Second body or a new lens? (the whole story is told)

Hi
I will tell a little about my situation. For years I photographed with the 7D and was happy in the beginning. Later I switched to a 6D and was suprise and glad by the image quality and ISO performance. At this writing, I got my 6D.

I photographed birds earlier (when I had 7D) then came 6D and it became more landscapes and more stagnant animals like moose and deer. I photograph birds too but not as before, and now mostly from hiding and in more controlled situations than before. In these situations, 6D is brilliant.

I'm most active out in dawn and dusk, and less frequently in the middle of the day. Over the past year, I have thought that it might be nice with a second camera. I sit a lot in the car and photograph and there it can be nice to have two different sets that are ready to go. There may also be a security when going to travel and not have to be worried that you become empty if a camera quit.

I have no fast lenses. 17-40 / 4L, 70-200 / 4L, 90 / 2.8, 150-600 VC.

My thinking goes like this:
Should I get A second camera, if, the image quality is an important point and I am a little afraid that I have accustomed myself and become picky with full-frame camera, and may not return to crop camera anymore.

The choices I have in mind are:
- 7D MKII
- 6D (N)
- New Lens

-If I start with the new 7D mkII. This camera has everything I could develop more with. Quick AF and good filming. Maybe I'll get a good chance and reason to return to flying bird shooting again. But Will I accept the image quality together with My lenses. It would be the difference if I took fast telephoto lenses when the ISO performance is not as important anymore.

-6D then. I have thought about the cheap model cause I have not used GPS or wi-fi in my current 6D. The camera I am happy with and ISO performance has become daily to me. No problem to get nice pictures with ISO 4000 in all environments. If not higher. the camera is not fast but I like the middle focus point however, the other focus points almost completely useless when I used the center for focusing. This camera, I have done well. Will I feel that it is worth an extra camera, or do I want something new so I feel the difference?

-New lens. I'm satisfied with the equipment I have today. Sure I always can upgrade something.

What I am thinking here might sell my 17-40 and acquire the new 16-35? Even though I am happy with my 17-40 it's always fun with new lenses that also performs a little better.

Maybe sell my current 70-200 / 4L and acquire Tamron 70-200 / 2.8 VC?

As you can see, it is many thoughts and solutions around in my head. I'll also travel to Finland next month and shoot bears, wolverines and wolves. Maybe I'm worried that one camera is not enough over there?

Or should I just honk and run with my current 6D until it's dead and obtain lenses that have a longer life than a camera usually has.


Some help and tips?

You havent yet told us how your current gear is failing you. You need to identify some gap in your capacity, or some desire to do something cant do now before you buy anything. Going from the 17-40 to the 16-35 is an upgrade, but isnt going to change your photography much.

Are you talking about trading for the 16-35/2.8? Because trading for the 16-35/4 makes no sense IMHO. Even the extra stop of light is of limited benefit for this range of focal lengths.

The extra stop plus VC on the 70-200 makes good sense for what you shoot. My only question is whether you get close enough to your wildlife to use a 200 on a regular basis.

What I see you're missing is something in the standard FOV range. The 24-70/2.8 comes to immediate mind but is very expensive even used. The new 50/1.8 STM might fill this gap, if you feel it needs to be filled.

In terms of second camera bodies, if you are happy with the 6D why would you consider anything else?

Hi
My gear give me much but not everything. The 7D can give me more focal length and better af for more moving subjects and flying birds that I've not photographed cause I can't with the af system the 6D has. And the 7D give me also A better chance to use the movie part to film My subjects too

I'm talking about the 16-35/4L cause it's better in the corner sharpness. IS too.

The 70-200 lens I don't use so often so I don't know. F2.8 and VC is nice though.

I got 50/1.8 II and it's a ok lens. Don't use it so much.

Yeah I know I'm just worried about if I want a new new camera model as a second camera or the same model I already own.

I had a 5d2 and a 5d3. The 5d2 had my second lens on it, and was largely a backup.

I looked at the 7d a lot, but just didn't feel it with that crop body. I wanted a bit more reach for this coming football season (youth football) so I ended up debating a lot between lens and body. I went and checked out the 7d2 in my local best buy (don't hate me, only place I could put my hands on it and play!). After 4 years with only full frame I still enjoyed and loved shooting with the 7d2. So much so I walked out of the store with one.

I am happy I did. I have been doing some testing this weekend and with my long lens on the 7d and my 70-200 or Tamron 24-70 on the 5d3 I feel like I've got two very different and immediately useful options hanging at my hip to cover the changing situations. I haven't gotten to shoot any sports yet, but kids at the park and dogs at the dog park, I am thinking that I made the right choice picking up the 7d2. It doesn't feel like shooting staring through a tiny box like all the other crops I had looked at over the past few years.

Normally I would vote glass before body, but... In this case could see where another body really adds to the toolset.

Okay nice to hear I was very glad over the 70D when I owned it for some weeks. Sold it because the af problem it had, now I'm thinking about to test 70D again and see if I get a good and working example. I can test it outside the store and went back if I see problems with Af. The 70D has everything that I want and need, the 7D has it too but it's better. But here at home I can get two 70D for the same price as One 7D.