Keep 7D mk2 or prepare to move on?

Hello everyone looking for suggestions. I started my photography journey years ago with a 20d. I exited the field for about ten years and have re-entered acquiring the 7D mk2 with a trinity of L glass. I normally shoot portraits and dabble in sports and wildlife. I like my outcomes but feel a full frame sensor would add to my artistic capabilities. I have never shot full frame other than taking a few shots with a friends 5D mk3. My question now as we enter the world of mirrorless, and my quest to move to full frame, is it time to trade off the 7D mk2 to prepare for future offerings with a rumored 45mp 20/12fps full frame sensor on the horizon? Or should I hold on to the 7D mk2 and look into obtaining a 5D mk4? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

dlamarr wrote in post #19007517
Hello everyone looking for suggestions. I started my photography journey years ago with a 20d. I exited the field for about ten years and have re-entered acquiring the 7D mk2 with a trinity of L glass. I normally shoot portraits and dabble in sports and wildlife. I like my outcomes but feel a full frame sensor would add to my artistic capabilities. I have never shot full frame other than taking a few shots with a friends 5D mk3. My question now as we enter the world of mirrorless, and my quest to move to full frame, is it time to trade off the 7D mk2 to prepare for future offerings with a rumored 45mp 20/12fps full frame sensor on the horizon? Or should I hold on to the 7D mk2 and look into obtaining a 5D mk4? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

What, exactly, do you feel your images lack now? What pictures do you want to take that you can't take now? What results do you want to achieve that you can't achieve now? That's the kind of question you have to ask.

I agree, what specifically are you looking for in FF? The 7D2 is great for sports and wildlife, so I am also curious what is lacking in that arena now?

Finally, all we have are rumors, don't base your future gear plans around rumors. Allow Canon to announce what they will announce, then wait a month or two after the camera(s) are in the hands of users to see what really happens with them, before making any decisions.

Rumors are often wrong and sensational.
Actual releases and marketing material are often praises for specs that might actually be a bit underwhelming.
User testimonies across both the pro and consumer markets is the most useful info to base decisions on.

In full frame looking for better resolution and better control of depth of field. The 7D mk2 does not lack for me in those areas. I just find myself shooting more portraiture than sports and wildlife.

I understand about rumors and how they are sensationalized and agree about viewing testimonials from owners before selecting...that’s how I picked the 7d mk2. I just feel that full frame may give me more control, more keepers.

I went from a 40D to 7D2 and recently switched to the 5D4. Aside from occasionally missing the higher FPS, I couldn't be happier. I specifically switched as I felt I was at the limits of the low-light capabilities of the 7D2 and wanted more range, as well, I wanted the touch screen focusing for video. I find the focusing a bit faster, I have more keepers (indoor volleyball). I find the colours and sharpness are better - many shots I just crop now and don't need to do any other adjustments in LR. The DOF with the FF is amazing!

I started out many yrs ago with 5Dii and 7D, but resolved to 7D for many of the large prints and albums, knowing the lowlight capability is horrible above 800iso

I just upgraded to the 7Dii and I shoot primarily portrait. My main lens, used 99%, is sigma 18-35mm.

You want smaller sensor to gain control over DOF. E.g. if distance to subject is 8ft and camera dialed to aperture 2.0, then the DOF are:

7D is 3ft total @22mm (corrected)
5D is 2ft total @35mm

The 5D DOF is significantly more shallow, having more risk of error when focusing subject(s).

You can make a good categorical argument that extreme DOF can be used to mask an incompetent photographer.

But you can make good argument that playing with different camera is fun

Do you feel that the difference in the switch between the lowlight capabilities was considerably noticeable in your images when you switched from the 7Dmk2 to the 5Dmk4? Or was it more of a small to average notice?

The low light going from the 7D2 to the 5D4 was considerably noticeable to me - much less grainy and still very vibrant colours etc.

DrMitch wrote in post #19007599
The low light going from the 7D2 to the 5D4 was considerably noticeable to me - much less grainy and still very vibrant colours etc.

That is a very impressive thing! My 7D2 does very well in low light, in my opinion.

dlamarr wrote in post #19007517
... Or should I hold on to the 7D mk2 and look into obtaining a 5D mk4? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Why not rent a 5DIV and see if it gets you what you want.

Having had the 7D2 for years, once I got the 5D4, I rarely used the 7D2 and eventually sold it. The 7D2 strength is when you are reach limited and you want to use pixel density and crop as a 1.6 TC without a stop of light loss over using a 1.4x on the 5D4.

The 5D4 is indeed cleaner at higher ISOs, and has better low ISO DR as well. If I had a 7D2, the 5D4, 1DX2 or 1DX3 are the only FF bodies I would consider moving to from the cropper.

dlamarr wrote in post #19007585
Do you feel that the difference in the switch between the lowlight capabilities was considerably noticeable in your images when you switched from the 7Dmk2 to the 5Dmk4? Or was it more of a small to average notice?

Going 7dmk2 to 5dmk4 is rather drastic. You may find it odd as you will no longer have that 1.6 crop advantage using aps-c.

I would definitely look into renting/borrowing a 5dmk4. The quality of the files and dynamic range will really provide great flexibility in the RAW files.

I will warn you that using a mirrorless is another consderation. Having such sharp images and to never worry about micro adjusting is very liberating.

I'm sure curious what Canon is going to pull out of it's hat with the EOS R replacement.

I also have an R, and I wouldn't use it for sports, personally. Of course, I am selling prints to parents, etc, so if I were just dabbling with sports and not making money on it, then maybe.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19007934
I also have an R, and I wouldn't use it for sports, personally. Of course, I am selling prints to parents, etc, so if I were just dabbling with sports and not making money on it, then maybe.

Let's hope a rumour EOS R5 is almost as good as the current Sony A73. I do not believe rumours but the R5 is wishful thinking.

The R5 will be the big step for Canon to be a potent FF mirrorless body.This is where FEB 2020 we are still seeing a very limited Canon EOS R body and a glimmer of hope of even getting in the aging A73/A7R3 category of performance.

I love my Canon mirrored bodies but it's now more stagnant due to all of the Canon R&D money going into the development of RF glass and newer canon FF mirrorless bodies.

For sony world they have the Gmaster 70-200, 100-400 and G 200-600 for the zoom lover wanting reach. Rumors of a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 ART lingers and people are eager. Even the cheaper Sony E mount Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 ART zoom is easily in the same league as my 5dmk4 with 24-70L f/2.8mk2.

If the OP jumped onto a 5dmk4 I think that would be amazing. The 5dmk4 camera has certainly dropped in price a lot.

A question for the OP,
In your post you state that you would replace the 7D2 with a new mirrorless, (if it exists) but add a 5D4 to your 7D2 if you go that route?

Why the different approaches?

IMHO If you want to go FF, the 5D4 can replace your 7D2,. it's AF is better. It is only slightly slower FPS.

If you want to keep your 7D2 for action, then adding the EOS-R for a lower cost than the 5D4 will give you the FF image quality advantage, and get you into mirrorless. It won't replace the 7D2 for action, so it would be better as a second body.