Upgrade from 70D, 7DmkII or 6D?

I'll be looking to upgrade my camera body in the spring. Currently I've been shooting with my 70D, which I've gathered quite a few lenses for. My obvious first choice would be a 5DmkIII, but unfortunately it doesn't fit in my budget. Here is my list of things I shoot, in order of what I shoot most often...

Automotive static shots (Posed shots, car shows, etc)
Pet portraits
People portraits
Motorsports
Action (running pets, sports, etc)
Nature (landscape)

Current lenses I own:
Canon 24mm f/2.8 STM
Canon 50mm f/1.8 mkI (plan to upgrade to the 50 f/1.4)
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Canon 55-250mm STM
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non VC
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC

The whole reason I got into photography was for automotive shots. I shoot lots of cars, I do many planned shoots of cars local to me. Also go to most local car shows, and take lots of pictures. And multiple times throughout the summer I go to track days and shoot the action.

But another segment that has got a lot of my attention is pet photography. Next spring I may even attempt to start getting some paid gigs, shooting portraits of pets for loving owners. I have a huge love for dogs, so naturally I love shooting them. Been getting heavily involved with indoor flash portraits using speedlites with this.

Initially I planned on going full frame. And if I bought a 6D, the plan would be to keep my 70D for use when I need the more aggressive AF (motorsports, sports, etc). I already have a good amount of glass for it, and it would make a great back up body. I feel the 6D would be the better choice for the things I shoot most often, having better DOF control and less high ISO noise. The plan would be to pick up the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC immediately after purchase to replace my 17-50mm crop lens.

But I've been starting to entertain the idea of going with a 7DmkII, mainly for the superior AF. From what I've been reading, the 7DmkII's image quality would be a noticable upgrade from my 70D. And it seems to do very well with high ISO's as well. But I worry that I'd still wonder what I'd be missing by not going full frame. Seems to me the logical choice would be buy the 6D and 24-70 f/2.8, and keep my 70D as backup. Using the 70D for things that benefit from the superior AF, and longer reach of the crop sensor.

I guess I'm a little nervous that the 6D's AF will be a let down for me. But in actual use, for the items I shoot most, using the center point with focus/recompose should work just fine. And the added benefit of it focusing much better in low light will be of value to me as well.

What do you all think?

It still comes down to the basic question. Is it more important to you to shoot things that move, or things that stay still? The 6D is a great portrait and lamdscap camera. The 7D2 is a great sports and wildlife camera. Each can do the other, but not as well. So pick which is most importamt to you.

I have both plus the 5Dmk3. The 6D I use for static objects and low light. I use the 7Dmk2 for wildlife and action. The 7Dmk2 can do it all. The 6D will limit you with the focusing. I also have the 5Dmk3 and if I had to pick one body to do everything then the 5Dmk3 would be my choice. It isn't amazing at wildlife and action but it is indeed better than the 6D

I'd have to say for what I shoot the most, shooting objects that are still is most common for me by far. Probably 75% of my photos are of static subjects. And if buying the 6D, I'd like to think for the other 25% my 70D would be up to the task.

Should also be noted that I will probably shoot another wedding or two next season. I shot one this fall with my 70D, and it was quite difficult trying to manage the noise from shooting at 3200ISO, even with ETTR. Yet another reason why I'm leaning towards the 6D. Although the 7DmkII's dual card slots would be nice for the weddings. But if I go with the 6D, I'll be able to use my 70D as a second body.

I bought the 7D MKII in Feb, it is an awesome body. I shoot Trackdays, wildlife, sunsets, moonrise's. I also own the 5D MKI but you will always
find me going for the 7. The other great feature is HD video.

If you are ok shooting center focus point then you will be golden with the 6D. Mine virtually focus's in the dark with center point only

Is the 5D II not an option for you? It can be had for a couple hundred less than the 6D, assuming you're purchasing used. 6D vs 5DII is my current dilemma.

k4j98 wrote in post #17778692
Is the 5D II not an option for you? It can be had for a couple hundred less than the 6D, assuming you're purchasing used. 6D vs 5DII is my current dilemma.

It could be an option, but considering how close the cost is between them, I'd rather go for the newer 6D. Not to mention the 6D gives me the amazing center focus point that will focus in almost complete darkness.

I have recently read that some people would prefer the 7DmkII over the 6D for wedding work. This was shocking to me, as I assumed almost everyone would want the lower noise of the 6D for wedding work. But they said they would possibly miss more reception shots with the 6D due to the inferior AF. Things like dancing etc. Reading that made me nervous because I would have assumed the 6D would handle dancing just fine as long as you used the center point for your focus.

