Canon upgrade questions

[Daftasabrush]

So I have a Canon 7D which I've had since release day in HK, I love it, it's always been fantastic, but lately I've started getting ERR 40 (some power issue which could be expensive to fix).

I'm absolutely torn about what to do next.

Do I repair at (at what is probably the same price as what it's worth with the issue) or do I get a new one?

If I get a new one, do I get a 5D3 and replace my EFS 10-22 with something that'll work on full frame, or do I get a 7D2 and enjoy the fast focusing and shutter speeds whilst being aware that actual IQ isn't greatly improved. Or do I go mental and get a 1D variant? My lenses are primarily EFS 10-22, 50 1.8, 70-200 F4L IS. I also have 17-85 IS USM but the missus has been using that and I think it's buggered. I rarely use it.

Most of my production photos are of still subjects and usually in dim light and on a tripod or hand held and high ISO. That being said, I would absolutely LOVE a higher FPS and better focusing. the 5D3 doesn't really offer this and it would have been a huge benefit at the other half's running event at the weekend where a lot of my photos were out of focus.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Cheers!

[qspring]

It sounds like you have a collection of EFS lenses already. If you're not trying to spend a huge amount of money, I would stick with APS Sensor camera- 80D or 70D. Both will have a decent fps and excellent AF system.

If you want to go full frame - The 6D is excellent for low light photography and is going for a great price right now. You'll need the glass to pair with it. Down side is the AF system has less points than the 5DmarkIII. I've shot with 6D for live events and it works. You'll just have to adjust your shooting style to accommodate for your gears limitations. 5DmarkIII is a good choice; however, if I were going to shell out the cash I would wait till the mark IV is released so the body goes down in price.

[Daftasabrush]

I'd rather limit it to a total spend of £2.5K if I'm honest, I'd be happy to ditch the 10-22, the equivalent L lens is a similar price to what I paid for the 10-22 and they still fetch decent money so not too bothered about lenses. The 17-85 can hang, I never use it.

I would miss the buffer, speed and build quality of the 7D which is why I'm not looking at the 70/80/6.

I kinda agree about the 5D4 but it'll cost a load when new and is a few months off yet, meanwhile I'm stuck with a poorly 7D

[Weebl]

I wouldn't repair it, get either the 5Diii or 7Dii. Skip the 1D's, you would be wasting your money unless you have a bunch of lenses you aren't talking about. It all depends on what subjects you shoot. I need the crop factor over low light so the next body for me would be a 7Dii/5Ds. The 7D Mkii is so much better than the Mki.

[dcstep]

I own the 5D3 and the 7D2 and the AF systems are essentially the same, so that should not be a factor in you decision. You don't describe a usage that requires 10-fps, so I would not let that hang you up. The 5D3 is plenty responsive and I've even used it for bird-in-flight with success.

Both are a huge step up from your 7D in terms of high-ISO performance. Where the 7D started getting sketchy at ISO 800, particularly if you under-exposed, the 7D2 is now solid up to ISO 1600. The 5D3 is better still, but not a full-stop better.

Your lens kit is set up for crop sensor, unless you're really Jonesing for something like the EF 14mm f/2.8L II which would be a waste if not matched with a full-frame body. Based on inertia, I'd say stay with the crop-sensor.

Your 7D sensor is several generations old now and there's been huge improvement since we both bought ours. Scrap it.

[druu]

I say go full frame, the can be sold/traded for a 17-40 for not a ton of money. Full Frame has come down in price enough where the jump in IQ might be worth it. The only thing you're going to miss is the fps, but you may make up for it with the extra focus points (5D3 vs 7D), but at this point a good used 5D3 could be well worth it.

[M_Six]

You might consider getting a refurbed 7D MkII and a used or refurbed 6D. You can get them both at pretty close to the cost of a new 5D3 in the US. My refurbed 7D MkII was $975 and I've seen the 6D new as low as $1099. I don't know about the UK. Maybe not over there.

I own all three and I find myself using the 6D for people/landscape/low light stuff and the 7D MkII for sports, birding, and astro stuff. My 5D3 does a lot of sitting lately.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by druu

I say go full frame, the can be sold/traded for a 17-40 for not a ton of money. Full Frame has come down in price enough where the jump in IQ might be worth it. The only thing you're going to miss is the fps, but you may make up for it with the extra focus points (5D3 vs 7D), but at this point a good used 5D3 could be well worth it.

