BruceM Loc: Swampscott, MA & Longboat Key

Hi,
Never owned or used a Canon 7D, so can't comment on the difference between it and a 5D mark II, but continuously use a 5D and a 5D mark II, mostly the latter and can't say enough about how good this camera is. Accurate, versatile, a bit heavy but a great piece of equipment. I shoot with a 24-105mm and a 28-300 Canon lenses and agree with the previous response, i.e. good glass is paramount, but with a good camera you can't lose. The full frame aspect to me is an essential improvement in capturing the most data you can in a shot. Hope this helps.

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

I have the Canon 5 D Mark ii. Here are a few pictures taken with the 70-200 is L 2.8 lens. One of the horse taken on a clear day in the morning. Other taken on a very cloudy smokey mid day in the mountains. You decide. Bee

clear morning


cloudy day


cloudy mid day

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

[I would agree. I'd wait until the 5dm2 replacement comes out in a few months.


quote=oldtool2]

What do you mainly shoot? Why the II and not go all the way to a III? Last, but not least what "L" lenses do you own?

If you do not own any "L" quality glass an upgrade to FF will be a total waste of money, imho. The 7D body is a great camera and really needs the quality glass to take advantage of it. The same goes for the FF bodies. If you do not have "L" quality lenses don't waste your time or money, go for the better lenses.

Jim D[/quote]

fstop11 Loc: Huntington Beach Ca

I have a 5DMK2 and a 7D they both have there place. I shoot Landscape and BIF. Lenses are always a major consideration and hard to balance the budget.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Totally agree with Jim . . . "L" glass . . . then consider camera upgrade.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

If you think you might switch to a FF body, then just buy L series glass from now on. The better glass will work great with the 7D. That's what I've been doing. I've only got one piece of glass that will not work with a FF body and that's my 10-22. But if I keep one crop body for back up and get a FF body then the 10-22 will still be a keeper.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

I have both cameras; the 7D and the 5D MKII. They both serve very different purposes. The MKII is used for landscapes, ortraits, etc. The 7D is used for sports or action shots due to the better autofocus and burst rate. If you want one camera to do both, you're better off saving up for a 5D MKIII.

However, with the introduction of the MKIII, the MKII has come down in price substantially. One thing to consider is getting a MKII refurbished from a place like BH or Adorama. These are usually floor models or gift returns that can't be re-sold as new. Canon does a complete overhaul and re-issues them with a 3-6 month warranty depending on where you buy it.

BH has four 5DMKII bodies in their used department in VERY good condition for ~$1700.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/SLR-Digital-Cameras/ci/15488/pn/2/N/4294182649+4291570227

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I don't want to be abrasive, but it would seem to me that before you go out and spend a bunch of money on equipment that the biggest step that you can take if you have not already is make sure that you know how to use your camera to it's fullest potential, you can spend a fortune and not get any better results...

Here is a link that another poster posted to a similar thread that I thought really illustrates this very well, this is a flickr gallery of wonderful photography all done with Canon lenses which costs less than $300

http://www.flickr.com/groups/canondslr/discuss/72157624623729878/page4/

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

I think that's the best advice yet... thx.. When I'm ready for FF I should keep my 7D as a backup an go with the mark iii or better.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I own both the 5dm2 and 5dm3. The 7D has most options and is closer to the 5dm3. I rarely use all of those features, so it doesn't matter to me but if you use them and they aren't on the 5dm2, then you will be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love my 5dm2 and won't trade it for a 7d. The 7d is a great camera but I'm into the larger sensor and matching lens. I hate the term crop frame. The 7d is a 24mm sensor. That's fine. If you have ef-s lens then the lens image fits the sensor. Great. If you use a ef lens on a 7d then you are only getting the center part of the lens image. That's fine too. If you like the photos you are taking that's great. The "so-called" full frame, really 35mm, sensor are better at low light. I need low light as a press photographer. I've spent a fortune on fast lens and those cameras to get acceptable low light with out a flash. However, if you like flash and know how to use it then it's not as important. I'm in situations where flash isn't always the best idea.
I'd wait and see had the 5dm2 replacement looks like. It will have a higher iso. The nine point focus, if early reports are correct, might cause you concern if you are used to the 7d focus system. I, as many press photographs, only use one focus point. The other 63 on my 5dm3 are pretty much wasted on me. Still depends what you like, use, and are comfortable with.
I like the "full-frame" because the ef lens work correctly. A 50mm is a 50mm. In a "crop-frame" you would have to step back a several feet to the same framing as a 50mm normally gets. Remember is a "crop" frame it doesn't give you a real telephoto does. That's a whole different issue but a 24mm lens doesn't have the same perspective as a 24 on the 5d's. But there is a great ef-s lens that is designed for the sensor which gives you a correct wide-angle.
Probably you would have to get better glass and you won't be able to use any of your ef-s lens.
If you are making normal size enlargements then you don't need the ability to make over-sized images.
The bottom line beyond the arguable tech stats is why do you want to change? Are you happy with what you are doing and will new equipment allow you to be happy with your images.

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

Go the lens way,you can get by with average body,but you need great glass...