6D or 5D3 (or wait for 7d2?)

[Mt Spokane Photography]

a 1/2 stop improvement for a new model is typical, do not expect 1 stop or more in a 7D MK II unless they go to a rear illuminated sensor.  They are very near the limit that their current technology permits.  There is only limited space for wiring to run between photosites, and making the wiring smaller is not a option, the voltage floats too high and crosstalk results in a poor image.
Rear illuminated sensors allow larger wiring and that allows you to boost the sensitivity of the photosites with less noise.

[MARKOE PHOTOE]

IMHO, you should know what the current models are capable of by renting one or both and trying them out.  You can take this to the bank, but Canon will always be producing new cameras with new features to stay competitive with company 'X'.  Hopefully each new series will be better than the previous. If nothing else, technology loses value in 12 months anyway.  But I always have a camera with me for that 'shot' that didn't get away.

For me personally, I'm ready to sell my 7D in preparation of what lies ahead for the 7D2.  I've got a 5D3 and 1D4 that covers all I need (or want) at the moment.  Selling my 1D4 is next in line.

Best of luck.

[Marsu42]

Hopefully each new series will be better than the previous.

But factually the next camera will be *different* than the previous, meaning the various tradeoffs will be shifted around, and that includes the price. For example when the 60d was released many people quickly got a 50d because of the regressions (afma, body) and since they didn't want to get a 7d.

Thus the only certain factor is that specific camera bodies (not lenses) will drop in price, well, except if your local economy collapses :-o

[Dylan777]

I'm not a big fan of flash photography.

Personally, I'm a big fan of flash photography, but in a way you cannot or can only barely see there was artificial light involved - and to let the background meld with the lit object high iso capability is important as well.

Here is my "super-skill" of PP when I need an object stands out under low light   J.K

Most of my photos are just family moments - kids running around the house and family vacation etc... nothing special.

I did have a chance to play with the studio lighting few months back. Yes....it's very nice to have proper lighting when we serious about photography.

For now, I like FF plus my fav 24-70 + 70-200. I'm thinking about 50L this x-mas, since I have over $500 cash value with Crutchfiled.

[elflord]

But I would not want to buy a super-crop like 7D2 UNLESS it had at least 1 stop improvement in ISO over old crops, preferably 1.3 or 1.6 stops?  What are the chances on that?.

If you're talking high ISO SNR, the chances are next to none -- as others have stated more like half a stop. Take a look at the DxO webpage (in particular, the graphs of SNR and dynamic range vs ISO for different cameras). The progression over the years has been incremental at best. For example, the 5DIII is not substantially better than the 5DII (in terms of sensor performance)

[K-amps]

Hope BH & Adoroma will have some deals on 5D III this coming X-mas. If the price is around $2500 - $2700, I get another one.

Dylan... if you have $2600 spare... perhaps you might consider the 7Dii (instead of a 5diii) as a second body... your 70-200 will get more reach.

Hi K-AMP,
How are you? Buying any new toys lately?

7D II, crop will help in reach and fps. However, I care more about IQ under low light. I'm not a big fan of flash photography.

Dylan

I might go with a 85mm f1.8 or maybe not... the 70-200 got that range covered. Nothing is very exciting at the moment apart from $7000+ lenses which I don't have....  Maybe the 50L.... not sure...   

You got the 5D3 for low light... if you want better low light/ High ISO... the 6D is very good isnt it?

[verysimplejason]

I'm not a big fan of flash photography.

Personally, I'm a big fan of flash photography, but in a way you cannot or can only barely see there was artificial light involved - and to let the background meld with the lit object high iso capability is important as well.

Here is my "super-skill" of PP when I need an object stands out under low light   J.K

Most of my photos are just family moments - kids running around the house and family vacation etc... nothing special.

I did have a chance to play with the studio lighting few months back. Yes....it's very nice to have proper lighting when we serious about photography.

For now, I like FF plus my fav 24-70 + 70-200. I'm thinking about 50L this x-mas, since I have over $500 cash value with Crutchfiled.

