1D4 to 7D2 - do you regret it.

Even after reading threads on 1D4 vs 7D2, I still find myself wondering if I should make the trade. I use the 1D4 primarily for birds. For those of you who made the switch, do you regret it. What I really wanted was a camera for both birds and landscape. But hesitant on the size and weight of 1dX. Although Ari says the 1DX is better for birding than the 7d2, I hear other opinions also. So this brings me back to using my 1d4 or the 7d2.

Heya,

I think you're splitting hairs at this point. The 1D4, 7D2, 1DX, etc, are all top tier cameras for aggressive AF and fast FPS. That's what make them great for birding. Trying to figure out which is top is a personal thing for you, there's more to it than just those two properties, like weight, feel, ergonomics, etc. Some will favor the 1D4 over the 7D2. Some will favor the 7D2. Some will favor the 1DX. They all shoot differently, different glass, and produce different images.

Personally if I were shooting a 1D4 I would only consider moving to the 7D2 if I felt I needed a little more pixels on my subjects due to distance to subject limitations based on the lens being used. Moving to the 1DX for example, would only be an option in my mind, if distance to subject was not a limitation and/or the length of the lens was also not the limitation (influencing distance to subject).

So unless you're already shooting a 400 F2.8L or 500 F4L, I would not stress about which camera so much at this point between those three, and instead, look at what glass you're shooting with and focus there more (again, unless you already have top tier birding glass). The lens will make a lot more impact if you're shooting something less than that, compared to the differences you'll see with those three bodies. Example, coming from a 400 F5.6L prime or 100-400 zoom to a 400 F2.8L is a massive tier jump.

Very best,

Just my 2p!
I used to have a 1D4 (sold to help pay for a 1DX) and I recently bought a 7D2 as a backup to the 1DX.
I have been very pleasantly surprised with my 7D2 - it is a fine camera by any standards.
Having said that, as a single camera, I would prefer the 1D4 - it just performs better more of the time, but that is just what !1 series cameras are designed to do.

You mention the 1DX, well if you can afford one just get it! In my opinion your 1D4 is a better all round camera than the 7D2, not by much but still better. The 1DX is a very significant step up on either of them. Even if it's only for the AF then it is worth the change, let alone the better detail resolution (yes the 1DX does out reach the 1D4), the MUCH cleaner high ISO, even faster responsiveness etc etc.

As you might have guessed I am a bit of a fan of the 1DX. When lighting is good and your subjects are not challenging then the 7D2 will do an excellent job. A little more challenging then your 1D4 is a touch better. If you want to do everything under any (almost) conditions then the 1DX is the king - well at least until the 1DX2 is more commonly available! For wildlife/birds the 1DX is a significant step up from either the 1D4 or 7D2 and for landscapes it just blows their socks off!

Again - just my 2p

I sold my 1D4 after getting a 7D2 and 1DX last year. I used the 1D4 for motorsports for over 3 years and it quickly became backup when I got my 7D2. I came across a deal on Amazon for a 1DX that I couldn't pass up so that put the 7D2 on backup status and the 1D4 was sold.

I've done a little birding in my backyard and based off that experience alone and having owned all 3 cameras, I would pick the 7D2 for birds EVERY time.

• Being able to switch autofocus modes quickly with a lever, to go from single point for resting birds to zone for BIF - a huge plus IMO.
  
• The 1.6x crop factor that in reality is more like 2.6, once you factor in the crop-ability, is also a huge plus.
  
• AF Point coverage in the viewfinder is also far superior to both 1d bodies.
  

I have both. Had the 7DII for a year now and recently bought a used 1D MKIV for a backup body for a trip to Yellowstone. After using the MKIV for a while, I really like it. When the time comes to sell off one of the bodies, I will be hard pressed which to sell. The only thing I like better about the 7DII is its video abilities.

I went backwards too. I had the 7D2 for 10 months... loved it. Long story short when it was back at the Canon Repair Center, I picked up a 1D IV... with a fairly high shutter count (122K).

