Second hand Canon Camera for Birds in Flight - sub £800

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akr

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Hello

I've currently got a 40D and an Olympus EM5II. The latter is not much good at BIF, the former is ok.

However I'd like to try a camera specifically designed for BIF (or the AF required for it) .

1DmkII are circa £250, 7D in the same ballpark.

I've discounted with 1Dmkiii due to AF issues (this might be a mistake but there you go!)

Then 1DmkIV or 7DII can be had well used for £700 or thereabouts.

All those prices are from a dealer.

I'd rather spend less clearly. Is there anything else I should consider, and if it was you what would you go for? I've been reading up on the AF of the 1 series, which seems great but complex to set-up - would a 7D be a better shot - I'm not really going to be out in all weathers.

I realise a possibly more logical move would be selling my EM5 and upgrading to an EM1mkII, but I want to keep my EM5 for now and try my hand with the Canon's, for which I have some glass already.

Thanks!
 
I loved my 1Dmkii never had an issue with AF...I changed to a 1DX, which has very fast AF. (My 1Dmkii was stolen)
 
7d mkii would be a good choice. what lens are you thinking of using?

I think the 7d mkii or 1dmkiv would be better choices than the other body's you have mentioned and worth the extra outlay.
 
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FWIW I'm quite happy with my 7DII with EF 100-400mm MkII combination.
 
Any issues with a 1Dmk3 will have been resolved many many years ago . So that’s the one I would go for , fast reliable AF with the added bonus of the quick access ring of fire and 10fps shooting , the larger sensor also eliminates a lot of noise problems , I have had 4 of them over the years and never had a problem , I.e selling them for something newer and supposedly better then going back to them after a few months.

Or your other move depending on the mft lenses you have would be a panasnic g80 no problems with b.i.f there or even a Olympus omd1 mk1
 
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You can get a brand new 7D MkII for £879 from HDEW.
 
the trouble with buying a used camera for b.i.f or any camera for that matter is that you will then need the long reach lens to go with it . unless you already have a canon fit lens of 400mm plus then its going to cost even more money than the body a budget of £800 isn't going to to touch it . hence I asked what lenses does the o/p have for olympus/panasonic MFT fit .
 
Hi all - thanks for the comments- lots of food for thought.

I'm aiming on using it with a 100-400 though might go with a 400mm but nothing longer.

I look at both m 4/3rds Oly and Panny threads and image threads and think only an Em1mkii or G9 will cut it, so I want to have a go with a Canon.
 
the black fox said:
And I beleive in the tooth fairy , your second sentence says it all
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Review seems fair enough to me - just one person's opinion of course but he's using both in the real world and explains clearly each opinion.
 
Well why bother to ask a opion

on here from actual experienced users based in the u.k , then base your views on a internet review from someone in another country that has different light levels to us .

You might just as well pop down to Argos and browse there catalogue .
 
the black fox said:
Well why bother to ask a opion

on here from actual experienced users based in the u.k , then base your views on a internet review from someone in another country that has different light levels to us .

You might just as well pop down to Argos and browse there catalogue .
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Not sure what your problem is.

Most people recommended a 7dmkii, with one vote for the 1dmkIv and Mkii, and your for the mkiii.

So I then looked for some comparison reviews and found that one which I thought was useful and might be for others, so I posted it. Your light point might be valid and you could just have said that.

Research for something that is a decent outlay can take in reviews outside this forum and in this case was based on the feedback received.

I'm sorry you're offended, I know you love your g80 and 100-400 combo and I didn't realise you'd used a 7dmkii and 1dmkiv side by side - I thought you were a mkiii shooter. Instead of telling someone to go to Argos why don't you say which bits of the mkiv you preferred over the 7dmkii.
 
