7D MkII vs 1D MkIV "real-world"

[pwp]

There was a premature, fairly information-thin thread on this subject recently, http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=23071.0 but now that the 7D MkII has actually been in the hands of working photographers for some weeks now, I'd be very interested to hear real world viewpoints from 1D MkIV shooters who now also have worked with a 7d MkII.

My very high mileage MkIV has over 500,000 actuations now, and replacement time can't be too far away. Another lightly used MkIV isn't out of the question! But a gripped 7D MkII could be viable.

I like having one good quality crop body along with the FF bodies. The MkIV has functioned superbly in that role. The 7D MkII will clearly do some things better, notably AF and particularly low-light AF. I frequently work in the 1600-3200 iso range, but rarely above 6400 iso.

-pw

 

[takesome1]

Big white primes side by side comparison the AF system on the 1D IV is better. The 1D just has more juice to drive the lenses. The ID IV makes focus faster, about half again as fast on my 500mm.
The 7 D II has a better video system if that matters to you.
You loose a little light with the 7D II and that hurts.
On normal lenses I wouldn't notice a difference in the AF system.

Any perceived gain with the 1.6 crop factor is easily lost to small amounts of camera shake. Under perfect conditions it is only slightly more resolution than a FF body but far less than 1.6x better.
I am still weighing out the IQ differences, I am still undecided. The differences are minimal and really will probably not weigh much in the decision of which one to keep.

The biggest negative to me is the loss of light and the noise advantage of the FF bodies. The 1D IV for me was a small compromise on noise to have the superior 1D IV AF system. Now with the 5D III the compromise weighs more toward the FF. Going to a 7D II makes it a greater compromise and I give up more.

Noise, I wouldn't be comfortable with either body shooting at dusk at ISO 3200, but they are close to equal now.

 

[cycleraw]

I own a 1D IV and have been renting a 7D II for a week now.

1) I believe noise is about 1/2 stop better with the 1D IV. But I don't like the results with either above 1600.
2) The 1D IV may focus quicker but with my tests shots of my dog running around the 7D II almost never misses focus, the 1D IV is good but the 7D II is so GREAT.
3) Didn't rent the grip for the 7D II, but I'm not impressed with the battery life of the 7D II.
4) Did most of my test shots at ISO 800 and 1000 with both cameras and unless you need to crop heavily I found the IQ of the 1D IV superior.

I was considering selling my 1D IV and purchasing a 7D II but I'm going to keep the 1D IV.

 

[tphillips63]

So any other thoughts or threads I should look at? I am thinking of the 7D MkII, or 1D MkIV.
It seems to be most opinions leaning toward the 1D Mk IV but just barely.

I don't have a super white but I do have the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II on order.

 

[DanoPhoto]

I previously owned a 1D4 and never had a complaint nor issue with it. It sounds like you could potentially second guess yourself if you went the 7D2 route. Doubt that would happen with the 1D4. The 1D4 is pretty cheap right now and (I would guess) the price point would not drop more than the 7D2 would, if you changed your mind in 6-9 months. If that is the case, it could be a financial wash.

 

[takesome1]

So any other thoughts or threads I should look at? I am thinking of the 7D MkII, or 1D MkIV.
It seems to be most opinions leaning toward the 1D Mk IV but just barely.

I don't have a super white but I do have the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II on order.

I would go with the 7D II if my biggest lens was a 100-400mm. The 7D II is a fine camera.

Smaller and lighter, it has more options and it would do just fine. The AF on the 7D II on that lens should be on par with the 1D IV, you will not need the bigger battery to power it.

Keep in mind that some of the 1D IV owners just do not want to let their 1D body go for an inferior crop body. Ego's come in to play. I can attest to this, I test the two side by side and am biased toward the 1D IV because it has served me well.

 

[tphillips63]

Thanks guys! Yes, the 1D Mk IV price is very good right now for some low count bodies and is about the same as a 7D Mk II with grip and battery, maybe a bit less.
It is a very tough and close choice. From the image comparisons the 1D Mk IV seems to have a small edge, on the other hand the 7D Mk II has virtually the same layout as the 5D Mk III so I am familiar with the layout.