Canon ended up replacing my 7D2 with a brand new one..... I sold it at quite a loss. I didn't shoot one photo with it before I sold it. As this thread sort of indicates..... it wasn't exactly an easy decision but now that I've used the 1D IV for 6 months, I don't regret it.

Either camera will produce excellent results. I ended up preferring the results I'm getting with the ID IV but someone else could get better results with their 7D2, I'm sure. For me, the colors the 1D IV produces are something special.

I moved from the 1D4 to the 7D2 for all sports and wildlife shooting. The 7D2 has better shadow noise behavior, and AF better in low light. Its ISO performance is on par with the 1D4. NBA results this year with the 7D2 have been quite good rivaling the past years shot with the 1D4. What makes the 1D4 nice is that it is a 1.3 crop, so it sits between FF and APS-C, meaning you get a mix of more reach coupled with some of the FF goodness, and the battery life is wonderful.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17984127
I moved from the 1D4 to the 7D2 for all sports and wildlife shooting. The 7D2 has better shadow noise behavior, and AF better in low light.

That hasn't been my experience so far.

The 7d2 is specd like the 6d at -3ev, and it does that well. Some 1d4 copies are known to have issues with af in low light, mine was one with the issue. The 7d focuses in what appears to be darkness. The 7d2 also been measured to have great long exposure low light iso capabilities. The 7d2 is the best astrophotography body canon offers right now because of the capabilities.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17985160
The 7d2 is specd like the 6d at -3ev, and it does that well. Some 1d4 copies are known to have issues with af in low light, mine was one with the issue. The 7d focuses in what appears to be darkness. The 7d2 also been measured to have great long exposure low light iso capabilities. The 7d2 is the best astrophotography body canon offers right now because of the capabilities.

"The 7d2 is the best astrophotography body canon offers right now because of the capabilities" that surprises me heaps, I would have thought a full frame would be better and cleaner for that sort of thing, why is the 7DII great for that sort of photography?

aladyforty wrote in post #17997718
"The 7d2 is the best astrophotography body canon offers right now because of the capabilities" that surprises me heaps, I would have thought a full frame would be better and cleaner for that sort of thing, why is the 7DII great for that sort of photography?

The 7D2 is a miracle camera as far as long exposure noise is concerned.

It is literally 10x slower at building up long exposure noise than the previous FF Canons. I don't know how other recent cameras compare; haven't heard much about that.

aladyforty wrote in post #17997718
"The 7d2 is the best astrophotography body canon offers right now because of the capabilities" that surprises me heaps, I would have thought a full frame would be better and cleaner for that sort of thing, why is the 7DII great for that sort of photography?

This man has run the 7D2 through alot of tests, especially astro. The 6D is still his choice for wide angle night shots, but to get that reach, it was the 7D2.
http://www.clarkvision​.com …ion-canon-7dii/index.html

I wonder where the 1DX2 will eventually fall.

John Sheehy wrote in post #17997732
The 7D2 is a miracle camera as far as long exposure noise is concerned.

It is literally 10x slower at building up long exposure noise than the previous FF Canons. I don't know how other recent cameras compare; haven't heard much about that.

well thats good to know, Ive never tried mine for long exposure, I just have always used the 5D3

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17997750
This man has run the 7D2 through alot of tests, especially astro. The 6D is still his choice for wide angle night shots, but to get that reach, it was the 7D2.
http://www.clarkvision​.com …ion-canon-7dii/index.html

I have found myself using my 7DII more and more lately, not because I dont like my 5DIII but because it is very versatile, My main reason being that we took a huge drop in income with a change of jobs and the 5dIII is really expensive to replace and I cant see myself affording to replace one if something happens to mine any time soon. the 7DII was purchased 14 months after the 5DIII and seems to be just so much more intuitive, well at least to me. so I'm basically using the 5DIII for landscapes and portraits and the odd wedding or baby shoot where I really need low light capabilities but for everything else lately I pick up the 7DII. many of my photography friends dont get why Id use APSC over my full frame and think I'm crazy