Canon 50D vs 7D

[bklein61]

I currently own

Canon 50D
Canon 70-300L is
Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 580 EX II

I am thinking of upgrading to a Canon 7D.   Part of the reason is for the much better focusing system for action shots of wildlife.

I am also wondering if there will be any significant improvement in ISO performance from the 50D, or would a better option would be to invest in glass.

Thank you for any advice.

[bdunbar79]

I currently own

Canon 50D
Canon 70-300L is
Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 580 EX II

I am thinking of upgrading to a Canon 7D.   Part of the reason is for the much better focusing system for action shots of wildlife.

I am also wondering if there will be any significant improvement in ISO performance from the 50D, or would a better option would be to invest in glass.

Thank you for any advice.

Ah yes.  I consider the 50D to 7D one of those tough decisions.  Yes, the 7D overall probably is better, but the 50D is already so good it will be very hard to justify the upgrade.  No signficant improvement in ISO I'd say, just look at Bryan Carnathan's website.  If you're 50D is not that old, I personally wouldn't make the move.  The only improvement I'd make from 50D would be to either FF or a newer APS-C camera that has not come out yet.  That's just what I would do.  Get some good glass.

[Menace]

I agree, get better glass and keep the 50d for now. I suggest investing in lens(es) that you can keep if/when you upgrade to FF as that's where you'll get much better high ISO performance.

Do let us know what you decide to do

 

[lol]

I went through that change some years ago. Of course it depends on what you want to do, but the AF of the 7D is a bit better, and to me the high ISO is a little better. At ISO1600+ the noise isn't really much different in level, but the 50D is more prone to banding when provoked which the 7D doesn't do. At low ISO there isn't any significant difference. If that is worth it for you is another matter... depends on what your weakest link is.

[brianboru]

I just went from a 40D to a 7D a couple of months ago which is more of a jump than you are contemplating but I think is still relevant.

I appreciate:

• The higher resolution that lets me crop a bit more when lens reach runs out.
• The integrated ETTL controller.
• The improved weather sealing - although I try not to test it.
• Much better auto-white-balance

Bummed about:

• The idiot-mode-sports-setting on the 40D set a minimum exposure (seemingly 1/500) and let auto-iso/auto-exposure settings take over. While I like the other improvements for sports, I really wish I could have that minimum-expo setting back.
• The high iso-performance isn't as much of an improvement as I had hoped.

[elflord]

I am thinking of upgrading to a Canon 7D.   Part of the reason is for the much better focusing system for action shots of wildlife.

I am also wondering if there will be any significant improvement in ISO performance from the 50D, or would a better option would be to invest in glass.

Thank you for any advice.

No significant improvement in ISO performance, so it boils down to better AF and weather sealing.

If you're thinking of this for your wildlife pictures, you can gain a stop at 300mm (more at shorter focal lengths) by getting faster glass (for example, 200mm f/2.8, 300mm f/4, sigma 100-300 f/4). You get a large bump in high ISO performance by going full frame but you also lose reach.

[bdunbar79]

I think a 40D to a 7D upgrade would be easy to justify.  I just can't in my mind, say that about the 50D to 7D upgrade.  I'm liking a few of the other posts on here that are in agreement.  Probably best to keep the 50D and buy a new lens.  Good luck!

[Aglet]

I use 50D and 7D (& 40D)

- 7D's noise structure is finer textured at higher ISO but at low ISO may have strong vertical shadow banding if you push your exposure in post. (My 7D really annoys me in this area and I hope the v2 firmware can address the problem)

- 50D does not have a strong vertical banding problem at low ISO like the 7D but has overall higher blotchy red noise at all ISO which can become quite noticeable if you don't use a raw converter with good noise reduction

- 7D's AF system is pretty good and adaptable for lots of purposes, you may find it an advantage for wildlife and birds-in-flight shooting.  It's no panacea but it can improve your keeper rate with a given lens.
Worth reading the manual on how to use it and then experiment with it to familiarize yourself to the differences compared to 50D/40D

- 7D's faster shooting rate can provide an extra few shots/second which might be worthwhile for birding or other animal action.

Overall, I'd say the 7D is a noticeable step up from the 50D.  If it's worthwhile to you depends on if you can justify the added cost and weigh that against whatever Canon may bring out next for a high performance APS-C camera.  Consider that the 7D is nearly 3 years old already, it's about time for something of an upgrade - but in this case that may just be the new v2 firmware that's coming (August?) which unlocks more of the potential of the hardware already inside it.  That may buy Canon another year to develop something better for a 7D replacement since they're feeling the heat from the competition.