What "jump in IQ" do you have in mind? To match the resolution of the 7D MkII, he'll have to go to the 5DS, which has a considerably higher new price and will be hard to find used.

I'm selling a 5D3 for $1,400 for anyone that's interested, but don't expect a jump in resolution going from a 7D2.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

You might consider getting a refurbed 7D MkII and a used or refurbed 6D. You can get them both at pretty close to the cost of a new 5D3 in the US. My refurbed 7D MkII was $975 and I've seen the 6D new as low as $1099. I don't know about the UK. Maybe not over there.

I own all three and I find myself using the 6D for people/landscape/low light stuff and the 7D MkII for sports, birding, and astro stuff. My 5D3 does a lot of sitting lately.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I'm selling a 5D3 for $1,400 for anyone that's interested, but don't expect a jump in resolution going from a 7D2.

I'm considering doing the same plus the 7D, along with a bunch of lenses. I need to pare down my collection and buy a 100-400L II. I'm thinking of dumping the Sigma 120-300, the 400 5.6, and the 100L macro along with the macro flash and associated gadgets. That should finance the 100-400 II and the 24-105 II when it comes along with change to spare.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm considering doing the same plus the 7D, along with a bunch of lenses. I need to pare down my collection and buy a 100-400L II. I'm thinking of dumping the Sigma 120-300, the 400 5.6, and the 100L macro along with the macro flash and associated gadgets. That should finance the 100-400 II and the 24-105 II when it comes along with change to spare.

The Sigma is okay, but the Canon 100-400 II is exceptional and it works really well with the 1.4x TC-III. The 400/5.6 doesn't have IS. It's sharp and fast focusing, but slows down way more than the 100-400 II when you add the TC.

Dave

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The Sigma is okay, but the Canon 100-400 II is exceptional and it works really well with the 1.4x TC-III. The 400/5.6 doesn't have IS. It's sharp and fast focusing, but slows down way more than the 100-400 II when you add the TC.

Dave

The Sigma is quite sharp, but that weight makes it almost useless at airshows, which is why I want the 100-400. If I only shot sports, I'd stick with the Sigma. But for airshows and BIF shots, it's time to go lighter. I'd look into a 500/4, but I don't do BIF all that often, so I can't justify the investment right now.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The Sigma is quite sharp, but that weight makes it almost useless at airshows, which is why I want the 100-400. If I only shot sports, I'd stick with the Sigma. But for airshows and BIF shots, it's time to go lighter. I'd look into a 500/4, but I don't do BIF all that often, so I can't justify the investment right now.

The 100-400 with the 1.4x TC-III responds quick enough for BIF on the 7D MkII and higher bodies. It's much better in this regard than the 400/5.6 and the Series I 100-400. For the occasional BIF shooter, I think that the 100-400 II is the way to go, on the Canon side.

[allachie9]

OP - my two pennorth -

Get what you can for the 7D on Ebay, then treat yourself to a 5D3 + 16-35 L f/2.8.
That's a combination I use a lot for big skies and night shots.

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by allachie9

OP - my two pennorth -

Get what you can for the 7D on Ebay, then treat yourself to a 5D3 + 16-35 L f/2.8.
That's a combination I use a lot for big skies and night shots.

That's a very good suggestion, my only gripe is the focussing probably won't be any better than my 7D.

Thanks for the replies people, I think I'll probably keep hold of the 7D until it completely pops its clogs and then get a 5D4 when it's released.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

That's a very good suggestion, my only gripe is the focussing probably won't be any better than my 7D.

Thanks for the replies people, I think I'll probably keep hold of the 7D until it completely pops its clogs and then get a 5D4 when it's released.

The 5D3 AF blows the 7D into the weeds. It's not close. Your keeper rate will more than double for things like birds in flight. The 7D2 and the 5D3 are equivalent in AF capability. (I've owned the 5D2, 7D, 5D3, 7D2 and 5DsR, in case you're wondering how I'd know).

I'd bet that the main improvements in the 5D4 will be incremental AF and sensor performance. Nothing earth shattering.

Dave

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The 5D3 AF blows the 7D into the weeds. It's not close. Your keeper rate will more than double for things like birds in flight. The 7D2 and the 5D3 are equivalent in AF capability. (I've owned the 5D2, 7D, 5D3, 7D2 and 5DsR, in case you're wondering how I'd know).

I'd bet that the main improvements in the 5D4 will be incremental AF and sensor performance. Nothing earth shattering.