This would look a lot better if you're using a fill-in flash.  Scenes like these, I'll go full manual, meter on the background (most probably, requiring high ISO), and use an external fill-in flash to illuminate the foreground.  Even a cheap third party flash will greatly improve these kind of shots.  Just my 2 cents.

[skitron]

Check out what the latest Capture One (v7) "lift shadow" tool does to a jpeg:

[skitron]

And here's the Capture One v7 "lift mids" RGB curve, a touch of negative vignette and a dash of exposure and contrast added to the "lift shadow":

[Crapking]

no offense meant, but that post-production processing software may be fine for Facebook but nothing I would consider printing. 
Getting it right "in camera" (fill flash/better low light performance of the sensor, proper metering, etc) should be the goal.

[skitron]

no offense meant, but that post-production processing software may be fine for Facebook but nothing I would consider printing. 
Getting it right "in camera" (fill flash/better low light performance of the sensor, proper metering, etc) should be the goal.

No offense taken and I totally agree with getting it right "in camera". The point is to show there are alternatives after the snap-shot is taken and the scene has been left behind. As for the software itself, it comes bundled with the Phase One medium format cameras. In this case I pretty much maxed what it could do with the given jpeg.

[Dylan777]

I'm not a big fan of flash photography.

Personally, I'm a big fan of flash photography, but in a way you cannot or can only barely see there was artificial light involved - and to let the background meld with the lit object high iso capability is important as well.

Here is my "super-skill" of PP when I need an object stands out under low light   J.K

Most of my photos are just family moments - kids running around the house and family vacation etc... nothing special.

I did have a chance to play with the studio lighting few months back. Yes....it's very nice to have proper lighting when we serious about photography.

For now, I like FF plus my fav 24-70 + 70-200. I'm thinking about 50L this x-mas, since I have over $500 cash value with Crutchfiled.

This would look a lot better if you're using a fill-in flash.  Scenes like these, I'll go full manual, meter on the background (most probably, requiring high ISO), and use an external fill-in flash to illuminate the foreground.  Even a cheap third party flash will greatly improve these kind of shots.  Just my 2 cents.

@ verysimplejason - I was playing with Marsu42 reply. I'm sure we can do better PP in LR.

This was taken when I was in China with my co-workers. It was raining and I didn't have a ext flash with me and of course 5D III doesn't have built in flash

[skitron]

I was playing with Marsu42 reply. I'm sure we can do better PP in LR.

This was taken when I was in China with my co-workers. It was raining and I didn't have a ext flash with me and of course 5D III doesn't have built-flash flash.

I figured as much  . LOL, probably have too much time on my hands this morning and again, the point was nothing more than showing something that can be used in an extreme case.

[Dylan777]

Hope BH & Adoroma will have some deals on 5D III this coming X-mas. If the price is around $2500 - $2700, I get another one.

Dylan... if you have $2600 spare... perhaps you might consider the 7Dii (instead of a 5diii) as a second body... your 70-200 will get more reach.

Hi K-AMP,
How are you? Buying any new toys lately?

7D II, crop will help in reach and fps. However, I care more about IQ under low light. I'm not a big fan of flash photography.

Dylan

I might go with a 85mm f1.8 or maybe not... the 70-200 got that range covered. Nothing is very exciting at the moment apart from $7000+ lenses which I don't have....  Maybe the 50L.... not sure...   

You got the 5D3 for low light... if you want better low light/ High ISO... the 6D is very good isnt it?

K-amp,
I played with 6D for 2days at local camera shop(friend of mine is a store manger). Let just say this.....6D is not for me - lack of AF points, not enough x-cross type, size, no joy stick etc...

6D performs fine under low light. Center AF is only point that can get you precise focus, outer pts are almost worthless. Did I mention don't try 6D in AI servo?

I just pull trigger on 50L + B&W Clear filter yesterday. All items will be here this fri.

[skitron]

K-amp,
I played with 6D for 2days at local camera shop(friend of mine is a store manger). Let just say this.....6D is not for me - lack of AF points, not enough x-cross type, size, no joy stick etc...

Did you have any thoughts on how 6D rendered color and light dynamics? I actually sent mine back because of those and went for a 5D3 instead. But still wondering if I just got a dud since nobody else seems to be noticing anything along those lines.