I appreciate all your feedback.

 

[yorgasor]

One feature that sold me on the 7D2 was the flicker detection. If you shoot indoor sports with bad lighting, you can take a series of consecutive shots and each one will have a different exposure. The post cleanup takes forever to make those look good. The 7D2 will detect when your lighting flickers, and you can set it so the shutter only goes off during the brightest cycle of the flicker. Now I can't wait to shoot my next table tennis tournament under those horrid lights

 

[risc32]

One feature that sold me on the 7D2 was the flicker detection. If you shoot indoor sports with bad lighting, you can take a series of consecutive shots and each one will have a different exposure. The post cleanup takes forever to make those look good. The 7D2 will detect when your lighting flickers, and you can set it so the shutter only goes off during the brightest cycle of the flicker. Now I can't wait to shoot my next table tennis tournament under those horrid lights

that's what i've been saying, for indoor sports it is a game changer.

 

[MossTech]

Had 1D IV from day one when it came out. Loved it. This is not to bash the 1D IV. I shoot high school sports, events, and candids. Not always the best lighting. Now that I'm semi-retired, about two years, I looked at swapping my 1D IV for the 7D Mk II with kit lens. I liked the idea of smaller, lighter and more "reach". (Please, don't start a APS-C vs. APS-H crop vs. FF discussion!) After three weeks of using the 7D II, here are my findings, YMMV.

7DII: Fast! plain and simple. Feels like AF is faster and more accurate than 1D IV under similar circumstances with same lenses, primarily 24-70 2.8L II and 70-200 2.8 IS II. I've shoot basketball with strobes and soccer/football under field lights. I love the Anti-Flicker for HS and college sports. Just make sure you turn it off if you are shooting in a gym with strobes. It will try to compensate for the flicker of the gym lighting.

I shoot for websites, small prints (below 8x10) and other media output. For me, the noise is about the same. And I shoot a lot at ISO 6,400 or 12,800. Think HS gyms and volleyball. The 7D noise seems more film-like at high ISOs.

The 1D IV has a slight edge in sharpness. But I can only see the difference if I zoom in close.

1D IV battery life was fantastic! It seemed like the battery never died. The first 7D battery lasted about 600 shots. Ouch! This is not good. Then I realized I had been chimping more the first day than I ever had in the last 5 years on the 1D IV. Next battery lasted almost 1,600 shots at a night time soccer game. I can live with that until I get the battery grip. BTW: I miss the vertical release on the grip when shooting basketball.

Video: I have to say it, the 7D II video is much better. Not my primary use but that may change as I get more comfortable with it.

For me, I'm glad I made the change. I do recommend renting or borrowing one to make the decision easier.

 

[Freddie]

I've been shooting with both cameras over the past few days. Nothing earth-shaking in the way of differences. Since I stand in our dining room while photographing out through our open back deck door, my wife said, "That camera is really loud." I was using the 1D MK IV at that moment. The shutter is considerably louder than the 7D MK II.
As far as image differences, I'll let you decide.
1D MK IV image first. Both images were processed identically in ACR 8.7. They were both sharpened the same in PS CC. Exposure was ISO 500 - 1/1000 @ f/8 - shot with the same 100-400 lens @ 400mm.

 

[adhocphotographer]

Thanks for the info guys, i was pondering this myself... not that i'm in the market right now, but out of interest!

 

[pwp]

Well thanks for the responses. The 7D MkII doesn't sound like it's quite a match for the 1D MkIV on a number of relevant criteria, at least as far as my work-day requirements go. Another 5D MkIII or a 1DX might be more useful.

Even so...for a very tempting $2k it's almost worth adding one to the kit.

-pw

 

[adhocphotographer]

Well thanks for the responses. The 7D MkII doesn't sound like it's quite a match for the 1D MkIV on a number of relevant criteria, at least as far as my work-day requirements go. Another 5D MkIII or a 1DX might be more useful.

Even so...for a very tempting $2k it's almost worth adding one to the kit.

-pw

1/3 the price with 2/3 the ability.... it is a tempting solution!