Dave

That's interesting, thank you

[Twix]

I'm in this same boat. I just got back from M Tour delivery of my car and I'm not very happy with my photos. There's a lot of out of focus stuff from when I was trying to shoot fast, but my shutter speed was too slow for my shaky self. I'm also starting to dislike the autofocus as it seems to never focus on what I want it to in the view finder, and it just keeps buzzing the motor without actually ever focusing.

I've been thinking about the 5D3, but the professional photographer said I might really like the 7D, or to wait for the 5D4.

I've ditched my walk around lens, the 18-270 Tamron, for a 10-20 Sigma 3.5. I need more coverage, so I'll be getting a 24-70 which I think will work well for me.

What do you guys think?

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by Twix

I'm in this same boat. I just got back from M Tour delivery of my car and I'm not very happy with my photos. There's a lot of out of focus stuff from when I was trying to shoot fast, but my shutter speed was too slow for my shaky self. I'm also starting to dislike the autofocus as it seems to never focus on what I want it to in the view finder, and it just keeps buzzing the motor without actually ever focusing.

I've been thinking about the 5D3, but the professional photographer said I might really like the 7D, or to wait for the 5D4.

I've ditched my walk around lens, the 18-270 Tamron, for a 10-20 Sigma 3.5. I need more coverage, so I'll be getting a 24-70 which I think will work well for me.

What do you guys think?

Sounds a bit like settings and slow lenses too.

[Twix]

Originally Posted by metrickid

Sounds a bit like settings and slow lenses too.

Even with my 50mm 1.8, and my iso set to 800, I couldn't get anything decent in low light. Anything above 800 and even at 800, the T3i lacks in image quality.

My gear seems to work just fine for shooting wide landscapes or architecture when outside with lots of natural light, but as soon as I get indoors, I haven't found a lens for it which can do low light decently. The camera just isn't made for low light. That's why I'm considering the 5D3, 4 or something else. I'd like to stick with Canon since that's what all my gear is built for. I'll keep my T3i just for outdoorsy stuff and for walk around shooting.

There's a site right now selling new 5D3 bodies for $1349, I'm assuming USD. Seems like it's too good to be true. PM me for the link.

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by Twix

Even with my 50mm 1.8, and my iso set to 800, I couldn't get anything decent in low light. Anything above 800 and even at 800, the T3i lacks in image quality.

My gear seems to work just fine for shooting wide landscapes or architecture when outside with lots of natural light, but as soon as I get indoors, I haven't found a lens for it which can do low light decently. The camera just isn't made for low light. That's why I'm considering the 5D3, 4 or something else. I'd like to stick with Canon since that's what all my gear is built for. I'll keep my T3i just for outdoorsy stuff and for walk around shooting.

There's a site right now selling new 5D3 bodies for $1349, I'm assuming USD. Seems like it's too good to be true. PM me for the link.

Ah, I didn't know you had such an old (entry level) camera.
I would get some good lenses either way if I were you and upgraded to full frame 5D. I'd rather have great lenses and a cheaper camera than the other way around.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Twix

I'm in this same boat. I just got back from M Tour delivery of my car and I'm not very happy with my photos. There's a lot of out of focus stuff from when I was trying to shoot fast, but my shutter speed was too slow for my shaky self. I'm also starting to dislike the autofocus as it seems to never focus on what I want it to in the view finder, and it just keeps buzzing the motor without actually ever focusing.

I've been thinking about the 5D3, but the professional photographer said I might really like the 7D, or to wait for the 5D4.

I've ditched my walk around lens, the 18-270 Tamron, for a 10-20 Sigma 3.5. I need more coverage, so I'll be getting a 24-70 which I think will work well for me.

...

The 24-70mm is an excellent, walk-around, full frame lens.

I own everything you've mentioned: 7D, 7D MkII and 5D MkIII. The only reason to stick with the crop-sensor, is the lenses that you already have, or if you're going to be doing a lot of wildlife or sport photography. With the right lenses, the 5D3 will be good for auto racing and people sports, but the crop-factor comes in big for bird photography. Most people don't do bird photography, so the 5D3 works well for most. It's superior as a travel, portrait and auto shooter. It's got a noise floor that's close to one-stop better than the 7D2.

In a later post, you mention a retailer selling the 5D3 for under $1,400 new. Could you provide the link for me. I've got a well used 5D3 for sale, that I was hoping to get $1,400 for, so I may need to revise my expectations.

Best regards,

Dave