5D mkII - 7D

[awinphoto]

I use a 5DII and a 7D, more in tandem than one as a backup. The 5D does have a half to full stop better level for acceptable noise, but the 7D has vastly better autofocus and layout, and in a lot of the time I much prefer the 7D.

That being said, one of the nicest things about this setup is that you have 2 cameras with different qualities and most importantly, different sensors. It's nice to have my lenses do different things between the two bodies.

I'm a big proponent of having one APS-C body and one full frame body.

T

Do you shoot weddings or portraits? I agree with having both, just wondering if the 7D has any issues when it comes to shooting weddings.

9 times out of 10 I'm shooting weddings. The rest would be sports/portraits. I was just looking at our web portfolio (http://www.papertigermedia.ca) and I'd say the photos are 50/50 5D and 7D, so one isn't getting used more than the other.

The 7D is better suited for weddings than the 5D in my opinion. It's true that it hunts less in low light focusing than the 5D (which is pretty bad for it). But I've usually got a flash with IR assist in those situations anyway.

The thing that drives me absolutely bananas with the 5D is how central the AF points are compared to the 7D. It's really tough to frame when you can't get your focal point near the edges of the frame if you need it. It's especially bad in vertical which I shoot a lot of.

Nice Web-site..... I think after reading everyone's reply I'll be upgrading to the 7D at first and then the 5D. You're right, I also have a 580EX II that can assist with really low light situations. However, I'm not 100% comfortable using it due to the soft/hard look I'll get. Maybe I'm not using the correct settings on the speedlite, I guess practise makes perfect.

You dont have to use the 580 straight on you know? You can try bouncing it (however if you're in a colored room the color may bounce into the subject)... you can get a mini softbox to soften the light, there are clip on reflectors for the light, lumisphere attachments, etc... Heck with the 580, you can pick up a cheap sync cord and shoot off camera... There are so many options that you dont have to shoot direct on camera... Visit any local camera shop and odds are they have a handful of attachments under $40... maybe even under $20... I think you're making a good choice with your progression... Just take your time to learn the AF system.. it's a complex system but if you get real comfortable with it can be your best friend.

 

[mathino]

Im also considering an upgrade from my 450D to 7D or 5D Mk II. I shoot mostly concerts/gigs and DJs in clubs as long as portraits in studio and outside.

My friend lent me his 7D for a weekend and wedding shoot and I was pleased with AF performance of 7D especially this cluster-type-AF point-selection (1 center and 4 other points). After downloading pics to PC I realized that ISO performance is not something stellar. You can work around with noise reduction in LR3 (which was what I did) and dont care (unless you print large prints). With my 85 f/1.8 it was very good.

This week I attended one Canon event to finally get my hands on 5D Mk II and I was amazed by high ISO results from this camera. I took 1 pic at ISO 6400 and this looks to me like ISO (maybe) 800 from my camera. Mostly, I was using center point and there were no problems with AF. I also tried peripherial points in studio shoot under dimm lighting and it was fine.

For me there is no rush for buying new body now. There is only one question left (because I have cash for 5D Mk II). Wait for 5D MK III to come out or buy 5D Mk II ?

 

[awinphoto]

Im also considering an upgrade from my 450D to 7D or 5D Mk II. I shoot mostly concerts/gigs and DJs in clubs as long as portraits in studio and outside.

My friend lent me his 7D for a weekend and wedding shoot and I was pleased with AF performance of 7D especially this cluster-type-AF point-selection (1 center and 4 other points). After downloading pics to PC I realized that ISO performance is not something stellar. You can work around with noise reduction in LR3 (which was what I did) and dont care (unless you print large prints). With my 85 f/1.8 it was very good.

This week I attended one Canon event to finally get my hands on 5D Mk II and I was amazed by high ISO results from this camera. I took 1 pic at ISO 6400 and this looks to me like ISO (maybe) 800 from my camera. Mostly, I was using center point and there were no problems with AF. I also tried peripherial points in studio shoot under dimm lighting and it was fine.

For me there is no rush for buying new body now. There is only one question left (because I have cash for 5D Mk II). Wait for 5D MK III to come out or buy 5D Mk II ?

I wish I could say to wait but then waiting you may be waiting a long time... probably as long as a good year... so as long as you're in no rush, then by all means... from a person that went from the xxd series to a 7d then 5d2... the files from the 5d2 are good... slightly better than the 7D but nothing to write home about... I really miss my 7d AF system, thankfully I still have my 7d as a second shooter but it'd be awesome to have that AF in the 5d... Other than the full frame sensor, it's basically a 50D with no pop up flash, a bigger prism, new battery, and video... (with minor orientation changes with the buttons)... oh yeah, the 50D also had a slightly better AF system than the 5d as all the sensors were cross type... But as long as you dont live and die by the AF system, it's a fine camera.