You have some decent glass already, if it's optically up to what you need then a body upgrade may be the next hardware item to wring out more imaging performance.  Honing one's photography skills, especially when it comes to wildlife, is also a prime investment.

[nicku]

I have never worked with 50D to know the ISO difference. I had upgraded from 40D (same AF as 50D) to 7D. i will never go back to the classic 9 points AF of any Canon DSLR. In my opinion only the AF difference of the cameras is a good enough reason to upgrade.

[brought1]

I'll try to keep this short and sweet as many of you have posted excellent points!


Short of the overall quality of the image and possibly a touch better AF...and the Video capabilities, what can you do with the 7D that you HONESTLY cannot achieve with the 50D?

The bump in resolution from 10.1 to 15 MP from the 40D to 50D, was significant in giving photographers a little more cropping room.  However, the 50D and 7D images are nearly identical. 

IMO - you're better off saving your $ for better lenses or additional photography equipment instead of changing from one cropped sensor to another.  High ISO - Banding... is even apparent in the best cameras if completely pushed to their limit. 

So, the EXTRA stuff you get in the 7D...is it worth paying the extra $ for what you can usually adjust in Post?  Plus...what and when are you going to print larger than a 16 x 20?  Now-a-days, people are forgoing the prints for placing the image on digital media outlets where their high resolution image is automatically scaled down to a  50-100 kb file....

Be realistic and practical!  If you were looking to start photography, then I would have a completely different point of view than if you already own something that is very good!  Learn to use your equipment to it's max...and just then, when you're needing more than what your current camera can offer...than make a decision to upgrade.   

[lol]

brought1, I think you're understating the differences from 50D to 7D. Considered individually they might not be massive enough on their own, but lots of small improvements do add up. The differences are not something "you can usually adjust in Post".

[Sony]

My story:
_ I bought T1i + 18-55mm IS + 55-250mm IS years ago: wasnt happy with the outcomes.
_ Bought 10-22mm + 50mm f/1.4: better but not much.
_ Bought 50D body: improved but still unsatisfied.
_ Bought 24-70mm f/2.8L and 70-200mm f/2.8L IS: big difference. Totally satisfied.
_ Sold T1i + 18-55 + 55-250; bought 100mm f/2.8 IS macro and Tokina 10-17mm fisheye: wow!
_ Was told by a friend to upgrade to 7D (he had 7D with same lenses almost). I didnt do after comparing the two's outcomes.
_ Just bought 5DMkiii 2 months ago: wow!wow!wow! real upgrade.
My conclusion: 50D is good enough comparing to 7D except 1 f/stop ISO and AF. Invest in excelent glasses. After that, save and be patiently waiting to jump to real upgrade with real issue: money!!!
I still keep 50D with me. Love it.

[bdunbar79]

This really doesn't weigh in the argument here, but I thought I'd share for some perspective.  While the 7D is a great APS-C camera, actually if you look at all cameras available right now, at comparable pricing, the 1Ds Mark II actually has greater IQ than the 7D.  I owned the 7D but sold it when I got the 5D Mark III, but I noticed that on ebay the 1Ds Mark II, in pretty good shape, was selling for the same price as that of a new 7D.  The IQ is superior and at least in my experience, color rendition and saturation is similar to the 1Ds Mark III.  However, I think it should be.  It was once a flagship model retailing for $7999 in 2005.  My point is that many reviews and myself seeing this, would attest to the fact that regarding IQ, the 50D to 7D upgrade is a pretty soft upgrade and not likely necessary.  However, if I had the 30D or 40D, I'd upgrade in a hearbeat. 

Going to FF from a 50D would be an individual matter.  Now you loose the 1.6x crop factor reach.  Consider this review:


7D:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-7D-Digital-SLR-Camera-Review.aspx

50D:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-50D-Digital-SLR-Camera-Review.aspx

[gary]

I bought a 50d about 4 years ago and this year bought a 5d mkiii. The difference is huge, but I have kept my 50d as a back up, it still takes great pictures and gives me that extra reach when I need it. If you are looking for another crop camera and only a crop, then I would stay with what you have for the time being and invest in a lens or two. I am really glad I made the investment in EF as opposed to EFS lenses and if you ever consider the change to FF I would recommend you do the same.

[Otara]

I had a 50D, and flooded it in underwater photography then got the 7D to replace it.

I love it, but cant really say it was night and day.   Some of the things that annoyed me most in the 40D had already been fixed, ie no microadjust, and preview for RAW pictures.  Video is of course something thats nice to have, and has been fantastic to have the option underwater in particular - not sure how good the magic lantern version is on the 50D.