5d3 vs. 7D2 as general use body

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Rupp1

Nov 14, 2014
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#1
I am suffering buyer's remorse, and the cameras haven't even arrived yet. Just as background, I have shot Canon for years, 35mm and then digital beginning with the D30 (not 30D, D30 with 6 megapixels). I sold most of my old bodies last year, and worked with just the 1D X. I like high detail sharp pictures. I have tried the Sony a7R (which I hated), and the a7II, which I'm not crazy about either. I'm sticking with Canon despite complaints that the company is falling behind its competition (also, my lens collection is extensive).

OK, so to take advantage of rebates, I ordered a 5DS-r yesterday, for myself as a companion to the 1DX. I hope to use it for portraits, weddings, and landscapes. My wife, who wants to get more serious with her photography, needs something better than a point and shoot, and why shouldn't she share my lenses? So, I ordered a 7D2 for her to use. She likes photographing flowers, and hopes to enter garden photography competitions. I figured that she might like the 1.6 crop as it would get her closer to her subjects, is not looking to blow up to 30x20, and the 7D2 is less than the 5D3. One other note, she grew up using 35mm SLRs and is not a stranger to photography. Should I have bought the 5D3 for her? I don't want to be cheap. But I don't want to spend twice as much on a camera that is about to be replaced.

Thanks for any input. I also realize the potential irony here, since the 7D2 may be a good back up to a 1Dx, while I may find that the 5DS-r is so finicky that I just spent a bunch for a camera I might end up hating.
 
#3
For the price the 7D II is a great camera. Full Frame is always better and it depends on her skill level. If she doesn't know she needs a full frame camera then most likely she doesn't.

Besides you own both the 1Dx and 5Ds R. Both are great bodies. Are you going to shoot one from the hip and one from eye level? Do you have a holster so you can carry both at once? You share your lenses but not the bodies?
 
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#4
Both are likely overkill for what you are doing, and might frustrate you with all the settings intended for experienced users.

They should be just fine for general use cameras. Don't expect to see pixel sharp images until you learn how to use the cameras, but the images will always come out very sharp for ordinary sized prints or displays.

Getting the ultimate resolution from high MP bodies does take some care in using extremely stable heads and tripods, or alternatively, very high shutter speeds. If you are having a issue with sharpness, take some photos carefully with 1/2000 shutter speeds and stop down your lens to f/5.6. This may require you to be in outdoor sunny light, but it will confirm to you that your camera is capable of very sharp images.

If the photos are not sharp, place the camera in live view on a tripod, use live autofocus (Do not use quick AF). Keep the shutter speed high. --- If the photos are now sharp, your camera needs to have a autofocus micro adjustment (AFMA) for each of your lenses. That's a different subject, but all new camera - lens combinations need to be checked for fine AF adjustment.
 
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#5
Mt Spokane Photography said:
Both are likely overkill for what you are doing, and might frustrate you with all the settings intended for experienced users.

They should be just fine for general use cameras. Don't expect to see pixel sharp images until you learn how to use the cameras, but the images will always come out very sharp for ordinary sized prints or displays.

Getting the ultimate resolution from high MP bodies does take some care in using extremely stable heads and tripods, or alternatively, very high shutter speeds. If you are having a issue with sharpness, take some photos carefully with 1/2000 shutter speeds and stop down your lens to f/5.6. This may require you to be in outdoor sunny light, but it will confirm to you that your camera is capable of very sharp images.

If the photos are not sharp, place the camera in live view on a tripod, use live autofocus (Do not use quick AF). Keep the shutter speed high. --- If the photos are now sharp, your camera needs to have a autofocus micro adjustment (AFMA) for each of your lenses. That's a different subject, but all new camera - lens combinations need to be checked for fine AF adjustment.
Click to expand...

+1 Massive overkill. Can't see how she can benefit from the high frame rate or build quality.

My wife often complains that the 5d feels too heavy. So weight should be one of the considerations when buying a camera for a lady. If not shooting something that moves fast the M 3 is quite nice. Or get 70D if she prefers handling a larger body. 7d series is a specialty camera built for speed. 5d is better for general purpose. Don't worry about it being replaced soon because the new one most definitely will cost upward of $3000, 50% more than mk3, and the mk4 cannot possibly be 50% better.
 
