For those shooting crop and ff for a wedding.

Like others here, I use most lenses on the 5dmk2. During the ceremony the 70-200 2.8 IS goes on the 50D for a little more reach. Once the reception starts, I usually will put the 50D away and just use the 5dmk2 because of the better low light abilities.

dmbpettit wrote in post #10577402
Like others here, I use most lenses on the 5dmk2. During the ceremony the 70-200 2.8 IS goes on the 50D for a little more reach. Once the reception starts, I usually will put the 50D away and just use the 5dmk2 because of the better low light abilities.

As much as I say I don't view the 50D and 5D2 differently, the 70-200 is the one exception. I love that lens on my 5D2, I've never been too delighted with it on the 50D (yes, it's been calibrated). That and I find 200mm more than enough for reach during a ceremony excepting the very few times I'm restricted to the back of the church. I'm sure others have different opinions, but that's been my experience.

Peacefield wrote in post #10577442
I'm sure others have different opinions, but that's been my experience.

I really like the 70-200 on a 50d. Maybe I just don't know any better. And yes, I think it's kind of soft at 200mm.

But 200mm still doesn't give me the reach on a crop I'd like to get when banned to the rear. From about 80 feet: (Can't imagine using FF at this place).

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I have the setup you're looking at - 5D2 and 7D. Love it. I used to used two 5D classics and was nervous about having two different cameras as I'd get confused - but like you said, the 5D2 and 7D are really similar. Biggest difference is where the on/off switch is and different liveview button.

I use the 7D for more reach - that's what I put my longer lens on. It has changed which lenses I use the most. I used to have either 16-35 or 24-70 on the FF and 85 on the crop for candids, getting ready, etc. Now in those situations I find 85 too long on the crop, and am using the 50mm more. Outside the 85 or 70-200 on the 7D works fabulously.

bigarchi wrote in post #10576677
(purposely haven't used the 5DmarkII because i know then i'll want one!)

I used a 5DII and really didn't want one. It's just so slow.

tim wrote in post #10578874
I used a 5DII and really didn't want one. It's just so slow.

interesting, that's probably a contributing factor to the jump you're taking, aye?

Peacefield wrote in post #10577442
As much as I say I don't view the 50D and 5D2 differently, the 70-200 is the one exception. I love that lens on my 5D2, I've never been too delighted with it on the 50D (yes, it's been calibrated). That and I find 200mm more than enough for reach during a ceremony excepting the very few times I'm restricted to the back of the church. I'm sure others have different opinions, but that's been my experience.

My 70-200 is a whole new lens on the 5d2, for the better. I love that combo so much, but I'm gong to try it again with my 40d to see how it goes.

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #10578937
My 70-200 is a whole new lens on the 5d2, for the better. I love that combo so much, but I'm gong to try it again with my 40d to see how it goes.

Yeah, I can appreciate how RT and others get good performance out of that lens on a crop body. And I do, too, but if there's one lens that reveals a difference betweeen the two bodies, that's the one that does it for me.

bigarchi wrote in post #10578915
interesting, that's probably a contributing factor to the jump you're taking, aye?

It's not a major factor. Even if it was lightening fast it's still not a camera i'd want to use.

If you are looking to use the second camera for sports as well, have you considered looking for a used Mk III? It is better in virtually every category than a 7D for sports, has very good high ISO performance and is built like a tank. It also has fast AF performance in low light which makes it very handy at weddings.

I used a 1D3/24-70 side by side with a 7D/17-55 at a wedding a couple of months ago, and I had my 70-200 swapping around between them. The 1D3 and 24-70 was more reliable than the 7D and 17-55 for standard portraits, though both worked well. The 70-200 worked better on the 7D, in the low light of a wedding reception, focusing faster and giving me more keepers.

There's no doubt at all that the 1D3 is better built. The 7D is nicely built too, but the 1D3 feels like you could drive over it with a car then keep taking photos. I don't want to try that though.

I used to shoot a 5d and 30d with 24-70 on the 5d and
70-200 on the 30d. This combination worked very well. I now shoot with a 1ds mark II with 24-70 and 1d mark IIn with 135L or 200 f/2.8L. I find the crop camera complements a full frame nicely. The other option is to have two full frames and use a 1.4x extended but then you lose your f/2.8.

My recent wedding setup is:
1D Mark III w/ 24-70mm f/2.8L
5D Mark II w/ 35mm f/1.4L (or 16-35mm f/2.8L II alternative)
7D w/ 85mm f/1.2L (or 70-200mm f/2.8L IS alternative)

jacuff wrote in post #10611201
My recent wedding setup is:
1D Mark III w/ 24-70mm f/2.8L
5D Mark II w/ 35mm f/1.4L (or 16-35mm f/2.8L II alternative)
7D w/ 85mm f/1.2L (or 70-200mm f/2.8L IS alternative)

That's a few cameras to carry around.

I don't think I'd ever want to go FF only. You have so many more options with two formats. As long as Canon makes 1.6 crop bodies and EF-S lenses, I'll keep using them. The sheer amount of detail I see in my 1Ds3 shots is amazing, but in reality a bride isn't gonna care or notice if their album spread or their huge canvas has a little less detail, especially if they don't have a basis of comparison.

I want a 7D; it's such a cool camera. But I've tried them and in wedding shooting it doesn't get me shots any better than my 40D, so I haven't bought one. One shot AF didn't seem any better than my 40D. Actually, I liked the 40D raw files better... the 7D has many more pixels, but comparing the two I didn't see any more detail. I'm looking for an excuse to buy one but I just haven't yet. I can't complain, I really do love my 40D and it's all the camera I need in weddings 95% of the time. The other 5% is where the 1Ds3 comes in.