40D to 7D

I currently shoot with a 40D, and have loved this camera since the day I bought it. I shoot portraiture generally, with a bit of event, wildlife, and nature mixed in more for pleasure. I have been having the urge to get a second body and really would like to get into video. Originally I was looking at used 60D's but then I realized I could get a used 7d for close to the same price. I have been out of the loop on the latest gear for so long haha, It feels like the 7D just came out yesterday, I didn't even realize that they came out with a Mark II version.

Do you all think a used 7D would be a good upgrade given what I am looking for? I'm not trying to spend a ton of money at the moment, because I am also buying some new glass.

Of the two (60D, 7D), I'd get a 60D for video. The 60D has full manual controls, and the flippy screen. If video is going to be a large part of what you do, get the 70D. It was made for video. DPAF and STM lenses will vastly improve your potential.

I'd look at a used 70D, especially if video is something you'll use. IQ wise, there's an improvement from the 7D to the 70D. The banding in the shadows is basically gone, the noise is much smoother to work with, in my experience (I shoot with a 70D and a t4i, which is basically the same sensor as the 7D).

Are you going for a used 7D for the price? If you want to do video go with a 70D instead. I know there is a price difference though. The 70D would get you great video, 7 fps, and still has a great AF system. Also, if you do go with a 70D for video, try an STM lens.

I'm not sure how the 7D performs for video but it sounds like it would be a decent upgrade.

Thank you for the responses! The 70D is a bit more than what I want to spend but I could probably be convinced to spring for it, if its right. I am not planning on getting heavily involved in video, more so just want to dabble a bit, I will still primarily be using it for stills. Is the 70D that much better than the 7D? Something else that drew me more to the 7D is the build quality, I really don't like what happened to the xxD series since the advent of the 60D (ie being smaller and more plastic). I really like that the 7D is weather sealed, and that magnesium body, those may be irrelevant but they sure make me feel better haha.

The 70D is newer and is also weather sealed. It doesn't have the magnesium body though. There are many debates between the 2 cameras. I would do a google search and read up on both sides of the debate and see what decides it for you.

I read a ton about both before deciding on a NEW 70D. I like that it is smaller for my small hands too!

I did some (non-photography) work for an advertising agency when the 7D came out. They were using it for television commercials.

The biggest difference in IQ for me is in the shadows, especially if you push them at all. The 70D is what convinced me to stay with an APS-C system (I shoot full-time, mostly weddings…) If it were me, I'd hang on to the 40D until the 70D was a better price.

So looking at used bodies, the 70D is actually not that much more than a used 7D. This throws a monkey wrench into the decision making process haha. I like the wifi feature of the 70D, I do a lot of shooting sports and it would be nice to have a camera down range and still be able to see what its looking at.

Subfightersandman wrote in post #17625919
So looking at used bodies, the 70D is actually not that much more than a used 7D. This throws a monkey wrench into the decision making process haha. I like the wifi feature of the 70D, I do a lot of shooting sports and it would be nice to have a camera down range and still be able to see what its looking at.

That's how it started for me! I first looked at a 7D then I wanted a 70D. So I looked used, but for the price of the used 70D, I'd rather get a canon refurbished one with a warranty. But then for THAT price, it wasnt much more to just go new!

As for the wifi, i use it a ton. The range isnt that great though. Maybe 30ft-50ft? I have put it on a tripod in front of the bird feeder then sat inside on my tablet or phone with a beer and watched through the window and took photos. I also have strapped it to a tree over a waterfall in the mountains of colorado to take a group shot with myself in it. My wife likes to connect to it while Im shooting around and she will snag the pics from my camera w her phone and post some. I also use it to make a slide show on my tablet during events.

My favorite thing is that, to get them to my tablet or phone, you don't need to shoot them as jpeg or raw+jpeg. You can just shoot raw and they are converted when you save them on your mobile device.

If you are going to do quite a bit of video, then I'd say the 70D is a no brainer.