Look m8 you have asked for a cheap used camera for b.i.f ,then when your given the options you turn it into a I know better as I’ve read a internet review , yes I have used or owned 7D ,7d2, 1d2 ,1d3;,1d4 plus a host of Nikon bodies plus obviously a great variety of lenses , when your trying to work out what’s best for someone who wants a cheap option below £800 and in your words cheap as possible .its difficult it involves time and effort you asked for a opion it has been given you then proceed to prefer a internet review by someone who will undoubtedly be getting a probable backhander for his reviews , and as I said does not live in the u.k and does not suffer with having to shoot a lot of the time with high iso values like we do . For b.i.f in the u.k your and within your price range the cameras options have been given ,take into consideration that these will all be older models and may fail during use the 1d4 is the best option , 7d2 next closely followed by the 1d3 . That’s it end of story
 
the black fox said:
Look m8 you have asked for a cheap used camera for b.i.f ,then when your given the options you turn it into a I know better as I’ve read a internet review , yes I have used or owned 7D ,7d2, 1d2 ,1d3;,1d4 plus a host of Nikon bodies plus obviously a great variety of lenses , when your trying to work out what’s best for someone who wants a cheap option below £800 and in your words cheap as possible .its difficult it involves time and effort you asked for a opion it has been given you then proceed to prefer a internet review by someone who will undoubtedly be getting a probable backhander for his reviews , and as I said does not live in the u.k and does not suffer with having to shoot a lot of the time with high iso values like we do . For b.i.f in the u.k your and within your price range the cameras options have been given ,take into consideration that these will all be older models and may fail during use the 1d4 is the best option , 7d2 next closely followed by the 1d3 . That’s it end of story
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Calm down, get a coffee! :D
 
:canon::nikon::olympus::pint::ty:
 
the black fox said:
Look m8 you have asked for a cheap used camera for b.i.f ,then when your given the options you turn it into a I know better as I’ve read a internet review
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That's not what I did - let's put it down to a misunderstanding and move on. :)

the black fox said:
, yes I have used or owned 7D ,7d2, 1d2 ,1d3;,1d4 plus a host of Nikon bodies plus obviously a great variety of lenses , when your trying to work out what’s best for someone who wants a cheap option below £800 and in your words cheap as possible .its difficult it involves time and effort you asked for a opion it has been given you then proceed to prefer a internet review by someone who will undoubtedly be getting a probable backhander for his reviews , and as I said does not live in the u.k and does not suffer with having to shoot a lot of the time with high iso values like we do . For b.i.f in the u.k your and within your price range the cameras options have been given ,take into consideration that these will all be older models and may fail during use the 1d4 is the best option , 7d2 next closely followed by the 1d3 . That’s it end of story
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No-one had said which was best of the options hence looking for other information, but anyway thanks for your input, I know you are trying to help me.(y)

Have a good rest of the weekend.
 
There's a 7D Mk 2 for sale on the forum if you have been here long enough. It's not mine and I have no connection to the person who has posted it.
 
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Just to update, I mulled things over, moved to indecision land and watched the classifieds for a while and decided to go for a 1D MkIII from the classifieds to see how I get on with it size wise, set-up wise etc. Hopefully get it in the next few days.
 
Yippee you won’t go far wrong , plenty of lens options , anything from 400mm upwards , the 400 mm f5.6 gives lightening fast a/f on that body and allows for hand held shots . Find out how to use the ring of. Fire and you’ll never miss a b.i.f
 
the black fox said:
Yippee you won’t go far wrong , plenty of lens options , anything from 400mm upwards , the 400 mm f5.6 gives lightening fast a/f on that body and allows for hand held shots . Find out how to use the ring of. Fire and you’ll never miss a b.i.f
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Thanks - not sure I want to google ring of fire but will find the right search string! Was thinking of a 400mm - thanks.
 
akr said:
Thanks - not sure I want to google ring of fire but will find the right search string! Was thinking of a 400mm - thanks.
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quite simple you can use either single point a/f or all point a/f easily switchable from one to the other . if you select all points the outer circle of focus points light up red i.e ring of fire get any bird in that at the right shutter speed and they will be in focus
 
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