tjkraemer1 wrote:
Hello group, I am new to this site and am happy to read all the comments and suggestions from the many members this far.
I currently own (and love) my 7D MKII. I do mostly action sports and wildlife photography. I have a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II and the
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II lens which i sometimes pair with the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III. I would like to be purchase a FF camera and was wondering what your thoughts were as to buying the 6D MKII as a FF addition to my current gear?
What are you wanting to shoot with FF camera?
Sports & wildlife? If so, best choice in FF is 1DX Mark II.... 2nd best is 5D Mark IV.... 3rd is 6D Mark II. HOWEVER, personally I'd rather use an APS-C for sports/action and much wildlife shooting. In fact, I use a pair of 7D Mark II mostly. Those give close to the performance of 1DX II, but allow me to use smaller/lighter lenses than FF will require to frame shots the same way. For example, are you prepared to "trade up" from your 100-400 II to a 200-400/4 with built-in 1.4X or an EF 600mm f/4 II? $2000, 3.5 lb. lens versus an $11,000, 8 lb. lens? To use FF for sports/wildlife and still enjoy the same "reach", you're gonna need a bigger lens!
If you have other purposes for the FF camera... it may be ideal. I use one for landscapes & architecture primarily, as well as some portraiture and macro. But generally not for sports/wildlife... I prefer the APS-C cameras for that... along with the smaller, lighter, less expensive kit of lenses that allows me to use.
The primary benefits of FF are....
- Gobs of fine detail possible if you make really big prints... upwards of 16x24" print size.
- About one stop higher usable ISO, compared to same generation APS-C.
- Approx. a stop smaller usable aperture before diffraction becomes an issue (actually diffraction is the same... but a FF image needs less magnification, hence less apparent diffraction).
- Apparently stronger background blur with large apertures (not really tho... "shallower DoF" is actually because FF requires either a longer focal length lens or getting closer to subject).
- Wide lenses are truly wide.
The primary benefits of APS-C are...
- More than adequate image quality for most purposes... up to maybe 16x24" print size.
- Lower cost cameras... possibly smaller/lighter too (tho not always: 7DII & 5DIV are virtually identical size & weight).
- Higher frame rates, faster flash sync, less in-camera vibration from mirror slap.
- Allow use of smaller, lighter, less expensive lenses.
- Telephoto lenses are more powerful.
All that being said.... If you want to add FF to your kit,
in my opinion:
- 6D Mark II would pair up most nicely with 80D... Those two share a very similar control layout and AF systems. This may be important if you'll often be using the cameras side-by-side, switching back and forth between them. $1900 6D Mark II offers 26MP, 1/4000 top shutter speed, 1/180 flash sync, ISO range 100-40000 (expands to 50, 51200, 102400), 45-point AF (all cross type, up to 27 f/8 capable w/limited lenses, others at center point only), up to 6.5 frames per second, single SD card slot. Unique to 6DII is an articulated LCD screen (it's the 1st FF Canon model to have this feature... it is a Touch Screen, too).
- 5D Mark IV would pair up quite nicely with 7D Mark II... very similar control layout and pretty similar AF system. $3200 5D Mark IV offers 30MP, 1/8000 top shutter speed, 1/200 flash sync, ISO range 100-32000 (expands to 50, 51200, 102400), 61-point AF (up to 41 cross type, all points f/8 capable), up to 7 frames per second, dual card slots (SD & CF).
- Although slower shooting cameras, 5DS/5DS-R also would pair up pretty comfortably with 7D Mark II. $3500/$3700 5DS/5DS-R offer 50MP, 1/8000 top shutter speed, 1/200 flash sync, ISO range 100 to 6400 (expands to 50, 12800), 61-point AF (41 cross-type, f/8 capable at center only), up to 5 frames per second, dual image processors, dual memory card slots (SD & CF).
In the end, I see FF complementing APS-C, rather than replacing it. If I were a highly paid pro photographer with an unlimited budget for lenses and an assistant to help carry them, I might opt for 1DX II for sports/action. But I'm not, so 7DII fit my needs better. But, as mentioned above, I do sometimes use FF for other thing. I will be upgrading to a newer FF camera soon... right now I'm using a 5DII (the far newer 7DII is actually more high ISO capable than the older FF, BTW). But since I do about 90% of my shooting with APS-C, I haven't been rushing out to spend a bunch of money on a new FF. The way I use FF, I will probably go with 5DS or 5DS-R... But 5DIV is certainly a contender, too. I will be keeping my 7DIIs... and most likely upgrading to 7DIII, if and when those come about.