Upgrading from eos 7d mki advice

Ivan_1983

Ivan_1983

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Hi all,

Long time since I have been on here.

My trusty 7d mk1 has died and I need advice on what my options are.

Existing kit
100-300 sigma f4
17-55 sigma f2.8(ef-s)
30 sigma art f1.4
90 tamron f2.8 macro
50 canon f1.4
Sigma 1.4x extender
Yongnuo ex568 flash

I believe that I have all the lenses I need (not want) so I think I'm sort of locked into the Canon ecosystem unless I can use some sort of converter.

The type of photography I tend to do is the odd bit of motorsport and general tourist/ out and about photography. I have a little one on the way so I guess that will be my new subject matter. I'm not really interested in video.

My budget is around 1k and happy to go second hand, I don't tend to upgrade so whatever I buy will be around till it breaks.

Looking around it seems my options are a 7d mkii or a 90d. I think mirrorless is out of my price range and if I went full frame I would need a need a new general purpose lens.

I am very out of the loop in terms of equipment so any real world advice is appreciated as a lot of the online bits seems to just be comparison of specs.

Thanks
Ivan
 
The 90d will cost more than that s/h although oddly within budget grey market.

As you have some efs lenses though, it's your best option. Or save some cash and buy a s/h 80d and have some money towards the lenses on your wish list.
 
I sold my 7D a while back and moved over to Nikon for the D500. Came back to Canon after a few months, not sure why but I just didn't jell with the Nikon.

Anyway, I then sort of had your problem, I have my Pentax gear (which I love) for full frame but I wanted a crop Canon body and as they don't make a sensible sized mirrorless crop in aps-c and I didn't want to splash out on a R5 I decided it was between the 7D MKII, 80D and 90D. Tried the 80D ... nice body, good sensor, liked the flippy touch screen but the AF tracking was lacking. Tried the 90D and that was basically the same with a higher megapixel sensor and AF was a little better. Then I borrowed a 7D MKII, no touch screen, sensor is not as good as the 90D but the autofocus performance is much better.

I bought a used 7D II in the end and it will do me until I either get an R5 or Canon bring out the rumoured R7 (7D MKII mirrorless), not tried it that much as the weather and lockdown has more or less killed my photography but from what I have its a good leap up from the original.
 
I agree with Phil V and the 80D is a cracking body, I won't be selling mine for a few years.
 
Mike.P said:
I sold my 7D a while back and moved over to Nikon for the D500. Came back to Canon after a few months, not sure why but I just didn't jell with the Nikon.

Anyway, I then sort of had your problem, I have my Pentax gear (which I love) for full frame but I wanted a crop Canon body and as they don't make a sensible sized mirrorless crop in aps-c and I didn't want to splash out on a R5 I decided it was between the 7D MKII, 80D and 90D. Tried the 80D ... nice body, good sensor, liked the flippy touch screen but the AF tracking was lacking. Tried the 90D and that was basically the same with a higher megapixel sensor and AF was a little better. Then I borrowed a 7D MKII, no touch screen, sensor is not as good as the 90D but the autofocus performance is much better.

I bought a used 7D II in the end and it will do me until I either get an R5 or Canon bring out the rumoured R7 (7D MKII mirrorless), not tried it that much as the weather and lockdown has more or less killed my photography but from what I have its a good leap up from the original.
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When you say the sensor in the 7d mk isn't as good as the 90d how did you perceive that, eg more noise at higher isos.

I'm guessing they will all have a better auto focus than the 7d mki?

From some YouTube clips it suggested the af on the 7d mkii was better but low light performance of the 90d is better.
 
Ivan_1983 said:
From some YouTube clips it suggested the af on the 7d mkii was better but low light performance of the 90d is better.
Click to expand...

That just about sums it up, depends what is most important to you really. Personally I like shooting airshows and wildlife where AF speed can be helpful but if not then I would have gone with the 90D for the better sensor.
 
I haven't really done much portrait type stuff but with the little one coming along I'm guessing the better af might be more useful as I can't see myself doing much motorsports stuff in the future.

