My 7D will die at some point soooo

I need a new camera. I've had my 7D since 2014 and it was bought used. It's been my workhouse and has to give up soon. I've been out of the tech advances for years, haven't posted here in awhile and now Canon has went the way of Nikon and there are a ton of different models for every little thing. Why is there a 77D and a 90D with an entire rebel series? I kinda want to get into Mirrorless even if that means converting lenses and getting an adapter in the meantime.

I don't shoot professionally much anymore and if I do, it'll be portraits or models. No more weddings really and maybe a few concerts. What do y'all have for me? Is the M5 doable or should I fall back to a xxD? I compared some of the ISO levels and low light capabilities but comapred to what I shoot now, I feel everything would be a jump up. Really wish I could just pony up for a 7D MkII or is a used one still good to go? Thanks!

what makes you think "it has to give up soon?"?

Even knowing the shutter count and comparing it to that Canon rates the shutter for isn't an indication it will fail, or when.

It could fail on the next shot. It could fail 25,000 shots from now. It could fail 40,000 shots from now. It could fail long before the Canon rating, it could fail long after.

There is no way to quantify "soon".

You can get a 7D2 for under $1k in great condition.

You can get a mirrorless Canon in full frame or APS-C at the $1k or less mark (much less for APS-C).

What do you want in a camera? There's a lot of "fill in the cracks" models between the 1D, 5D, R, 7D, M series and XXD series and into the crippled semi-pros and then Rebels. So really just look at the 5D, R, 7D, M series, 8/9XD series and stop there for performance without max budget.

Take a look at the Canon M50 real hard. Look at the Canon RP too, hard. Those are your solid inexpensive Canon mirrorless options.

Otherwise, another 7D is literally like $300 right now. Or a 7D2 can be had in the sub-$1k range fairly commonly too. And between them is the 80D/90D (don't even look at the 7XD series frankly with the 8/9 what they are).

You can adapt your lenses to work either way here, unless you buy new RF lenses/M lenses.

But again it depends on what you want from your camera and what you actually do with it.

Or, there are of course other mirrorless options if you want to go that route. Sony & Fuji would be where I look first for mirrorless.

Very best,

If you want a boost in ISO performance, the 7D2 and 90D will give you a little boost, and the 80D even a bit less yet.

You may see a combined resample down to 18Mpx/ISO performance improvement of probably around 1 stop in total with the newer crop bodies.

The EOS R being a mirrorless version of the 5D4 will be a big step up. The RP (which is very nearly the same as the 5D3/6D2) will give you a pretty good step up, not as good as the R/5D4. However with these mirrorless, you will also need an adapter for your EF/EFS glass.

So budget will likely determine what you go for, unless your desire for cleaner ISO will cause you to open up the wallet/pocketbook up a bit wider.

How is the M50? It's what I was looking at, seems to do what I want (wish I could see one in person) and being mirrorless the way to go. Obviously the 7DMkII and M50 are very different cameras but when it comes down to it, how different are they if you have experience with them. Thanks.

I used to have a 7D2, and with the 5D4 getting most of the action, I moved to the M50 for my APS-C shooting and sold the 7D2.

I also picked up the speedbooster which basically eliminates the crop factor with EF lenses too.

I really like my M50, but it is tiny, and the buttons are ridiculously small to hit. The ergos aren't great on the camera, so if you like the 7D controls, just imagine them all cramped together and smaller. Could you live with that? The 7D2 high ISO is better than the M50/M5/80D, etc too, but probably 1/3 to 1/2 stop.

A couple shots from the M50 at a wedding without the booster (2nd day of ownership).

_aravena wrote in post #18969022
How is the M50? It's what I was looking at, seems to do what I want (wish I could see one in person) and being mirrorless the way to go. Obviously the 7DMkII and M50 are very different cameras but when it comes down to it, how different are they if you have experience with them. Thanks.

The first thing is to narrow down... do you want a big camera and big lens, or are you more interested in a smaller camera and smaller lens. The foot print. Also, how do they feel in your hands and using them, are they comfortable, stable, or do they feel huge and heavy, or too small and requires too much dexterity, button size, layout, GUI, etc. You can get a camera based on specs, and not enjoy it just based on the physical feel in your hands and the utilization of the buttons/menus.

What else have you used other than the 7D? Describe that and how it felt to use them. This will help a lot more than just knowing the spec differences on white paper.

