buy 7D now or 5D Mark II later?

[protectoceans]

I have a 20D, looking to upgrade.  I bought the 20D a couple of months before the 30D came out and have regretted it!  I would like to buy a 7D soon (I use for nature and wildlife photography), but was curious how much the 5D Mark II might go down in price (close to price of new 7D now??) once the 5D Mark III comes out?

[marekjoz]

I don't think it will go down too soon anymore but it depends a lot on the replacement's price which unfortunately doesn't seem to be cheap If you believe 5d3 will be at reasonable price, then 5d2 might fall with price even below 7d (or it's successor)

[Jim K]

As far as cost goes the 7D (refurb) is available on the CLP for about $1085 + tax IIRC. The 5D2 is not available on the CLP. My first 7D was bought new on the Pro9000 Mark II printer deal (2+ yrs ago?). Liked it so much that when I found out about the CLP I bought a second one. I think the 7D is a great camera for wildlife and birds ( and a lot less expensive than the 1D4  .

There is a knock on the 5D2 about its autofocus. A lot of people will tell you that it isn't really true and they have no problem. I started with a 50D and its 9 cross AF points. The 5D2 has 9 AF points but only the center is a cross. When I added my first 7D its 19 point (all cross) AF made a big difference to me. If you are shooting landscape I see no problem with the 5D2 autofocus. If you are shooting weddings and events I think the 50D AF would be a help but nothing big. But for birds and wildlife the 7D AF makes a big difference.

Then there is the "crop factor" thing. Folks who don't shoot birds will tell you to just get a longer lens. I was able to eventually get a 500mm f/4L IS which yields a FOV like an 800mm on a FF body. There was no way I could spend for the 800mm. At times my 500 is "shorter" than I need and I add a 1.4x extender getting a 700mm f/5.6 IS with a 1120mm FOV on the 7D. If you add a 1.4x to the 800mm f/5.6 you get an 1120mm f/8 lens that wont autofocus on the 5D2. It may focus on the 1DX if Canon fixes the "problem" with its "no f/8 AF".

For what you shoot I'd go with the 7D. If you change to weddings I'd go with the 5D2. I'm thinking of adding a "Landscape Kit" to my birds and wildlife setup and would buy a 5D2 myself for that.

[docsavage123]

Buy a 7d and get the 5D mark1 you can get it for £600 uk 2nd hand quality is still very good AF is same as 5d Mark II and you still have the 7D with the crop and better AF as well as the HD video. I did - not regretted it.

 

[briansquibb]

There is a knock on the 5D2 about its autofocus. A lot of people will tell you that it isn't really true and they have no problem. I started with a 50D and its 9 cross AF points. The 5D2 has 9 AF points but only the center is a cross. When I added my first 7D its 19 point (all cross) AF made a big difference to me. If you are shooting landscape I see no problem with the 5D2 autofocus. If you are shooting weddings and events I think the 50D AF would be a help but nothing big. But for birds and wildlife the 7D AF makes a big difference.

This is another case of heresay being passed on as fact.

The implication here is that the 50D would be better at weddings and events than the 5DII. That is totally unfounded and not what the thousands of wedding photographers have said either.

Big slow moving subjects are fine - and I would include large wildlife in that as well

The 5DII is a little slower locking on and in fine light works OK for birds in flight. In lower light then using the centre AF point is advisable. The 5DII is not up to 7D standards for this anymore than the 7D is up to 1D4 standards

[Michael_pfh]

I don't think that the price of the 5D2 will come down that much. Get a rebated 7D now - you will be very happy with it.

[tt]

I don't think that the price of the 5D2 will come down that much. Get a rebated 7D now - you will be very happy with it.

The 5D Mark II price has pretty much hit bottom - and has actually gone up since the Christmas period price cuts. It was a gradual decline. The 7D's new price went down quickly after being introduced, and has been stable for some time.

From what I could see via camelcamelcamel.com's historic price data, and watching the prices of UK photographer suppliers in the last few months.

The second hand market will flood, and so there may be bargains when a new model comes along... and likely some sales of whatever kit lens comes if there will be one.

[briansquibb]

The second hand market will flood, and so there may be bargains when a new model comes along... and likely some sales of whatever kit lens comes if there will be one.

UK market is already starting to flood with used 7Ds but not 5DII or 1D4

[AmbientLight]

In case you intend to keep your new camera around for as long as you have obviously kept using your 20D I can recommend buying the 7D. Prices are quite reasonable and build quality and overall camera features are very nice in case of the 7D. I believe that for your intended usage the 7D is the better option.

I for one would not pick up a 5D Mark II right now, although prices for a new 5D Mark II appear to be in a sweet spot. You may still want to look at a used 5D Mark II later on, once the majority of current 5D users have purchased a possible 5D Mark III/X or whatever this will become.

Nevertheless the feature set of the 5D is more geared towards studio photography and the 7D's image quality will already be a great leap forward compared to a 20D. What I am saying is that you may not be getting some shots with the kind of high image quality as is possible with a 5D Mark II, but overall I expect you will be much happier with a 7D.

[DzPhotography]

I have a 20D, looking to upgrade.  I bought the 20D a couple of months before the 30D came out and have regretted it!  I would like to buy a 7D soon (I use for nature and wildlife photography), but was curious how much the 5D Mark II might go down in price (close to price of new 7D now??) once the 5D Mark III comes out?

depends on what lenses you own imho

[neuroanatomist]

UK market is already starting to flood with used 7Ds but not 5DII or 1D4

Lots of used 7D bodies available on this side of the pond, too...mostly ~$1100.  However, I'm also seeing quite a few 5DII bodies, in the $1700-1800 range - more frequently than last year, for sure.

[EOBeav]

Bite the bullet and get the 5DmkII now, before the 5DmkIII hits the shelves. You want a full frame. 

[7enderbender]

What lenses do you have? Any EF-S? Do you like the crop size on your current and previous camera? If so that may be your answer right there. If not then now is the time to get a 5DII before it might disappear - as long as you are looking to buy new.

[norcalniner]

I was chatting with the guy over at ritz today. Their price for the 5dii was at $2200USD. He said that when the mkiii is released, they would probably be dropping down to around 1700. He could've just been a moron but if that's the case, that'd be a great buy.

[RonQ]

I was chatting with the guy over at ritz today. Their price for the 5dii was at $2200USD. He said that when the mkiii is released, they would probably be dropping down to around 1700. He could've just been a moron but if that's the case, that'd be a great buy.

With the upcoming announcement of the 5D3 (god knows at what price). See http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/02/5d-mark-iiix-information-cr1/
I don't see the 5D2 price dropping.  Look at the current prices on the market now, cheapest one is at $2,156.  If you need it, get it now.