Advice sought from Canon shooters only ..... Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens (and just incidentally, a Canon SX60 HS thrown into the...

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens (and just incidentally, a Canon SX60 HS thrown into the mix as well as a Canon 5D MK III).

I can justify upgrading one or the other, but not both. The upgrade will probably happen in mid-2015.

So...... should I get the Canon 7D MK II or the new Canon 100-400mm L series lens?

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Bob Yankle wrote:

Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens.

I can justify upgrading one or the other, but not both. The upgrade will probably happen in mid-2015.

So...... should I get the Canon 7D MK II or the new Canon 100-400mm L series lens?

If your idea is that you want more reach, get a 1.4X, and keep what you have and your problem is solved. Look at Swamp Gator's posts, he get fantastic results from that set up. If you just want something new flip a coin. You can't go wrong with either

lightcatcher Loc: Farmington, NM (4 corners)

Bob Yankle wrote:

Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens (and just incidentally, a Canon SX60 HS thrown into the mix as well as a Canon 5D MK III).

I can justify upgrading one or the other, but not both. The upgrade will probably happen in mid-2015.

So...... should I get the Canon 7D MK II or the new Canon 100-400mm L series lens?

If you are pleased with the resolution of the bodies you have and in good working order I would go for the lens.

cmc65

Bob Yankle wrote:

Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens (and just incidentally, a Canon SX60 HS thrown into the mix as well as a Canon 5D MK III).

I can justify upgrading one or the other, but not both. The upgrade will probably happen in mid-2015.

So...... should I get the Canon 7D MK II or the new Canon 100-400mm L series lens?

First I want to say how much I enjoy your photographs. Always a treat.
I just bought the 7dmk2. I like it . But you don't seem to shoot BIF.(I'm new here and may be wrong) I would say get the telconverter for the L lens you have and then upgrade to the 5dmk4 which is supposed to come out first part of 2015.It's bound to have a lot of the good features of the 7dMk2 and then some and it will be a new FF.

dugole Loc: Matawan, New Jersey

Bob - Wow! That's a tough question. I think the 2 major upgrades are the focus system and the video upgrades. If you use a 5D MKIII then you are familiar with the great flexibility that 61(?) point system offers.

Does video interest you? (seeing your posts I don't remember any reference to video). Are you happy with your 7D's current output? From your postings, I really can't quite see any reason for you to upgrade - your 7D's photos are, virtually, all great!

I had seriously thought about the 100-400 - but, in my mind, the optics technology was old - 8 or 10 years old. I would also assume that it is the original IS system - equal to about 2 stops.

Frankly, between the Tamron 150-600 that I currently have, and the new Mark II, I would jump on the Mark II immediately.

Just my thoughts.

dugole Loc: Matawan, New Jersey

cmc65 wrote:

First I want to say how much I enjoy your photographs. Always a treat.
I just bought the 7dmk2. I like it . But you don't seem to shoot BIF.(I'm new here and may be wrong) I would say get the telconverter for the L lens you have and then upgrade to the 5dmk4 which is supposed to come out first part of 2015.It's bound to have a lot of the good features of the 7dMk2 and then some and it will be a new FF.

Good point cmc65! When the 7D MKII was rumored during the 3rd/4th quarter of last year I had to decide between waiting for that (rumored for January 2014) or getting the 5D MKIII. If I didn't get the 5D last fall, I would still be waiting for the 7D MK II. So I suspect there will be a lot of delays with a 5D MKIV. And the cost will certainly be much higher than the $3400 MKIII - over $4000?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

gregoryd45 wrote:

If your idea is that you want more reach, get a 1.4X, and keep what you have and your problem is solved. Look at Swamp Gator's posts, he get fantastic results from that set up. If you just want something new flip a coin. You can't go wrong with either

Interesting Gregory, the Canon 1.4x does not work on that particular 70-300mm "L" series, whereas the Kenko 1.4x does (but loses a whole host of functionality). I've experimented with the Kenko 1.4x and I seem to lose a lot of sharpness, even when shooting on a tripod. That being said, however, I have started including a combination of DxO optics and Piccure+ in my workflow, and that has pretty much solved that problem.

twowindsbear

I'd go with a wider zoom ?-70 to go with your 70-300 or a faster prime.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

What will a new camera offer that yours does not?

What will a new lens offer that yours does not?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

lightcatcher wrote:

If you are pleased with the resolution of the bodies you have and in good working order I would go for the lens.

Yep lightcatcher, I've always liked the results of what I'd seen with the Canon 100-400 but shied away from it in the past because I didn't like the idea of a push-pull lens. The newly designed lens has me all excited ..... I can't wait to try one out when they arrive in the local camera shop.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

cmc65 wrote:

First I want to say how much I enjoy your photographs. Always a treat.
I just bought the 7dmk2. I like it . But you don't seem to shoot BIF.(I'm new here and may be wrong) I would say get the telconverter for the L lens you have and then upgrade to the 5dmk4 which is supposed to come out first part of 2015.It's bound to have a lot of the good features of the 7dMk2 and then some and it will be a new FF.

You bring up some good points cmc65. I do not shoot BIFs, not by choice, but by lack of bird habitats. What I DO shot is Revolutionary War Reenactments, and some of that action is far removed from the spectators for safety reasons. I'm considering the 7D MK II because of the 1.6 crop factor, faster AF, and faster burst rate (which I use a lot).

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

twowindsbear wrote:

I'd go with a wider zoom ?-70 to go with your 70-300 or a faster prime.

I'm pretty well covered in the lower focal distances (16-35mm, 24-105mm, 50mm f/1.4 Prime, 100mm f/2.8 L II Macro Prime, and my all time favorite, the 70-200mm f/2.8L). And you may think it strange, but I consider my SX60 HS to be my long-shooter at the moment (it certainly outreaches any DSLR lens I intend to buy in the future).

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

St3v3M wrote:

What will a new camera offer that yours does not?

What will a new lens offer that yours does not?

I didn't know you were a Canon guy St3v3M.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Bob Yankle wrote:

Background: I currently own a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens (and just incidentally, a Canon SX60 HS thrown into the mix as well as a Canon 5D MK III).

I can justify upgrading one or the other, but not both. The upgrade will probably happen in mid-2015.

So...... should I get the Canon 7D MK II or the new Canon 100-400mm L series lens?

Are you wanting to trade your 5D mk III for an EF 100-400 IS L lense??

Lets make a deal !!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Bob Yankle wrote:

I didn't know you were a Canon guy St3v3M.

Oh ya, my Canon EOS 7D goes everywhere with me!