest, then crop for composure and hope for sharp eyes, then the 7D, 7D2 and 70D are better options.

Here on youtube > https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Q9HlxWqcG5Y this guys did a real test with only the outer focus point (the far left or right AF point) go to minute 6 (where he start the AF test), the camera is not a 7D AF system ok, but the 6D is pretty good with the non cross type AF point

Reservoir Dog wrote in post #17220965
Here on youtube > https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Q9HlxWqcG5Y this guys did a real test with only the outer focus point (the far left or right AF point) go to minute 6 (where he start the AF test), the camera is not a 7D AF system ok, but the 6D is pretty good with the non cross type AF point

Thanks, I did watch that video from someone else's link about 6 months ago. The main thing I see is that it's shot in VERY good light, and the subject has a very distinctive colour top on, to act as a good contrast to the background.

The other thing about the 2 cameras mentioned is, FPS. I still have my 450d/XSi which shoots the same frame rate as the 6D ( I think ), whenever I used to use it as a backup with different lens on to my 7D, I found the slow frame rate painful.

If you shoot JPEG the 7D just seems to go forever in a burst

Well, after much not making a decision, my old college buddy sent me his old 7D + nifty fifty as a loan to see how I like it. Still trying to just figure out the controls, but fun so far! Should be posting up a couple of pics in the 7D thread later today.

h14nha wrote in post #17220941
At some point you will want to use the outer focus points to shoot a subject coming towards you. The 6D has been shown on here to suffer in those situations. Unless you want to aim at the runners chest, then crop for composure and hope for sharp eyes, then the 7D, 7D2 and 70D are better options.

I keep seeing this opinion. That is not my experience. My 6D will focus, with a peripheral point, in light that would stymie the center point of the 5Dc. It also does ai-servo better than my 60D, with the same glass. The 6D will easily handle runners and pets.

Of course, there are camera that have more sophisticate AF systems than the 6D. But, c'mon, with 10 minutes practice most anyone could manually focus the shots mentioned. Any AF camera will do that job.

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17245254
I keep seeing this opinion. That is not my experience. My 6D will focus, with a peripheral point, in light that would stymie the center point of the 5Dc. It also does ai-servo better than my 60D, with the same glass. The 6D will easily handle runners and pets.

Of course, there are camera that have more sophisticate AF systems than the 6D. But, c'mon, with 10 minutes practice most anyone could manually focus the shots mentioned. Any AF camera will do that job.

Dude, the OP doesn't want to spend that much money, nor does he want to manually focus. I get that you love your 6d, but it is probably not the right fit for the OP.

OP - your concern about high ISO performance is certainly warranted, but if you spend some money on better than the kit glass you won't need nearly as high an ISO. Using that 50/1.8 from your friend, if you shoot at f/2.8 you will get very sharp images AND the ISO will be 1/4 what it would have been with your f/5.6 lens.

If you are looking for a budget solution, look into canon's refurbs (or even clearance) for a 7d, or even a 70d, and don't be afraid to get a specialty lens for shooting indoor shots. You should also think about getting a flash and learning how to use it.

canon refurb site:
http://shop.usa.canon.​com …d-eos-digital-slr-cameras

timbop wrote in post #17245443
Dude, the OP doesn't want to spend that much money, nor does he want to manually focus. I get that you love your 6d, but it is probably not the right fit for the OP.

OP - your concern about high ISO performance is certainly warranted, but if you spend some money on better than the kit glass you won't need nearly as high an ISO. Using that 50/1.8 from your friend, if you shoot at f/2.8 you will get very sharp images AND the ISO will be 1/4 what it would have been with your f/5.6 lens.

If you are looking for a budget solution, look into canon's refurbs (or even clearance) for a 7d, or even a 70d, and don't be afraid to get a specialty lens for shooting indoor shots. You should also think about getting a flash and learning how to use it.

canon refurb site:
http://shop.usa.canon.​com …d-eos-digital-slr-cameras

Sorry, I thought the OP asking about a 6D meant that he was considering purchasing a 6D. My comments about the 6D addressed the OP's question as to whether or not a 6D could do what he wanted, AF-wise. Contrary to the mis-informed opinion above, the 6D's outer points are more than capable of performing to the OP's stated situation.

EDIT: Yes, I like my 6D. But that is irrelevant here. An XT could live up to the OP's AF expectations.

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17245501
Sorry, I thought the OP asking about a 6D meant that he was considering purchasing a 6D. My comments about the 6D addressed the OP's question as to whether or not a 6D could do what he wanted, AF-wise. Contrary to the mis-informed opinion above, the 6D's outer points are more than capable of performing to the OP's stated situation.

EDIT: Yes, I like my 6D. But that is irrelevant here. An XT could live up to the OP's AF expectations.

sure, but a 6D would be also good for other situations

I shot Ironman Canada this past summer. The athletes come by very quickly, especially the bikes. I used the 7d to shoot most of the events. I also had the 5d2 and it just was not fast enough with focus tracking nor fps. I'd recommend getting a used 7d for a dime as people will be jumping onto the 7d2 bandwagon and we'll see a glut of used 7d's hitting the B&S boards.

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17245501
Sorry, I thought the OP asking about a 6D meant that he was considering purchasing a 6D. My comments about the 6D addressed the OP's question as to whether or not a 6D could do what he wanted, AF-wise. Contrary to the mis-informed opinion above, the 6D's outer points are more than capable of performing to the OP's stated situation.

EDIT: Yes, I like my 6D. But that is irrelevant here. An XT could live up to the OP's AF expectations.

Have you ever shot bikes coming by you at 60km/hr? I have an t2i and it is a joke at focus tracking.