jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

In a few years, I bet there will be ads for "new bodies," but not camera bodies. As a matter of fact, I vaguely recall a Netflix movie about rich people stealing bodies from young people to stay forever young.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Being conservative - 80D .........ultimately, 90D. -OR - wait for the Canon mirror less APSC - IF - it ever materializes ! ?
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edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

clickety

Because of gas and a granddaughter’s interest in photography, I bought a 90D and gave her my 7DII. I believe there was an improvement in image quality (probably because of processor and megapixels). If you want to stay with the 1.6 crop for the long haul, consider this option.

Ruraldi Loc: Milmay, NJ

If I was going to leave Nikon - I would go with the new Olympus just for one feature. When you night long exposure shoot - you can set it that only added light gets added to the image. I think this is an awesome feature to have.
Having never shot Canon - I don't know much about them.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Keep shooting with what you've got... at least for a while longer. Here's why:

The most direct replacement for 7DII would be the 90D... but I would call that a downgrade in some respects, while it's an upgrade in others. 90D does offer a big increase in resolution, offering 32.5MP which makes it the highest resolution APS-C camera anyone has made to date. That's a nice, big jump from the 20MP of your 7DII. However, 90D is rated for 120,000 shutter actuations and has a mostly plastic body shell. Your 7DII is rated for 200,000 clicks and has a mostly magnesium body shell. You're 7DII has a highly configurable, very high performance 65-point AF system. The 90D has a somewhat configurable, fairly high performance, 45-point AF system. Your 7DII has dual memory card slots... the 90D has a single slot. Your 7DII can shoot at 10 frames per second... the 90D can do 11 fps with focus locked (which almost never makes any sense to do), but slows to 10 fps with active focus tracking. A lot of 90D users have reported that extreme resolution makes the camera more susceptible to camera shake blur. They resort to using somewhat higher shutter speeds to be assured of sharp shots. Looking at test shots done with them, I didn't see much or any better high ISO noise performance comparing 7DII versus 90D.

The "best" improvement over what you've got would be one of the Canon R-series mirrorless... primarily for their "latest and greatest" autofocus systems! BUT, those are all full frame cameras for now. I have little doubt that Canon will introduce an APS-C R-series camera sooner or later (probably sooner since both their main competitors... Sony and Nikon... have both APS-C and FF in their systems). But they don't have one right now. This would mean to enjoy the same "apparent reach" you get right now with that 100-400mm + 1.4X on your APS-C camera, you would need to buy some big telephoto lenses. You're getting the full frame equivalent of almost 900mm with that combination of lens and camera. The most affordable option might be the RF 800mm f/11 at around $1000 (there's also an f/5.6 version... if you have $16,000 so spend and a big sturdy tripod to sit it upon). An alternative would be the RF 600mm f/11 ($800) with the RF 1.4X teleconverter ($500).

It's not just the cost of lenses, either. "Going full frame" with an R-series would certainly be possible... but will end up VERY EXPENSIVE for you. The BEST current R-series for is the R3 with it's ultra fast sensor readout (to avoid rolling shutter effects) and highly advanced AF system. It's 24MP full frame, a pro style body (permanently built in vertical grip and larger battery), costs $6000 and appears to be made of unobtainium (out of stock and on back-order everywhere).

The next best would be the R5.... 45MP full frame. Great AF system too. But it doesn't have the fast readout sensor to prevent rolling shutter effects as effectively, so those are something you're likely to see at times (where moving subjects appear "warped"... which occurs with electronic shutters... can be avoided with mechanical shutter, but that's not silent and gives slower frame rate). The R5 sells for $3900. But there also is the more affordable R6... $2500. For that you get essentially the same excellent AF system, but the R6 is 20MP full frame and has the same possible rolling shutter issues as the R5.

So what about just cropping images from one of the full frame cameras? Well, that's certainly possible. However, you end up throwing away an awful lot of the big sensor goodness you spent a lot of money to buy. An APS-C crop from a 45MP R5 image will end up being about 19MP (very close to what you have now with 20MP 7DII). It would be less desirable to so heavily crop the R3's 24MP images... less than 10MP would remain... half the resolution you have now with your 7DII! Of course cropping is even less practical with the R6... 20MP full frame would end up around 8MP APS-C.

An alternative would be to switch brands. After all, Nikon and Sony both offer APS-C cameras in their systems. However this will mean buying and entirely new system... camera, lenses and all accessories. It is possible to adapt a Canon EF lens like yours to a Sony a6000-series camera... but don't expect the AF to be as quick as it is on your 7DII. It would be better to get Sony lenses for best AF performance on their cameras. AFAIK, there isn't the same option to adapt Canon lenses for use on Nikon... so you'd be looking at a complete system to switch to "the dark side". Plus the two APS-C Nikon so far (Zf and Z50) simply don't have the high performance AF system of their latest camera (Z9), the Sony or the most recent Canon R-series models. There also is the Fuji system that may be worth consideration... I really don't know how their AF system performs for demanding subjects like wildlife. They do make some really great lenses and I like the somewhat "retro" style of their cameras.

In the end, my recommendation would be to keep shooting with what you've got...

There have been numerous rumors of a Canon "R7" coming in the not too distant future. Some think we'll see it sometime this year. Hopefully it will be an mirrorless version of the 7D Mark II.... An APS-C camera targeted at advanced and pro users with much of the AF goodness of the R5/R6/R3. I hope they fit it with a fast readout (BSI) APS-C sensor around 24MP. That's more than enough for most peoples' uses. Some have said they want to see a 32.5MP sensor in the R7, but I think that would be a mistake. Ultra high resolution makes a camera more sensitive to shake blur and more prone to digital noise. I hope the R7 remains a more pro-oriented APS-C camera, the way the 7D Mark II was initially. Pro-grade cameras that are targeted at sports shooters (which makes them great for wildlife too) are typically NOT ultra high resolution. Look at the 1DX Mark III (20MP) and the R3 (24MP). A more modest resolution makes for higher usable ISO and is optimal for fast shooting.

