New Camera or New Lens

I am currently have 5DII and 100-400mm lens. If i want a longer reach, should I :

a) buy a 600mm lens, or
b) buy a 7D

Both will get me similar reach. I know there is a trade off between IQ and price, but is the IQ difference significant? Any other pro and con?

Sorry if this question doesn't make sense to you.

Thanks.

Echoherbie wrote in post #11143117
I am currently have 5DII and 100-400mm lens. If i want a longer reach, should I :

a) buy a 600mm lens, or
b) buy a 7D

Both will get me similar reach. I know there is a trade off between IQ and price, but is the IQ difference significant? Any other pro and con?

Sorry if this question doesn't make sense to you.

Thanks.

If you want to walk around with it a bit/shoot action, buy a 7D.

From the comparisons I have seen on the web, the 5DII IQ looks significantly better than the 7d ... FULL STOP. These are all stationary subjects. In a real world action situation I'd expect that advantage to disappear, and the extra reach will not be compromised.

Interesting because I am considering the question in reverse. I have a 500 which I use on a vehicle mount for preference, else on tripod, for birds with 1.4TC. I want to upgrade my 30d and the question is 5D for sheer IQ or 7D for speed and reach. With the 500 I am shooting perched birds. However I also use a 300+1.4TC for BIF. For the first I think the 5D might have the edge, despite the loss of reach. For the second I think the 7D might have the edge. Budget won't stretch to both, even if I buy a 5D classic. I'd rather save up for a 400 DO to replace the 300 than buy both bodies !

Bit wary of a s/h 1D mkIII ...

Mike.

Ask yourself what are the overall benefits.

What will you be shooting at such focal lengths.

If you plan to chase wildlife then the 7D is possibly better - additionally it gives you a back-up body.

The IQ of the 600 is superior to what you'll get out of cropped "reach" via APS-C + 100-400.

If you can truly afford to pop for the glass, get it.

Echoherbie wrote in post #11143117
Any other pro and con?

Well, considering that the 600mm is one massive lens, it'll be harder to carry it around and is not exactly as portable as the 100-400. You'll have to buy new bags, maybe new tripod legs, gimbal head, etc. as well.

I would go with the 7D... the Autofocus is better and its easier to carry another body around than another lens. Plus you could get a 7D, a 300mm f/2.8 with a tele-converter and still be cheaper than the 600mm f/4 that way you have a more versatile setup imo....

You might also want to consider trying out one of the new mark iii teleconverters. The IQ loss on those are supposed to be pretty small.

shooterjoe wrote in post #11143351
You might also want to consider trying out one of the new mark iii teleconverters. The IQ loss on those are supposed to be pretty small.

Do they work with the 100-400? AFAIK the other (older) ones don't (if I remember the AF doesn't work or something).

As for the OPs question. I'd probably go for the 7D if I were just gonna shoot outdoors. With low ISO I bet you'd not notice enough IQ difference over the 5DII with the 100-400. Plus the bonus of a better AF system.

BUT the 600L will make your images look better than the 100-400 with a 7D (at a price)

gotaudi wrote in post #11143298
I would go with the 7D... the Autofocus is better and its easier to carry another body around than another lens. Plus you could get a 7D, a 300mm f/2.8 with a tele-converter and still be cheaper than the 600mm f/4 that way you have a more versatile setup imo....

This too.

I think it depends on what you shoot, the 7D is a very capable camera and the IQ difference over the 5d2 is marginal. Yes the 600 will give you superb quality, downsides are weight and cost. If you are shooting birds reach is usually king so a 7D with a future option of a 600mm later would be the route I would choose.

Why not just crop your 5DII photo? It would virtually be the same as shooting with a 7D plus it would be free. Your final photo may not have quite the resolution as the 7D provides but that would only be evident in the most extreme circumstances....certa​inly not for the most popular print sizes under 16x20 or sharing on the computer. Just a thought

All,

Really appreciate all your advices and inputs. Looks like most suggest going down 7D route. This confirm my initial thought as well. This will help me in my decision making easier.

Thanks.

Get the 600. It'll take TC's and give you outstanding IQ.