2nd birding/wildlife body - 5DsR or another 7D2?

I usually don't request body advice like this but I am really torn, having gone back and forth on this.

I currently have a 6D and a 7D2, and use the 7D2 with the 100-400 II for birding and general wildlifey stuff. The 6D takes care of the other stuff - landscape, family, etc.

I recently purchased a 500 II, and have been considering getting a 3rd body so that I can carry two birding-capable bodies with me in the field. I was amost convinced that I should get the 5DsR to put on the 500 II, so that I can leave my 7D2 on the 100-400 II. But now, i am wondering if I should just get a 2nd 7D2 instead. I know all the pros and cons and have gone round and round on this. The noise and DR differences between the two in the 800-1600 ISO regime where I usually reside when birding are not that compelling to me. I know that with the 5DsR, I get this amazing croppability as well as the ability to use it as a high res FF body for other applications like landscape. But I can save almost 2 grand with a 7D2 and wait for the 5DsR Mk II iwth the onchip ADC to (hopefully) come out.

Help me make this decision!

I vote for a 1D IV.

Nah, I don't want a 1D4. I don't see the motivation to go backwards. It's either another 7D2 or the 5DsR.

While the 5DsR would offer a ton of cropability, that is also extra work that goes into your workflow for each image you're processing out of that body. If you already anticipate needing to crop to begin with, I would just stick with a second 7DII and do less of that work in post. If you think you'll be able to take advantage of more of the frame and still get good shots of the birds, I'd say go for it.

Most likely, if the question is really that serious, why not check a 5DsR out from LensRentals or BorrowLenses and spend a weekend or so shooting/processing both, side by side and see how they fair?

Yeah, I might do that. Thanks for the suggestion.

7D2 is also a lot less $, and more capable AF. (on paper)

For the price point of the 5Ds, there is also now 5D4, which would mean 6D is totally redundant and stays at home or back up only.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18113004
7D2 is also a lot less $, and more capable AF. (on paper)

For the price point of the 5Ds, there is also now 5D4, which would mean 6D is totally redundant and stays at home or back up only.

Thanks Jake! Yeah, the 6D to 5D4 migration is a separate thing that I will revisit once the 5D4 is available and prices have descended to reasonable levels and/or the camera is available at the refurb store. I'm in no hurry - my 6D is fantastic for what I do with it.

5DsR for birding? Really?

7D2 is way better choice for this. Crop factor & FPS helps a lot.

I believe the 5DsR is being considered because of the "croppability" of the 50np images.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18112898
Nah, I don't want a 1D4. I don't see the motivation to go backwards. It's either another 7D2 or the 5DsR.

I sort of hesitated responding to your post. Having owned both the 7D2 and the ID IV, I can only say.... I still have the ID IV. I don't really consider it older technology only because I've gotten better results from the ID IV than I did the 7D2. I have quite a few birding books and ..... they seem to have one common denominator: the 1D IV. There are so many amazing photographs in them shot with the ID IV. The birding books yet to be published will no doubt be filled with shots from the IDX and IDX ll... as well as the similar Nikon bodies.

You love your 7D2 and that's great. I've seen some excellent photographs posted here taken with it. The only reason I'm commenting at all is to say, there are several reasons why a used ID IV still holds the value it does today.

Sorry, what I posted didn't come out right. I am by NO means knocking the 1D4. Heck, there's a guy over on FM that posts eagle photos with his 40D that are among the best that I have EVER seen. When I say "old," it is not as a pejorative but rather just a recognition of the fact that it is a 2009 camera and I would prefer to buy models that have benefited from technology improvements over the last few years.

And yes, I am considering the 5DsR because it is easier to track and hold BIF in the FOV with a FF camera and crop in post.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18113691
Sorry, what I posted didn't come out right. I am by NO means knocking the 1D4. Heck, there's a guy over on FM that posts eagle photos with his 40D that are among the best that I have EVER seen. When I say "old," it is not as a pejorative but rather just a recognition of the fact that it is a 2009 camera and I would prefer to buy models that have benefited from technology improvements over the last few years.

And yes, I am considering the 5DsR because it is easier to track and hold BIF in the FOV with a FF camera and crop in post.

With the 7DII and 100-400II combo, the easiest thing I've found is setting Zone AF and 200mm, acquiring the subject and then zooming in to 400mm once you have your target. It's sort of like shooting BIF in easy mode. Still tough as hell on, say, Swallows or Kingfishers...but they're gonna be buggers no matter what. And, you still have to have the handholding technique, etc necessary to minimize your camera shake and such; but definitely helps get around the relatively narrow FOV when shooting a long lens on a crop body.

I do the same thing, Eric! Doesn't work as well on my 500mm though!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18113787
I do the same thing, Eric! Doesn't work as well on my 500mm though!

Fair

virsago_mk2 wrote in post #18113356
5DsR for birding? Really?

7D2 is way better choice for this. Crop factor & FPS helps a lot.

Yes, really. Arthur Morris uses one regularly, go spend some time on the Birds as Art site and you will see what it is capable of. 7D2 fps is nice but there is no crop advantage, you can crop the 5Dsr in post and equal the 7D2 in terms of pixels on target. On top of that, if you aren't in a reach limited situation and can fill the frame with either camera, the 5Dsr walks all over the 7D2.

If it was a choice of one or the other as your only body then sure, go with a 7D2 for the versatility. In this case the OP has a 7D2 already, so the 5Dsr is a very strong contender for a second body. That said, my personal choice for about the same money is to pair a 1DX with the 7D2, which I feel gives better flexibility.