7D to 5D Mk III - Pull the trigger?

[Schruminator]

I moved from the 7D to the 5D III over the Christmas holidays and I haven't looked back. The pictures the 5D has produced straight from the camera are stunning.

In addition to that, I shoot mostly landscapes, so the "loss in reach" was actually beneficial to me. Seeing how wide my 24-105 can actually go-- and being able to use my 14L to the fullest-- made the jump worth it, no doubt.

The only real loss I see form the 7D is the frames per second, but at 6fps or so, the 5D is adequate for me.

Otherwise, besides the general image quality of the 5D III, I was really impressed by the "silent shutter" feature. I hadn't heard a lot about it in my research (which is why it was a surprise), but I actually found it more useful than you'd think.

Otherwise, if you've done your research, you know what you're getting. If you love photography and you have the money, go for it. No question.

 

[FatDaddyJones]

I upgraded, or actually just added, the 5D Mark III to my 7D last month. It's a crazy awesome camera. With the more accurate AF, I think you'll find that the loss of reach in the 5d3 is well compensated by so many more usable, in-focus shots during action or sports shooting. (Not that the 7D is bad in this area, but the 5D3 is such an awesome camera, you won't be disappointed.) Like those who have already said it before, keep the 7D and shoot with both. That's what I'm doing.

 

[Krob78]

Keep the 7D and buy the 5D MKIII

I've been shooting with my 7d for almost 3 years. I love it! I upgraded to the 5d MKIII over the holidays with the intention of selling off the 7d after getting the 5d3.

I can't do it!! I love the 5d3, but everytime I head out to do some birding, I take both, but I keep reaching for my 7D. I decided to keep both! Having the money to do so, I think you should just add the 5D3 to your equipment and don't look back. Try out the 5d3 for your cycling shoots and see what you think...

For me, I really miss the 8fps of the 7d for birds in flight, when I have the 5d3 lifted toward the sky. The high speed continuous I figured would sound and be pretty much the same since it's only 2 fps slower, but man, it's like night and day! Compared to the "Machine gun mode" on my 7d, the 5d3 sounds like my old XSi when firing off at high speed.

I'm very glad I went full frame and super glad that I did it with a 5d3, I do love it! I will be using it primarily for portraiture and wedding photography and other indoor events. It's amazing with my 85mm 1.8 on it! That being said, I'll be keeping my 7d for my wildlife and birding and outdoor sports... Until I can grab a 1DX!!!

 

[trygved]

I had sorted this out logically in my head, though this isn't the first time I've heard a resounding YES to move to the 5DIII.
I personally don't mind waiting til' a 12-24 + 7DII comes out.
I'm not crazy with any of the UWA offerings, except for the 14L which is the price of a 6D.
I realize it may take years, but whatever, I'm still taking incredible images with the setup that I have.

... but then I hear about people turning into magicians, and I don't even know.

 

[candyman]

I have been shooting with the 7D since late 2010. In October 2012 I bought the 5D MK III.
I will sell my 7D but......buy (if specs are ok for me) the 7D MK II. Why? I need the 8fps and crop 1.6 for sports and BIF. I do not have the budget for long focal length primes. So shooting sports with my 5D MK III and my 70-200 f/2.8 MK II does not give me enough great close-up shots.

But buying a 5D MK III was one of my best purchases. I love this camera for; build quality, quality IQ, ISO, AF and silent shutter

For me (with a relatively tight budget), the combo 7D and 5D MK III is the best

 

[rpt]

Monetary wise I am fine. Best Buy currently has a 36 month 0% financing. $90/mo for 3 years... I can handle that.

You think BestBuy will last 36 months? If your financing stays firm it is a no-brainer to me. I must admit I have not shot sports so listen to the sports pros on that one. Will you need more than 6fps? If not, no-brainer again...

 

[vmk]

Go for it, you will luv it

 

[FatDaddyJones]

I've been shooting with my 7d for almost 3 years. I love it! I upgraded to the 5d MKIII over the holidays with the intention of selling off the 7d after getting the 5d3.

I can't do it!! I love the 5d3, but everytime I head out to do some birding, I take both, but I keep reaching for my 7D. I decided to keep both! Having the money to do so, I think you should just add the 5D3 to your equipment and don't look back. Try out the 5d3 for your cycling shoots and see what you think...