 

[mathino]

I wish I could say to wait but then waiting you may be waiting a long time... probably as long as a good year... so as long as you're in no rush, then by all means... from a person that went from the xxd series to a 7d then 5d2... the files from the 5d2 are good... slightly better than the 7D but nothing to write home about... I really miss my 7d AF system, thankfully I still have my 7d as a second shooter but it'd be awesome to have that AF in the 5d... Other than the full frame sensor, it's basically a 50D with no pop up flash, a bigger prism, new battery, and video... (with minor orientation changes with the buttons)... oh yeah, the 50D also had a slightly better AF system than the 5d as all the sensors were cross type... But as long as you dont live and die by the AF system, it's a fine camera.

I guess we will see something next year, but question is what it will be. Im not really into 30+ Mpx, rather 21 or 18 with high ISO usable at 12 800 and 7-dish AF. But one guy at that Canon event told us to expect something different from current 5D line, maybe a whole new line. But this is something for another topic

Im often taking photos with my friend and he wants to uprgade to 7D (also other friend of mine has this body) because of AF, video and build quality. So I guess a 5D Mk II will be fine for me with a possibility to borrow 7D when I really need/want it.

 

[RonQ]

Mt Spokane Photography, that is a killer deal for a lens. I already have a 24-70L so buying the kit lens with 5DII will just probably sit in it's box and not be used. I would prefer to save the extra $700 and buy a wide lens for the 5DII.

 

[RonQ]

9 times out of 10 I'm shooting weddings. The rest would be sports/portraits. I was just looking at our web portfolio (http://www.papertigermedia.ca) and I'd say the photos are 50/50 5D and 7D, so one isn't getting used more than the other.

The 7D is better suited for weddings than the 5D in my opinion. It's true that it hunts less in low light focusing than the 5D (which is pretty bad for it). But I've usually got a flash with IR assist in those situations anyway.

The thing that drives me absolutely bananas with the 5D is how central the AF points are compared to the 7D. It's really tough to frame when you can't get your focal point near the edges of the frame if you need it. It's especially bad in vertical which I shoot a lot of.
[/quote]
Nice Web-site..... I think after reading everyone's reply I'll be upgrading to the 7D at first and then the 5D. You're right, I also have a 580EX II that can assist with really low light situations. However, I'm not 100% comfortable using it due to the soft/hard look I'll get. Maybe I'm not using the correct settings on the speedlite, I guess practise makes perfect.
[/quote]

You dont have to use the 580 straight on you know? You can try bouncing it (however if you're in a colored room the color may bounce into the subject)... you can get a mini softbox to soften the light, there are clip on reflectors for the light, lumisphere attachments, etc... Heck with the 580, you can pick up a cheap sync cord and shoot off camera... There are so many options that you dont have to shoot direct on camera... Visit any local camera shop and odds are they have a handful of attachments under $40... maybe even under $20... I think you're making a good choice with your progression... Just take your time to learn the AF system.. it's a complex system but if you get real comfortable with it can be your best friend.
[/quote]
True, I don't shoot straight on all the time. I have a diffuser on my speedlight and I still get these funky looking photos. What would you recommend for shooting off camera (other than a pocket wizard)?

 

[awinphoto]

True, I don't shoot straight on all the time. I have a diffuser on my speedlight and I still get these funky looking photos. What would you recommend for shooting off camera (other than a pocket wizard)?

Well with the 7D, you can shoot wirelessly with the popup flash as the remote trigger... Indoors it works quite well but outdoors you may need direct line of sight from the flash to flash... You can also get the ST-something... the speedlight wireless transmitter, but then again, like the flash, it uses IR which may work really well indoors and so so outdoors... If you dont mind hand holding the flash you can get TTL extension cords (around $100) that allows you to get the flash off camera a foot or so and still fully utilize TTL... or you can a sync cord ($5 or cheaper at a garage sale) and shoot manually... Get a lightstand, set up the flash, there ya go... If you dont mind shooting your lights close to your model, you can get a 2x3 foot softbox or bigger if you want to get close but have gorgeous light... Pocketwizards are good but spendy... I know there are plenty of ebay knockoffs... I haven't tried any of them but have been tempted many of times... By all means pick one up for like $30 and write a review for us