EF 500 OR EF 600?

[tron]

My personal experience with crop and FF cameras bears out PBD's talking points - at higher ISOs, although the 7D2 image appeared larger, the 5D3 image is sharper and even had an edge in detail in many cases. In addition, 5D3 images seem to be able to withstand more cropping than 7D images, cutting into the "reach advantage" of the 7D...

The only exception to this was some shots of birds I took out in the sun - now this is base ISO, comparing shots I took with both cameras, I'm hard-pressed to tell which camera took which shot. If reach-limited, the 7D2 clearly has an advantage in this situation...however, move into the shade (or wait until the sun begins to set) and as the ISO (correspondingly) goes up, that advantage vanishes. I was never happy with the 7D's detail capture ability above 800, but the 5D3 maintains respectable results all the way up to 3200...

I agree on that. I try to use my 7D2 in good sun (when I can). But which combination would you prefer:

7D2 + 500mm f/4 IS II or 5D3 + 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4XIII

You see I am only referring to Focal Length limited situations.

Slightly off topic (but still a consideration of mine) I value your info on 5DsR and if I didn't have a 7D2 maybe I would bite the bullet. But I already have 7D2 in addition to two 5D3 cameras. So in the light of new announcements it would be too much to get a 5DsR. So it is one of the above mentioned combinations for me for the time being... Please do commend on that since I know you have much experience in cameras/long telephoto combinations.

 

[Deleted member 7828]

I have zero experience with extenders so I will defer to someone who has used them before. If AF tracking and speed is critical, the 7D2/500 may be more responsive, however that's just a guess...

But I will say that the thought of a 5D3/500/1.4 combo enters my mind occasionally as well. As if the cost barrier wasn't enough to overcome, there's also the weight/transport barrier as well! The largest/bulkiest lens I have handled up to this point is the 28-300L (a lens I no longer have), and I understand the "great whites" are in a totally different category otherwise...Constraint: I need something I can handhold.

 

[tron]

I have zero experience with extenders so I will defer to someone who has used them before. If AF tracking and speed is critical, the 7D2/500 may be more responsive, however that's just a guess...

But I will say that the thought of a 5D3/500/1.4 combo enters my mind occasionally as well. As if the cost barrier wasn't enough to overcome, there's also the weight/transport barrier as well! The largest/bulkiest lens I have handled up to this point is the 28-300L (a lens I no longer have), and I understand the "great whites" are in a totally different category otherwise...Constraint: I need something I can handhold.

Sorry I thought I was replying to Alan who has experience with many combinations! But all opinions are welcome. To tell the truth I do have these combinations but never manage to make comparisons. I have used mostly 7D2 with 500 (with some AFMA). 1.4XIII needs also the same amount of AFMA and ... a tripod.

The 500 works fine with my 5D3 . But I have not tried 5D3 with 500 + 1.4XIII up to now.

Now back to handholding: 7D2 + 400DO IS II is an excellent (and handholdable) combination. I have tried that many times when I was getting tired of holding the 500 (So I guess 600 is out of the question for me!)