Only thing is that the price of a low shutter count 7d mkii is not too far off a grey import 90d.
 
i would go 90d but i would not be able to stop myself getting a 1D X or 5D MK 3 instead
 
Well I was looking at the 90d grey imports then I started to notice that the 6d grey import wasn't a lot more and that got me thinking about full frame :p

Anyone know why the 7d mk 2 seems to be increasing in value on the used market?
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Well I was looking at the 90d grey imports then I started to notice that the 6d grey import wasn't a lot more and that got me thinking about full frame :p

Anyone know why the 7d mk 2 seems to be increasing in value on the used market?
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I owned a 7D original from new and sold it a few years ago and brought 7D Mkii ( from here in the used members market for £500, sold my 7D with battery grip for £335 ) as I got bored waiting the 7D Mkiii. Which had release dates pushed back over the last couple of years, and then Canon announce there will be no 7D Mkiii !
As I guess the R&D dept were busy with EOS R, RP and R5 & R6 development.

I believe because there was no 7D Mkiii the Mkii gain favour from people like me wanting to upgrade from the 7D or EOS 450,500,550,etc to something better and the 7D Mkii was a cheap alternative.

I did look at the 80D and it is a very good DSLR and if I was not into motorsport, airshows and wildlife then a 80D or 90D would be a very good choice. The large amount of AF all cross type points and fast AF is a worth the less features than you get in the 80D or even 90D.
When I could go to organised photo events the most common canon APSC DSLR is the 7D Mkii and canon FF is the 5D Mkiii with 5D Mkiv just behind.
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Well I was looking at the 90d grey imports then I started to notice that the 6d grey import wasn't a lot more and that got me thinking about full frame :p

Anyone know why the 7d mk 2 seems to be increasing in value on the used market?
Click to expand...

Despite its age it is still a sought after camera, particularly for bird and wildlife photography. Canon has not released an upgrade so this probably helps the used market price.

If motorsport becomes less important for you following the arrival of your child (congratulations), perhaps a 6Dii or even a 6Di would be more useful, although some of your lenses will become redundant.

They are all very capable cameras. If possible, try before you buy as only you can decide what is best for you. Easier said than done in these difficult times.
 
Good point raised by Brentor, try before you buy.
as for the 6D & 6Dii,....well a friend of mind had the 6D which I used for a day and I hated it !
Not because I love my using 7Dii, just the lack of AF points, slow AF speed, no thumb stick were my main hates. However the images are still pretty good and used well you can get some great images.
 
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Thanks for the input so far, i think I'm leaning towards a used 7d mkii.
I have been really happy with the focusing ability of the original 7d and get the feeling that a 90d might be a step back in that department, or would that be an incorrect assumption?


Sadly I don't think I will get to try them out before buying in the current climate
 
I had a similar conundrum last year and wasn't sure if I wanted to go 7dii or a 5diii. I went 5diii and didn't regret it. Auto focus did well watching drag racing too but that was comparing it with my old 40d.
 
You have got me thinking now, I guess the af on the 5d mkiii will be better than my old 7d
 
Are you not even considering the 7D ii
 
Ivan_1983 said:
You have got me thinking now, I guess the af on the 5d mkiii will be better than my old 7d
Click to expand...

I think it is, there are lots of comparisons on Google. Do you need a great AF system for what you plan to shoot?
 
wack61 said:
Are you not even considering the 7D ii
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Sorry, yes my initial considerations were between the 7d mkii and the 90d. The 5d iii was thrown into the mix by Bill. I was just commenting that all of them should have superior af than my old 7d so all three should be a step up in that respect
 
Brentor said:
I think it is, there are lots of comparisons on Google. Do you need a great AF system for what you plan to shoot?
Click to expand...
The problem with Google is that generally it seems to be spec comparisons, and specs don't always tell you the full picture.

I guess a good af system is pretty important for motorsport, but if I'm taking pictures of my little one that's less important. Although I imagine it might help as children are not known for being still :p
 
Ivan_1983 said:
The problem with Google is that generally it seems to be spec comparisons, and specs don't always tell you the full picture.

I guess a good af system is pretty important for motorsport, but if I'm taking pictures of my little one that's less important. Although I imagine it might help as children are not known for being still :p
Click to expand...

I am fortunate to have a 7Dii and a 5Diii, neither are recent models but are very capable. For birds, wildlife and motorsport I will use the 7Dii given the extra reach and AF ability. The 5Diii I use for everything else but the AF is very good and if the birds are close I will use it. I prefer the image quality from the 5Diii, but that is just me.
 