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#8
bdunbar79 said:
You're fine! Relax! You have a 1Dx, 5DsR, and a 7D2. What could be to complain about? No I think for what she wants to do a 7D2 is just fine. And you can steal it once in awhile too! :)
Click to expand...
Yes, it never occurred to me that the camera might end up being used by me. ;D Hence my willingness to engage in overkill. I like to print big, have very good lenses, and don't like to buy cameras that I wouldn't own. I'll take the dollar hit.

Other responders have raised some very helpful points. The suggestions regarding high MP cameras are well taken, but I would at least mention that I am an experienced shooter. 5.6 @1/2000 seems pretty extreme. Wouldn't 4 times focal length be sufficient? What if longer DOF is desired? [sorry, off topic a little].

To sunnyVan: the M3 does look interesting but requires lenses which I don't have. I own a Sony a7R which I don't like, and an a7II that I'm not crazy about. I was tempted to try the a7RII but except for the 55mm, I have found the Sony lenses to be mediocre, and am not crazy about focus through an EVF. But who knows, I'm getting old and lazy. I'll stick with Canon for a while, and hope that I won't have to replace my whole system in the next few years.

My first camera was a Rolliflex, which I used with a GE light meter. I could handle that. I can handle using filters. But I am getting sick of learning too many menus and buttons, a new one with each camera. I'm sick of replacing bodies on a regular basis. Your comments, which are well thought out and appreciated, are making me wonder if I should get the Hassies back out and shoot film (doubtful but sad), or just get one of those little cameras with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens. Maybe?

By the way, if any of you think that the Sony a7RII is a better hand shooting camera than the 5ds-r, let me know. Thanks.
 
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#10
The 7DII is a great all-around body. Sure, it is optimized for sports and wildlife, but that takes nothing away from its value as an all purposed body. Pair it with the 100 mm macro "L" IS and it will be great for her floral photography.

You say she is not looking to enlarge to 30x20, but the 7DII is certainly capable of enlarging to at least that size. She may be shocked at how great one of her flower pictures looks blown up to 30x20, matted, framed and hanging over the fireplace. I hope you have a healthy sense of security, because you might find yourself a little jealous when her pictures look better than yours (wives have a tendency to do that).

I would suggest investing in one wide EF-S to complete the kit. I'm a big fan of the 15-85, but honestly, the new 18-135 STM is cheap and a good performer as well.

In the long run, overbuying any camera is always cheaper than underbuying. The 7DII will allow her to grow and she can learn the more complex features over time. No one starts out knowing everything.
 
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#11
Thank you for the very reasonable and helpful responses to a rather amorphous question. I confess to being a little partial to the 7dII over a 5d3, if only because I can always share any of my other Canon bodies and lenses. The 7D2 will also be happier with some of my lenses, like the 24-105 f4L, which have become questionable with the 5Ds-R. A also admit a prejudice toward buying a newer model.

Now, my question shifts to, do we need another Canon body or just share the ones I have, or share a basic Sony A7II body (heresy). Again, thanks.
 
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#12
Hi unfocused.
I'm hoping the 7DII is a great all around body! I'm getting one. I would agree with you on wives, they do that! ;D I would question the wide lens suggestion, 15mm on crop is equivalent to 24 on FF and I don't think that is considered wide. 18mm on crop is 29mm on FF.
I would whole heartily suggest EF-S 10-22mm, I got one in September and it really is a good lens, I hired one a couple of years ago and sorta wanted one since, when this one came along I bought it and wish I'd bought earlier, I use it more than I thought.

Cheers, Graham.

unfocused said:
The 7DII is a great all-around body.

I would suggest investing in one wide EF-S to complete the kit. I'm a big fan of the 15-85, but honestly, the new 18-135 STM is cheap and a good performer as well.

In the long run, overbuying any camera is always cheaper than underbuying. The 7DII will allow her to grow and she can learn the more complex features over time. No one starts out knowing everything.
Click to expand...
 
