dave.m

I have or had the 7D1, 6D2 and M5 mirrorless.

Dunno how you regard equipment weight and bulk in your travels - you great photo doesn't look like a 'shot out the car windows' image!

For me weight and bulk are playing a much more significant part in my buying decisions now. Hence for me, mirrorless is the way to go - much smaller for given sensor size, less weight, great Viewfinder, image data in viewfinder etc etc. Love the M5 as my cropped backup or 'travel real light' body with the 18-150 lens with 3 other lenses (one a EF-S with adaptor) all goes in a small camera carry bag.

I am seriously looking at the EOS R for my main body.

Yes I know all the issues/ problems - it weighs almost as much with EF lenses; the EVF is not as good as optical; 'it ain't a proper camera cos it don't have a curtain shutter clunking back and forth', etc etc. Someone should have told Sony that :) and Panasonic, and Olympus, and ......

But the EOS R EVF is outstanding - bright and usable when an optical would have given up; 1000's of super fast focus points covering the whole image area; high FF pixel count so superb in low light; silent shutter - I could go on

In 10 years I predict that 'traditional' DSLRs will no longer be made, and people will wonder why they hung on so long.

So if like me you want to retain your Canon lenses (cos changing bodies is one thing, changing lenses is a whole new cost implication) then look at the M5 or M50 for cropped body or the EOS R for full frame. True they are probably overpriced - but then what camera with a Canon label isn't (or any other big manufacturer for that matter?)

Paloviejo

Amen!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Another vote for a used 5D3, but since these are popular with pros, the trick is to find a lightly used one. Not as fast as a 7D2 in terms of FPS and less “reach”, but you’ll really appreciate the low light high ISO performance and being able to go truly wide angle without having to resort to the distortion of ultra-wide lenses. And you’ll appreciate the weather sealing in your Northwest weather.

gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada

If you want a full frame, get a used 5D3. If you want a cropped sensor, the 7D2 is a fantastic camera. I have 170,000 shots on mine and it's still like new condition. If you get a good used 7D2 you can be well under your budget and you can sell it in the future for a good price. It is a big upgrade from a T3. I have a 60D, 7D, 7D2, 5DS-R, and 1DX2 and the 7D2 gets 80% of the use.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Here's one from mpb.com

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-digital-slr-cameras/used-canon-digital-slr-cameras/canon-eos-5d-iii/sku-767406/

I have sold two bodies and purchased a lens & flash from them with most excellent results.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

I bought a 6D II 6 months ago. I almost bought a 77D . Full frame drove my decision. My SO bought a 77D 5 months ago. Price drove that decision. I have better glass for mine(L lenses). The 6D II gets consistently better, more usable shots. I feel the full frame is the way to go for body, and the best glass you can afford for lens. I have zero regrets with the 6D II. Do let us all know what you decide. I'm also curious what glass you currently own. BTW, the sensor, per Canon site on the 6D II is 26.2 MP.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I too am a newcomer to the Hog-Blog and have only recently switched to Full Frame and L series lenses. They are very costly but the results I now get from these tools have made me a happy camper and a better photographer. In my limited knowledge and experience and in what I have come to understand from the posts of others in this forum, I would recommend FF, the best Glass you can afford to match up with the camera-body you can get either new or reconditioned. And if you can rent a rig for a weekend to see the results it yields before sinking your last dime into a combo please take the time to make the best decision. The time spent in testing will not be wasted and you'll sleep better at night....hopefully. Good luck .

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The 6D Mark II has a much improved AF system, in comparison to the original 6D. For landscape and portrait photography, it would be a great choice and a significant upgrade for you. It's AF is up to the task of wildlife photography, too, though for other reasons it might not be the best choice for that purpose (read on). The 45-point AF in 6DII is the same as in 80D. All points are the higher performance "cross type" and it's able to focus in very low light... down to -3EV (moonlight). And it's able to focus f/8 with up to 27 of those AF points (depends upon the lens used). This allows more lens/teleconverter options than cameras that are f/5.6 limited.

For wildlife the 7D Mark II would be better.... the APS-C format gives you more "reach" out of smaller, lighter, less expensive telephotos.. which are often needed for wildlife. For example, I frequently use a Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM handheld on a 7DII. That's a 3 lb., $1350 lens. To have the same "reach" and speed on a full frame 6DII would require instead using an 8 lb., $9000 500mm f/4L IS USM lens (and a tripod or at least a monopod to sit it upon). This is a clear advantage of the APS-C format. The 7DII's 10 frames per second continuous shooting rate also can come in handy trying to capture just the right image in rapidly changing situations, too. 7DII also has a more sophisticated, user configurable AF system that's especially good for faster moving subjects. Of course it's AF is fine for more sedentary stuff like landscape and portraits, too... but truly excels at action photography. 7DII's 65-point AF system is all cross type and it has a total of seven user-selectable focus "patterns". (6DII has four or five.... your T3 has two: Single Point/Manual or All Points/Auto.) 7DII is also f/8 capable, but only at the center AF point.

Something that sets apart the 7DII's AF for action shooting is that it uses the same setup as the 1D-series Canon.... It has a separate chip running the AF system (in addition to dual processors handling the images). Most Canon (including 6DII and 80D) use a single processor to handle it all... AF, metering, image processing.

However, with it's 20MP resolution and APS-C format, 7DII isn't ideal for big enlargements, like you mention. For that, the 6DII would be a better choice. To make a 24x36 inch print from a full frame camera like 6DII requires approx. 25X magnification of the image. But to make the same size print from a 7DII image is around 40X magnification.... So the quality of a really large print such as that from a full frame 6DII will inevitably be better.