When the 7D Mark II was first introduced it sold for around $1600 or $1700, if memory serves. I would hope the R7 would be no more than $2000. We'll just have to wait and see.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

The Canon R6 makes a lot of sense. Yes it only has 20mp but it has the new Digic 10 processor and the pictures are excellent. Supposedly it is the same processor as their top of the line professional DSLR. The results are as I said excellent. Good luck in your quest.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

My sentiments, too. Crop bodies are well suited to wildlife photography. The 90D is arguably Canon's best crop camera. However, mirrorless is the current craze, but Canon's current crop mirrorless is limited to the M series which doesn't seem to be a popular group. I am waiting to see if they come out with an APS-C (crop body) R series model. Then I would be concerned whether my other brand lenses would work on such a camera, even with an adapter.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I have the 5DIV - great in low light and for landscape, interiors etc. and birds from a blind up close. 7DII, awesome all around for birds and action.
80D (the first hinted as a 7DII replacement) which stays on a tripod with a Tamron 150-600 G2 for birds around the yard while I hide in the family room with the sliding door open. 90D - yes, said to be the replacement for the 80D and 7DII = nope! entirely too sensitive to motion blur among other things. But clamp it down on a good tripod with my geared head for doing macro and the IQ is fantastic as long as nothing is moving.

I am waiting for the R7 - rumored since 2019 and they just keep pushing the rumored date back more and more. I hope they really make it an action/wildlife/bird body and don't use the 32.5MP sensor - not a good choice for an action camera unless their sensor engineers produce a new miracle version of that sensor.
At 76 I am definitely not a human tripod anymore a body sensitive to motion blur is just not real useful to me. 24MP would seem to be about right or even 20, works for the 7DII.

Nickaroo

But I thought that you were just saying the other day that The R3 would smoke Nikon and Sony out of the water and that all Canon users should look at that Body because "FRO Knows Photo Deemed it to be the Crusher Over Nikon and Sony". I personally feel that if the OP were to jump, then why not direct him to the Nikon Z50? At least then he could purchase the new 800mm S-Series that is at an f/6.3 lens that would yield him a much better Crop and even would allow a 1.4III teleconverter to really get close. I do agree with telling the OP to just stick with what he is using right now, but if he has the Dough, then I say go. By the way, did The FRO come out a few days ago and release a New Video about Nikon's status within the Mirrorless Market showing where Nikon will be jumping leaps and bounds over Canon and Sony, due to the fact that Nikon will have up to 50 New Z-Line Lenses by 2024 or even before then? You did not respond to my last ? the other day regarding this fact. Maybe You should turn Your New Click-Bait Line to, once one looks at an image from a Real Mirrorless, then they should look no farther than Nikon. I really think that you are a great guy who knows a little bit about Photography and I have to believe that You like doing a little bit of Click-Baiting on the Canon side of things, but don't you think that You go a Little Over The Top At Times?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I do not use Canon equipment, but I find that 20 MP or so hits a pretty sweet spot for most photography. "Contact prints" are somewhere around 12x18, and Fine/Large JPEGs are about 10 MB, which makes them easily emailable, even in pairs. I man y times choose my 21 MP DX camera instead of my 36 or 46MP full frame camera. Absent an identified failure of your current camera, I'd think that perhaps an additional lens or even an expansion into the full frame arena would better serve you if you are desperate to spend some cash.

Nickaroo

I have had 24 by 30 inch prints and even up to 30 by 36 inch prints as well with my 20.9MP Nikon D5 and D500 with no problem at all. I remember when DSLR's first came out and people were google-eyed over 10 to 12 Megapixels and they were making large prints. The Labs, at least the really good ones, were able to produce enlarged prints just like they did in the film days. You are correct about Lenses, I have always stressed that Glass, Glass, Glass makes the most difference in whether a good print or not. I shoot for my Alma-Mater University of Michigan Athletic Dept. and so I do shoot Basketball in Low-Light Arenas and Night Games for Football and Baseball, so Glass does make the difference. I have the new Z9 and a D850 that I use for doing Sports, Nature and Wildlife and I reach pretty well, but I think that everyone gets to amped up about Megapixels, yet they do not stop to think that if they don't have Good Glass to go along with those Higher MP's, every little bit of not having the right exposure of Focus, then every little ant hill of a technical boo-boo will turn into a Mountain Hill of pointing out improper technique and what not. Remember that I stated at the beginning of my reply that my D500 is a Crop-Body and my D850 is Full-Frame as is my D5 20.9 Full-Frame. I can make that D500 of mine really produce nice shots, the really nice thing about Full-Frame's is the fact that they do produce better shots in Low-Light situations when you need to go Higher ISO and you are trying to process your shots without needing Noise Reduction Software to bring the Noise down. Keep on Shooting and giving Good Advice to others because we are all trying to make every click count.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Before I got married for this final time I used to be out every weekend looking for a "new body"!

Nickaroo

With any Luck, this Greek-Jew might tag along.LOL

kcooke Loc: Alabama

[quote=LFingar]While I am a big fan of mirrorless, Canon does not yet offer a mirrorless crop sensor. Since you seem happy with the crop sensor format I suggest you look at the 90D.

I have a Canon M5 milc that is a 24 mp crop sensor camera. Works great and uses all my canon lenses with the converter. Also have a 7D2 and 5D4. I’m waiting on the 7D2 mirrorless replacement. Maybe called an R7. Who knows when.