Am I crazy for thinking about doing this?

[wickidwombat]

I bought a 7D when they first came out to replace my 1D MK II. Bad move! I returned the 7D and found a almost new 1D MK III for a couple hundred dollars more. It was much better, and would autofocus with a 1.4TC on my 100-400mmL giving me a slightly longer equivalent focal length.

After a couple of years, the 7D dropped in price so much, that I bought a refurb on the Canon Loyalty program and the 1DMK III had gone up in value, so I sold it for twice the price I paid for the 7D. I mainly use the 7D for product photography tethered to my PC, and my 5D MK II for everything else. The 7D does like my 100mmL and my 100-400mmL too.

A couple of weeks ago, I needed a low light camera for two upcoming jobs and, since I did not expect my D800 to arrive soon, bought a used 1D MK IV. Obviously, its much better than the 7D. Then, my D800 suddenly arrived, and I was able to use both. I really don't want to let go of either the 1D4 or the D800, but one has to go, I can't afford lenses for both. The D800 focuses better in low light and takes TC's for f/8 AF, has a built-in flash to control external flashes, a built in AF assist light, lots of small things that make life easier, but the huge files are slow to process.

I was planning to upgrade computers when windows 8 arrived, I might do it sooner. i've been pricing build my own versus buying a Dell, it looks like a Dell costs about the same after my employee discount, and I get a warranty.

1D4 AF's at F8 too

Find me a 1d4 for the price of a used 7d and I will buy it. Heck, ill buy two.

and i if they are that cheap i'll grab a couple too! 1D4 while awesome are pretty thin on the ground and go for silly prices still used on ebay

heres hoping the 7D2 is APS-H (I wonder if i say it enough they will make it so? )
(Canon better not make me threaten to change to crayola!)

 

[serendipidy]

I'm a casual amateur photographer who upgraded from Canon XSi to 7D 1 year ago. After having fun shooting birds with the 55-250 kit lens, I bought the 100-400L for more reach. I don't know how to test my camera or lens to see if I got a "good" copy but I'm happy with the results. A tree next to my house attracts small birds which are about 3 inches in length. I climb up a 8' step ladder and photograph these shy very active birds from about 15' away. These 2 photos (7D with 100-400 @ 400mm) of a Japanese white-eye and a common waxbill were cropped and pp somewhat in Canon's DPP. I would love to have the supertele's but size and cost are prohibitive for me now. Good luck with your decision.

 

[briansquibb]

I would love to have the supertele's but size and cost are prohibitive for me now. Good luck with your decision.

The supertele's aren't so much about reach but IQ so you wont be missing many shots especially as the 100-400 is on a 7D. It is a good combo.

 

[Tcapp]

I'm a casual amateur photographer who upgraded from Canon XSi to 7D 1 year ago. After having fun shooting birds with the 55-250 kit lens, I bought the 100-400L for more reach. I don't know how to test my camera or lens to see if I got a "good" copy but I'm happy with the results. A tree next to my house attracts small birds which are about 3 inches in length. I climb up a 8' step ladder and photograph these shy very active birds from about 15' away. These 2 photos (7D with 100-400 @ 400mm) of a Japanese white-eye and a common waxbill were cropped and pp somewhat in Canon's DPP. I would love to have the supertele's but size and cost are prohibitive for me now. Good luck with your decision.

Those photos you posted make it very hard to resist pulling the trigger on this! Looks great!

 

[Tcapp]

I bought a 7D when they first came out to replace my 1D MK II. Bad move! I returned the 7D and found a almost new 1D MK III for a couple hundred dollars more. It was much better, and would autofocus with a 1.4TC on my 100-400mmL giving me a slightly longer equivalent focal length.

After a couple of years, the 7D dropped in price so much, that I bought a refurb on the Canon Loyalty program and the 1DMK III had gone up in value, so I sold it for twice the price I paid for the 7D. I mainly use the 7D for product photography tethered to my PC, and my 5D MK II for everything else. The 7D does like my 100mmL and my 100-400mmL too.

A couple of weeks ago, I needed a low light camera for two upcoming jobs and, since I did not expect my D800 to arrive soon, bought a used 1D MK IV. Obviously, its much better than the 7D. Then, my D800 suddenly arrived, and I was able to use both. I really don't want to let go of either the 1D4 or the D800, but one has to go, I can't afford lenses for both. The D800 focuses better in low light and takes TC's for f/8 AF, has a built-in flash to control external flashes, a built in AF assist light, lots of small things that make life easier, but the huge files are slow to process.

I was planning to upgrade computers when windows 8 arrived, I might do it sooner. i've been pricing build my own versus buying a Dell, it looks like a Dell costs about the same after my employee discount, and I get a warranty.

1D4 AF's at F8 too

Find me a 1d4 for the price of a used 7d and I will buy it. Heck, ill buy two.

and i if they are that cheap i'll grab a couple too! 1D4 while awesome are pretty thin on the ground and go for silly prices still used on ebay

heres hoping the 7D2 is APS-H (I wonder if i say it enough they will make it so? )
(Canon better not make me threaten to change to crayola!)

Dont hold your breath on that APS-H thing... I don't think canon would do that. Everyone with a bunch of ef-s lenses will not upgrade their body.

And I loved my old crayola 110 film camera! 110 is such a weird format!

 

[briansquibb]

Dont hold your breath on that APS-H thing... I don't think canon would do that. Everyone with a bunch of ef-s lenses will not upgrade their body.

There is no difference between upgrading to ff or APS-H so the upgrade argument is a non issue

 

[Tcapp]

Do any of you guys make money doing bird or wildlife photography? I've seen some amazing stuff you guys do, just wondering if you've found a good market for it.

 

[wickidwombat]

not me I do like to shoot wildlife for relaxation and fun
i dont like sport so have no desire to shoot that and i think thats the main environment where you can justify hideously expensive lenses for business use

 

[Tcapp]

not me I do like to shoot wildlife for relaxation and fun
i dont like sport so have no desire to shoot that and i think thats the main environment where you can justify hideously expensive lenses for business use

sport photography looks like a ton of fun to me. actually, all types of photography is fun. Guess i just love photography!

 

[sanj]

I have both the cameras. You will love the 7d for what you are buying it for. You WILL.

 

[sandymandy]

Just rent urself a 7D for a day and u should already be able to check out the image quality regarding higher ISO. Or just buy urself a 1100D since it uses the same sensor as the 7D. Image quality is the same too. Not much money wasted in case u dont like it.

 

[Tcapp]

Just rent urself a 7D for a day and u should already be able to check out the image quality regarding higher ISO. Or just buy urself a 1100D since it uses the same sensor as the 7D. Image quality is the same too. Not much money wasted in case u dont like it.

I hate renting. in my mind its like throwing away money.

I don't think I'm going to want the crappy AF of a rebel... But thanks for the suggestion tho!

But I have someone who wants to trade my 5d2 for their 7d along with $400 cash.

Plus, as far as wedding work goes, I have the 24 1.4. Sometimes it is a bit too wide on my 5d3, but it would be a 38 on the 7d, which is perfect for some circumstances.

or i could just sell everything and get a d800*. It almost has the reach of a 7d, and the full frame of the 5d3.







*just kidding