7D2 or 1Dmk4 for birding?

I was the happy owner of a 7D until it crashed with the dreaded Error 30 (shutter malfunction)

I use this camera ONLY for birding almost glued to my EF 500 F4L

Should I decide to change the body, should I go for the 7D2 or get a second hand 1Dmk4? I rememeber when I got my 7D, the 1D4 was the dream camera for birds but totally off price for me

Considering both are at similar target prices in Europe (1100ish usd) and the exclusive use with long tele for birding, What would you recommend?

Thanks for any advice in this regard!!
Cheers

7DII has slightly more reach, the 1DIV has the 1.3 crop but a much better body in terms of ruggedness and sealing. Id take the 1DIV any day, after owning one for a while.

dexy101 wrote in post #18131253
7DII has slightly more reach, the 1DIV has the 1.3 crop but a much better body in terms of ruggedness and sealing. Id take the 1DIV any day, after owning one for a while.

Thanks dexy!
Any comments about AF and noise? Is the 1D still the winner? 7D was very reliable as long as you don't pump ISO beyond 400... then nosise started to be noticeable in close crops ... at least in my body

I currently own both and it really is very hard to choose between them; they are both great bodies with each having its own strengths. The 7d2 is lighter, more customisable, newer and quieter whilst the 1d4 has greater battery life, spot metering on 19 focus points and built in grip.

Whichever way you go you don't be dissppointed.

1D Mark IV will balance your 500mm much better and the fact that the AF points are lit in the viewfinder constantly makes your accuracy much better in my opinion. Image Quality is very similar in terms of High ISO though. But with all that said, I would still choose the 7D Mark II. Most people will tell you there is not a difference in speed and accuracy with the AF systems but to me the 7D Mark II is much better and my keeper rate was around 95% versus maybe 70% on the 1D Mark IV. I have a two year old that doesn't listen to a word you say and runs around everywhere. The 1D Mark IV struggled so much to pull focus on my kid and looking at the images, it was constantly falling behind. The 7D Mark II is super quick and accurate when it comes to tracking my kid. Lens I was using for those interested was the 70-200 f2.8 IS II.

Both are currently in the same price range so the decision could go either way.

mandozilla wrote in post #18131528
Thanks dexy!
Any comments about AF and noise? Is the 1D still the winner? 7D was very reliable as long as you don't pump ISO beyond 400... then nosise started to be noticeable in close crops ... at least in my body

7DII is much better w/ noise than the original 7D was; I'll shoot 3200 without batting an eyelash. Can push up higher with just a little bit of NR work. Quick snap I took at work (ISO 10000) while testing out the body/lens after a return from service:

It's DARK in there

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/LpKZ​3q

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Mj4A​jd

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Mj4z​Xm

I moved from a 1d4 to a 5d3 to a 7d2, for sports and then periodic paid/events. Either is a good camera you can't go wrong with either. If you go to the 1d4, you will have to sell off your 17-55 and get something like the 24-70.

One more thing regarding build quality... The 7d2 is the most sealed non 1d body ever made.

In theory, I sill love my 1D4.

In practice, I took the 7D2 with me both to Guatemala and to Washington State, and the 1D4 has sat at home.

For long distance shooting, and for most any other work with a wide EF-S, the 7D2 is really hard to fault. I also like the added features that the newer bodies have, and the similarity going from 7D2 to a modern 5D body like the 3 or 4. My use of the 1D4 is getting to infrequent that it has become the "odd" feeling one. (this after shooting nothing but 1D since, well, the 1D-1D4)