5D2 refurb or new 7D as backup to 5D3?

[Hydrogen]

Note: I prefer feedback from those who have owned (or still own) a 5D2, 7D and 5D3.  Thank you.

Background: I own a 5D3 and was looking for a backup body as my 20D is a joke for a backup.  I am a Canon pro-sumer of eight years, turning part-time pro shooting family and couples portraits, events and looking to do weddings.  I also take pictures of my own family and kids playing sports.

My dilemma, which was resolved with the 5D3 is that I am a stickler for tack-sharp (using more than just the center AF point) pictures, but also demand a good IQ and a low-noise seeker.

So I just received a 5D2 refurb. from Canon Direct with 2,815 shutter actuations on it.  Judging by the date stamp on the main battery and the serial number, I am going to deduce that its a early to mid 2012 copy. 

The battery charger also looks to be a slightly older one with less refined looking labels/notations on it than the one that came with the new 5D2 I purchased in late December, but had returned, which looked identical to the one that came with my 5D3.

One thing that bugs me is the SET button on the back makes a slapping noise sometimes when you push it.  I forget if the previous 5D2 I used did same.  My 5D3 and 20D aren't like this.

If I return it for an exchange, I risk them not having one in stock when this gets back to them, I gather.

I know I will need a back-up body if I'm being paid for a shoot.  One that will produce great image quality, but I also want good AF.  The caveat is that once I shoot weddings or other indoor lower-lit events, I am wondering if the 7D is sufficient.  David Ziser seems to think so... http://bit.ly/9xEebV

But I am concerned about the noise of the images and lack of another FF backup body.  I realize if its just a backup at say a wedding, the crop is "good enough" and I could mount my widest lenses to it for wide-angle shots in a pinch.

For sports and nature though - I am missing the reach of my 20D.

Oh, and I also want a camera that has good IQ, but isn't as expensive as my 5D3 to take with me on family trips/vacations.

Any thoughts/feedback?  Thanks.  I am tempted to just purchase a brand new 7D instead to go along with my 5D3.  Once you add sales tax to the Canon Direct purchases, I could save ~$300-400 if I got a new 7D.

Thanks

[wickidwombat]

i'd probably say a 6D would suit better
I shoot with both 5Dmk3 and 5Dmk2 and I am really noticing the limitations of the mk2
side by side especially in low light

IMO the 7D is no way good enough the 6D will blow it away

[Hydrogen]

Thank you for your reply, but the 6D is out of my budget for a 9/(11)-point, center-only cross-type AF system and I truly need to choose between a 7D or 5D2.  Plus, I don't care for the 60D-like simplified rear panel of the 6D.  Just does not suit my years of Canon EOS usage.

[wickidwombat]

Thank you for your reply, but the 6D is out of my budget for a 9/(11)-point, center-only cross-type AF system and I truly need to choose between a 7D or 5D2.  Plus, I don't care for the 60D-like simplified rear panel of the 6D.  Just does not suit my years of Canon EOS usage.

definately the 5D2 then but just be aware iso 3200 is gonna be a ceiling with maybe 6400 at a push if you are gonna convert it to black and white, iso 3200 is pretty good especially when used with flash.
the 7D is about a stop behind that if you were going to get a 7D i'd say just get a T3i  (aka 600D for a ton cheaper IQ will be no different.

[bdunbar79]

I would agree that the 5D Mark II is the way to go for what you described, over the 7D.  If you want to shoot sports too, use the 5D3 for that.  As a backup though, the 5D2 makes a lot more sense to me.

[kennephoto]

I bought a new 5d2 and I love it, I almost hate looking through the viewfinder on crop bodies now. I haven't owned or used the 5d3 but I really doubt the 5d2 would be worse than a 7d. I'm pretty sure people used the 5d2 for many weddings and got great photos, I've used the 5d2 at weddings and loved it, wish it had that silent shutter like the 5d3 though.

[Robert Welch]

Having had all these cameras, currently using 5D3 with 6D as backup at weddings and the 7D sits in the trunk for dire emergencies only. The AF on the 5D3 and 6D is way beyond the AF of the older cameras, 5D2/7D. I know on paper, the 6D has very similar AF as the 5D2, but simply put it's way more precise and consistent. I just did a portrait session with the 6D and the 7D as a 2nd camera, shot well over 200 photos. 100% of the 6D images were tack sharp, perfect focus. 22% of the 7D images were just not there at all, and more were just a little soft. I found the 5D2 to be about 80-90% accurate with the center point only focus, worse with the others. If you use the 6D with the outside focus point, then you'll see a little bit of loss of consistency. But that center point is the best AF point Canon has ever made, period.

