Canon 5DMK3 or 7DMK2

[Clonetrooper]

I keep going backwards and forwards between these two. Currently I have and have had a 50D since 2010ish. I have a 70-200 and 17-55 as my main stays. My plan was always to go full frame and to be honest I don't get much use out of my 50D these days because a fair bit of my photography is ISO 800ish and my 50D is terrible, being an old crop. A 7D would mean keeping the 17-55 thus saving me a new lens and loss of value moving the 17-55 on. The 5D would give me better lower light performance but also require another lens. I have been saving a long time for this upgrade and tbh now I have saved the funds I'm struggling to spend it! My dithering has seen the fall in the pound and £200 added to the cost of a 5D and 24-70 in under a week!

My main uses are football and portrait/family stuff. I do have a 1.4TC already and don't think I will miss the reach. If I do I will still have the 50D.

So dynamic range and low light performance is the 5D3 notably better than the 7D?

 

[Phil V]

80d

Better high ISO performance than the 7dII without losing the crop factor advantage.

 

[Norkie]

Agree, the 80D will amaze you

 

[Clonetrooper]

Thanks, so the 80D over the 5D3, interesting I hadn't considered it as an option.I better start having a read and a look at one.

 

[Phil V]

Thanks, so the 80D over the 5D3, interesting I hadn't considered it as an option.I better start having a read and a look at one.

I wouldn't recommend an 80d for someone who had s need for the best of what the 5dIII offers, but for someone looking to improve on the 50d in low light and with improved AF, it's the best bet.

 

[Vertigo1]

So dynamic range and low light performance is the 5D3 notably better than the 7D?

Yes.

DR maybe not that much difference these days but, when it comes to low-light/high-ISO performance, crops may get better but full frame is still in a different league. Basic physics.

That said I don't know much about the 80D as I've not kept up with Canon crops since going FF. Might be a viable option for your needs.

 

[Simes123]

For what it's worth I bought a 7Dii as a second body for my 5DIII thinking that if I had a second 5DIII I'd not often use it but the crop of the 7DII would complement the 5DIII nicely for extra reach with the same lenses and I'd use it more. I used the 7Dii on Safari and it was brill, but it was never quite as good as the 5DIII overall for general photography. Thus I'd always reach for the 5Diii in preference, given a choice, except for the very narrow long lens reach use case. And even then I'd ask myself if I could do it with the 5Diii There isn't a lot in it though in practice, it has to be said. The 5iii is much better value (used) I feel relative to a new 7Dii.

 

[MadWoman]

For what it's worth I bought a 7Dii as a second body for my 5DIII thinking that if I had a second 5DIII I'd not often use it but the crop of the 7DII would complement the 5DIII nicely for extra reach with the same lenses and I'd use it more. I used the 7Dii on Safari and it was brill, but it was never quite as good as the 5DIII overall for general photography. Thus I'd always reach for the 5Diii in preference, given a choice, except for the very narrow long lens reach use case. And even then I'd ask myself if I could do it with the 5Diii There isn't a lot in it though in practice, it has to be said. The 5iii is much better value (used) I feel relative to a new 7Dii.

Funnily enough, I bought a 5D3 as a second body to my 7D2, and find I use the 7D2 much more. I reserve the 5D3 for nighttime and portraits (dogs not people!) and use the 7D2 otherwise. Mind you, most of my photography is dogs and wildlife, not what most people would class as "general" photography.

 

[Simes123]

Funnily enough, I bought a 5D3 as a second body to my 7D2, and find I use the 7D2 much more. I reserve the 5D3 for nighttime and portraits (dogs not people!) and use the 7D2 otherwise. Mind you, most of my photography is dogs and wildlife, not what most people would class as "general" photography.

Yes, I think if Wildlife was my thing, I'd lean to the 7D2 - the times I used it were for exactly that, when I wanted to wring more out of my 70-200 2.8 II and 2x converter, the 7D2 gave me a useful 620mm effective reach. But for 400mm effective reach and under, the 5DIII bested it in IQ in my view. I just don't use long lenses that much! Simon

 

[Clonetrooper]

Thanks I went 5D3 in the end. I quite liked the 80D but I really like the joystick on my 50D and wasn't that struck with the reviews on the AF options. I guess I might change my mind if I used one for a while in anger but I don't get that much practice time so went with what I was used to. I will keep my 50D anyway and will use it to teach my son some basics and he loves taking pictures.