I used to shoot a 7D for wildlife/action a lot, but I went to a 1D Mark III and the difference was too starkly in favor of the 1D series, so I sold the 7D (even though the 1D3 has less pixels to work with). It felt better balanced on my big lenses (600mm), the battery life, menus, controls were all modern and good, 10 FPS, and it costs about $400 these days. Bigger sensor, had better color/noise handling in my eyes too. So I let the 7D go and still prefer the 1D3 over the 7D all day long. The only logical change for me would be a 1D IV at this point as I have zero interest in a 7D2 or 80/90D series camera if I'm going to have a big camera with aggressive AF, I'd rather just have a full on 1D series in my hands as I just like the size/weight/build better when I'm stomping in woods or out on the water.

But, I don't like to carry my big camera and lenses for every day. It's exhausting and calls too much attention (which kills a lot of candid moments). So, I added a small mirrorless system and I enjoyed it so much that I expanded on it and it's my primary system for non-wildlife, for me it was Fuji.

For example, here's my 1D (dSLR APS-H) next to my Fuji X-T1 (mirrorless APS-C) and I like both and use the two systems for different purposes (but this doesn't translate to what you like/prefer):

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/235k​XRZ

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/HuQ8​oe

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/23CC​Zxb

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ZYvf​QL

This is exactly what I was looking for. For what I do now, more hobbyist and use my professional skills for the everyday and urbexing, I want something smaller and easier to carry. Something that's everyday and reviewing the M50, it's out but now checking out the M5 which retains more of the pro controls. I really need to get my hands on one but carrying around the 7D is nice and all but something more compact, still with a viewfinder for the EDC life would be great which means I'll lean to the M5 it seems. Also means I'll be getting an adapter in the mean time and hopefully some used M-mounts will end up on the market somewhere. My Sigma 30 is practically glued on so a smaller camera in the same sense is what I'm looking for. The size of the 7D is not cutting for that.

This has helped a lot guys, especially the trading around concept. I love my 7D, just scared it'll go soon considering what it's been through and would like to keep it for those times instead of everyday. I have a 40D that still kicks ass and is my backup. Just need a new EDC and the M5 might be the way to go either suffer without good lenses to have plastic will travel unless the adapter isn't a bad thing. In my experience adapters aren't the worst but not great.

If you end up with an M series from Canon, look into the EF-M 22mm F2, it's a gem of a lens, inexpensive, pancake, razor sharp wide open, lovely low profile little thing.

You may want to do a more detailed comparison of the M5 vs M50. The M50 has a lot of better, newer features and tech.

Very best,

_aravena wrote in post #18969049
This is exactly what I was looking for. For what I do now, more hobbyist and use my professional skills for the everyday and urbexing, I want something smaller and easier to carry. Something that's everyday and reviewing the M50, it's out but now checking out the M5 which retains more of the pro controls. I really need to get my hands on one but carrying around the 7D is nice and all but something more compact, still with a viewfinder for the EDC life would be great which means I'll lean to the M5 it seems. Also means I'll be getting an adapter in the mean time and hopefully some used M-mounts will end up on the market somewhere. My Sigma 30 is practically glued on so a smaller camera in the same sense is what I'm looking for. The size of the 7D is not cutting for that.

This has helped a lot guys, especially the trading around concept. I love my 7D, just scared it'll go soon considering what it's been through and would like to keep it for those times instead of everyday. I have a 40D that still kicks ass and is my backup. Just need a new EDC and the M5 might be the way to go either suffer without good lenses to have plastic will travel unless the adapter isn't a bad thing. In my experience adapters aren't the worst but not great.

The M50 has more of the newest mirrorless focusing systems, it shares much of its underpinnings with the EOS R and RP, with silent shutter, eye AF, etc. than it does with the M5. Just keep that in mind. You might like the M6II instead.

_aravena wrote in post #18968987
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I need a new camera.
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I don't shoot professionally much anymore and if I do, it'll be portraits or models.
.....
Really wish I could just pony up for a 7D MkII or is a used one still good to go?
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I don't understand why you would want a 7D Mark 2 more than one of the other models. . It is a fast, high performance camera, which isn't necessary for the portrait and model photography that you plan to do. . Also, it is a 1.6 crop sensor camera, which isn't ideal for the type of photography you plan to do. . Furthermore, it is already an old design, and will become obsolete long before many of the other models that are available.

It's like you aren't thinking about what type of body is best suited for the type of photography that you are going to be using it for. . Picking a camera that is optimized for fast-action sports and wildlife isn't really the most sensible choice for portrait work. . So I wonder .... why is it that you seem to think a 7D2 would be best for this type of photography?

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_aravena wrote in post #18968987
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I kinda want to get into Mirrorless even if that means converting lenses and getting an adapter in the meantime.
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Now this seems much more sensible, given the type of photography that you told us you would be doing.

