7D vs 7DII ISO & Noise

I searched but I found nothing. Tony Northup has a YouTube vid where he says that the Mark II is only 1/3 stop better in high ISO performance. Understanding that the AF system is more robust, the frame rate is higher, etc. I might go with a 7D if it really is less than 1 stop different Primary purpose would be for wildlife and not sports. The weather sealing, resolution, and crop factor of the 7D seem good enough and I'm having a hard time spending more ($1,000ish vs $400ish used prices). Anybody?

I'd like to know the difference as well. Especially since you can pick up a used 7D for half the price of a 7D Mk2.

I think it is a bit higher, like about a stop, especially considering that it retains more detail than the original 7d. The noise is of a better quality and cleans up better. There is a reason that the price of a 7d is so low, the successor is much better in all regards.

My MkII is in the shop right now, but when it gets back I'll happily throw up a couple of images from the MkI and MkII; however, I would agree w/ TS (and I have one of his old MkI's as a backup) that it really is worth it to fork over the extra cash for the MkII. The noise is better and easier to deal with, has a higher max ISO for those times that you you just don't have enough light, the AF is better and more accurate, built-in bulb timer and several other features just make it a much, much better body.

7DII it is!!

http://procrasti-nation.eu …-up-and-take-my-money.jpg

Here's the video and a link to the time he talks about high ISO noise. 9:35 or so.

https://youtu.be/FTuBr​0W0Zhw?t=9m36s

The 7D2 has better noise characteristics at all ISO values, and at least a 0.5 to 1EV DR advantage from 800 to 6400 ISO. This, coupled with the significantly more powerful AF system, would make me switch from the 7D to the 7D2 in a heartbeat.

After having both the 7D and the 7DM2, I think the noise is less pronounced on the 7DM2. It always seemed to me that after a certain ISO the noise on the 7D really affected the image quality. But as someone said above, while there is some noise on the 7DM2 it doesn't seem to happen at as low an ISO as the 7D, and it actually does "clean up" better using noise reduction tools. Of course this is not a scientific study that I've done, just somethings that I have noticed. I love my 7DM2, worth every penny. I use it almost exclusively for birds and wildlife, which I feel is this bodies strength.

Here are a couple 7D2 ISO 12800 as a JPG from the camera (with some minor cleanup actions). I have shot a majority of the last season using JPG, and have only gone to the raw a few times. This is the single largest improvement I have received by moving to the 7D2 over the 7D and 1D4. I have much less time in post processing. I could not do this with the 7D at all, I had to shoot raw and run the files through a workflow that I outlined in a "How to get the most out of high ISO on the 7D" thread.

I still shoot Raw with the mk II, but often I need no NR at all when shooting at 1600. Under the same conditions, the 7D definitely needed some PP.

I'm pretty conservative when it comes to pushing ISO, especially when I have control of the lighting. But the mk II has at least a full stop advantage in terms of the noise's impact on picture quality; maybe two, depending on how objectionable you find the noise patterns. I have some shots at ISO3200 which look quite good even without NR. Exposing properly is key.

I have a question on the AF difference between the two (7D and 7DII). I have the 7D and for the most part I can live with the ISO differences you guys have outlined. However, I am interested in the AF difference. I know the 7DII has more AF points, but I shoot mostly sports(rugby) and exclusively use the center focus point and back button focus. So my question for those who have/had both, did you still notice AF improvement if you used just the center point? Would it be worth it for me to upgrade given my shooting style?

I had a 7D and moved to the 7DII about 8 months ago.

I also don't shoot at high ISO (maybe see ISO1000 at the most, and probably only a couple of times a year) and use the centre focus point only.

In my opinion, it was still well worth the cost of moving to the mark 2, and for moving subjects (vehicles in my case), 10fps is handy...

Friend of mine has the 7D and I have the 7D2.. Maybe others can confirm but buffer for burst shots also seems to be a difference between the two cameras (but I'm not sure what cards he shoots.) having the quite mode option and anti flicker are also differences. I think the 7D2 center point is better in low light.

the character of the noise is much better in the 7D2.. lets just say I never wanted to shoot higher than 2400 (50D) before, and now I'll take it as far as I can, if I'm only needing small prints or web files

Photo from ksbal's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (782293)

zombo73 wrote in post #18182538
I have a question on the AF difference between the two (7D and 7DII). I have the 7D and for the most part I can live with the ISO differences you guys have outlined. However, I am interested in the AF difference. I know the 7DII has more AF points, but I shoot mostly sports(rugby) and exclusively use the center focus point and back button focus. So my question for those who have/had both, did you still notice AF improvement if you used just the center point? Would it be worth it for me to upgrade given my shooting style?

The AF system in the MKII is akin to the 1D series, and is better and faster, especially off-center AF points. When shooting sports you don't always want to use center point only, as it constrains you creatively. Having good off center allows you to be more flexible in your compositions.

Heya,

I still use a 7D because I don't need the performance of the higher ISO at 6400+, and shooting the 7D at ISO 1600 or less is sufficient to me for noise control, mostly around 800 and less realstically for the wildlife & birds that I use it exclusively for and I shoot in low light under canopy. I use mounts/tripod for stabilization and IS of the lens to balance out not needing to shoot high ISO just to get a clean shot of something. Obviously that doesn't apply to something in action, but I don't shoot birds in flight under canopy, that's actually very, very hard on the equipment.

I find the 7D sensor to be a little noisy compared to other similar tier sensors. But it cleans up fairly well. Every sensor's ISO characteristics just need to be specifically worked on to figure out how to best clean them up. TeamSpeed has a ton of helpful stuff to make the 7D's ISO noise to be a non-issue if you look at his advise & actions. Because of this, I have no real need or want to move to the 7D2 from my 7D1 because it's doing the job, and as pointed out, I got my 7D for about $450. Total steal for the amount of camera you get for that price.

Save your money and get better glass--it matters more, unless you already maxed out your glass.

Very best,