Brentor said:
I am fortunate to have a 7Dii and a 5Diii, neither are recent models but are very capable. For birds, wildlife and motorsport I will use the 7Dii given the extra reach and AF ability. The 5Diii I use for everything else but the AF is very good and if the birds are close I will use it. I prefer the image quality from the 5Diii, but that is just me.
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Thanks, that's very helpful.
What lens do you tend to use most often on the 5d iii ?
 
Most common lens for 5Diii or 5Div is the 24-105 L f4 IS USM mki which is an old lens as is not bad, however the mkii is much better.
The 24-70L is a much sharper lens, however is pretty expensive.
The Tamron 28-75 f2.8 is another pretty good lens to consider
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Thanks, that's very helpful.
What lens do you tend to use most often on the 5d iii ?
Click to expand...

No firm favourite as I vary between long lenses for birds and wide lenses for landscapes and 80 or 100 for people or flowers. The 24-105 is also very useful.
 
Thanks for the input everyone.
I ended up going with a 7d mkii in the end.
I want to go ff but couldn't justify the cost of extra glass, I suspect my next camera will be mirrorless so I will open that can of worms in the future
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Thanks for the input everyone.
I ended up going with a 7d mkii in the end.
I want to go ff but couldn't justify the cost of extra glass, I suspect my next camera will be mirrorless so I will open that can of worms in the future
Click to expand...

Good choice, enjoy.
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Thanks for the input everyone.
I ended up going with a 7d mkii in the end.
I want to go ff but couldn't justify the cost of extra glass, I suspect my next camera will be mirrorless so I will open that can of worms in the future
Click to expand...

Most of my lenses are full frame apart from the 17-55mm f/2.8 and I still went that route, I will probably go mirrorless sometime this year. If you expose correctly and use some decent noise reduction software (I use DXO) then you can happily shoot up to ISO 6400.
 
Mike.P said:
Most of my lenses are full frame apart from the 17-55mm f/2.8 and I still went that route, I will probably go mirrorless sometime this year. If you expose correctly and use some decent noise reduction software (I use DXO) then you can happily shoot up to ISO 6400.
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Actually thinking about it I also think my 17-55 f2.8 is my only crop lens. I would have wanted a ff f2.8 general lens which don't come cheap , also I would probably "need" more reach than current zoom and all gets expensive quickly. I guess that's another one of the joys of this hobby
 
Ivan_1983 said:
Thanks for the input everyone.
I ended up going with a 7d mkii in the end.
I want to go ff but couldn't justify the cost of extra glass, I suspect my next camera will be mirrorless so I will open that can of worms in the future
Click to expand...


Don"t buy a mirrorless body for the weight saving , been there done that, sold everything bought a Fuji XT3 , then a Fuji 100-400, but it was so unbalanced I bought the battery grip then I looked at it and I was back where I'd started

It's never the body, always the glass where the weight is

great camera but I ended up back with a 7Dii

I did buy a Fuji X100 and a Lumix TZ70 so I had something light to shove in my pocket
 
I've had both 7d and 7dii and also have a 5d mkiii - 7dii is excellent build and I found it good for still subjects and slow moving subjects - sadly that wasn't why I bought it - I found the autofocus was much less reliable than the 5d mkiii when shooting sports, although of course the 5diii also has a slower frame rate, which unfortunately only matters if the images are in focus - and the 5d mkiii's full frame sensor simply takes nicer images too.
 
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wack61 said:
Don"t buy a mirrorless body for the weight saving , been there done that, sold everything bought a Fuji XT3 , then a Fuji 100-400, but it was so unbalanced I bought the battery grip then I looked at it and I was back where I'd started

It's never the body, always the glass where the weight is

great camera but I ended up back with a 7Dii

I did buy a Fuji X100 and a Lumix TZ70 so I had something light to shove in my pocket
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Yeah I never understood the weight argument, as you say all the weight is in the glass.

I had a play with a friends Sony mirrorless and as you say it feels unbalanced with a lens with any significant weight.
 
davidy233 said:
I've had both 7d and 7dii and also have a 5d mkiii - 7dii is excellent build and I found it good for still subjects and slow moving subjects - sadly that wasn't why I bought it - I found the autofocus was much less reliable than the 5d mkiii when shooting sports, although of course the 5diii also has a slower frame rate, which unfortunately only matters if the images are in focus - and the 5d mkiii's full frame sensor simply takes nicer images too.
Click to expand...
That's interesting as I was under the impression that the autofocus of the 7dmkii was one of its strong points.
 
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