Ultimate birding setup Or.... Let's play the "GAS with purpose" game!

Ok, let me first say that this is just for fun, as I am not about to buy another camera anytime soon! But one must plan ahead for the day when such things happen!

With my recent purchase of a 500 II and a 1.4X III, I suspect that this combo will reside on my 7D2 for extended periods of time. It seems like a 2nd body with my 100-400 II would be a good addition to cover things that are much closer. The question of course is - what would that 2nd body be?

I set up a poll with a bunch of options, but it seems to me that there are only two reasonable options - a 2nd 7D2 or a 5DsR. Both with provide the reach or croppability respectively, and the 5DsR could double as a FF camera for other general purpose use. I would love for it to be a 5DsR although given the price, it may be a while!

Anybody else want to play this game? If so, let me know what you think! 1Dx Mark II is out of the question for both cost and size reasons. Do the poll too! It's fun to sit back, close your eyes and imagine!

Personally, I'd wait and see what the 5D4 (if it appears) is like, then decide.

If the high ISO improves in a similar way to the 1DXII, it'd make a great partner to the 500.

If we're playing with GAS, go for the 5DSr. It would be fun to play with the two bodies together.

Yeah, I'm thinking 5DSr. I really enjoy seeing the 5DS/5DSr threads here and on FM!

5DSR is a better all around camera than you would expect.
I often carry my 500 mounted to my 1DIV and 100-400II on my 5DSR. Extenders at the ready.
When having only one camera, the 5DSR is my choice.

I don't shoot BiF, but do shoot aviation, which has very similar requirements. I voted 5DSr. One comment I seem to keep hearing about the 5DS cameras is poor AF, compared to the 5DIII or 7DII, yet AFAIK the DS has the exact same AF unit as the 5DIII, and no one seems to complain about the performance of that camera's AF system. OK there are a few additional tweaks applied to the 7DII but again it is still pretty close. At the moment money no object I would have the 5DSr with the 600 F/4 and probably keep a 1.4×III around too. I would then pair it with a 5DIII with a Sigma 150-600S. Once I need to zoom out from 600mm on the 5DS I think I would then be happy using the lower res body, and those two options give me pretty full coverage.

Since I am a wheelchair user, and have a very clever mechanical engineering friend I would get him to build me a double mount system based on the WWI period Scarff ring gun mount. They system that I have in mind would allow me to swap from one camera to the other, even in mid pan. I know he could make it work, as long as we have enough money to throw at it.

Alan

Lots of love for the 5DSr. I better start saving!

Check prices in your area, here in Wales a very lightly used 1DX is about the same or less than a new 5DsR.
Much as I kike the 5DsR (it is an excellent camera) for "come what may" photography, in other words birding, I think that the 1DX is rather better.

Currently I use a 1Dx and a 7D2 and, much as I like my 7D2 it does trail the 1DX in all but one respect. In good light the 7D2 does have more reach - but not much! It may have 2 1/2+ times the pixel density but it has only a little better resolution. Your 500 Mk2, with it's extremely high resolution, will increase the reach difference a touch but it will still be nothing like the 1.6 crop factor or pixel density would suggest. There are also other factors like AF performance and the ability to drive big lenses faster to be considered.

If you are looking for detailed shots of perched birds in good light then the 5Dsr is the one - pure and simple. If a Kingfisher is beating up a fish and you want to freeze the action? If that Bittern suddenly takes off and you are (inevitably) in the wrong AF set up? If the light is crap and you really want the shot? Then the 1Dx scores.

As you know I use the Canon 800mm so I am obviously focal length limited (!) yet nearly all the time I choose the 1DX over the 7D2 and would do the same with the 5DsR - simply because it is significantly more likely to get me a usable image when the others would struggle/fail.

You know my opinions on your lens - I just love it! I just think that you should consider a used 1DX as I believe it may add more to your photography than the other options. This is just my opinion but I would suggest that you try a 1DX before you decide - they are not silly money these days.

Yeah, I never had the 1Dx in the mix. It has always been so far out of my price range that it never crossed my mind.

This sounds familiar.

I used to shoot birds with my 7D2 + 600 F4L IS II (and sometimes 1.4x TCIII) on a tripod (perched birds); and a 70D with the 400 F5.6L or 100-400 II attached to it as BIF/birds too close.

I am just about to move to a 5DSr + 600 F4L IS II + 1.4x TCIII (or 2x TCIII) and 7D2 with the 400 F5.6L or 100-400 II attached to it. I sold the 70D.

IMHO this takes advantage of the 7D2s AF performance best - as a BIF body - and takes advantage of the 5DSr pixels for cropping, resolution and quite acceptable AF for perched birds. It also lets me - if I get enthusiastic - fit the 1.4x TC to the 7D2 combo as it will AF at F8.

I did contemplate getting a second 7D2, however I've been wanting to upgrade my old 5D2 so the 5DSr seems a great fit for that. I did think about a used 1DX, but I found a 5DSr for a little less than what used 1DXs go for in Australia. I didn't even contemplate a 5D3 as it is about to be replaced, and from all the rumours the 5D4 will give a lot of priority to video - and that's a feature I am not interested in (I am not interested in videography, photography takes up enough of my time as it is!).

The only thing I am missing is a low light body for those pesky birds in rainforests. So I wait for the 6D2, as I think that will be the perfect answer. You already have a 6D so yeah ...

1D on 500mm, 7D2 on 100-400mm

I have made several 2nd body decisions over the years.. For me I think the advantages of two identical bodies are bigger than I considered previously. A 7D2 (and other recent bodies) have more customisation possibilities which make identical bodies an even better proposition.
I find when setting up a feature (eg, having AF-ON back button activate AI servo on the 7D2) it takes a little use before I remember to use it every time and instantly when required.

So considering your scenario and using your possible choices as indication of budget, 2 of the following bodies would be my choice and in no particular order.
7D2
1D4
1DX (with sale of your 7D2 probably just possible when compared to buying a new 5DSr)
5D3

Bumping this thread up again! I'm kinda surprised a 2nd 7d2 got zero votes! It's the 5DSR by a landslide, which also was not what I was expecting.

Choderboy wrote in post #18049234
For me I think the advantages of two identical bodies are bigger than I considered previously. A 7D2 (and other recent bodies) have more customisation possibilities which make identical bodies an even better proposition.

Agree. This was one of the things that annoyed me when I had the 7D2 and 70D, there were too many subtle differences and it just interrupted my workflow too much.

With my 7D2 and 5DsR they are setup identical, and it make it easy to use both.