I know the OP question didn't include the 6D, and understand his reasons. But, if you want to be a serious professional photographer, and it sounds like you do, using older equipment like 7D & 5D2 is not a wise compromise. I would say the 20D is really not that far behind either of those cameras as a backup, until you can get a 6D (it is obviously not as good for high ISO as either, but the AF is just as good). I would wait until you can afford a 6D at least, spending the money on a 7D/5D2 will only be wasting your time for getting what you really should be using, either a 6D or another 5D3. The only other camera that might be worth considering would be a good copy of a 1DmkIII, I have one and it's AF is somewhere between the 7D & 5D3 in terms of accuracy and consistency. And the used market on these is probably closer to what your current budget is, and it's high ISO capability is somewhere between the 7D & 5D3, IMO. However, being sure you get one that does have good AF is the tricky part. Good luck

[shashinkaman]

As per usual, CR folks go for the typical solutions... I (some one actually shooting for a living, not an armchair photographer!) would suggest giving the Eos 7D a closer look! Ignore the b.s. about ISO performance - pixel peeping nonsense, and think about the following: it is a great little camera (leave the grip off!) has all the features and power you need, especially as a semi-pro and the 1,6 crop factor makes a very interesting combination with an FF or 1,3 crop factor body! Your 130mm on your Eos 5D becomes a '210'mm on your Eos 7D! Your wide-zoom (just an example) 16-35mm becomes a normal-zoom '28-60'mm etc. Really convenient how you can limit the number of lenses your carry around if you select smartly! And like I said, I work in Japan (sorry if I made any mistakes writing in English here!) and I have to meet the first client who doesn't accepts my pictures because he / she can tell the difference between my Eos 1D series or the Eos 7D series... Pixel Peepers 

[shashinkaman]

PS: You could of course do as most on this site would: sit on your derriere behind your computer, not shooting much if at all and wait for the Eos 7D MarkII to appear... No, seriously, when I read comments like "no compromise buying "old equipment" then I just laugh and know: another wanna be! Maybe the pro scene here in Japan is not as 'advanced' as in the States, but you would be surprised how many Eos 7D's you see in the bag of many a PRO! Get yourself one and shoot away!

[funkboy]

I'd say use a 6D as a backup unless you also want a camera for sports or other telephoto/action type shooting (like birding).

But if you're looking for something with equivalent crop factor and IQ to your 5D3 then the 6D is the way to go.

Of course I'm a bit biased...

[Krob78]

I have both, the 5D3 and the 7D.  I thought I would sell the 7D after getting the 5D3.  I haven't.  I still love it!  I still use it!  I still reach for it when I need the extra reach, it's a fantastic camera and an amazing tool. 

That being said, I use it less and less as the days go by.  I love my 5D3!  As my techniques improve and my human interface with the camera interface merges together, I love it more and more.  If I sell the 7d, it will only be because I need money or the 7D2 has finally hit the market and is amazing and has been out for about a year... then I'd pull the trigger on that... possibly. 

I think I'll have my 5D3 for a long, long time...  the images somehow just have a slightly more wonderful look to them... with good lighting the 7d can go anywhere too, with good lighting... The OP says he likes wildlife and sports photography as well.  The 5D3 is great for that but so is the 7D.  I love the 8fps on my 7d, I am not at all in love with only 6fps on the 5d3.  I definitely see the difference and see images missed due to not having those 2 extra frames...

Hard choice for sure, but both choices you've inquired about have their caveats and there take aways... figure out which feeds your need better and jump on it... don't look back, you may miss your next "money" shot! 

5d2, 7d, 6d, heck even the old 50D is still a great camera!  They're all good backups for your 5d3!

[aprotosimaki]

My 5d2's set button does not make a slapping sound at all. I might be concerned about this and would attempt an exchange but I am a stickler by nature.

If Canon has another 5d2 then problem solved I would imagine, since you made the initial decision to get one.
If not, then a new 7d is not the worst decision; you get a new high quality camera that is different from your other one i.e. crop factor and you may find that useful.

Regardless, your hand is slightly forced in this case, or so it seems to me and the camera gods will decide for you. 

[hawaiisunsetphoto]

You could possibly return the refurb, and either they replace it, or credit you.  If the latter, you can pick up a niced used 5D Mark II with relatively low actuations on ebay or craigslist.  That's the route that I took to help a friend get set up...   You should be able to find a used 5D Mark II in the $1000 - $1300 range....

[Chosenbydestiny]

Lenses behave differently on crop compared to full frame. You probably want another full frame camera to compliment your 5D mark III. If a 5D mark II is all that can fall into your budget, there's nothing wrong with that. I've used all 3 cameras mentioned and to be honest, as much as I loved the 7D I used the 5D mark II more because of how the image results looked in the end. It's really just a question of whether you need the servo capabilities of the 7D more than the image quality of the 5D mark II. Both are great backups.

[wickidwombat]

As per usual, CR folks go for the typical solutions... I (some one actually shooting for a living, not an armchair photographer!)

 

8 posts in and you are the guru ? and many of us do actually shoot for a living too but you can continue to think you are the only one 

enjoy your 7D
its a simple fact thats not too hard to grasp that the image quality from canons full frame cameras is significantly better than their crop cameras to date especially at higher iso
but you can continue to live in a long north african river if you like