7DII also has a higher specification shutter... greater durability rating, faster top speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000 in 6DII) and faster flash sync (1/250 vs 6DII's 1/180).

7DII has dual memory card slots, too (one Compact Flash, one SD). 6DII has one SD slot.

6DII has an articulated LCD Touchscreen... 7DII's LCD is fixed and doesn't have Touch control.

Both cameras have Canon's Dual Pixel AF in Live View (so does 80D), which is a big improvement over the contrast detection method of focus used in older models. DPAF is much faster (though still not as fast as the viewfinder based AF array). Note: We will likely see huge strides in DPAF in the future... the EOS R mirrorless uses it and boasts extremely fast and high performance AF. I wouldn't be surprised to see this tech cross over to the DSLRs Live View, too. It may influence the M-series mirrorless cameras' AF systems, too.

6DII is a better low light/high ISO camera.... a less crowded, full frame sensor will always have less "noise" at high ISOs, than a more crowded APS-C sensor. The 7DII has a native ISO range of 100 to 16000, expandable to 25,600 and 51200 (though I'd rarely use them... too noisy!). 6DII has a native range of ISO 100 to 40000, expandable to 50 and to 51200 and 102400 (again, those ultra high expanded ISO may or may not be usable).

You've got competing requirements... landscape/portrait versus wildlife. You'll have to prioritize to choose between these cameras. You may want to plan to eventually have different cameras for the different purposes (that's what I do... much of my work is sports or wildlife photography and I mostly use APS-C cameras for that... but for the occasional portrait or scenic shot I have a full frame camera too).

Alternatively, you might want to consider a camera with some of both... such as Canon 80D with 24MP (20% more resolution than 7DII), 45-point AF system (same as in the 6DII), 7 frame per second frame rate (not as fast as 7DII's 10 fps, but slightly faster than 6DII's 6.5 fps). 80D has the same 1/8000 top shutter speed and 1/250 flash sync as 7DII, too. It may be a compromise worth considering.

I wouldn't worry too much about weather sealing. Yes, the 7DII is better and it's also rated for longer life, greater durability... more shutter actuations (200,000 "clicks"... compared to probably 100K or 150K with 6DII or 80D). With it's high frame rate, 7DII uses up those extra clicks pretty quickly! (In just under two years using them, I've got about 50,000 clicks each on my two 7DII). But if your T3 has survived the weather where you live, any of these newer cameras would be at least as good and probably more weather resistant!

In nasty weather I'd shelter any digital camera carefully... regardless of how well sealed the manufacturer claims it to be. Moisture and electricity simply don't get along together very well! At a rainy Super Bowl some years ago, even the very best sealed Canon 1D-series cameras were succumbing left and right. Canon Pro Services ran out of loaner cameras for the pros to borrow! OTOH, I've gotten soaked in a sudden downpour while carrying a pair of 30D with lenses and flashes installed. No way to shelter them other than tuck them under my arms, so everything (including me) got pretty well soaked. I just turned off the power immediately, removed the batteries and set it all aside to dry for three or four days before powering the cameras, lenses and flashes back up. Everything survived just fine and continued to work for a few more years. I suspect even 80D and 6DII have better sealing for weather resistance, than the earlier 30D did.

BTW, a bonus with 80D is that it costs about $1000, instead of the $1500 you've budgeted. Like the 7DII, it also would be able to utilize any EF-S lenses you might have in your kit, where the 6DII can't.

P.S. Several have suggested a used 5D Mark III over 6D Mark II.... IMO that's not necessarily a good choice. 6DII is five years newer, has higher resolution (26MP vs 22MP), has better high ISO performance, better Live View DPAF, and a number of other recent improvements including the articulated LCD Touchscreen (it's the only full frame Canon with that, aside from the new EOS R). 5DIII has faster shutter & flash sync, dual memory card slots and a bit better weather sealing. 5DIII has more AF points (61 vs 45), but fewer of them are the higher performance "cross type" (41 vs 45 in 6DII). 5DIII also a discontinued model, so most likely Canon's service dept. will stop supporting it sooner than the 6DII that's still in production. So, if you decide full frame is the way to go, I'd think twice about 5DIII.... still a great camera, but the 6DII is it's equal or better in many ways.

cdogtoo

Beautiful shot!

I own a 6D (the older version) and a 7D Mark II. Based on your description, we both shoot similar subjects. My take, simply based on my experience/gut feel, is go with the camera that provides the best IQ in low light, which would probably be a full frame sensor. For me, I prefer my 6D for low light images. Weather seal has not been an issue for me, but I can see how that could be a factor to consider depending upon where and when you shoot. If I had to give up one body, I would give up the 7D MII. I don't see enough advantage in the better focus system etc., on the 7D to make me leave my 6D at home when shooting landscapes. Sports, moving subjects, etc., totally different story. 7D MII is better for those type shooting situations.

Some folks here will have different experiences/opinions, but that is my two cents worth.

Rich

pminyard Loc: Bartlett, Tennessee

Why not consider a used 5d MarkIII?

ggenova64

I think you met EF lenses!

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

That was explained by amfoto1 prior to your statement. And I agree with him totally.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It may have been pontificated upon, but decided and settled, No. Reasonable people can and do reach the opposite conclusion where the critical differences are valued differently in the comparison process.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida