Arrrrgh - 7D/5D2 dilemna

[Hope]

I found a link tonight that provides good comparison images. Will share when at my laptop. I think you'll be pleased with the way it's been done.

 

[Phil V]

Urgh...

What you said in reference to what I thought was a better idea than looking at on line JPEG's was that comparing RAW files would be "fairly worthless unless comparing two identical scenes" and that a 5D shot of a cycle race would be bright clear and OOF.

I realise that the net is big enough to encompass such sweeping drivel but I do tire of reading it. My bad I also wonder how I and many others took pictures before the 7D came along although there is a chance that someone will be able to take two identical images with the two cameras that the OP is interested in

It's not drivel, it was supposed to be light-hearted shorthand that sums up the differences between the 2 cameras.

Either of us could write a 10 page essay on the differences between these 2 cameras. The conclusion of which would be that they're both great cameras suitable for general use, however if IQ is the singular most important issue, buy the 5d II and if focus speed and accuracy is the most important thing buy the 7d.

As far as being unable to AF prior to the 7d, I remember shooting sports with manual focus cameras. It's not a made up reference, ask any sports or wildlife photographer if they'd swap great AF for a bit more image quality

These 2 cameras were designed with different jobs in mind, I attempted (obviously badly) to highlight those very real differences to help the OP to make a decision. OTOH - you just wanted to pick holes in what I'd said to 'score points', which appears to be a growing trend on this forum:shrug:.

 

[Hope]

Hi guys don't know what you are all saying about 'drivel' and 'urgh' but this is the comparison link I found. I think it shows quite a lot personally!

The reviewer has used the same 70-200 F4L USM Lens for both shots,

7D at 71mm and 5Ds at 116mm, personally I would have probably gone for about 90mm on the 7D and 154mm on the 5D to avoid using the lens so wide open on the 7D but anyway!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/2010-08-03-5d2-7d-5d-d300/

 

[Chipper]

Hi. Not been on the forum long - just thought I would chip in. I am fortunate enough to have both bodies and love them both. The 5DII is great for image quality and I did manage to get some great sports shots on it at the Olympic test event last February. I bought a 7D for the speed and use that for sports now... they are both great. I feel no need to upgrade to the 5DIII. I never use video. The wide angle and image quality of the 5DII are top notch for me.

 

[Hope]

Hi. Not been on the forum long - just thought I would chip in. I am fortunate enough to have both bodies and love them both. The 5DII is great for image quality and I did manage to get some great sports shots on it at the Olympic test event last February. I bought a 7D for the speed and use that for sports now... they are both great. I feel no need to upgrade to the 5DIII. I never use video. The wide angle and image quality of the 5DII are top notch for me.

So how do you justify having both out of interest? Seems the 5D II does everything you need? What do you use the 7 for?

 

[Chipper]

Hi there Hope. Well I am in fortunate position of not having to justify it as I have no kids and a partner who enjoys me being an amateur photographer. I have thought about it and if I had to give one up, I would give up the 7D and keep the 5dII... I use the 7D when I want longer reach for my larger prime lens and also for fast moving stuff. At the moment, my shoulder is up the creek so I am looking out for a small do everything camera, hence my looking at the X10 [other thread].

 

[Hope]

Sorry my wording was slightly off.

I should have said what is your justification for buying both but you've answered that! Looks like my probing made you choose between the two as well

Sorry to hear about your shoulder.

 

[britco]

Had them both...5D2 all the way

 

[stu.artd]

I didn't manage to get any pics taken outside today, been finishing off clearing our loft out!

I'll take some pics later on hopefully (depending on getting the kids off to bed etc..), so will be under indoor lighting. I'd already taken a set each (iso 400/800/1600/3200/6400) with the 5d2 and 7d then realised that the 7d had standard high iso NR enabled while the 5d2 had it set to low. I've now disabled that on both cameras and as the battery on the 7d was flat I'm charging that up to save me swapping the one with charge in it back and forth.
I've binned those test images but did notice that when the 24-70 was set to the same iso and aperture of 2.8 on both cameras (aperture prioity mode) the 7d had longer shutter times.

 

[stu.artd]

Similar photos with similar settings.

5d2 gallery link here and 7d gallery link here
The gallery pics are at iso 400/800/1600/3200/6400

Sample from each

5d2, iso 1600, f2.8

7d, iso 1600, f2.8

I hope these are of some use in comparing the 2 cameras.

 

[Durbs]

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/2010-08-03-5d2-7d-5d-d300/

That was very useful thanks

Think it's fair to say 5D2 has way better IQ than the 7D, not really a surprise but was interesting to see it laid out clearly.

Having thought about it more, I think I'd agree that whilst I do take the odd BIF shot, and occasionally use off-camera flash, honestly most of my photos are landscapes, street scenes and portraits which the 5D seems designed for.
If/when I do try and get BIF or simialr tricky-AF shots, I've managed a fair few on my 1000D using manual focus, so I don't think I'll know what I'm missing.

 

[Nod]

Paul, 2 things with regard to Mr Rockwell.

Firstly, he is probably the ultimate Nikon fanboy! And secondly, a lot of what he spouts is bovine excreta - if you know enough to sort the excreta from the useful stuff, you know enough not to trust what he says most of the time; he even admits this himself in a couple of places on his site!

 

[Durbs]

No doubting the above, but looking only at the 5d2/7D side-by-side, the difference was pretty marked...

 

[wyx087]

If/when I do try and get BIF or simialr tricky-AF shots, I've managed a fair few on my 1000D using manual focus, so I don't think I'll know what I'm missing.

5D mark 2's AF is better than 1000D's system, you might be surprised at its usability!

only when you step away from 7D or 1D cameras, you'll notice a difference. 60D and lower all use more or less similar AF system, it's not as bad as people make them out.

 

[Hope]

Stuart I can't say one of your shots is worse than the other, they're just different with different DOF, the light metering on the 7D looks better balanced.

 

[stu.artd]

There's a little more of a difference at full resolution but they are close.

I noticed afterwards that most of the 5d2 have exposure compensation dialled down by -1. The top display was set to 0 but I run magic lantern and had adjusted it on the lcd quick menu.

I was surprised at the dof difference, all the pics were taken at 2.8.

 

[Durbs]

And now the price of the 5D has gone up another £50...
*sigh*