Canon has 2 newer full frame models out that adapt seamlessly with whatever EF glass you already have. . These models represent Canon's future, so obsolescence shouldn't be a concern any time soon, and the full frame format should be better suited to the portrait work you want to do. . The weaknesses of these models are autofocus speed and frame rate, which you have little use for with portraiture.

These new FF mirrorless bodies seem like a much, much better fit for "portrait and model" photography than a 7D2 would ever be.

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SMP_Homer wrote in post #18968993
what makes you think "it has to give up soon?"?

Even knowing the shutter count and comparing it to that Canon rates the shutter for isn't an indication it will fail, or when.

It could fail on the next shot. It could fail 25,000 shots from now. It could fail 40,000 shots from now. It could fail long before the Canon rating, it could fail long after.

There is no way to quantify "soon".

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It's not usually about the shutter. . It's about the electronics.

I have never had a DSLR shutter fail, but I have had several DSLRs fail to function electronically after they get old and have gone through a lot of use.

After time, the buttons and dials don't work anymore ... I mean, you can turn them or push them, but nothing happens when you do. . And then a half hour later you push the button and everything works. . You just never know when something will actually work or not. . It's like the contacts inside the camera just get shot after so many years.

With my 1D4, I can take a photo in manual and have a proper exposure, then take another shot of the exact same scene a second later, with the exact same settings, but the exposure will be extremely dark, or a little dark, or properly exposed, or too bright, despite everything being reported as the same as the first, proper exposure. . This happens more and more frequently, but never used to happen at all.

On my 50D, the shutter button often sticks, and when it doesn't stick, sometimes when I push it and it goes down properly, nothing happens. . I mean, even though the button gets pushed down properly, whatever is supposed to happen inside the camera just doesn't happen, and a picture never gets taken.

With my 6D, the dials that are supposed to allow you to scroll around the LCD to look at different parts of the image when you are zoomed in, well, they will only let me scroll to the right and up. . When I try to scroll down or to the left, it doesn't work. . Also on the 6D, there is a EXTREME vignette over the entire right third of the image, regardless what lens or aperture I am using, and that never used to happen when the camera was newer. . There's also a whitish streak on the right of the image that indicates some kind of sensor malfunction due to age and wear.

With my 5D, the circuit board inside the camera has a bunch of issues, and this causes almost every function to black out at times. Autofocus sometimes works and sometimes doesn't (at all), LCD playback review sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. . Sometimes when I push the shutter button down it takes a photo but most fo the time it just doesn't. . Sometimes when I turn the dials to change the settings, the settings get changed, but sometimes they don't.

With all 4 of the aforementioned DSLRs, there are frequent times when they simply "lock up", and even thought they are turned on, nothing happens when I turn dials or click on menu buttons.. In these instances I have to turn the cameras off and then turn them right back on again, and then they work pretty much as they're supposed to. . This usually happens 6 or 8 times a day with my 1D4 and 5D, and only once or twice a day with my 50D, and once or twice a week with my 6D.

This is all the kind of stuff that happens with old cameras that have received heavy use, and has nothing to do with the shutter life. . It is sensible and reasonable for the OP to think that some electronic malfunctions will start to happen with his 7D at some point in the near future, if he continues to use it.

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Can't afford any of that and I do a lot of face paced shooting. I have 2 boys constantly active, in sports etc. The 7D is a catch all but when we're exploring and walking around, the occasional shoot for someone I want something smaller and simpler to get the job done. Sure, Ideally I'd replace the 7D with an FF but I'd still need my EDC type camera and FF is not fitting that bill. So Now I need 2 new cameras as an FF wouldn't do anything for me. This also excludes the obvious, from the type of cameras I'm inquiring about, that thing called money. While a used 6D isn't too bad, I would have nothing to shoot whereas new M cameras come with something or I just need an adapter. Given, I still want to get a M series nice lens, Mirrorless would take me further than a FF for random fun. Also, again...size.

Yeah but the layout, size and everything is so clunky, tiny and unintuitive. I might as well get a G series at that point. All the reviews I've seen show the M5 ergonomics light years above the M5 which is like a rebel compared to any xD series. I always shoot in manual and for the M50 there's no realistic option based on reviews.

_aravena wrote in post #18969085
Can't afford any of that .....

But you said you'd like to get a 7D2, and I thought the one Canon FF mirrorless was around the same price as a 7D2. . Isn't it? . So pricewise, I'm keeping it right in the range of what you said you were interested in buying.

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_aravena wrote in post #18969085
..... and I do a lot of face paced shooting.

But you said portraiture and models.

I was trying to point you in the right direction, based on what you told us about what you will be shooting.

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