What makes the 7D2 'special' and 'worth it' for you?

Still debating between the 70D, 7D2 or D750 (got no lenses). I used to have the 7D with the 17-55IS and 70-200/F2.8 and loved that combo. Also had the 5D3 with the 24-105/4 but somehow like the 7D more (maybe nostalgia...). I've read about the 7D2's fast AF, high fps, build quality and supposedly 'crap' sensor. So disregaring that, what makes the 7D2 'special' for you? Is it the metering? Better white balance? Other?

lapino wrote in post #17527549
Still debating between the 70D, 7D2 or D750 (got no lenses). I used to have the 7D with the 17-55IS and 70-200/F2.8 and loved that combo. Also had the 5D3 with the 24-105/4 but somehow like the 7D more (maybe nostalgia...). I've read about the 7D2's fast AF, high fps, build quality and supposedly 'crap' sensor. So disregaring that, what makes the 7D2 'special' for you? Is it the metering? Better white balance? Other?

You had two great cameras and got rid of both. Why? This may help in recommendations.

Why? Because I'm stupid No just kidding. I went from a 10D > 20D > 40D > 7D > 5D3 all upgrades. So I sold the 7D to buy the 5D3. The 5D3 has been with me for about 3yrs (I think) and I got a lot of nice shots with it, especially with the 70-200/F2.8. But at a certain point I started to deny paid shoots and the 5D3 stayed in the bag very often, in the long term WAY too often to justify keeping it. I then started browsing my LR catalog and saw that for 2014 I had +11.000 shots in the library, about 214 shot with the 5D3+70-200. With other lenses : 1.815 shot with the 5D3, all others with my mirrorless Sony cameras. So than I took the plunge and sold all my Canon gear, mainly too because I noticed prices were dropping so I would not lose too much. Good thing: + 5.000 euro waiting in the bank, bad thing : no more FF.

But as times goes by, I started to notice the shortcoming of my mirrorless setup. Mainly in AF speed and reach. And while the a6000 is very very good, I still lack nice fast zooms and in low(er) light, AF is just not there. Also, AF consistency went down mainly because I started to rely way too much on face detection and other stuff. I almost became a piont&shooter.

As it is now, quite a few people begged me to do some (paid) work for them, and this is work where I will not fully trust the Sony to satisfy my needs. So I started looking into a new SLR. The money I'll be making with these small assignments is too good to pass up on, so I might as well invest it in new material. The way I see it : not doing these assignments = 0 money, doing them = a small investment on top of that to get back into the (FF?) race.

This afternoon I visited my favorite shop and played around with some cameras, and also got some nice price quotes for both the 7D2 and Nikon D750. Keep in mind I'm not a sports shooter, portraits/people is about 90% of what I do. This is what I get :


D750 + 24-120/F4 : € 2.700 (a very nice rebate, normal price is around € 2.900!)

7D2 + 17-55/F2.8 : € 2.372 (- € 100 cashback)


I suppose depth of field between F2.8 on apsc vs F4 on FF is about the same, so for a price difference of about € 400 I can get a FF with from what I've read a better sensor and quite a bit more reach (both wide and tele). Added bonus is I can always add a nice 1.8 prime for that extra 'ff' bokeh. The 7D2 on the other hand is faster and has way more (cheaper) lenses for reach should I ever need it. For now I think a reach of about 120mm will do.

It's just a matter now of deciding if the better sensor is worth 400 euro. Hope this clears things up a bit.

#1 the AF - mine is awesome
#2 the high ISO performance. I came from a 50D - nuff said.
#3 Frame rate. For what I shoot, doing Horses Jumping over fences just got a ton easier, I can get 3 great photos in one burst, properly timed... coming in, over the top, and coming out.

I will eventually get a 5D3, but there will be things my 7D2 will always be better at, and I did buy back in November, and don't regret it even with the price drops. Buy reputable with a good return policy and don't look back.

From a portrait perspective.. I've come to appreciate being at a larger f-stop (f4.5/f5.6) and still having more depth of field than you do with a FF. I know all the rage for people is that dreamy only the eyes are in focus, but my subjects (horses) I need more depth - And with a crop you get the best (center) of the lens of an EF lens... So there are trade offs to consider - If the 5D3 wasn't dropping so much in price, I'd get another 7D2 - easy choice. I still might - I got a 5DII recently so I've got FF covered now if I need it.. but dang I hate the AF !!!

I know the focus is all on the DR of the sensor.. but for portrait work??? The dynamic range I currently have works just fine. Landscapers have other needs, and choose accordingly.

I've shot quite a bit with it last weekend, if you want some examples of anything, I can show something current, probably.

Able to cut and paste #1 and #2 from ksbal, as they are both the same for me.

"#1 the AF - mine is awesome
#2 the high ISO performance. I came from a 50D - nuff said."

#3 for me is something I wasn't expecting and love, the ability to hand hold and shoot HDR. I don't like the in camera HDR image, but it save the original RAW's so you are able to post process them in Photoshop. I love HDR images, but don't shoot them as often as i would liek as I don't always have time or room to set up a tripod, or even carry one at times. The ability to set the camera and then fire all shots with one shutter press is awesome. I could set automatic bracketing with teh 50D but still had to press three times for the shots, hard to stay lined up for that length of time hand held..

ksbal wrote in post #17527916
#1 the AF
#2 the high ISO performance.

I also own a 5D3 and depending on the lighting I can choose either camera and shoot at ISO3200 or above with no problems. AF is amazing, even in low light. It's a great complement to the 5D3; knowing I have a choice of crop factors and therefore lenses means I only have to travel with one bag of camera gear (and one bag of lighting, if appropriate).

My logic would be what would be the best camera for this paid work? What type of work is it.?
If its portrait stuff m not requiring high fps, or reach why are u looking at crop cameras. Surely the 5D3 or 4 or the 5DS R is the way to go?

5D3 has a Better sensor for portraits IMO - good AF - better IQ - better low light or equal - proven - good deals now.
Or D810 as you have no canon lenses.

Learned a lot from the comments here, thx for that. Went for the d750 since high iso and fast indoors is most important to me. Will miss my Canon brand though.