Do some people just underestimate the AF on the 6D, or is it really that bad? I know you only get one cross type point to work with, but I would have thought that one point would be very good. As long as the user is OK with focus/recompose it shouldn't be an issue. For things like birding etc, I understand the AF would be lacking. But some people really shoot down the AF on the 6D for things I would think it would handle just fine.

They underestimate it. I think a lot of this is that the 7DII is the new kid on the block and its AF system is one of its selling points, while the 6D has been around for a little while.

I've seen excellent shots of race cars in motion taken by the 6D, (and excellent Landscape shots taken with the 7DII).

For your stated uses, I think the 6D + your existing 70D would be the ideal choice. That combination give you superior high ISO performance, full frame (don't underestimate what that can do for your car photography), and still allows you to use your 70D (which is a VERY good camera) when you need a crop body.

As far as lenses go, you might want to hold off upgrading the 50 f1.8 (a nice inexpensive lens if ever there is one), and possibly hold off the Tamron 24-70, and take a look at the Canon 16-35mm F4/L IS ISM. 35mm could be a great length for your car show photography.

16-35 F4 IS is awesome

I know - I just got my 6D about a month and a half ago and my 16-35 f4 about two weeks ago. I love them!

At least half your lenses are full frame. Go to the 6D. Full frame might trump, but a lot of your photo use falls in the "sports" category which historically has used a smaller sensor better speed and lens reach.

In the 7DII favor, is that all your lenses will work, and there is much better AF on the 7DII (from my readings).

Yes, the 6D af will be a let down coming from the 70d

I have the 7DII and 5DII so I can tell you that the 5DII af drives me nuts.

Also.. while FF is attractive, IF you are going to do portraits and flash photography, then loosing 1/250 sync down to 1/125 makes a difference when using non is lenses. So I have two reasons why I am going to sell the 5DII, AF and slow sync.

The image quality of the 7DII and the 70D should be comparable, so you can go thru my gallery and see portraits I've taken with both 5DII and 7DII and see if you really notice the difference. I don't. I do notice how lenses behave differently, but not the IQ between these two cameras.

All that said..

I can see keeping the 70D for your action, and getting a 6D to go along with it.

OR you can get the 7DII, and invest in some really good glass, like the 100mm L and a good 50mm (stm?) and get close to FF bokeh on your crop camera.

I shoot horses, and pets often.. and I don't grab the 5DII precisely because I need AF to lock and go - and I need the higher sync to help keep my pictures sharp, as particularly with horses, you need a longer focal length, and my 70-200 isn't IS.

Both the 6D and the 7DII are great for portraits, and the 7DII is great for a whole lot more. the FF gives you better bokeh, no question, but to me, that hasn't been a deal breaker... and not locking focus on a fast moving target (a twitchy dog) and missing the shot is.

If you HAVE to have better high iso, and no flash option, then 6D is probably the way to go if you keep the 70D.

All my humble opinion. YMMV.

Strauss wrote in post #17778753
Do some people just underestimate the AF on the 6D, or is it really that bad? I know you only get one cross type point to work with, but I would have thought that one point would be very good. As long as the user is OK with focus/recompose it shouldn't be an issue. For things like birding etc, I understand the AF would be lacking. But some people really shoot down the AF on the 6D for things I would think it would handle just fine.

The center point on the 6D is just dandy, from what I read and understand. the issue I've seen with my 5DII is while the center will lock, the outer af wont.. and what is the point of using shallow dof if you have to focus/recompose, and end up with an oof shot? I can use any AF point on the 7DII, as I'm usually in single AF and the AF point is either on, or so close to my focus/recompose spot on the outer AF I always nail focus.


Me, id rather have a little grain at higher iso than have blur. I cant. stand. blur. But others cant stand grain, so there ya go!

The slower sync speed with flash on the 6D isn't a total deal breaker, as all my lighting gear for both on and off camera is HSS capable.

I do have one other option, and that's trying to find a buyer for my 70D and crop only lenses. If I was able to sell all of that, I would have the extra funds I'd need for a 5DmkIII. The only thing that worries me about getting rid of my 70D is, I'd lose the extra reach of the crop sensor. My 55-250mm STM lens is basically an equivalent of 100-400mm on my 70D. If I sold the 70D to fund a 5DmkIII, not only would I still need a general purpose zoom like a 24-70 or 16-35, but I would also need a lens with more reach than my 70-200mm.

Ugh, tough decision. It's funny because I've always dreamed of owning a 5DmkIII. But once I lay everything out in front of me, I'm not sure if it would be my best decision. Not only would the body itself cost me more money, but I'd also have to shell out more funds for a lens with more reach.

So I got another question for you all. If you had to pick between owning BOTH a 70D and 6D, or having just a 5DmkIII, which would you choose? I'm going to guess the majority would go 5DmkIII all the way.