For me, I really miss the 8fps of the 7d for birds in flight, when I have the 5d3 lifted toward the sky. The high speed continuous I figured would sound and be pretty much the same since it's only 2 fps slower, but man, it's like night and day! Compared to the "Machine gun mode" on my 7d, the 5d3 sounds like my old XSi when firing off at high speed.

I'm very glad I went full frame and super glad that I did it with a 5d3, I do love it! I will be using it primarily for portraiture and wedding photography and other indoor events. It's amazing with my 85mm 1.8 on it! That being said, I'll be keeping my 7d for my wildlife and birding and outdoor sports... Until I can grab a 1DX!!!

My thoughts exactly.

 

[acaurora]

Thanks for the responses everybody - I have placed an order for a 16-35L f/2.8 II to see if it will solve my issues with shooting indoors in low light - if it does not, then I will most likely switch to a 5D MK III.

 

[a-hopps]

I think you should have both if you can swing it. I finally got my mkIII last week and I love it. The two cameras compliment each other well.

 

[Jeremy]

.Now with a 5D3 I feel like a magician.

I agree with this completely! I too came from the 7D and, when paired with the 24-70 II, I feel like I'm cheating when I shoot with the 5DIII. This combo removes any barriers (read excuses) for bad photography. If you can't take good photos with this, you can't take good photos with anything.

As for the OP's question, I used the 16-35 on my 7D and did quite well with it. However, the range is very limited...you need to get right in people's faces and that can distort them...not in a good way. You also won't get the kind of blurred background you might want want to separate your subject.

My typical setup now is a 24-70 on the 5DIII and a 70-200 on the 7D. That gives me a 40mm "hole" between 70 and (effectively) 110 but it hasn't been a problem.

 

[Krob78]

I have been shooting with the 7D since late 2010. In October 2012 I bought the 5D MK III.
I will sell my 7D but......buy (if specs are ok for me) the 7D MK II. Why? I need the 8fps and crop 1.6 for sports and BIF. I do not have the budget for long focal length primes. So shooting sports with my 5D MK III and my 70-200 f/2.8 MK II does not give me enough great close-up shots.

But buying a 5D MK III was one of my best purchases. I love this camera for; build quality, quality IQ, ISO, AF and silent shutter

For me (with a relatively tight budget), the combo 7D and 5D MK III is the best

Agreed! +1

 

[rpt]

.Now with a 5D3 I feel like a magician.

I agree with this completely! I too came from the 7D and, when paired with the 24-70 II, I feel like I'm cheating when I shoot with the 5DIII. This combo removes any barriers (read excuses) for bad photography. If you can't take good photos with this, you can't take good photos with anything.

As for the OP's question, I used the 16-35 on my 7D and did quite well with it. However, the range is very limited...you need to get right in people's faces and that can distort them...not in a good way. You also won't get the kind of blurred background you might want want to separate your subject.

My typical setup now is a 24-70 on the 5DIII and a 70-200 on the 7D. That gives me a 40mm "hole" between 70 and (effectively) 110 but it hasn't been a problem.

+1000
As for me, coming from the 300D to the 5D3 it was heaven - once I got the hang of the camera...

 

[FatDaddyJones]

Just do it! Buy one. Join the club.

 

[SPL]

I have been shooting with the 7D since late 2010. In October 2012 I bought the 5D MK III.
I will sell my 7D but......buy (if specs are ok for me) the 7D MK II. Why? I need the 8fps and crop 1.6 for sports and BIF. I do not have the budget for long focal length primes. So shooting sports with my 5D MK III and my 70-200 f/2.8 MK II does not give me enough great close-up shots.

But buying a 5D MK III was one of my best purchases. I love this camera for; build quality, quality IQ, ISO, AF and silent shutter

For me (with a relatively tight budget), the combo 7D and 5D MK III is the best

Agreed! +1

+1!

 

[mdm041]

I also moved from the 7d to the 5d mkiii and couldn't be happier. I kept the 7d at first to have two bodies. But I found myself always just wanting to shot with the 5d mkiii. I ended up selling my 7d and bought the 100mm F2.8L Macro.

 

[Krob78]

Just do it! Buy one. Join the club.

YA! it's a cool club! 8) Thought I may have sold my 7d by now anyway, just can't do it though, still loving it even though it's not getting the use it previously did... Still love it for birding and sports, moreso for sports though. I still feel the difference between the 8fps and the 6fps of the 5d3 and sometimes that's the difference between getting the "money shot" or getting the shot before or after the money shot!