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#13
I do a lot of flower photography. I know others will disagree, but the crop camera is FAR better for that type of work due to the wider DOF and reach. Bought a 6D a couple years ago to replace my 300D. Ended up buying an SL1 to do the flower photography. So crop was the right choice in my book.
 
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#14
Rupp1 said:
I am suffering buyer's remorse, and the cameras haven't even arrived yet. Just as background, I have shot Canon for years, 35mm and then digital beginning with the D30 (not 30D, D30 with 6 megapixels). I sold most of my old bodies last year, and worked with just the 1D X. I like high detail sharp pictures. I have tried the Sony a7R (which I hated), and the a7II, which I'm not crazy about either. I'm sticking with Canon despite complaints that the company is falling behind its competition (also, my lens collection is extensive).

OK, so to take advantage of rebates, I ordered a 5DS-r yesterday, for myself as a companion to the 1DX. I hope to use it for portraits, weddings, and landscapes. My wife, who wants to get more serious with her photography, needs something better than a point and shoot, and why shouldn't she share my lenses? So, I ordered a 7D2 for her to use. She likes photographing flowers, and hopes to enter garden photography competitions. I figured that she might like the 1.6 crop as it would get her closer to her subjects, is not looking to blow up to 30x20, and the 7D2 is less than the 5D3. One other note, she grew up using 35mm SLRs and is not a stranger to photography. Should I have bought the 5D3 for her? I don't want to be cheap. But I don't want to spend twice as much on a camera that is about to be replaced.

Thanks for any input. I also realize the potential irony here, since the 7D2 may be a good back up to a 1Dx, while I may find that the 5DS-r is so finicky that I just spent a bunch for a camera I might end up hating.
Click to expand...

These are truly problems of the first world! I mean that with no sarcasm or malcontent...just problems I wish I had.
;-)
 
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#15
+1 for the EF-S 15-85 as a fantastic general purpose lens. However, it has one drawback when it comes to floral photography - it suffers from significant zoom creep. Shooting flowers often requires a downward angle for the best view. Pointed downward my copy of the lens needs to be held in place or it will not just creep, but slide rapidly toward the 85 mm position. The 24-105 is much better in that regard although it will creep slightly. I prefer the 100 L macro for flowers -- it avoids any zoom creep issues totally.
 
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#17
gregorywood said:
Rupp1 said:
I am suffering buyer's remorse, and the cameras haven't even arrived yet. Just as background, I have shot Canon for years, 35mm and then digital beginning with the D30 (not 30D, D30 with 6 megapixels). I sold most of my old bodies last year, and worked with just the 1D X. I like high detail sharp pictures. I have tried the Sony a7R (which I hated), and the a7II, which I'm not crazy about either. I'm sticking with Canon despite complaints that the company is falling behind its competition (also, my lens collection is extensive).

OK, so to take advantage of rebates, I ordered a 5DS-r yesterday, for myself as a companion to the 1DX. I hope to use it for portraits, weddings, and landscapes. My wife, who wants to get more serious with her photography, needs something better than a point and shoot, and why shouldn't she share my lenses? So, I ordered a 7D2 for her to use. She likes photographing flowers, and hopes to enter garden photography competitions. I figured that she might like the 1.6 crop as it would get her closer to her subjects, is not looking to blow up to 30x20, and the 7D2 is less than the 5D3. One other note, she grew up using 35mm SLRs and is not a stranger to photography. Should I have bought the 5D3 for her? I don't want to be cheap. But I don't want to spend twice as much on a camera that is about to be replaced.

Thanks for any input. I also realize the potential irony here, since the 7D2 may be a good back up to a 1Dx, while I may find that the 5DS-r is so finicky that I just spent a bunch for a camera I might end up hating.
Click to expand...

These are truly problems of the first world! I mean that with no sarcasm or malcontent...just problems I wish I had.
;-)
Click to expand...

;D Yes, tragic.
 
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#19
My 2 cents, you are fine.

You can always lend her one of your cameras. In the mean time, even if she was proficient with a film camera, she still has a lot to re-learn, and the 7DII is an excellent camera (don't have one myself).

At some point, you may want to go with a 5D4 or 5D3, even refurb. It's all good.

sek
 
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